House Speaker Tom Craddick's disastrous handling of challenges to his leadership has heightened House races across the state, including several in Central Texas. Whether voters know it or not - and certainly most don't - House races on the Nov. 4 ballot are a referendum on Craddick's heavy-handed rule.
The Austin American Statesman sums up this election cycle perfectly. Tom Craddick is a failure in leadership. As November 4 approaches, Texans have a unique opportunity to get rid of the self proclaimed dictator of the Texas House.
With the Statesman's honest assessment on Texas legislative politics, its no surprise they endorsed three qualified Democrats- Donnie Dippel, Diana Maldonado, Patrick Rose.
District 52 Though both candidates are strong, we believe Democrat Diana Maldonado would best represent the district. Maldonado is a former president of the Round Rock school board and was an employee in the state comptroller's office until she was forced to resigned to run for this seat.
Maldonado, 45, has a reputation as a budget hawk who understands accounting. And she can be counted on to be an effective voice for education issues and public schools. She supports the law that grants college admission to the top 10 percent of the graduating class in Texas high schools and wants to reconsider having the Legislature set college tuition rates.
[...]
Maldonado knows the district and has served as an effective leader in her five years on the Round Rock school board. She should be elected in District 52.
District 17
This is another open seat, left vacant when Democrat Robby Cook decided against seeking re-election. Cook won a close victory in 2006, and Republicans are campaigning hard to win the district, which covers Burleson, Lee, Bastrop, Fayette and Colorado counties.
[...]
We believe Dippel would be best for the far-flung, largely rural district.
Dippel, 57, a consultant who worked for the Texas Department of Agriculture for 14 years, opposes voucher programs for schools, selling water to buyers outside the district and the Trans-Texas Corridor. He supports more vocational education and is concerned about health care, particularly in rural areas.
The Statesman also endorsed Patrick Rose in his bid for re-election. The paper summed up Rep. Rose's legislative history.
Rose has voted his district, and his list of accomplishments includes road improvements, funding for Texas State University and support for local schools. In a district of independent-minded voters, Rose has gained their support by voting their interests, not either party's.
Democrat Diana Maldonado was our first endorsed candidate for TexBlog PAC. With that early money and online support followed numerous endorsements. Maldonado, with her public education background, is running a strong, disciplined race in southern Williamson County -- just north of Austin's own Travis County. Just today she was endorsed by the Statesman, too.
The race is an open seat -- Republican Mike Krusee retired this year, after barely hanging on in 2006. A staunch supporter of toll roads and other unpopular Republican measures, Krusee did not build a strong coalition in Williamson County, where a surge in voter registration for Democrats has given Maldonado one of the best chances for Democrats to pick up a seat.
From Eye on Williamson, which is the best place for news on the HD-52 race, we get a round-up of the local press Maldonado is receiving in the Austin media market -- demonstrating her unquestionable strength:
Eye on Williamson County -- who are one of the best blogs in the state, and have done an incredible job covering the HD 52 race -- break the news this morning:
This news is going to cause absolute panic in the Speaker’s office. The groundswell of financial support for Diana Maldonado has given the Democratic candidate for House district 52 enough of a cash advantage to guarantee her message will reach voters between now and election day. In a race that is being watched from Washington to Midland, today’s Texas Ethics Commission reports represent perhaps most the stern rebuke of the Republican party that we’ve witnessed during this remarkable campaign season.
Apparently almost $30,000 of Daniel's money came from a single contributor -- Bob Perry.
More great news as we try and take back the House!
Texas House Democratic Nominee Diana Maldonado was recognized and honored with an email sent out by the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC) alerting Democrats across the country of the promise her campaign holds to pick up another seat for the HDCC.
DLCC Executive Director Michael Sargeant takes time each week to recognize a few choice legislative candidates from around the country with an email asking Democrats to support their candidacies.
BlogPac was one of the first PACs to recognize the potential to pick up a seat and build our majority with Maldonado's campaign.
Remember to support Diana at www.dianamaldonado.com.
As always, you can find the DLCC at www.dlcc.org.
Although Texas Democrats might not be very familiar with the organization, Michael Sargeant has done a tremendous job at the DLCC.
They have been at the tip of the spear in flipping state legislative chambers all over the country. The DLCC raises money and places talent. We are fortunate that they are becoming more involved in Texas.
The DLCC offers us the opportunity to highlight more competitive Texas races. So if you want to help your local Democratic challenger out:
We are still looking for 10 emerging races. So far more than 700 of you have suggested names of good Democrats running impressive campaigns all across the country. Will you take the time to tell us about a race we should be watching in your area?
I personally worked with them to flip the Iowa House and hold the Tennessee House in 2006.
Aspiring campaign operatives should send in their resume to the DLCC. It is a great source to get entry level campaign jobs as well as management jobs and caucus director positions.
Well, prepare for another big fundraising report next month. Maldonado tells QR that she's had quite a productive time of it on the circuit in recent days. On Sept. 14, a Lloyd Doggett-hosted fundraiser netted $60,000. That was followed on Thursday by news that Blue Texas was giving the candidate $50,000.
