Welcome to the Future

by: Glenn Smith

Wed Sep 19, 2007 at 06:59 PM CDT

Also, Katy Hubener and the unified Democratic in the Dallas-Fort Worth area deserve credit, great credit, for opening the door to this harbinger of the history-shaping forces at work in Texas. Thanks, Katy, and thanks to all those who have helped turn around the DFW area.

When the GOP began its takeover bid in Texas, it started by recruiting moderate Democrats to switch parties. This began around 1984. Their argument was spurious at the time -- that the Democratic Party had moved too far to the left. That was always more spin that fact, but nonetheless, the migration of Democratic state representatives to the Republican Party was, sad to say, history shaping.

Now history is on the other foot, so to speak. The GOP HAS become a party of extremists, turning their backs on Texans from all walks of life. Middle class families forced to borrow huge sums of money to pay public college tuition, loans that turned out to be little more than kickback schemes. Hundreds of thousands of children without health care, millions of Texas uninsured or underinsured. Public education long forgotten. The physical infrastucture crumbling, state parks underfunded and public land being given away to privateers.

One Week, Then on to November

by: Karl-Thomas Musselman

Tue Feb 28, 2006 at 09:56 PM CST

 
(D) Katy Hubener  2,438  46.23%
(L) Gene Freeman 48  0.91%
(R) Kirk England  2,788  52.86%
(-) TOTAL  5,274  100.00%

The TDP has released the following statement.

"I want to commend Katy Hubener on running an excellent race in the special election for House District 106.  Katy ran as an independent voice, who could be trusted to stand up against a special interest agenda and fight for the best interests of Texas families. 

In a five-week sprint special election called by Governor Perry to benefit his hand-picked candidate in a Republican district, Katy Hubener held her opponent to a margin of only a few hundred votes, signaling a trend of voter dissatisfaction with one-party Republican rule in the State of Texas.

Katy will continue to campaign as an independent voice for North Texas families, and we feel confident about her chances in November. The dynamics of a general election will no doubt benefit Katy and her strong organization of supporters.

As we enter an important special session on education and school finance, the voters of District 106 and every other community in Texas will be watching and waiting to hold legislators accountable. Kirk England will have to face the voters again in November and answer for a record that either protects the priorities of North Texas families or reflects the special interests that control the republican leadership in Austin."

Texas Democrats are working to earn voters’ trust and offer a real alternative to the partisan Republican "business as usual."  With highly qualified candidates like Katy Hubener and Donna Howard on the ballot again in November, the pay-to-play politics established by Rick Perry and Tom Craddick will be replaced by state government with the integrity to work for all Texans."

Now we bring all out focus on the rest of standard early voting this week for the Democratic Primary ending next Tuesday March 7.  You can see the Top 15 Early Voting counties online here.  You can see the new Travis County EV report here (xls). So get out and VOTE!

HD-106 Election Results LiveBlog

by: Karl-Thomas Musselman

Tue Feb 28, 2006 at 07:07 PM CST

Let's see how the numbers pan out:
Dallas County Election site. SOS website will have numbers, too. If you'd like to see a map of the district with precinct numbers, check this one out in pdf format.

Early Vote In with 3.6% turnout of 67,620 eligible voters.


(D) Katy Hubener 960  39.39% 
(L) Gene Freeman 18  0.74% 
(R) Kirk England 1,459  59.87%

(-) TOTAL  2,437  100.00%

8:54: No new numbers, but I called Byron in Dallas and he said Katy had over 100 people on the ground today and there was no Republican groundwork to be seen. They are waiting just like us down here.

Phil's update: I'll second that. I talked to some of the volunteers. They said they knocked on every door in their universe today, over the weekend, and made every call at least once. Everything that could have been done on the ground was done.

9:20 From Ken Molberg on the ground in Dallas...

Returns in from all but one precinct.  I show us down by just under 400 votes, subject to correction.

And I need to add that this is a tought district for many reasons.  What this tells me, however, is that we can win it in November.

Everyone who worked this was tremendous.

If that's true, that means Katy did win the Election Day votes as it would narrow her margain. No actual numbers as of yet.

9:30 Final Results

 
(D) Katy Hubener  2,438  46.23%
(L) Gene Freeman 48  0.91%
(R) Kirk England  2,788  52.86%
(-) TOTAL  5,274  100.00%

Katy actually won the Election Day vote 1478 to 1328.  Congrats to everyone who helped on the ground, we will win this in November!  (There are report of 55 mail ballots still to be counted, but it's not enough to close the margin.)

