JONESTOWN

Gov. Rick Perry today joined Dan Wallrath, founder and president of Operation Finally Home, and Jonestown Mayor Deane Armstrong to break ground on a brand-new, mortgage-free home for U.S. Army Spc. Augustine “Augie” Pena and his family, provided by Operation Finally Home, Silverton Custom Homes and Henley Homes.

“I am always humbled and amazed at the generous, caring nature of the people of Texas and their steady devotion to our long tradition of neighbor helping neighbor,” Gov. Perry said. “On this site will stand another fine example of the spirit of selfless compassion, manifested in a new home for Spc. Pena. He represents the American hero who always answers the call to defend freedom and the American way.”

Spc. Pena joined the Army Reserve in 2007, and was deployed to Iraq in 2009. After returning home, he remained in his reserve unit in St. Louis and enrolled in college in Chicago. While on his way to St. Louis to report for duty on Nov. 25, 2010, Spc. Pena stopped to assist another motorist with a flat tire and was hit by a drunk driver. The accident left Spc. Pena as a paraplegic.

Created by Bay Area Builders Association Support our Troops in 2005, Operation Finally Home partners with corporate sponsors, individual contributors and volunteers to help wounded and disabled veterans and their families transition from the battlefront to the home front by providing custom-made homes. To date, Operation Finally Home has completed 25 projects, with an additional 18 under way.

AUSTIN, TX

 Texas Secretary of State Hope Andrade today announced Texas reached a record number of registered voters on the Official List of Registered Voters. As of Friday, October 19, Texas has 13,646,226 registered voters; the highest number in state history. Tuesday, October 9 was the last day to register to vote in the November 6, 2012 General Election. 

“I want to thank all Texans who registered to vote this year and all Texans who are already registered voters. The next step is getting to the polls during Early Voting or on Election Day,” said Secretary Andrade. 

The previous record number of registered voters was 13,575,062 set for the November 2008 General Election. 

As a reminder, Early Voting begins Monday, October 22, 2012 and runs through November 2, 2012. Voters can find links to polling places and times at www.VoteTexas.gov. During Early Voting, voters may cast a ballot at any polling place in their county of residence. 

“With Early Voting beginning October 22nd, now is a perfect time for Texans to begin preparing to cast their ballot,” said Secretary Andrade. “Now’s the time to verify your voter registration status, locate your registration certificate, make sure it’s signed, verify where your county’s polling places are, review what’s on your ballot and make plans to go vote.” 

Photo identification is not required when voting in person during Early Voting or on Election Day. To cast a ballot during Early Voting or on Election Day, voters should present their Voter Registration Certificate or in lieu of a Voter Registration Certificate, at least one of the following: 

• A driver's license or personal identification card issued to you by the Texas Department of Public Safety or a similar document issued to you by an agency of another state, even if the license or card has expired; 

• A form of identification that contains your photograph and establishes your identity; 

• A birth certificate or other document confirming birth that is admissible in a court of law and establishes your identity; 

• Your United States citizenship papers; 

• Your United States passport; 

• Official mail addressed to you by a governmental entity; or 

• A copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows your name and address. 

For more information on the November 6 General Election, please visit www.VoteTexas.gov. 

Coalition continues to build momentum for 83^rd Texas legislative session

AUSTIN

The Smoke-Free Texas coalition exceeded 50,000 Facebook fans Monday, adding to the momentum for the state’s largest Facebook policy group. The group had more than 29,000 Facebook fans at the end of the last legislative session in June 2011.

As the coalition prepares for the start of the 83^rd Texas legislative session, its broad base of supporters – including organizations, businesses, chambers of commerce, community leaders and everyday Texans – continues to grow significantly. In addition to more than 50,000 Facebook fans, more than 22,000 Texans, 3,500 Twitter followers and 240 organizations, business and community leaders support the effort to make all Texas workplaces smoke-free.

“This important milestone once again confirms the growing support from hundreds of thousands of Texans who are more united than ever in their support for a statewide smoke-free indoor workplace law,” said Melinda Little, co-chair of the Smoke-Free Texas coalition. “We are actively working to educate Texas lawmakers to ensure they understand the urgent need and strong support for this legislation among Texans.”