Paul Stempko files for Williamson County Democratic Chair

by: PaulR

Mon Jan 04, 2010 at 05:46 PM CST

Dear Fellow Democrat,

     My name is Paul Stempko, and on December 10th I filed my application to run for Chair of the Williamson County Democratic Party. As a fellow Democrat, I hope you will read this quick letter about why I am running and how we can work together toward a shared vision of a blue Williamson County.  

     I know you were as excited as I was about our victories up and down the ballot in 2008. Now going into 2010, the most important election year for Texas in generations, we must hold onto our successes, chart a path for gaining more ground in Williamson County and live up to our potential as a key player in statewide victories.  

I've lived in Williamson County since 2002, having moved to Round Rock from St. Paul, MN with my wife Jessica and two daughters, Julia and Kelsey. I'm also the proud stepfather of Amanda, who lives in Denton with her husband Scott and two boys, Clay and Dillon. I've worked for 3M Company since 1981, holding positions in sales, marketing, business development and, currently, key account management.  

     While I was prepared for the climatic shock of moving from the cold north to the sunny, hot environs of Texas, I was not prepared for the political shock of moving into the Republican stronghold of Williamson County. However, it's been exciting to work with the WCDP these last seven years and be a part of the progress that we've made, culminating with the election of Diana Maldonado to the Texas House in 2008.

     But there is so much more we need to do, and 2010 will be a pivotal year for Democrats in Williamson County. It is critical that we reelect Representative Maldonado to help us take back the Texas House of Representatives before the decennial redistricting process in the 2011 Legislative Session. We also have a real shot at winning two of the seats on the County Commissioner's Court and we are currently lining up great candidates in other races as well.

     I am confident that, under the right leadership, we can take our Party to the next level because as Vice-Chairman I have already helped to put many of the pieces of the strategic plan into motion. In 2008 the Party moved to its new headquarters in Round Rock, and this year we hired our first Executive Director, Lindsey Ellerbach. We have the highest level of participation we have ever seen in Party activities and donors, and community leaders are taking notice.

     We are also the beneficiaries of a PAC that Representative Maldonado helped form, Moving Wilco Forward, whose mission is to fund and provide support for the WCDP in order to elect more Democrats in Williamson County. With their helping hand we have the opportunity to become a fully self-sustaining organization following the 2010 elections.

It all boils down to three words - Message, Money, and Structure. Everything we do must be focused on these imperatives:

  1. Our message to the voters of Williamson County (especially Democratic voters) that we are now a force to be reckoned with and why it is so critical to be involved in 2010, a mid-term election with traditionally lower voter turnout.
  2. Supercharge our fundraising activities to enable us to support a coordinated campaign to bring out our base in 2010, and then to maintain our office, staff, and political activities.
  3. Structure the Party in ways that drives our strategic plan and empowers our staff, our Executive Committee, our officers, and our elected officials to move our party forward.

  Message, Money, and Structure. These are the key elements for supporting our Democratic candidates........and winning elections. Having worked almost non-stop on this effort since Election Day in 2008, I have a clear vision of where we need to be as a County Party on November 2, 2010 in order to win and achieve our ambitious goals.

However, I need your help and support to get there. That is why I would be honored to earn your vote in the March primary election. Together we will continue to turn Williamson County blue.  And in the interim, I look forward to working with you and embracing your ideas and passion on how we can continue to build on the strong foundation constructed over the last seven years.

Best Wishes for a happy, prosperous, and blue 2010.

Democratically yours,

Paul Stempko
Vice-Chairman
Williamson County Democratic Party