Boerne residents discuss the November election on Your Voice, South Texas

BOERNE, Texas – With its parks, green landscapes and rolling hills, Boerne is a popular tourist destination.

But it’s even more special for locals who call the place home. When KSAT met with people at Free Roam Brewing Company on South Main Street, it wasn’t surprising that words like “community” kept coming up when discussing the upcoming election.

After all, Boerne is the town that supported its Little League baseball team when it competed in the Little League World Series. When the team returned from games in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, Boerne held a celebration downtown and a parade for the players.

Locals who spoke to KSAT were very concerned about how the issues are affecting their community.

Candace Affeldt said she worries about the types of jobs that attract people who are about to enter the workforce.

“We have a shortage of blue-collar jobs like plumbers, electricians and mechanics. If you try to build something, it’s almost impossible,” Affeldt said.

Affeldt is right. The United States is expected to have a plumber shortage of 550,000 by 2027, according to a recent report.

Affeldt is a small business owner who runs the brewery with her husband, Jeremy Affeldt. He told KSAT that he’s worried about the middle class.

“The working class supports us. We want the working class here. I want them to be able to come here and enjoy the community. “Will there be an opportunity where they can thrive enough to do this?” asked Jeremy Affeldt.

A retired engineer, BJ Bridges, said he was aware of higher tuition costs and that high debt could hurt the opportunities of younger generations.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the annual cost of attending a four-year college full-time in 1980 was $10,231. In 2018-2020, this amount increased to $28,775.

“I feel bad for them that they have to pay these tuition fees now. Hopefully they choose the right career,” Bridges said.

Bridges also told KSAT that he would prefer Donald Trump win the November presidential election.

“On the foreign policy side, I think we’re just so weak now. That worries me. “I don’t want my grandchildren to go to war, but you also have to be careful because you can’t be too right-wing,” Bridges said.

Another man spoke about the need for bipartisanship.

“Both sides have to work together. Even if one side wins, you still have to work together, right? So it’s really about coming together, finding a middle ground and making it work for families who are working hard,” John Grof said.

“Your Voice, South Texas” aims to highlight the diversity of voices and drown out some of the hyperpartisanship that keeps people arguing on social media.

So far, KSAT has recorded episodes in Uvalde, Seguin, Pleasanton, Kerrville, New Braunfels and La Vernia.