It's hard to miss the political TV ads for the House seat in District 48. Voters are seeing a new campaign ad critical of Democrat Donna Howard, as well as her response to her opponent, Republican Ben Bentzin.
Whoever wins the runoff election will sit in on a special session this spring on school finance. The new intensity of the race has Westlake/Rollingwood area voters ready to cast their ballots.
"We're basically taxed at the highest rate possible for our school taxes, yet more than half the money is being sent out of district. Every single year we're seeing more cutbacks," voter Bill Bergman said.
This week the Republican Party of Texas began airing ads. They weren't paid for by Bentzin, but he supports their message criticizing her actions as an Eanes ISD school board member.
"Ms. Howard proceeded to spend $3.8 million to acquire the land to design and build this second high school that voters have already said no to," Bentzin said.
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District 48
Democrat Donna Howard is running
against Republican Ben Bentzin for
the state House seat.
 
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Howard said some of her opponents during that land acquisition debate now support her for the District 48 seat.
"I haven't always seen eye to eye with her on every issue [but] I think Mr. Bentzin is somebody who has come late to the game and has a lot of money to spend on negative television ads and negative television ads don't solve problems," voter Bill Lee said.
Voter and Eanes ISD parent Cindy Cullers said she supports Bentzin.
"Donna Howard has represented up very well on the Eanes school board here in Westlake, however, she spend an awful lot of money [then] and I feel if she could have addressed school finances back then … You know, she kind of had her chance," Cullers said.
Howard garnered 49.47 percent of the vote to Bentzin's 37.80. Now, it's just a matter of making sure all her supporters show up to the polls on Feb. 14.
