It has been more than 20 years since a new candidate was elected as Bexar County judge. First appointed in 2001, then re-elected for five terms, current County Judge Nelson Wolff announced he would not seek reelection. The election slate is now finalized and includes former Bexar County Administrative Judge Peter Sakai (D), and former Bexar County Commissioner Trish Deberry (R).

In a joint effort to help inform voters on where the candidates’ stand, NowCastSA and AARP are presenting the Bexar County Judge Candidates Forum on Thursday, October 13 at the Palo Alto Performing Arts Center from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Recognized as an advocate for older Americans, AARP provides trusted election information to voters and fights to make sure candidates keep their promises. Ismael Herrera, AARP state director for Advocacy and Engagement, says, “The power of the 50+ voter is real and at the same time, they’re experiencing rising prices, dealing with the pandemic, struggling to pay for food, gas, medical care, rising property taxes and other essentials. They want to know how candidates will address the issues facing them and their families because they plan to vote. That’s why AARP is sponsoring this forum.”

Elaine Ayala, Metro Columnist for the Express-News, will moderate the discussion. Questions will be posed to each candidate and each will be able to respond and address the audience. The event is free and open to the public, but seating is limited and forum-goers are encouraged to RSVP at https://events.aarp.org/BexarJudges22, and they can submit questions for the candidates at the same time.

Herrera says the Forum informs the public and is a good showcase for the candidates to show a growing base of older voters that they understand and will tackle the issues facing them. “Candidates who don’t address the needs of the 50+ community are missing the boat. One out of three Americans is age 50 or older and by 2030, one out of every five Americans will be 65 or older. The real moment of change is in 2035, when for the first time ever, the U.S. will be a country comprised of more older adults than children. It’s becoming even more critical for candidates to listen and respond.”

The size of the 50-plus adult population and their voting habits underscore its power. People 50 and older vote more than any other age group. AARP research indicates that even with the recent changes to voting laws, adults 50-plus will likely comprise 60 to 70 percent of all voters in the vast majority of 2022 races, including local elections.

Here are some important dates for voters to keep in mind for the upcoming General Election:
Tuesday, October 11: Last day to register to vote
Monday, October 24: First day of Early Voting in-person
Friday, October 28: Last day to apply for Ballot by Mail (received not postmarked)
Friday, November 4: Last day of Early Voting in-person
Tuesday, November 8: Election Day
Tuesday, November 8, 7 p.m.: Last day to receive a Mail-in Ballot if the carrier envelope is not postmarked.
Wednesday, November 9, 5 p.m.: Mail-in ballots (postmarked) must be received.

For details on voting in Texas and the changes introduced by a new 2021 state voting law, visit https://states.aarp.org/texas/election-voting-guide.

Save the date for the Bexar County Judge Candidates Forum on October 13. If for those unable to attend in-person, the event will also be livestreamed by AARP Texas on Facebook at https://fb.me/e/3Ap9ktURr and by NowCastSA on YouTube at www.youtube.com/NOWCastSA.

AARP is the nation’s largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering people 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With nearly 38 million members, including more than 2.3 million in Texas, AARP works to strengthen communities and advocates for what matters most to families: health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment.