UFW Endorses Doggett
By Byron LaMasters
This is a few days old, but winning the support of the United Farm Workers is certainly a boost to Lloyd Doggett's campaign in the 25th Congressional District against Leticia Hinojosa (in a 69% Hispanic district).
Adding heft to an already lengthy list of Rio Grande Valley endorsements in his race for a new seat in Congress, U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin, got the backing of the United Farm Workers of America on Saturday.
Members of a UFW committee who interviewed the candidates said it was a tough decision to choose Doggett over his Rio Grande Valley opponent in the Democratic primary, former State District Judge Leticia Hinojosa of McAllen.
[...]
With hundreds of members in the Valley, the UFW is one of the region's most active political groups, and its leaders hope to make a difference of some 2,000 votes in the March 9 primary.
"We knew that Leticia was a Valley girl and that she has struggled and persevered, but we felt we needed the strongest person who could really make a difference," said Ester Salinas, one of 20 UFW members who voted in the endorsement process.
[...]
It was designed to be a perfect fit for a minority candidate, but the UFW's backing is another sign that Doggett's bid was being taken seriously by core Democratic constituencies.
Hinojosa pleaded for a chance to prove herself to the constituents of the district. But Doggett's five terms in Congress — including a perfect voting record for the AFL-CIO, which the UFW is a part of — won the group over, Salinas said.
Doggett has been endorsed by a large number of elected officials in South Texas. In Austin, his support has been nearly unanimous. Hinojosa has been endorsed by State Sen. Gonzalo Barrientos and the Austin Tejano Democrats (where his family yields a lot of influence), but every other Austin elected official endorsing in the race has endorsed Doggett. Most every Democratic club in Austin has endorsed Lloyd Doggett (I think the vote was a unanimous 43-0 for the University Democrats). The Austin Progressive Coalition (an organization formed by the University Democrats and Central Austin Democrats each year to put up doorhangers in central Austin for candidates that the candidates we've both endorsed) will be blockwalking for Lloyd Doggett in the coming weeks. Also on our flyer will be Nancy Hohengarten for County Court at Law #5, Stephen Yelenosky for 345th District Judge, Gisela Triana for 200th District Judge, Luke Mercer for Constable Precinct 1 and Maria Canchola for Constable Precinct 4.
For those of you in Austin, the Austin Progressive Coalition will be holding a fundraiser next Wednesday, February 18th at the AFL-CIO hall. We'll be airing the MoveOn.org documentary Truth Uncovered. Admission is $5.
Posted by Byron LaMasters at February 11, 2004 09:38 PM
| TrackBack
For all of you in Austin, PLEASE get out and support Lloyd Doggett. He is such an effective soldier against Bush, Inc. that they targeted him for extinction - from within. Not to take anything away from his opponent, but really is a no brainer.
Doggett, from day one, has been such an effective master of the legislative process, that he has spearheaded a "parliamantarian caucus," basically a braintrust to thwart the Republican leadership though process. He has been so effective that Delay cannot stand him and wants him GONE.
We should not reward such a tireless advocate for all that we stand for by failing to help him when he needs it the most.
NOW, GET OUT AND WEAR-OUT THAT SHOE LEATHER FOR LLOYD.
