Aside from Davis being far behind Matula in cash on hand and fundraising, there is something else interesting about his finance reports: his Sugar Daddy.
We apologize in advance if the song is stuck in your head the rest of the day, but check this out:
Just check out these incredible numbers in the HD 129 race!
Contributions
Expenditures
Cash on Hand
Democrat Sherrie Matula
$125,823.77
$61,554.36
$136,934.03
Republican John Davis
$46,562.51
$49,618.73
$62,046.25
Matula's Advantage
$79,261.26
$11,935.63
$74,887.78
Democrat Sherrie Matula also received the endorsement of the Texas Parent PAC today, who wrote in their endorsement:
“Unlike her opponent, Sherrie Matula represents the mainstream views and interests of parents and children, taxpayers and businesses,” said Darci Hubbard of Houston, Texas Parent PAC Board member. “Bay Area families deserve an independent representative of the highest integrity who will consistently stand up for their needs.”
Matula was first endorsed by the TexBlog PAC many months ago. We recognized the extraordinary opportunity we had in this seat, and have been working hard for her this whole time.
Now -- with the recent endorsements and these great fundraising dollars -- we should expect to see some real money come in from the more traditional fundraising donors.
(Help me make Sherrie Matula's race one of the DLCC's "Essential Races" for 2008! Click here to nominate Sherrie.)
I will admit it: I am a political cynic.
It isn't often that I contract a case of what Billy Bob Thornton's character in Primary Colors called "True Believerism." It takes someone special--and a special campaign--to make me dust off the mantle of a cynic and really believe.
For me, this year, that candidate is Sherrie Matula.
Sherrie is running for State Representative in House District 129, a Harris County district including Clear Lake, part of Houston, and more.
Michael Skelly in TX-07 gets an upgrade by Chris Bowers in his House Forecast to "Lean Republican" from "Likely Republican". He was recently added to the DCCC's Red to Blue list.
A good update on what's coming back online in Houston & Galveston. Still not time to return to Galveston, yet.
Generally, Blakemore said, "you're going to see folks from the Houston area looking to other parts of the state to do campaign fundraising... With little ability to raise funds in the district, with campaign activities in the district and throughout Houston suspended, you have to look elsewhere - and Austin is a logical place to look."
Different candidates clearly are approaching this in different ways.
Sherrie Matula is running a great campaign in House District 129. Her grit and determination have put her on a lot of people's list of races to watch. Maybe that's why TexBlog PAC endorsed her.
Now Annie's list has joined Matula's growing list of endorsements.
We have been watching Sherrie's race closely this year and she has earned her way onto the list with old fashioned hard work and determination.
With 30 years experience under her belt as a public education advocate (former Clear Creek ISD school board member and teacher, now a statewide education consultant), Matula has successfully highlighted Davis' abysmal education record and forced this solid Republican district to re-evaluate their incumbent state representative, Rep. John Davis (R), on a variety of issues including his questionable ethics. And research shows they don't like what they see and are ready for a change.
With a professional campaign operation now in place, over $150,000 raised-to-date and independent research showing a message path to victory - we are excited to make this race one of our top targets in the final push this fall. And, as is our standard practice, once we determine a race is viable, we jump in head first with the full resources of Annie's List - including you, our committed base of supporters.
Annie's List is going to be doing a dollar for dollar match for up to $10,000 for the next 10 days.
You can donate online here. We have to pick up 5 seats this fall to take back the Texas House. Help make sure Sherri Matula is one of them.
Bush's Brain, Karl Rove is ignoring a Congressional subpoena to testify on the political firings inside the Department of Justice, and has opted to fundraise for embattled Republican's instead. The question the Texas Democratic Party is asking is, "Will vulnerable Republicans welcome tainted money?"
Rove is no stranger to controversy. He was willing to risk the life of a CIA operative by devising a plan to reveal her identity and the person behind many of the White House policies that put raw politics above doing what's best for our country.
The scary thing is Rove is now making history as the first political operative and White House staffer to ignore a Congressional subpoena to go raise money.
"It is time for Karl Rove to stop acting like he is above and beyond the law and put an end to his flagrant violations of the people's trust," said Texas Democratic Party Chairman Boyd Richie. "Until that happens, any candidate trying to raise money at an event featuring Rove should immediately cancel the fundraiser and return any money raised."
In an unprecedented move, Karl Rove blatantly ignored a Congressional subpoena to testify on the political firings at the Department of Justice, forcing the House Judiciary Committee to issue Rove a rarely-used Contempt of Congress citation. Although Rove has been trotting around the country appearing on talk shows, when it came to owning up to the American people, he indefensibly claimed immunity.
