Press Release

Texas Silver-Haired Legislature Announces Call for Candidates for 2006 Election

San Antonio, January 25, 2006 -- Senior citizens who are interested in serving as advocates for Texas seniors can register their candidacy as a representative to the eleventh Texas Silver-Haired Legislature (TSHL) in Austin, Texas.  The Silver-Haired Legislature is elected every two years and works directly with the Texas Legislature to promote senior citizen issues and concerns and to enact laws that will help senior citizens. Candidates must file for election by February 28, 2006, at 4:00 p.m.

Minimum requirements:

·       60 years of age or older

·       Primary residency is in the county commissioner’s precinct you represent (except for the Bexar County at-large representative)

·        Must be a current voter registered in the precinct you represent                              

·        Required to participate in all TSHL activities and attend meetings when held in Austin    

Candidates are expected to pay for all expenses incurred as a result of the election campaign and representation.   Five legislators are elected in Bexar County.  Four of the candidates are elected from districts that coincide with Bexar County Commissioner’s Court precincts and one is elected at-large. 

To file for candidacy, the potential candidate must obtain and fill out a Candidacy Information Form and Candidate Profile.  The candidate must also complete an official Candidate Petition on which he/she must obtain 25 signatures from registered voters, 60 years of age or older at the time of signing, and who reside in the area that they seek to represent.  These two forms and the payment of a $5.00 filing fee must be received by February 28, 2006, at 4:00 p.m. to the Bexar Area Agency on Aging San Antonio office, located at: Alamo Area Council of Governments (AACOG), 8700 Tesoro Drive, Suite 700.  Candidates will be certified in March and announced to the public.  A list of polling places and early voting procedures will be released in April.    Election Day is May 23, 2006. 

For more information, or to obtain an application, call Elena Hernandez at (210) 362-5274, or visit www.aacog.com.  You can also visit the Texas Silver-Haired Legislature website at www.txshl.org. 

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The Bexar Area Agency on Aging, the election agency for Bexar County offers senior programs, information and grant management for local and federal funding for aging services.

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