While the news earlier today that Kirk Watson has passed on a Gubernatorial bid will get most of the headlines, an overlooked story from yesterday could ultimately play a huge role in determining who will be the Democratic nominee next year.
The Austin American-Statesman story began, "A little known Fort Worth resident plans to run for governor next year " .... but they're not talking about Tom Schieffer.
Instead, the candidate in question is Felix Alvarado, a high school geography teacher who would have run for governor in 2006 had his filing fee check not bounced. Now, assuming his check clears, Alvarado will a candidate in 2010.
Alvarado's entry makes him the only Latino in the race and in turn, given recent Democratic primary history, a serious contender to win the nomination.
Alvarado could be another Victor Morales, the high school teacher who drove his pick up truck to a surprise victory over incumbent Congressmen John Bryant and Jim Chapman in the 1996 U.S. Senate Democratic primary. Morales ran again in 2002 and topped another Congressman -- this time Ken Bentsen -- and went on to lose the runoff to Ron Kirk.
Or he could be another Maria Luisa Alvarado, who happens to be his sister. She easily defeated former State Rep. and 6th Court of Appeals Justice Ben Z. Grant in the 2006 Lt. Governor Democratic primary runoff.
Depending which races are on the ballot, South Texas has had disproportionately high turnout in Democratic primaries. For example, in the 2006 Democratic primary, Webb County had almost as many votes as Dallas County and had nearly twice the amount that Tarrant County had. In the subsequent runoff that Alvarado won, Webb's vote totals were almost as high as the combined totals from Dallas and Harris counties.
A look at the map from the Alvarado-Grant runoff from the US Election Atlas, which Alvarado won with 58 percent of the vote, shows the huge influence that South Texas had on the race. Although Grant won nearly every one of the state's major metropolitan counties, Maria Luisa Alvarado carried the border region by huge margins and went on to a 16 point victory.
Schieffer's campaign has actually done some good early work in the Rio Grande Valley, securing the endorsements of former Cameron County Judge Gilberto Hinojosa and the Texas Association of Hispanic County Judges and County Commissioners.
Whether Felix Alvarado will be able to go from unknown to Democratic nominee like others have remains to be seen, but the potential, especially if a better known Democrat does not enter the race, is certainly there.
ENDORSEMENT OF VALINDA HATHCOX
FOR U.S. CONGRESS, DISTRICT 4
by Maria Luisa Alvarado
The people of Texas and America will gain exceptional representation in Washington D.C. from VaLinda Hathcox as the next United States Representative for District 4 of Texas. Let me explain. I believe my campaign experience in 2006 afforded me an opportunity to get to know the heart of other candidates on the campaign trail. As candidate for Texas Land Commissioner, VaLinda Hathcox was an inspiration to me in that the truth to her was not to be compromised for popularity. The people and the land of Texas are vast in diversity but for the most part they are solid and true. That is the character of VaLinda Hathcox, and is the desperate need in Congress.
However, it is not enough to rely solely on the character that our elected officials take to our Nation's Capitol. VaLinda Hathcox takes to Washington D.C. a proven record of public service as an attorney in the defense and protection of health services for the poor, as well as administration of legal judgments and education on tax matters. There is much work ahead to restore this nation that her hands?on experience on solving issues will be an advantage for us all.
Our favorite legislative blogger, State Rep. Aaron Pena, has a good report on a meeting held by the Hidalgo County Democratic Party that featured Chris Bell, Maria Luisa Alvarado, and Boyd Richie. From his Capitol Blog:
I had the honor of introducing the Democratic gubernatorial candidate who had just come from a visit from our neighboring county of Cameron. Chris shared his experiences there which included his visit to one of the many colonias that dot the South Texas landscape and laid forth his vision of the future. At that visit his hand was firmly grabbed by a woman while visiting her home. As Chris left her home he recounted her statement to him, "never forget the poor." Maria, who has visited the Valley before, and Boyd, who was visiting for the first time, also shared their hopes for success.
This is my response to the Texas Observer's June 30, 2006, essay by Dave Mann, entitled "The Fight for Relevance.
Dear Editor:
In reference to your June 30 article, "The Fight for Relevance" - to call Dave Mann and The Observer "clueless" would be an understatement. The only suitable words for your smug dismissal of me and the rest of my statewide Democratic ticketmates aren't printable in public.
Today in Austin David Van Os filed a suite to protect Texans votes!
“Democracy belongs to all the voters.”
Press Release below
Cross posted at Daily Kos please recommend over there and give David your support.
PRESS RELEASE
June 14, 2006
Democratic Attorney General nominee David Van Os joined with the NAACP, two Travis County voters, and the Texas Civil Rights Project today in filing a lawsuit in state district court seeking to block the use of electronic voting machines that do not produce paper receipts. Attorney Jim Harrington, Director of the Texas Civil Rights Project, represents Van Os and the other plaintiffs.
“Democracy belongs to all the voters. When every voter cannot be sure that a machine recorded his or her vote the way he or she intended, democracy is not fulfilled. These paperless machines are a direct threat to Constitutional democracy. We must have paper ballots.”