"Karl Rove is responsible for a lot of what's gone wrong in Washington and Austin, and the Republicans that welcome his fundraising help are thumbing their noses at Texans who want to change things and restore a government that works for us again," added Richie. "Americans deserve to hear Karl Rove testify under oath and tell the truth, but here he is, defying a subpoena and raising money for Texas Republicans who are offering more of the same old failed and corrupt politics."
We will absolutely keep our eyes on Rove's benefactors. So far we know he is raising money for Big Bland John and Sherrie Matula's opponent John Davis.
(Jumping this up a bit, since there is an interesting update. - promoted by Vince Leibowitz)
UPDATE: The date of the fundraiser is August 12, 2008. We've learned that the fundraiser is a joint event for John Davis, Gary Elkins, Jim Murphy, and Ken Legler. "Patron" level sponsorships are a cool $5,000, which just happens to be the same amount TexBlog PAC contributed to Sherrie Matula's campaign.
Clearly, a man who ought to be put in jail for his refusal to testify in front of Congress doesn't reflect the values of the folks in HD 129, where Sherrie Matula faces John Davis, or in HD 133, where Kristi Thibaut challenges Jim Murphy, or in HD 144, where Democrat Joel Redmond faces Ken Legler for Talton's open seat.
For grins, you can view two pieces of the invitation here and here--neither of which, we might add, includes a paid political advertising disclaimer.---END OF UPDATE
According to a couple of sources, House Speaker Tom Craddick (R-Midland) is planning to hold a fundraiser for State Rep. John Davis (R-Clear Lake) with none other than Karl Rove as the guest of honor. (A couple other candidates may also get Rove fundraisers--read more here.)
Sherrie Matula (D-Houston) is the TexBlog PAC endorsed candidate running against Davis, who has appropriately been called "used furniture" by Texas Monthly. In fact, Sherrie actually has a cash-on-hand advantage over John Davis according to the most recent reports filed with the Texas Ethics Commission.
Once again, the power of the Netroots has helped propel a challenger ahead of an incumbent, and the Republican Establishment gets their panties in a frightening twist, and calls in a big gun.
Karl Rove is toxic. He does not represent the kind of values held by folks in House District 129. He represents a continuation of the same divisive, partisan politics that has invaded the Texas House under Speaker Craddick's rule. We can help show Karl Rove and Tom Craddick that we know Sherrie Matula is the best choice for HD 129. Donate now to Sherrie Matula, and donate to help TexBlog PAC support more candidates like Sherrie.
On Friday, TexBlog PAC endorsed Sherrie Matula (D-Houston), who is running against State Rep. John Davis (R-Clear Lake). The endorsement came with a $5,000 check to Matula's campaign made up of donations made mostly by Netroots activists and blog readers.
Matula's race represents one of those races that a lot of folks in the "bricks and mortar political establishment" may have underestimated in the early part of this year. However, this district is ripe for a flip. Matula laid the groundwork for this year's campaign with a respectable general election showing in 2006 and her "Apple Corps" team of volunteers and on-the-ground activists has worked very hard this year to register new voters, identify Democratic voters in the district, and conducting GOTV.
This race, however, is one where the Netroots have consistently seen the potential for defeating incumbent John Davis (a legislator who Texas Monthly appropriately deemed "furniture") and the value in Matula's traditional and online campaign operations.
With just 2 weeks before early voting incumbent State Representative John Davis doesn't seem to be worried about the election. With only a splattering of yard signs throughout the district, Davis doesn't have any campaign activity against his challenger Sherrie Matula, a long time activist in the Clear Lake area.
John Davis (a really nice individual) has a recently filed ethics charge against him which made KHOU TV this past weekend. That can't help his non-existant campaign. Hiding over $100,000 in campaign expenditures including $48,000 to himself is unheard of in Texas politics. This would even make Tom DeLay blush. And the next round of campaign reports are due this week.
But, it is clear, even with his horrible record on education, the environment, consumer protection and more, he is not worried about having to run a campaign. Contrast the two candidates:
Team Matula has knocked on thousands of doors in the area, called thousands more. Sherrie Matula plans to block walk all the way till election day. (Literally. Sherrie block walks every weekend) Phone banking will continue. Davis on the other hand is faced with little coattails to ride on this election. Rick Perry is not a popular Governor. Tom DeLay, his one time good friend, is no longer around for a draw. Then there is Sekula-Gobbs running for "Congress for a Month" and is expected to be beaten soundly.
And then there is his title. Republican. That can't be good in this political climate of corruption.
"Sherrie Matula will have an immediate impact in the Texas House of Representatives, because she is experienced, energetic, and totally committed to representing the people of her district," said Manuel Rodriguez, Jr. of Houston, a Texas Parent PAC Board member.
"The families of H.D. 129 need better representation, and it is time for a change at the Capitol."
Indeed they do. While Matula's getting the endorsement of groups like this, incumbent Rep. John Davis is dodging ethicalissues that include purchasing a $1,500 pair of cowboy boots with campaign funds.
