Pete Sessions to Face Formidable Foe in 2010

This is huge! (5.00 / 1)

Grier should attract, not only big contributors, but big grassroots groups.  

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by: Gangy @ Fri Jun 12, 2009 at 20:57:04 PM CDT

He announced that he is running Friday at a luncheon . . . (5.00 / 1)

. . . of the Dallas Democratic Forum.  He received a great reaction from the attendees that were there to hear State Representatives Carol Kent and Robert Miklos give a report on the legislative session.

Numerous people, including myself, made a point to speak to Mr. Raggio and thank him for running.

P.S. - Reps. Miklos and Kent of course gave an insightful talk.  Also, they know they are being targeted by the Republicans in their marginal districts, and they have critical seats to hold, so please help support their re-election campaigns.

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by: D. Shawn Stevens @ Sat Jun 13, 2009 at 01:10:42 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Support for Miklos and Kent (0.00 / 0)

Thanks for this plug.  These two have a target on their back and will, indeed, need all the help we can give them to make sure they are re-elected.  As for the comments on my race, by inference, I would love to have a chat with you.  I think I can make the case that I am the better candidate to take on Pete.

Candidate for 32nd Congressional District of Texas.

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by: Steve Love @ Fri Jun 19, 2009 at 15:01:48 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Grier Raggio joining the race. (0.00 / 0)

    In the interest of accuracy: I declared for this race on May 7th of this year. It is understandable that Mr. Roberson does not list me as a "Formitable Foe" to Pete but then he didn't expect me to be in the run-off with him for the nomination in 2008. So, this is not the first time I have run for this office but the first time that I have determined to win the race not simply be a relief valve for Democrats who "needed an alternative to vote for."  No more "standing in for the party until a viable candidate comes along."  I am that viable candidate!  
  I am the viable candidate because this is not my first rodeo, because, except for the Frost campaign, the party has not had anyone to run for more than one time.  perhaps had Mr. Roberson thought more about his long-term political ambitions he would be building on his work in 2008 instead of leaving it in the dust.  That sends the wrong message to the voters.  Voting for the Democrat ought not to be newbee night every two years.  
   There is no disgrace is being out-voted but that ought not to be the end of the story. We cannot overcome the 12+ years of name identification of the incumbent in a four or five month campaign. And, while Raggio might be able to raise lots of money, if money would have won this election, Martin Frost would be our Congressman. Money does not vote and it is questionable if money can buy enough votes in the 32nd. There is a 17% headwind that has to be beat.
  Another factor is that there will be push back from anyone wanting to raise money from the hard-core donors.  Boyd Richie, the party Chairman, wants the lion share of money going into House legislative races so that we can take over the Texas House and win the redistricting battle in 2011...a decision with which I am in total agreement.  
  The consequences of redistricting trumps winning the 32nd hands down!!! We have to protect those incumbents House members and we have to pick up at least two more Democratic members.  
  If we can control redistriction the race for the 32nd will be fairer, but if we allow the Republicans to rebuild their strength in the Texas House, we will be saddled for the next ten years with gerrymandered districts all over the state and set us back decades.
  The other thing that I bring to the campaign is that I am not an attorney.  That does not mean that I don't respect the law (I was trained as a mediator when lawyers looked at mediation is step-children) but the rarified air that lawyers in the Raggio league breathe is hardly what the average Joe on the street breathes.  I think that people would like someone in Congress more like them, someone who has had mud on their shoes.  I'm not a Harvard graduate, I'm an Aggie and I'm a clergyman.  I was raised in hard times and had a few of my own.  
  So, if you are interested in someone who has been in Dallas since 1968, has worked in several political campaigns, has been out-voted in a few but still believes that maturity counts, I am your candidate.  Mine is not an "exploratory committee."  I've been in the race since May and am in it to go all the way...and I ask for your support.

Candidate for 32nd Congressional District of Texas.

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by: Steve Love @ Tue Jun 16, 2009 at 15:56:16 PM CDT