There are two words we forget to say too often. Thank you.
In that regard, I want to thank the Burnt Orange Report community for your enthusiastic endorsement. I want to thank so many of you for donating your time and hard earned dollars. Your support is appreciated and the momentum you have created is humbling.
This campaign has been a tough, long endeavor, but your support has made the difference. And with only a handful of days remaining, you continue to energize and impress me.
When we started this race, we knew it would be hard. To win we would have to create a strategy, stay organized, and actively reach as many voters as possible. And our campaign has been committed to doing the hard work, and because of supporters like you, we are within striking distance of winning this race.
Your endorsement alongside the Austin Chronicle, every democratic club that has made an endorsement, the Austin Labor Council, the Austin Firefighters Association, law enforcement, and many others, have given us momentum going into March 2nd.
We have been endorsed by District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg, Senator Kirk Watson, State Representatives Eddie Rodriguez and Mark Strama. Also, Mayor Lee Leffingwell and city council member Mike Martinez along with County Commissioner Karen Huber support our campaign and vision for County Court at Law 3. We have been endorsed by over 1,000 people in Travis County because we have made it a point to talk about helping people and not just simply punishment.
You have made this campaign a success up to this point. You have knocked on doors, called voters, voted at club meetings, written letters, signed postcards, and (hopefully) will vote early or on Election Day.
With the election only a week away, I want to make sure to say thank you one more time for all your hard work and support.
So, thank you.
John Lipscombe
Candidate for County Court at Law #3
Two years ago we endorsed John Lipscombe in his run for County Court at Law #8. While he unfortunately didn't win that race, we are glad to see him on the ballot again for County Court at Law #3 and once more we offer John Lipscombe our wholehearted endorsement.
John is a progressive, extensively qualified, and warm person. We are confident that he will use his experience to deliver appropriate justice to those who deserve it, while ensuring that those who commit minor offenses are not set down a road of larger crime by an overzealous judiciary.
Lipscombe is the type of judge we wish there were more of in Travis County. We encourage you to read our prior endorsement from 2008 and then vote for him in this year's Democratic primary.
John Lipscombe has now raised a total of $104,391.83. The campaign has raised $80,331.83 since July and still has $55,941.96 cash on hand. Lipscombe's campaign has collected 326 contributions with an average contribution size of $245.35.
Lipscombe's opponent Olga Seelig has not released her report at this time.
(John Limpscombe is a Democratic candidate for Travis County Court at Law 3. For disclosure, Matt is running his campaign. - promoted by Karl-Thomas Musselman)
You may not have heard about my race. County Court at Law #3 isn't one of the sexy top ballot races, but it is one of the elected offices woven into the fabric of our community.
I am running for Judge of County Court #3 not just because of a calling to serve my city and county, but also because together we can make Travis County a better place for all of us to live.
My name is John Lipscombe, and I am running to be your next judge in County Court #3.
A lot of you may know me; many more of you don't know me yet, but I hope you will soon. So if you don't mind, please let me take a few moments to tell you about myself and why I believe our County Court at Law System is so important.
After over 4 years working at the Texas Court Of Criminal Appeals as an appellate lawyer and almost 19 years as a trial court prosecutor representing the people of Travis County, I have seen what a blind policy of "lock 'em up" looks like and I have seen the difference a thoughtful system of rehabilitation can make in a person's life. In 23 years I have learned a lot about the practice of criminal and constitutional law, and I have been active in sharing that experience as a teacher , speaker and lecturer with the UT Law School Defense and Prosecutor Clinics; Bar Association CLE Courses; APD, DPS and Travis County Sheriffs Office Law Enforcement Academies; LCRA and Texas Parks and Wildlife Seminars; and University, high school and junior high classes throughout Austin.
Too often we don't value our own personal roles as teachers and educators, and because of that, the lessons we have learned are lost to future generations. I was not always the law nerd I am today. I value and use the experiences I have encountered as an oil field hand, truck driver, bartender and bouncer, and Union shuttle bus driver at UT in my everyday dealings with the cases and evidence I must weigh each and every day as a trial court Chief Prosecutor. Those jobs taught me the value of hard work and helped shape my character and work ethic. Because of those jobs, I valued even more the education I received at UT and at St. Mary's University Law School.
Things don't always come easy; the most valuable things in life are the ones you have to strive to reach. In 1975 I began volunteering to work on political campaigns, mostly the grunt work of walking and calling and stuffing and making signs, and I have continued working on local, state and national campaigns to this day. That doesn't make me an exemplary Democrat; it just makes me a proud Travis County Democrat.
I also value the friendships I have forged over the years during my practice of law and participation in Democratic politics. If you look at the supporter list on our web site, you will agree I am a very lucky man to have such great friends. You cannot know how grateful, and humble that makes me feel. This campaign is about embracing old friends and the joy of meeting new friends as I make those "cold" calls.
The biggest joy I have experienced is the last 17 years that my wife Jan Breland and I have been together. We have been law nerds and progressive Democrats together, and I hope to emulate the ethic and character which has held her in the highest professional esteem in the courthouse. She is my rock.
As we begin to move into the height of the campaign season, I recall all the people who have helped me before and all the people who are helping me again.
