Help Put "Too Close to Craddick PAC" Out to Pasture

by: Al Stanley

Mon Jan 05, 2009 at 01:46 AM CST

In the March, 2008 primary, Too Close to Craddick supported three challengers and helped elect one--Armando Walle versus Kevin Bailey in Houston. Our funding of Walle's field campaign resulted in a heavy election-day turnout for Walle, swamping Bailey's lead in early voting.

We raised over $33,000 and $32,000 went to the campaigns. The rest went to BOR and Austin Chronicle ads (for fund-raising) and website development.

Two great Democrats--Karl-Thomas Musselman and Matt Glazer--helped with web development, and I would like to raise about $300 owed to them before closing shop. Our agreement was "subject to the availability of funds," and they've told me not to worry about it, but I am not wired not to worry. And they deserve it.

And I will close shop. Assuming the 72 Democrats now pledged to vote with the House Democratic leadership follow through, I will dissolve Too Close to Craddick. Any surplus funds will go to Paint Texas Blue.

I undertook this effort--supporting challengers to Democrats who voted against their leadership--"more in sorrow than in anger," as the Bard wrote. I will be glad to be done with it, and I hope for a great outcome on January 13th.

Please click here to donate. And thank you for your support.  

HD-140: Craddick D Bailey (Houston) in Serious Trouble

by: Phillip Martin

Wed Feb 20, 2008 at 03:30 PM CST

HD-140 is a wedge shaped district in north Houston including the neighborhoods of Aldine and Northside. Hispanic residents make up seventy three percent of the district, but historically low voter turnout among Hispanics compared to smaller blue-collar Anglo and African American populations in the district has blunted Hispanic influence on politics in the area.

Unfortunately, like many of the districts represented by Craddick Ds, District 140 is one with a lot of need. Per-capita income is around $10,400 (nearly half the state average) and roughly three-fifths of the district population over 25 never graduated high school. It's a district that benefits tremendously from forward-thinking policy in state government like the Children's Health Insurance Program, the Top Ten Percent Law, TEXAS Grants and low college tuition.

The Cost of Fealty to Tom Craddick

Kevin Bailey is not a great state representative. Recently in the news for taking a (potentially illegal) $50,000 contribution from a PAC whose largest donor is Tom Craddick, Bailey has a been a stalwart supporter of the embattled Republican speaker since 2003. It's not that Bailey doesn't have a progressive voting record; it's that when votes came up to deregulate tuition and send the cost of higher education skyrocketing, or to pass budgets that cut funding for a wide variety of social services, or to fully restore CHIP to its pre-2003 state, Bailey sided with Craddick over the needs of his constituents.

The Challenger - Armando Walle

It is my fundamental belief that the best legislators are those that live the spirit of their district, that understand the place of their district. My position on Craddick D's has always been, "the constituents in those districts can have their say as to who best represents their needs." More so than any other challenger this cycle, I think Armando Walle fits that bill.

Raised in the district by a single mom and the first person in his family to graduate high school, let alone college, Armando got his start in public life working as an intern through Senator Rodney Ellis' Texas Legislative Internship Program. For the past six years, he worked as an aide to Congressman Gene Green, who has represented the area as a state representative, state senator and congressman for nearly thirty years and is immensely popular in the district.

I've talked with Walle's supporters, and I hear a passion for their candidate I don't hear in even many incumbents' races. They swear to me that he's serious about helping kids who have to wait thirteen hours in an emergency room just to get medical treatment, or making sure seventeen year old juniors don't out of hand dismiss the chance of ever going to the University of Houston simply because they can't afford it (tuition has gone up 70% at UH since 2003, thanks to Speaker Tom Craddick), because he's a guy who was in a similar place himself once.

Armando Walle gets his district, and I'm not convinced that Rep. Bailey does.

The Horserace

Bailey's support is isolated to long time residents who have supported him since he was first elected, but even these voters will be in question due to Congressman Gene Green's strong support of Walle. The conventional wisdom is that low voter turnout (an anemic 1,300 voters in the 2006 Democratic primary) has been his strongest electoral asset as an office holder. Bailey's been counting on Craddick et al. for his financial support, receiving a $25,000 contribution from Texans for Lawsuit Reform in January in addition to the above mentioned Craddick money. But as Ron Wilson and Talmadge Heflin have both proven in Harris County, you can have all the money in the world and still lose for your ties to Tom Craddick.

