In Matt's post earlier, he said there was some speculation as to whether or not David Van Os has filed for State Chair. I've been away from computers all day, but I want to make it 100% clear that he absolutely has.
From an e-mail from a Van Os supporter, who sent this on behalf of David as he was caucusing (this is accurate, I've followed up):
David most emphatically has filed the requisite paperwork for filing. As speculated upon by this article, he did utilize the US Mail in San Antonio in the proper timeframe and has proof of same with him at his hotel room (again, he's in caucus now and hence doesn't have the paperwork with him).
Lots to write about for tonight -- will try to do so at another time.
At the 2006 State Convention, the Party Chair race was the main event. Stickers for Glen Maxey or Boyd Richie could be seen on nearly every delegate in Forth Worth.
This year, with yet another's chair race upon us, there are several candidates challenging Boyd Richie. But you sure wouldn't know it from walking around the Austin Convention Center.
The Richie campaign is out in full force. Even some of the most die-hard Glen Maxey supporters from 2006 (of which I count myself) seem to be supporting Richie.
The candidacies of David Van Os and Roy Laverne Brooks (and anyone else who is running) are virtually invisible. If either one has significant support (which, at this point, may be a big "if") I sure haven't seen it.
If how these candidates run their chair campaign is any prediction of how they might run the party, it is hard to justify voting for anyone other than Richie.
How can we trust them to run a viable state party when they cannot even run a viable party chair campaign?
UPDATE: I was just offered a David Van Os sticker and am starting to see a few on people walking around. But it is still clear that Richie is the overwhelming favorite at this point. The Van Os sticker says he is "100% for the people" and has the words "Change, Unity, Hope, Democracy."
I ran into Davis Van Os during the opening TDP kick-off reception and he confirmed to me that he had officially decided he was running for state party chair this afternoon. I assume that he will place his name in nomination from the floor on Saturday unless the nominations committee reports out something different than current chair Boyd Richie as the committee's official recommendation.
I haven't seen nor heard of any further developments with Vice Chair Roy LaVerne Brooks as the only campaign that seems to exist is Boyd Richie's at this point (in terms of convention materials or support teams).
Update: David Van Os sent this out this morning.
Dear Fellow Democrat:
At the urging of many grassroots Democrats from across Texas, I respectfully offer my services to you as your next Texas Democratic Party Chair.
In 2006 as the Democratic nominee for Texas Attorney General, I personally met with voters at every one of the 254 county courthouses in Texas, from Orange to McAllen to El Paso to Dalhart to Texarkana and every county seat in between. I did this because every voter counts and every part of Texas counts. The Texas Democratic Party must campaign in 100% of Texas and when I am State Party Chair we WILL conduct a 254-county Democratic campaign.
Time and again I have spoken out for the Texas Democratic Party to support 100% of the Democratic candidates at every level of government, and when I am State Party Chair we WILL campaign to SWEEP Texas for our national, state, and county tickets, instead of merely targeting a few legislative districts as the present leadership of the Party has unfortunately done in past elections.
In each of my runs for statewide office as a Democratic candidate (Texas Supreme Court, 1998; Texas Supreme Court, 2004; Texas Attorney General, 2006), I took on powerful Republican incumbents in uphill battles, never flinching, never retreating; confronting the corrupt and the greedy 100% on behalf of the people. When I am State Party Chair we WILL carry the fight to the robber barons and corrupt profiteers on behalf of the people of Texas.
Time and time again I have spoken out against backroom dealing and insider control within the Texas Democratic Party because I insist that the Democratic Party belongs 100% to all Democrats equally and must be self-governed as a democratic institution. When I am State Party Chair all of us together WILL self-govern this party democratically and openly.
For 32 years I have worked as a union-side labor lawyer and Constitutional lawyer, fighting for workers' rights and defending the Constitution, putting my principles 100% into my work. I'm a Life Member of the NAACP and a member of the ACLU because I am 100% determined to preserve and defend civil rights and the Constitution.
I'm a lifelong Democrat, having attended every state convention since 1976; having served as a precinct chair, a county chair, and a club chair; having volunteered on numerous campaigns; and having run for public office as a Democrat; because I believe 100% in the principles and values of this Party.
And I am 100% determined that the Texas Democratic Party deliver in November and carry this state for our Presidential ticket, for our U.S. Senate candidate Rick Noriega, for our statewide judicial candidates, and for every other level of government on the election ballot.
Whosplayin has the scoop on this one. While undecided, it appears some folks have urged him to run.
"The unvarnished truth is that a number of supporters from across the state are trying to draft me to run; and that I'm keeping all options open and haven't made a final decision yet.
...honestly I have to tell you I may not do it, or then again I may do it. It is a difficult decision. I want to arrive at whatever my conscience tells me is the best decision for the causes I believe in. If I run, it will be because of my concern that the current leadership does not have the vision and drive to deliver in November - win not just a few Texas House seats, but carry the state for the national ticket, Noriega, and our statewide judicial candidates..."
~David Van Os
David Van Os is the 2006 Democratic nominee for Attorney General, a co-founder of the Texas Progressive Populist Caucus which had endorsed Boyd Richie in 2006, and longtime grassroots activist.
