For the past few weekends, I have been working with the Travis County Democratic Party registering voters and doing visibility on South Congress Avenue. Part of the visibility work I was doing was doing was merchandising Obama Stuff for visibility. The wonderful owners of Uncommon Objects on South Congress had given us permission to set up a table in front of their shop. The owners and staff are great supporters and were extremely helpful. I wish I could say the same for Barbara.
Voter registration in Texas ended with record numbers of voters being registered. Early Voting starts on October 20th and goes through October 31st. Getting out the vote is one of the most important things we can do to make sure our voices are heard in November. We cannot allow another election to go by and not speak out for the change our country and our state so desperately needs.
Donna Keel is running for TX-HD 47. Does Travis County really need another keel in the legislature or any elected office? The last name alone is enough to make any thinking person in the Austin area cringe. Let's not forget that Donna would be under her father-in-law's thump, actually Tom Craddick's from the get go. Her family name and politics have been so tied to the worst extreme in Texas Republican Politics that there is no doubt where she would stand on any issue or who she would support for speaker of the house.
Last night, at the Travis County Democratic Party's CEC meeting (all the precinct chairs, for those who don't know) we had the delightful fun of appointing 45 new precinct chairs.
Cool. But there are vacancies to fill, and plenty of fun things on the horizon.
(Capable people are the greatest treasure. - promoted by boadicea)
In 2006, I had reached a point in my life where just voting wasn't enough. Reading the League of Women Voters Guide to learn about the candidates wasn't enough. Telling my friends and family to vote wasn't enough.
I was appointed to a vacant Precinct Chair slot after calling the Travis County Democratic Party to volunteer for something, anything... I hadn't expected to become a precinct chair, but when I was told that there was a need for one in my precinct, I stepped up.
The more involved I become, the more involved I want to be.
When I found out that there was a Senate District level of government in the Texas Democratic Party, I decided to check it out. I have been going to the meetings since January of 2007. What I've learned is, in a nutshell, I can, and want to do this.
I'm Susan Shelton, and I am running for the SDEC Committeewoman for Senate District 14. I'll explain why after the jump.
If you have't voted yet, today is the last day of early voting for the primary runoff elections.
Turnout should be very low, so every vote counts-bring a friend with you.
Statewide, Dale Henry needs your vote to get the nomination for Railroad Commissioner. We need someone knowledgeable who will be on the side of the consumers against the corporate interests of the gas and oil industry.
In Travis County, there is also a runoff for DA.
Rosemary Lehmberg has been endorsed by retiring DA Ronnie Earle. She's had experience in every dept of the DAs office, and unlike her opponent, Mindy Montford, isn't relying on fearmongering and corporate lobbyist contributions from some of the same companies like AT&T (details here) who got caught up in Tom Delay's illegal contribution scheme.
Montford already has a relationship with the lobby, and its largesse has allowed her to run television advertising in Austin's expensive media market. She expects to need $250,000 for the DA's race, and has looked to her father to help scrounge up funds. She concedes that the business lobby has donated some large checks to her campaign. But she points out that her rivals are receiving contributions from the defense bar, including attorneys who represented DeLay and Texas House Speaker Tom Craddick. Montford has the early fund-raising edge, collecting more than $45,000 through the end of December, $10,000 more than Lehmberg.
Gary Cobb
I think Ms. Montford has learned the wrong lessons from some Republican consultants most Travis County Dems would steer very clear of.
Call me crazy, but I just have to think a DA Karl Rove wants in the Travis County Atty's office might not be the one I want in there...
Gary Cobb, one of the perpetrators of the travesty launched against an innocent child, LaCresha Murray, in 1996, has been eliminated from the race for District Attorney. Rosemary Lehmberg, however, still holds a smoking gun. In the interest of changing the guard and securing perhaps a more just, merciful and law-abiding person in the office of Travis County District Attorney, I offer the following.
In 1996, Rosemary Lehmberg and Gary Cobb filed capital murder charges against an 11-year-old, with no physical, eye witness or forensic evidence physically linking either the home or anyone there with the numerous injuries suffered by a deceased two and a half year old. Lehmberg, Cobb and/or their subordinates assisted three seasoned APD detectives assigned to the case by advising them in circumventing the Magistrate Law, which demands that a child in police custody, before a statement is taken, be presented to a judge, who explains the ramifications of talking to the police and generally assigns an attorney. Based on advice received from the D.A.'s office, the detectives arranged for Child Protective Service (CPS) to leave this child alone in an empty building on CPS' campus to be "found" by the detectives, thereby eliminating any charge that she was in police custody and, in effect, waiving her rights under the Magistrate law.
Last night several different Austin Democratic clubs participated in a combined candidate forum. All four DA candidates were present for questions. Three of the candidates were asked a question related to the death penalty, with exception of Rosemary Lehmberg. So far no one has publicly supported a moratorium on seeking the death penalty in Travis County. Rick Reed seems to be the only candidate to question the death penalty and possibility of executing an innocent person. Videos are posted below.