When you run for a County Court at Law position, there are few things closer to the bottom of the ballot, so you need to really want the job. The support and enthusiasm we have generated from elected officials like State Representatives Mark Strama and Eddie Rodriguez, Mayor Lee Leffingwell, Councilmember Mike Martinez, County Commissioner Karen Huber, former Mayors Frank Cooksey and Bruce Todd, former Councilmembers Bob Binder, Jennifer Kim, Brigid Shea, ACC Trustee Tim Mahoney, former County Attorneys Margaret Moore and Ken Oden and the 700 plus people that have written or called to be put on our supporter list, has been a humbling experience.
Our team is amazing. Emma Barrientos is our treasure. David Butts is our general consultant. Dean Rindy and Rindy/Miller productions will make the great TV spots you will see. Matt Glazer, a writer here on Burnt Orange Report, is running my race with UT Student Jasmine Blake running the field. Eleanor Thompson is in charge of getting me directly into the community. Allyson Holley is doing communication and logistics for the campaign. Of course, RYLO Consulting is doing all our fundraising and making sure we have the funds we need to pay staff and talk to the great people of Austin.
Their passion is amazing and it motivates me to work hard for them and you.
Now that the summer is over and the rain is bringing cool weather, we are already starting to blockwalk and phone bank. We need your help to win on March 2nd.
On the other hand, if you want to help us win, please take a moment to sign up, host a house party, register to vote, or become a volunteer. We need your help making calls and knocking on doors immediately. It may seem like March 2nd is waiting in the wings, but you will be surprised how quickly it arrives. If we wait until January to start doing the hard work, we will not win.
Thank you again so much for your help, support, and just taking the time to read this long note. It means more than any words I could write or say, so just know how appreciative I am.
Thanks to Nhu Le of Austin, TX for this summary of last night's reception welcoming the DNC Asian Pacific Islander American Caucus to Austin, TX! Cross-posted at APA for Progress and AAA-Fund.
Disclosure: I am on John Lipscombe's public supporter list.
I have in my inbox the fundraising press releases for John Lipscombe and Brandy Mueller, who are running for Travis County Court of Law #3 and #6, respectively. Lipscombe raised almost $25,000 and still has most of that in the bank, at about $22,329. Mueller raised $40,299 and has even more on hand at about $44,020.
Below I have reproduced the key parts of their press releases.
In only 20 days John Lipscombe raised nearly $25,000 from 85 donors. During the sluggish economy and short timeframe, Lipcombe was able to raise nearly $1,500 per day since starting his campaign.
"The support has been humbling." John Lipscombe said. "It is rare for a down ballot race to get so much attention. We have already talked to thousands of people about how we can make the county court at law system work for them."
The campaign is excited to report $22,329.22 cash on hand from the first part of the campaign. For the first reporting period, John Lipscombe's campaign has averaged a $283.04 per donation.
Since kicking off the campaign June 8th, Brandy Mueller's campaign for County Court at Law #6 has been building momentum. Mueller, an Austin native and an experienced lawyer who has dedicated her career to criminal law, reported raising $40,299 with $44,020.33 cash on hand in just over three weeks. Over 100 different supporters contributed to her campaign. She leads the fundraising in all of Travis County's county court-at-law races and does so by a significant margin.
David Butts, Brandy Mueller's political consultant said "the legal community has embraced Brandy and her campaign shows a depth of commitment from a broad range of people who believe she will serve the community well."
Update by KT: I spoke with Olga Seelig's campaign which sent over the following statement in lieu of their finance report.
"We are very happy with our support and pleased with what Olga raised in three weeks - particularly as a first time candidate. Our donors, large and small, recognize Olga as a leader in our community with a breadth of legal experience - both criminal and civil, as well as a prosecutor and defense attorney - and understand the need for experience on the bench of County Court at Law 3."
The rumors I've heard are that Seelig will report having raised around $20,000, less than her opponent John Lipscombe, but that remains unconfirmed at this time.
To view all of BOR's endorsed candidates, click here.
John Lipscombe is the best choice for County Court at Law #8. As with other races, the most obvious reason for this is his strong lead in the endorsement race, but there is so much more. John is a good hearted, justice minded man, with a vision for this new seat. As John says it:
I have a vision for the future of this court which goes beyond traditional roles and obligations. It is time to institute a program of treatment, rather than punishment, as policy for non-violent offenders.
So beyond John's goodness, vision and endorsements, why did we at BOR endorse him as the best candidate?
1) Licensed Attorney practicing law in Travis County for 21 years
2) Over 4 years as research attorney for Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
3) 17 1/2 years working as Travis County Prosecutor
4) Over 16 years as Trial Court Chief
5) Tried over 150 jury cases, and hundreds of other trials and hearings
6) Managed dockets in every criminal misdemeanor court in Travis County
7) Disposed of tens of thousands of criminal cases during tenure
County Court at Law #8 is a newly created misdemeanor Court. The majority of these offenders are young adults, that have made a bad decision or two. What most impresses us at BOR about John is his vision:
I have a vision for more effectively managing and helping these offenders in a way that will decrease recidivism, promote public safety, and ultimately save tax dollars by reducing jail overcrowding.
In addition to the Court's regular docket, I plan to create an evening docket for offenders in these groups. These probationers will meet with me, after work and school, to discuss their recovery issues-successes as well as setbacks. Treatment, support, accountability, and communication-these components are proven to promote rehabilitation much more effectively than incarceration.
This kind of positive, treatment based approach is what we need so much more of in our Country which now incarcerates more people per capita than any other. John is our endorsee, and definitely the kind of man we need as a Judge in Travis County.
