Joe Jaworski is competing to become the Democratic nominee in SD-11 and take on "Toxic" Mike Jackson this November. First he has to defeat Bryan Hermann.
Jaworski is a Texroots candidate--Donate or volunteer today.
Tuesday Joe Jaworski filed his campaign finance report, showing more than $450,000 raised to date in his Texas Senate race against a 20-year incumbent legislator known for his multiple votes in favor of term limits -- except for himself.
"I'm gratified by the overwhelming support coming from ordinary Texans who want change, not more of the same," Jaworski said. "Their willingness to invest in the new direction will pay off when they elect a new state senator who puts their concerns first and Austin politics last."
The campaign press release shows some impressive numbers for the Jaworski's campaign, for the period ending December 31 shows that he raised $204,660.51 during the second half of 2007. His total raised in the race to date is $454,922.74 from 795 donors, with an average contribution of $555.88 and including a $13,000 loan from the candidate. His fundraising has continued on pace during the first two weeks of the current year.
Jaworski is running against incumbent "Toxic" Mike Jackson, who supports siphoning tax dollars out of public schools to pay for a private-school voucher scheme and opposes common-sense measures to improve the air quality his own constituents breathe.
A poll from November of last year indicated that SD-11 could be a pick up for Democrats, and these fundraising numbers are encouraging for the Galveston candidate.
It is outrageous that these taxpaying citizens - these Texans! - should be victimized twice - first by the storm, then again by the state bureaucracy.
That is how Democratic State Senate candidate Joe Jaworski feels about the restrictive bureaucracy being used to slow down aid to victims of hurricane Rita. Last Friday Joe Jaworski wrote to Governor Rick Perry asking why Texas has been so leisurely to help the victims of hurricane Rita.
I know you share my outrage at the snail's pace of state aid for Texas families more than two years after Hurricane Rita came ashore with such force. The recent State Auditor's report finds that of nearly 4,300 applications for federal assistance controlled by your administration, only 13 have been helped.
Rather than helping families, Perry and the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs seem to be playing political favoritism to private companies.
The State Auditor's report makes clear that the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs has been too cautious in providing relief to the storm's victims but thrown caution to the wind when it comes to privatizing relief effort, including a multi-million dollar contract with a private firm whose top lobbyist is your former chief of staff.
The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs has also squandered more than $230,000 in hurricane relief on administrative expenses, according the State Auditor's report. That's one-fifth of what has been spent thus far-a ratio that would make Halliburton blush.
I urge you to make sure that Texans who applied for aid receive initial payments to get things going. The state can then provide additional funds based on a more thorough approval process. This plan will guarantee immediate help while allowing for safeguards to protect taxpayers against fraud or abuse.
Jaworski served as a city councilman in Galveston in 2005 (something he points to in his letter), and helped in the efforts to prepare for Hurricane Rita. While his area was not the hardest hit by the storm, thousands of people in the Galveston area were affected with thousands more along the Gulf Coast. It is time to help the other 4,287 Texans who need assistance. As Jaworski says in his letter, "They deserve help - now." Sadly, Mike Jackson, the Republican incumbent in SD-11, is silent on the issue.
Rumors have been circulating that Joe Jaworski had some good poll numbers to report.
Friday, we reported Jaworski had a 10 point lead among informed voters, and now we have seen the top page on the full poll (sorry it's a pdf) and it looks much better than we first thought.
Here are some of the highlights:
Mike Jackson has an abysmal 28% approval rating.
Less than half of the voters (48%) say they would re-elect Jackson if the election were today.
Mike Jackson leads in the initial vote preference. However, after being read a short paragraphs about each candidate, the race for State Senate is stastically tied (44% for Jaworski- 48% Jackson, and 8% undecided.
The other telling fact is how the people in Senate District 11 feel about the current Republican leadership.
57% have a negative perception of the Texas Legislature/
Republicans have a negative view of the legislature with 44% of Republican voters giving the Republican controlled legislature positive marks and 49% have a negative perception of the lege.
52% have an unfavorable perception of Rick Perry.
A plurality of voters in the district favor an outside who would lead the state in a new direction.
SD-11 continues to look more and more like a possible pick up. Jaworski is running a hard race and is raising tons of cash through out the state. Jaworski and Wendy Davis in SD-10 could bring our Democratic numbers in the Texas Senate up to 13 from 11 in seats specifically drawn to give Republicans an advantage. 2008 is a change election nationally, it appears there could be a wave in Texas too.