Live-blogging for Katy Hubener

by: Phillip Martin

Tue Feb 28, 2006 at 09:27 AM CST

Today's the day where we all see if Democrats can go two for two. Katy Hubener vs. Kirk "Empty-Nest" England in the Special Election for HD 106. Anyone who wants a last minute review about the race, read here:

Get to Know Katy Hubener: a biography of the Candidate
Get to Know HD 106: learn about the district she is trying to win
An Interview with Katy Hubener: Q&A with the candidate
Op-ed by Katy Hubener: "We Must Say Yes to Our Future"

We look forward to hearing from some of our friends in Grand Prairie about how the race is going. Predictions on today's race can be found in the comments section below.

Katy Hubener : voting for the competant choice

by: Jake

Mon Feb 27, 2006 at 04:31 PM CST

Which brings me to my point; watch out for the confusion on the February 28th election day!  For those of you living in the 106th who want to be sure you are getting your voted counted in all elections, these elections will be held in two separate places on two separate ballots.  The special election will be held in where your local precinct normally votes (you can contact Katy's campaign at 972-282-9301 if you need help), and the primary early voting will be held at the normal early voting locations (201. W. Church at the Grand Prairie Development center, and at Irving City Hall for 106th voters)

  Just be all the more confusing, Katy Hubener is going to be on both ballots.  She is on the primary ballot where she is in one of many races that have no opponent, and she is on the special election ballot where she is in the only race with two opponents.  For the sake of memory, remember to not only vote for Katy, but against the clueless Republican daddy's boy, Kirk England.  If he isn't on your ballot also, then you aren't voting in the special election.

If you only have time to make one of the elections in the day, be sure that it is the special election (not at early voting).  There is still time after the 28th to make early primary voting and cast that important vote for Bob Gammage (I already did this, myself!), but it will be too late for the special election.

Beyond party affiliation, Katy has the competance on the issues necessary to not be taken advantage of by special interest lobbyists, whereas Kirk has proven again and again (both for the Dallas Morning News, and in the Irving Cable Television Network candidates forum) that he is not yet ready for the job if he ever will be.  The man doesn't even seem to know what a lobbyist is.  He said he would wait 'til he got to Austin to figure that one out, but I'm guessing they will find out who he is sooner if the Koolaid drinkers succeed in putting him there.

Get to Know Katy Hubener: a biography of the Candidate
Get to Know HD 106: learn about the district she is trying to win
An Interview with Katy Hubener: Q&A with the candidate.
Op-ed by Katy Hubener: "We Must Say Yes to Our Future"
Vince Leibowitz: Reminder about Katy Hubener.

Open Thread

by: Karl-Thomas Musselman

Sun Feb 26, 2006 at 04:24 PM CST

How's the voting going where you live?  Is your turnout as underwhelming as it is around here?

40/40: We Must Say Yes to Our Future

by: Phillip Martin

Fri Feb 24, 2006 at 00:55 PM CST

I am running for State Representative to affirm a cause, and I am asking the families of District 106 to join me. 

Texans must renew our commitment to public schools; and in doing so, renew our commitment to lasting economic prosperity for our state and for our children.

We must commit to saying no to special interests that are working to undermine public education.

I am asking the voters of Grand Prairie and Irving to say yes to our future and yes to our kids. 

Public education is the cause that brought me into this campaign and the need for a strong, independent voice is what will keep me fighting for Texas schoolchildren and educators on the House floor. 

I am a product of our public schools.  I was raised in Southwest Dallas County and I graduated from Duncanville High School .  I hold an undergraduate and graduate degree in education.  And I have committed most of my life to keeping the doors to colleges and universities open – I won't stop in Austin.

I want for Texas schoolchildren to have the best and brightest in our classrooms.  I am a product of the best and brightest and I'm proud of the public schools that I attended.  The people who support Tom DeLay, Tom Craddick and my opponent are committed to destroying our public schools.  I am committed to working for those who work for our most precious resource – our children.

We need new leadership in Austin – leaders who understand the challenges our state is facing and leaders who are willing to work hard to solve problems.  I believe I am that kind of leader.  We need our leaders to pledge that education will be the first priority of our economic policy.  I am committed to that value.