Jeanette Popp spoke at a press conference on the plaza of the Blackwell/Thurman Criminal Justice Center in Austin on Saturday, January 12. Popp urged the candidates for Travis County District Attorney to impose a moratorium on the death penalty in Travis County by not seeking the death penalty in any capital trials and instead using life without parole as an alternative to the death penalty. The above video was recorded after the press conference.
Jeanette Popp's daughter Nancy DePriest was murdered in Austin in 1988.
March 4, 2008, the day of the primary in Travis County, would have been Nancy's 40th birthday.
Jeanette became intimately familiar with the many flaws of the Texas criminal justice system after two innocent men, Chris Ochoa and Richard Danziger, were wrongfully convicted of her daughter's murder and spent 12 years in prison. They were exonerated and released in 2001. The City of Austin settled separate lawsuits with Danziger and Ochoa for $9 million and $5.3 million respectively in 2003. Danziger also settled with Travis County for $950,000. The actual killer, Achim Marino, was convicted in October 2002.
"The death penalty system in Texas is broken. The next DA in Travis County should reflect how the Travis County community's views on the death penalty have evolved in recent years and pledge that for now the death penalty is off the table within Travis County", said Scott Cobb of Texas Moratorium Network. "If we want to slow down the number of executions in Texas and reduce the risk of executing an innocent person, we need to elect a district attorney who will pledge to impose a moratorium on seeking new death sentences and a moratorium on setting execution dates for cases with existing death sentences. Certainly a DA candidate in Travis County who makes such a pledge will find a rich reward of votes in the Democratic primary", said Cobb.
For more information visit TMNPAC.org and contribute online through ACTBLUE.
A proposed fuel-storage facility on Johnny Morris Road got the go-ahead Tuesday from the Travis County commissioners, who said they could not legally turn down the project despite their concerns about putting it next to a school and neighborhood...
The county commission can't legally say no? That is incredible. Charged with safeguarding the health and safety of unincorporated portions of Travis County, the commission starts from the shadow of likely lawsuits from a corporation that wants to put a fuel storage "tank farm" (what an oxymoron) near a school.
Travis County Dems Call for Poll Workers (but I'll bet your county party can use some as well, whatever county you're in.)
The most important item at the TCDP right now is to submit a comprehensive list of term-appointed Presiding Judges (a.k.a. Election Judges, the folks who work at polling locations on Election Day) for a one-year term, August 1, 2007 - July 31, 2008.
There will be approximately 3-5 elections during this one year term depending upon where you live and whether there will be any run-off elections.
As the 2008 March Primary draws closer, the TCDP asks that all who anticipate filing for office during the official filing period next December call or e-mail the TCDP with your current contact info to include campaign mailing address, e-mail, phone number(s), web address, campaign manager, etc.
The Party office has already begun receiving calls from local Dem Clubs and Organizations who would like to add candidate names to their contact lists and we would like to be able to assist these organizations with as complete a list as possible. But TCDP cannot provide correct information if they have not first been notified of your intent to run and been provided updated contact information.
Please see below the flip for a recent ask from the AFL-CIO to all potential candidates.
Contact TCDP Staff at 477-7500 or info@traviscountydemocrats.org
(Glen Maxey is the guru of voter registration in Travis County!!! - promoted by refinish69)
(cross-posted on BOR and DU)
Glen Maxey is running for tax assessor-collector and voter registrar for Travis.
Austin Chronicle Campaign Buzz: June 29, 2007
In declaring for the race, Maxey is taking on 16-year incumbent Nelda Wells Spears, who had been rumored to be considering retirement. Asked Monday whether she's running for re-election for another four-year term, Wells Spears responded simply, "Yes, I am." She said she has "several projects in the works" that she wants to see to completion, citing specifically a computer-imaging system for records retrieval still in development that will "smooth the work flow," as well as additional training programs for employees. "We don't get many complaints about our public service," she adds, "but one is too many."
For some reason, the stars aligned and the March meeting of Travis County's Democratic CEC was one where optimism welled up like a fountain. We had candidates, we had ex-candidates, we had new precinct chairs, and one kick ass special guest.
UPDATED 10/26/06: After the Precinct chair meeting last night, I hear that the big slots are filled. This doesn't mean you are off the hook, though. They need a reserve list for all those judges who have sick kids, family emergencies, or just plain don't make it to the polls on November 7. If you can take the day off, please call today and offer your services!
For those of you who have answered the call, THANK YOU!
ATTENTION AUSTIN KAOS KIDS!
I just got an email from the Travis County Democratic Party with the following news:
WE ARE WORKING WITH TRAVIS COUNTY ELECTIONS TO FILL REMAINING OPEN SPOTS FOR THE ELECTION. PLEASE SEE BELOW...
There are 10 precincts where we should have Democrats serving as Election Judges, but do not. Republicans have been assigned to these precincts!!!
We have to correct this.
If the 50-State strategy is important in elected positions, it's downright VITAL in party structure. GET INVOLVED! In EVERY PRECINCT in EVERY COUNTY!
More over the fold:
Travis County Dems who are going to kick Republican ass out of every Congressional, legislative, and county seat they hold, and send a rising blue tide to help our state wide champions win as well.
