November 11, 2004
Everyone Ogles over Lupe Valdez
By Byron LaMasters
It's good to see, even if the Republican controlled Dallas County Commissioners Court is threatening to strip much of her budget, people seem to be taking notice of Dallas County's Female, Hispanic, Lesbian, Short, Democratic Sheriff-Elect Lupe Valdez. Everyone I've been speaking to in Dallas say that there's pretty much no doubt that Republicans will cut her budget, though. Regardless, when the issue comes up, I'll be sure to raise some hell. Fortunately, Democrats do have a realistic chance of retaking the Commissioners Court in Dallas County come 2006 (the county judge and county commissioner precinct four will be up in 2006, both controlled by the GOP, but where Democrats won 47% in each race in 2002 - the GOP currently has a 4-1 edge).
I posted on the raise at 2 AM election night, because, well -- it was about the best news anywhere that I could find at the time. Not only did Lupe Valdez win, but three Democratic Judges were elected, including the first Latina judge in Dallas County -- Dennise Garcia, who will take office as soon as she is able as she ran for the unexpired term of a Republican incumbent who passed away earlier this year.
Back to Lupe Valdez, it's good to see her getting national international press. Check it all out if you have the chance:
Washington Post
Salon
New York Times
The Guardian
Also blogged at: Off the Kuff and the Free State Standard.
Posted by Byron LaMasters at November 11, 2004 04:32 PM
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I never heard anything about Lupe Valdez's race until after she won. Was her being a lesbian ever brought up in the campaign? Just curious if she ran openly or not...
"Dallas County's Female, Hispanic, Lesbian, Short, Democratic Sheriff-Elect Lupe Valdez"
Short? Are we ladies under 5' 4" finally getting our way in the world? Huzzah!
(I love that you included that)
Jason - yes.
Lupe didn't mention her sexual orientation in her campaign, but it was widely known. She also sought and won the endorsement of the Gay / Lesbian Victory Fund, a national organization that helps fund GLBT candidates to all levels of government.
That endorsement came up in the final weeks of the campaign as her Republicans opponent tried to say that she was more committed to a special national homosexual agenda than a Dallas agenda. It was last minute, desperate, pathetic gay-baiting. I blogged on it here.
The officers quoted in the piece sounded like arseholes, it will be a challenge winning over those pricks.
If the County Commissioners want to cut the Sheriff's budget, I say bring it on. Publicize the crap out of it and the Rethuglicans will look like the vindictive SOBs that they are. It will backfire and we will turn Dallas County Republicans into an endangered species.
Viva Lupe! Texas has always been Mexican land (even if some (fake)cowboys and cowgirls try to forget that).
You go Girl!!
FYI, the Dallas Morning News backed Lupe Valdez. Not that I love the Dallas "Managed" News, but it will not sit still and watch the Commissioners Court gut the budget of a candidate it endorsed without pitching a fit and exposing it is utter bunk.