On February 28th, I am asking the families of Grand Prairie and south Irving to say yes to our public schools and yes to our economic future.  Now, I am asking passionate Democrats around Texas to join our fight.  We need you to join us by block-walking, making phone calls, or with a financial investment

In just 2 years as Speaker, Tom Craddick has cast more tie-breaking votes than Pete Laney did in 10 years.  One vote can make a difference on the floor of the Texas House.  With your help, we can win this election and bring one more vote to the House to improve our schools, lower property taxes, and restore honesty and integrity to Austin.

40/40: Get to Know House District 106

by: Phillip Martin

Fri Feb 24, 2006 at 02:32 AM CST

What is HD 106 like, you ask? I'll tell you the best I can, but if some folks who have actually lived/worked in Dallas could help me paint a better picture of this district (and HD 107) in the comments section, I'd appreciate it.

HD 106 - Katy Hubener vs. Kirk "Empty-Nester" England.

Here's a map of the district. HD 106 is an exclusively urban district, contained in the western part of Dallas county. Grand Prairie is the prominent town, of which Kirk England's father has been mayor for 13 years.

The district hits the state average in most areas (according to the Secretary of State's website) except one: value of homes. More than 62% of families live in homes valued between $50,000 and $100,000 (about 40% of families fit that category statewide). As a largely working-class family district, a great deal of the issues Hubener has experience in works perfectly for this district. Remember, she has a degree in education and works as a realtor (both sides of the school finance equation - schools and property taxes). The district is almost evenly split between Whites (about 65,000) and Blacks+Hispanics (62,000).

40/40: An Interview With Katy Hubener

by: Phillip Martin

Wed Feb 22, 2006 at 10:21 AM CST

Why are you running for State Representative? What experience do you bring to the table that makes you a valuable representative for HD 106?

I’m running because I care deeply about our community.  I believe I have the experience to be an effective voice for Grand Prairie and Irving on the issues that make a difference in families’ everyday lives. 

I am a certified teacher, former college administrator and adjunct professor.  I’ve worked to open doors to higher education to children from middle-class families and I understand the challenges in the classroom. 

I’m also a Realtor, and I serve on the Dallas County Appraisal Review Board.  I work with families who struggle with soaring property taxes, and I’m committed to real tax relief for our families.

And for years I have been a passionate advocate for clean air in North Texas.  I have a record of standing up to special interests, and in Austin I’ll be ready to join the fight for the future of our state.

What separates you from Kirk England? Why are you the better choice for voters?

I believe this race is about who is best qualified to represent our district, and which candidate really can be an independent voice in the House. 

I’m focused on meeting voters and talking about issues, but I was shocked that even my opponent has acknowledged he doesn’t have a firm grasp on the issues facing the district.  I believe the Dallas Morning News said it best when they wrote that my opponent “displays a troubling lack of detailed knowledge about the issues…”

I am also very concerned that people like Bob Perry, Joe Barton and Ray Allen are behind my opponent’s campaign.  How can my opponent represent the average families in our area if he’s beholden to the same people who support Tom Craddick and Tom DeLay?

To read the rest of the interview, click on the link below.

Texas Round-Up

by: Karl-Thomas Musselman

Wed Feb 22, 2006 at 01:30 AM CST

• Sen. Bill Frist of Tennessee has mailed some Austinites a survey.  Find out about the weirdness of it.


• If you were ever curious, here is a list of the 05/06 Chapter 41 "Rich" districts.  Might come in useful this session as our representatives muddle their way through yet another attempt at school finance.


• Speaking of representatives, please help out or donate to Katy Hubener up in Dallas as there are only 3 more days of Early Voting in her race.


• PinkDome has the skinny on why one of the Democratic candidates for TX-01 does NOT deserve your vote.  Patrick Franklin, a candidate for HD-7 gets attacked by Roger Owen (of TX-01) on his sexuality.  I understand not all Democrats are on the same page in terms of glbt issues, but to openly attack a fellow Democrat simply because of it, in a race that you aren't running in? Forget it. I will not support that.


• Judge Charlie Baird picks up the last 4 Travis County endorsements, giving him a near clean sweep in his primary challenge against Buddy Meyer for the 299th District Court. They include: Austin Women's Political Caucus, Black Women's Political Caucus, Capitol City Young Democrats, and North by Northwest Democrats.


• A request for all you Travis Country Democrats out there...be an election judge and get paid for it. Details and precincts vacant on the flip. It's a class day for me so I can't help out. Instead, I'm going to be serving on the Early Vote Ballot Board on March 4th.