The lawsuit claims that the paperless machines violate the public’s right to a secure election and the purity of the ballot box under the Texas Constitution.
(This post contains a great series of photos to tell the story of the state convention for all those not there and for those who were. - promoted by Karl-Thomas Musselman)
There was a large number of bloggers working the convention in many areas, not just blogging.
I crashed a few parties during the Texas Democratic Convention and took almost 150 high quality pictures including more then a few backstage shots. I authorize the use of these photo's for bloggers, candidates, and campaigns. Click the thumbnail, then download the high quality versions for best results.
This is a video record of my time at the convention.
When I left Fort Worth at 6:30pm dragging with exhaustion, we have at least 750 signatures on the IMPEACHment Resolution and some of the clipboards were still out. That is a little more than half way to the number of signatures for the resolution to go to the floor for debate.
(emphasis mine. - promoted by Karl-Thomas Musselman)
I just got the news from Ruben Hernandez, the state party executive director, on the speaking schedule of the statewide candidates. Chris Bell will speak Friday night, Barbara Radnofsky will speak between 11:00 AM and 12:00 NOON on Saturday, and the rest of the statewide ticket will speak one after the other beginning at NOON. Maria Luisa Alvarado will start this part of the program at 12:00, I will speak at 12:15, and so on. Originally the plan was for the statewide candidates to speak later in the afternoon on Saturday, but they have been moved up to a better spot in the schedule.
It would have been better for all the statewide candidates to speak on Friday night to showcase the Texas Democratic Party's resolve to carry the state across the board. However, because of invitations and commitments that were already made, I think the train was probably already too far down the track several weeks ago to make that happen at this point. Under the circumstances, a program highlighting the statewide ticket at noon Saturday is a good resolution in my opinion. Most of the Convention delegates are still very much present and interested that early on Saturday.
There is no question but that this change was made because of the large amount of feedback the state party has been getting on this in the last few days. It is very encouraging to know that so many Texas Democrats want to push our statewide ticket and fight to win our state back for the people this year up and down the ballot. I am proud to be on the statewide Democratic ticket with Maria Luisa Alvarado, Hank Gilbert, Fred Head, Valinda Hathcox, Dale Henry, Judge Bill Moody, J.R. Molina, Barbara Radnofsky and Chris Bell. It is a great ticket of Fighting Democrats who stepped up to the plate from out of the grassroots with winning attitudes to take on the beast right in his belly. We're all fighters. We'll fight till hell freezes over, then fight on the ice.
David Van Os
I've added the convention schedule according to the Party as of May 31 as well. This may be somewhat updated with the information David mentioned above. -KT
(Seems like a lot of people have opinions and ideas on this so I'll bring it up to the front page for further discussion as we are a week out and the convention schedule is not firmly set yet. - promoted by Karl-Thomas Musselman)
Next week in Fort Worth, we'll have the largest gathering of Democratic activists for this election cycle. The schedule is still not firm. I got a call from Hank Gilbert, candidate for Agriculture Commissioner, a few minutes ago. Hank is upset and he says the Van Os campaign is upset, and probably other state wide candidates share their concern.
He spoke with Boyd Ritchie at Muleshoe and learned that the State Candidates probably wouldn't be given their ten minutes each to address the delegation until Saturday afternoon! That's when the convention normally has the least number of delegates seated. Many are wandering around testing the free food, visiting the exhibits or on their 5-10 hour drive back home.
I phoned Reuben at the State Party Headquarters and told him that I don't think it will be likely that many people will financially support the State Party if they continue to place the LOWEST PRIORITY on HELPING CANDIDATES WIN ELECTIONS IN TEXAS. I told him that if these candidates are shuffled off to the very end of the convention when there is traditionally the lowest number of delegates seated to hear them, they need to be prepared for a hell of an uproar from folks from all over the state who think WINNING ELECTIONS IS THE MAIN THING FOR US TO FOCUS ON IN TEXAS RIGHT NOW.
Hank thinks they should be given time on Friday to speak. He told me I could quote him. There are rumors that the two candidates at the top of the ticket may be allowed to speak earlier. I think this would be a mistake. They need to appear together as a unified team. The party does not need to be favoring one candidate above the other.
If there is absolutely no way to schedule them Friday, they should be scheduled soon after the convention is called to order on Saturday.
Master of Ceremonies: former candidate for Texas Comptroller Marty Akins. Music by John Arthur Martinez (Nashville Stars).
Hosted by the Highland Lakes Democratic Women in conjunction with the Burnet County Democrats. Dutch plate food & drink, silent auction benefitting the HLDW PAC. Playground close by for the kiddies.
Venue: Johnson Park, Marble Falls, TX
Date: Saturday, May 27, 2006
Time: 11:00AM - 3:00PM
Email: burnetboy20@yahoo.com
For more info, or to donate to the auction, contact Guy Stuart at the email above or 512-715-9036.
PRESS RELEASE
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