Walle's been blockwalking since October of last year, and a strong, serious grassroots effort by his campaign to reach out to new voters and increase Hispanic turnout, combined with the gigantic turnout predicted for Harris County as the Obama and Hillary campaigns come rolling through Texas (up ninefold in the first day of early voting compared to 2006), means Kevin Bailey is in serious trouble.

On the web: Armando Walle for State Representative.

An Update on the Craddick D's

by: Phillip Martin

Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 09:00 AM CDT

Whether one supports or opposes the actions of the Craddick D's last session, they chose to establish themselves as a separate group in the Texas Legislature. Calling themselves "Democrats for Reform," they laid out an agenda at the start of session. At the end of session, they claimed their agenda was a success, and that the key successes for Democrats this session were the result of the deals they had struck with Speaker Craddick. They also touted the personal victories they won for their district by supporting Craddick, and many were proud to call themselves "Craddick D's."

It should be noted, though, that only a handful of those who attended the first press conference (announcing the Democrats for Reform, at the start of session) attended the second (after the challenge to Craddick at the end of May). More over, the voracity to which "their agenda" can be called a success was called into question.

With the announcement that Chairman Robert Puente will retire, I thought it would be appropriate to see exactly how those "Democrats for Reform" are doing today. This is merely meant as an update -- trying to keep track of our Democrats in the Texas House. I select them out as a group not out of hostility, but because they chose to set themselves apart from the House Democratic Caucus.

Update: To clarify, I designated whether or not any of the following State Representatives would "still vote for Craddick" based on their last known public position -- which I sourced as best as possible in the middle column. Any additional news that any of the Members or anyone else wish to share, please send me an e-mail or post a comment, and I will update the chart appropriately. 

The Craddick D's: Where We Are Today - October 22, 2007
Name	Latest Action, Information	Still Vote for Craddick?
Bailey, Kevin	Faces a primary challenger, according to the Texas Observer.	Yes
Chavez, Norma	Voted "present, not voting" during Rep. Haggerty's roll call speech; Rep. Chavez was quoted in the Houston Chronicle saying she would support new leadership in 2009.	No
Deshotel, Joe	Voted "against" Craddick during Rep. Haggerty's roll call speech.	No
Dukes, Dawnna	Though there were rumors that some in Austin were looking for a primary challenger, none have surfaced. The last known public statement was that Rep. Dukes stands by Craddick - though I'm not certain she'd vote for Craddick again.	Yes
Dutton, Harold	Since his lawyer is Craddick parliamentarian Terry Keel, we'll go out on a limb and say he's still supportive of the Speaker.	Yes
Flores, Kino	From Texas Observer blog: "Former teacher and probation officer Sandra Rodriguez has announced her intent to challenge Kino Flores." Rodriguez is endorsed by Annie’s List. Flores forcefully defended Craddick in this piece from the Edinburg Politics blog.	Yes
Giddings, Helen	Was one of the handful of Democrats proudly trumpeting the "Democrats for Reform" agenda at the end of session. No other public indication of her stance, and no primary news to date.	Yes
Guillen, Ryan	No challenger, no news. Though if the budget committee is still this hard, would he want it?	Yes
King, Tracy	No challenger; King attended the TexBlog PAC event, though.	Maybe
Lucio III, Eddie	Withdrew support from Craddick at end of session.	No
McClendon, Ruth Jones	On the motion to vacate at end of session, was said to be "flip-flopping." No news, though with Rep. Puente's retirement, she is the only Craddick-supporter in San Antonio.	Maybe
Pena, Aaron	Facing primary challenge re-match against Eddie Saenz. Pena has praised Craddick back home, along with the special goodies that came with Craddick's support.	Yes
Puente, Robert	Announced his retirement from the Texas House. Successor won't support Craddick.	N/A
Rose, Patrick	Withdrew support from Craddick, lending name for HDCC fundraiser.	No
Turner, Sylvester	Running for Speaker against Craddick & Rep. Senfronia Thompson; opposes HISD Bond.	Maybe
Of the 15, there are definitely 5 fewer supporters for Craddick, two "maybes" (three, if you include Rep. Turner), three Craddick D's facing primary challenges, and maybe a few more who would no longer call themselves Craddick D's.