A reform movement to open up, democratize, and empower the Texas Democratic Party through the majority vote actions of the Delegates at the State Convention in June is taking shape.
The reform coalition has been dubbed the Campaign for Change. I am speaking in this article as a volunteer for the Campaign for Change. At the end of this article I will tell you how you can help immediately, but first I have to tell you what the Campaign for Change is.
The objective of the Campaign for Change is to change Texas, and thus change America, by transforming the Texas Democratic Party into a more open, democratic, empowering organization that is governed openly and democratically by the grassroots, instead of by insider cliques that would rather collaborate with robber barons and Constitution thieves than lose their control over the Democratic Party.
The Campaign for Change believes that transforming the Texas Democratic Party into a more open, democratically governed party will broaden the party's base by putting up a welcome sign for disaffected Democrats who have disengaged from the political process, Independents who want real change, and disgusted Republicans who have been driven away by the anti-Constitution criminals who hijacked their party.
The Campaign for Change believes such a transformed Texas Democratic Party will broaden the party's base and campaign to sweep the state in November 2008 for the benefit of all Texans, rather than settle for the kind of defeatist campaign to win only a few seats in the state legislature that the insider clique conducted in 2004 and 2006, and which the insider clique is planning right now to do again in 2008 unless the grassroots Democrats assembled at the State Convention take charge of their party.
Melancon-Van Os North Texas Tour
February 23, 2008
David Van Os, popular Democrat and grassroots organizer, is coming to North Texas to endorse Glenn Melancon in the March 4th primary. David and Glenn will tour North Texas on Saturday February 23rd. Join them in Bowie, Titus, Hunt or Grayson counties as they offer hope to Texas Families. We the people can, and will, restore our democracy even if we have to "Fight 'em on the ice!"
Bowie County
When: 11:00am to 12:00 noon
Where: Dixie Dinner, Nash Texas, I30 and King's Highway in the 989 Plaza
Titus County
When: 1:30 to 2:30 pm
Where: IBEW Hall, 1406 N Washington Ave, Mt. Pleasant Texas
Hunt County
When: 4:00 to 5:00 pm
Where: Hunt County Democratic Headquarters, NE Corner of Washington & Wesley Streets, Greenville Texas
Glenn Melancon of Sherman is the Democratic candidate in Texas’ 4th Congressional District. The district includes Bowie, Camp, Cass, Collin, Delta, Fannin, Franklin, Grayson, Hopkins, Hunt, Lamar, Morris, Rains, Red River, Rockwall and Titus counties.
For all of you bloggers who have not heard, David Van OS has his sights set on you, issuing a challenge to Progressive bloggers to "come out from behind your keyboard and debate me publicly."
Here is a quote from Part 4 of Van Os' "Fight 'em on the Ice" Newsletter.
So far nobody has taken me up on my challenge to the Insiders to a debate over these issues. Come on out and debate me publicly. Don't content yourself with taking pot shots at me from behind blogger pseudonyms. Let's do it in public, in a format where we can challenge each other's assertions and question each other on the spot, in the open. Who will stand and debate me?
Now if there is any subject on BOR that just doesn't get enough air-time (*wink), its David Van Os and his never ending assault on the Texas Democratic Party and anyone who dares question his unsuccessful campaign strategy. As a young, fresh, student of politics, there is not much more I can do but sit back and gasp at the incessant angry rants. I, like most of my collegues, agree that the man is a talented politician, with an enduring passion that our state party simply lacks. We greatly respect his accomplishments and dedication to change in Texas, and most of us have been wooed by his oratory skills.
After his defeat in the General Election, however, David has turned his attention to a much easier target; us. He has mounted his chariots and declared an all out assault on the young political activists, or "wannabe political operative snobs" as he calls them.
And honestly, I would be scared if I thought the man was not in the process of destroying all that was left of his legitimacy or political clout. I'd be intimidated if I wasn't so damn embarrassed; embarrassed that he has attempted to ruin himself by challenging some of the state's most talented thinkers to a public debate.
So tell me, who among you is willing to accept this challenge and meet Van Os in an epic showdown of truth at a City Hall near you? Ironically enough, Denton County is covered in snow this morning David...
[Just in case you haven't seen it yet, this article at Texas Blue is a great read on the subject. Make sure to check out the comment from DVO at the very bottom.]
(For community discussion. - promoted by Burnt Orange Report)
The following is a letter from David Van Os to one of his core supporters following last week's SDEC meeting, where the existence of a campaign/GOTV budget of $400,000 for the 2006 cycle was discussed by finance chair Dennis Speight, prompting questions from several SDEC members.
I asked DVO for permission to reprint it here. I removed only the name of the party to whom it was addressed in order to preserve that person's confidentiality.
I would be interested in BORers' thoughts regarding the ideas advanced here.
(A great summary of everything in the extended entry! - promoted by Karl-Thomas Musselman)
The Austin American-Statesman reports on Greg Abbott's misuse of state resources with an appropriately misleading headline. They manage to get the story right, however (bold emphasis mine throughout):