QR readers will remember that we highlighted this group a few months back. Organized in May by Austin-based Democratic fundraiser Alexa Wesner, the Blue Texas PAC is working with the relatively narrow mission to get more Democrats elected to the Texas House.
This is excellent news for an excellent candidate. You can feel confident that your funds and our endorsement are well placed in this race.
Diana Maldonado, TexBlog PAC's first endorsed candidate, has made significant ground since an IVR Poll in June. She has had momentum, and now finds herself in a dead heat.
New polling by a Democratic polling firm indicates Dems' confidence that they can be competitive for the HD 52 seat being vacated by House Transportation Chairman Mike Krusee (R-Round Rock).
The poll, conducted by Opinion Analysts, Inc., showed the Democrat in the race, Diana Maldonado, tied with the Republican Bryan Daniel. They each drew 35 percent with the Libertarian Lillian Simmons drawing 3 percent.
This is wonderful news. In an obviously crucial race, we clearly stand a good shot. If the momentum stays, Maldonado will win. Now is as good of a time as any to contribute or help out in any way. Because we can win. We need five, and this should be one of them.
Get real campaign experience and make a difference in Texas politics!
Diana Maldonado is running for State Representative in District 52 and is one of the most watched races in Texas!
Williamson County is fast becoming Democratic Territory and we need your help!
Immediate Positions Open for part-time canvassers!! We are offering $10/ hour for paid canvassers to work at least 10 hours a week.
Shifts will be Monday - Friday 5:00-9:00 pm,
Saturday from 10:00 am -1:00 pm
3:00 - 7:00 pm, and Sundays from 2-6.
Qualifications:
Dedication and Determination to take Texas Back!
Dependable
Driver's License required
Ability to communicate effectively
Transportation and Spanish speaking a plus!
For more information, please email or call Courtney Watson cwatson@dianamaldonado.com ? 512/788-1301
www.dianamaldonado.com
Facing an uphill battle in his race for HD-52, Republican nominee Bryan Daniel has initiated an attack against his Democratic opponent, Diana Maldonado, exploiting the John Edwards affair. Edwards' finance committee chair Fred Baron paid Edwards' paramour Rielle Hunter's moving expenses from North Carolina to California. He said it was to help her avoid tabloid reporters chasing the story.
Baron has also supported Annie's List financially since at least 2006. Annie's List has endorsed Diana Maldonado and contributed to her campaign. Now we learn that Williamson county Republican party chair Bill Fairbrother is contacting media to pressure the Maldonado campaign to give $25,000 back to Annie's List.
This is a dangerous line of attack for Daniel who, according to the most recent TEC report, has taken $12,712 from 24 PACs and lobbyists. Daniels' campaign is fueled by PACs, any number of which harbor tainted money. Once the campaign goes there, it opens up the door to examinations of Republican transgressions. One need not look far. Take the current representative from HD-52, Republican Mike Krusee, for example. He was arrested in April for DWI and has been rumored to have an extra-marital relationship of his own.
The actions of Baron in doing what he could to prevent damaging stories about Edwards from surfacing during the primary were ill-advised, and a certain amount of blowback was inevitable.
Baron is a plaintiff's attorney who is best known for representing clients claiming toxic and chemical exposure. This makes him an old enemy of giant corporations and the Republican politicians they own. Fairbrother deliberately used the word "toxic" to sound off a dog whistle to Republicans who have long hated him. The irony here is that the money was toxic long before Baron touched it. It became tainted by the asbestos manufacturers and chemical companies that failed to protect their employees or suppressed information about the dangers of their products.
In recent years, Baron has been a leading fund-raiser for the Democratic party. It would be difficult to exaggerate the importance of Baron's money to all Democrats in Texas. Baron is a dedicated Democrat because of his years fighting for plaintiffs. He knows the harm that big companies, who value profit more than life itself, are doing to you and me.
For the past six weeks, local Republicans have chafed at Maldonado's fund-raising success. The entire Edwards affair, and Baron's role in it, have given Republicans an avenue for attack. The question is open for debate whether that "toxic" money got cleaner after Baron touched it. One thing is for sure, it was put to good use by Annie's List, an organization that has helped elect 8 Democratic women to the state legislature. Their decision to support Maldonado was based on her record on education, her track record on the school board, and her stand on the issues that matter to Democrats and women.
Follow the HD-52 race at: http://eyeonwilliamson.org
The Diana Maldonado Campaign for Texas House District 52 is up and running to take back Williamson County, and help flip the Texas House of Representatives to a Democratic control. This will mean quality representation for residence in District 52, the removal of Tom Craddick from Texas House Speaker's office, and an advantage when redistricting legislation occurs in 2011.
The campaign has several important volunteer jobs:
Saturday August 2nd- Block walking- Meet up at the Williamson County Coordinated office at 9:30am. We'll provide the maps, voter registration cards, campaign material and most importantly water. Please RSVP at http://my.barackobama.com/page...
Every Thursday Starting August 7th- 4pm - 9pm Phone banking
Sign up on BarackObama.com and join our group at the below link to stay informed about events and news form the Williamson County Campaign Coordinated Campaign.