Run Against Craddick Much?

by: DeeceX

Fri Aug 17, 2007 at 10:35 PM CDT

Paul Burka posts some fascinating numbers on Tom Craddick's name ID and favorable perception among voters. The gist:

1. Craddick's name ID is "higher than any speaker of the modern era," which means starting with Billy Clayton. I'm a little surprised to know that anybody bothered to measure the speaker's name ID before Craddick.

2. Among Republican primary voters, Craddick's favorable/unfavorable is 2 to 1 negative.

3. Among independent voters, Craddick's favorable/unfavorable is 6 to 1 negative.

4. Among Democrats, Craddick's favorable/unfavorable is 10 to 1 negative.

Craddick has made himself into the Tom DeLay of Texas politics.  His picture will be on more campaign mailers and TV ads than anyone else's this cycle. 

The Craddick Ds better start thinking about that 10-to-1 negative rating, and how they intend to answer to their voters. 

More on Pena, Flores

by: Jose Blasquez

Tue Apr 24, 2007 at 02:00 PM CDT

Absence of two Valley Reps proves crucial on key Voter ID amendment.

AUSTIN - The absence of two Rio Grande Valley lawmakers from the House floor on Monday proved crucial on a closely fought amendment to a controversial Voter ID bill.

The article then goes on to make much of the same points that were made here at Burnt Orange last night, specifically about the one-vote margin of defeat that happened on Rep. Jim Dunnam's amendment.  The article also notes that Flores was "unwell" and that Pena was back home in McAllen giving a speech about crime victims.

Flores' statement would carry more weight had not another Representative who has been sick with pneumonia not sat on the house floor through the hours of debate just to vote no.  And as important as it is to recognize victims of crime and the suffering that they have gone through, HB 218 was a pretty important bill.

Two notable lines from the article, below the fold.

Out of Touch AND Out of Town?

by: Jose Blasquez

Mon Apr 23, 2007 at 06:24 PM CDT

Just a quick update on House floor action for the Voter Disenfranchisement legislation currently on the floor.

Voting has begun to settle along party lines as members feels they need to get their say while everyone else tunes them out.

Of interest, however, are two absent legislators whose districts are directly affected by these bad pieces of legislation.

Sly Turner: Glutton for Punishment

by: Jose Blasquez

Mon Apr 02, 2007 at 09:18 PM CDT

Turner, foiled again on a point of order by Republican Robert Talton, has yet to pass either one of his primary (election) protection bills, which would partially restore CHIP and the System Benefit fund.  Craddick is laying his Speaker Pro Tempore out to dry- begging for the a Dem to go after Turner come February/March.

Lesson of the Day: Don't. Trust. Craddick.

by: Jose Blasquez

Mon Mar 19, 2007 at 04:34 PM CDT

What's interesting about this entire event though is who was up front arguing for the bill and who was on the back mike throwing the point of order.  In the front you've got Turner, Speaker Pro Tempore Turner, a Craddick Democrat who received the honor of being chosen to shepherd the one CHIP bill through the legislative process.

The bill sailed through a committee chaired by another Craddick D, Patrick Rose, and seemed to be on its way to passing the House.  Until Republican Robert Talton decided to gum up the works.

TooCloseToCraddick seeking skilled volunteers

by: Al Stanley

Sun Feb 04, 2007 at 06:39 PM CST

Too Close to Craddick is a political committee I started last year to recruit and back viable challengers to Craddick Ds; www.TooClosetoCraddick.com is the associated URL.

Though I am a political consultant, this is a pro bono activity for me. I am looking for one or two volunteers with sufficient expertise in Photoshop and Flash to put together a brief animation for the home page. If you think you might be interested in helping, please contact me at this temporary e-mail account (now disabled)

Anyone wishing to make a donation toward getting the website up can contribute now through ActBlue.

Craddick Ds and Pockets of Poverty

by: Al Stanley

Wed Jan 17, 2007 at 08:31 PM CST

The level of education is measured by the percentage of people with (or without) high school diplomas or college degrees, and "city" is defined as a place with a population of 5,000 or more. Many are merely "census-designated places" rather than actual cities. The "least-educated city" list, of course, signifies much more than educational attainment level. The cities and places tend to be low-income, low-opportunity and isolated--they are pockets of poverty--the poorest of the poor. Fifty-four are in California, 24 are in Texas.

Of the 24, half are represented by Craddick Ds: