Capitol Annex reports on a supposed 5th candidate (candidate for Convention Chair) for State Party Chair. Mark Ted Weisgal down as the 4th reform oriented challenger (funny how that's everyone's message this year) though his announcement letter includes points that I don't think are part of the party requirements of running. No one has to collect signature to have their names placed into nominations from the floor...
Capitol Annex endorses Glen Maxey for Party chair. Dos Centavos supports Charlie Urbina-Jones though I'm not sure if an official endorsement post is on the way.
In an interesting development, Glen Maxey and Charlie Urbina-Jones have joined forces to throw their Friday night party together at the Rahr Brewary in Forth Worth. Apparently Urbina-Jones had a band but no place and Maxey had a place but no entertainment so they are joining forces for what they are calling the "People Powered Pachanga".
So what is a pachanga? Well there is a definition from wikipedia but my favorite is included in the Handbook of Texas online article about Hidalgo County.
It was alleged that the Reds kept control of the county by using the pachanga or block vote, which entailed rounding up men, filling them with food and liquor, and paying their poll tax. In Hidalgo County, Martin "Big Drunk" Norgraves, who served as first county clerk, was credited as organizer of block voting.
Certainly funny, though it should be noted that at the convention, no County or official can demand that a delegation block vote (unless they all support one candidate anyways). There is no winner gets all formula for winning delegates by county.
Boyd Richie apparently has never defeated a single Republican for all his talk about being elected County Attorney in 'red' Young County as reported by Eye on Williamson County.
According to documents available in the state archives and confirmed by Young County Clerk Shirley Choate, Richie has been on the ballot eight times and faced an opponent only in the 1976 Democratic primary.
Richie has been victorious in all eight campaigns in which he has been a candidate. However, he has faced an opponent only once, and has never gone head-to-head against a Republican.
* 01-May-1976 (Primary): defeated Dem incumbent DA in Texas’ 90th Judicial District * 02-Nov-1976 (General): unopposed for DA TX 90th JD * 12-Mar-1996 (Primary): unopposed for Young County Attorney * 05-Nov-1996 (General): unopposed for Young County Attorney * 14-Mar-2000 (Primary): unopposed for Young County Attorney * 07-Nov-2000 (General): unopposed for Young County Attorney * 09-Mar-2004 (Primary): unopposed for Young County Attorney * 02-Nov-2004 (General): unopposed for Young County Attorney
(I'm sure that those delegates among you have received the e-mail referred to here. While the "we shouldn't elect a James Carville chairman" line is quite the strawman, I do find some humor in that the TDP's landlord is endorsing the Chairman. Not that I'd expect Maxey or Urbina-Jones to move the HQ or anything... - promoted by Karl-Thomas Musselman)
Ok, I like you Alfred Stanley, so dont take this personally. BUT I have some disagreements with how your email to TDP Convention delegates is presenting information, some of it small, but still telling, some of it larger, and questionable.
Perhaps its just a misunderstanding, in which case, someone, Alfred or Boyd or Ruben if you are reading, please fill me in.
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For the past few days a very lively dialogue has been occurring on Burnt Orange Report and Texas Kos regrading the priorities of the State Democratic Party Convention Planners. I think that the dialogue is important. It shows that Texas Democrats CARE about Candidates Winning Elections. The dialogue is basically about priorities. I think that it is important that we cease saying "This is o.k. because it's how we've always done it." We need to band together and continually be seeking the BEST WAY. Sometimes that is what we are currently doing. It is not necessary to change EVERYTHING. If it works, don't change it. If it doesn't, let's find a better way.
Within a week we'll meet together and select a new leadership team for the Texas Democratic Party. Some of that team will probably be folks who've served or are currently serving on the SDEC. We all know that we need to make some changes in how we do things. I think it is also important to understand why we do things. We need to understand OUR KEY VALUES and evaluate how we are doing thing to be sure that it is in line with our Key Values.
I really think the most imporant thing we need to consider when choosing a leader for our Democratic Party in Texas is:
1. to select a person who comprehends the PRIORITIES the party must have
2. and is skilled at working with others to communicate those priorities and
3. to see that the work is completed which is necessary for translating these priorities into goals
4. and those goals into milestones of accomplishment!
The person at the top need not be able to do everything. But he or she must be able to see the broad picture and be able to work with individuals and groups of people who can do the many things necessary to turn the Party's PRIORIITES, VALUES, VISIONS into realites.
I'd like for others to join in a discussion and let's describe the LEADER WE NEED. PLEASE let's keep names of candidates out of this discussion. This is not to be a Glen Maxey or Boyd Ritchie or Charlie Urbans-Jones roast or campaign blog for anybody. It is to be a forum where we can explore what we think is important in the leader. Let's set aside the campaign rhethoric and really get down to the nitty gritty task of creating a job description for a really effective leader for our party.
Keep Austin Blue is reporting that Boyd Richie has just been endorsed by Verrisa. Later, it was then reported by McBlogger that Princess Stephanie came out for Mr. Richie.
The Maxey campaign, responding to these monarchical endorsements released the following statement of support from average folk in Heimlich County.
“As a member of our Armed Forces and past boyfriend of Gov. Ann Richards, I trust Glen Maxey to stand up for the issues that matter to our party,” said Bill Dauterive.
During his long and accomplished career in the Texas Legislature, Glen Maxey was endorsed several times by the Texas Propane Gas Association. Local grassroots activist Hank Hill added, “Glen Maxey loves the flex defense, a green lawn, and the clean burning efficiency of propane gas, I tell you what, we need him at the TDP”
His son, Bobby Hill, continued, “I wanted to get involved with my local party, and Glen Maxey helped empower me to make a difference. With his training I registered over 100 voters at Arlen Community College with the help of my cousin Luanne.”
Former Representative Maxey has deep roots in the Heimlich County area. His ancestors settled nearby in the early 1820s and as a Legislator and campaign organizer he worked frequently with the energetic and creative Democrats of Arlen.
Grassroots Democrat Dale Gribble confided, “I don’t trust many people, but I trust Glen Maxey to rebuild our party, and make Democrats competitive in all 255 counties, including Heimlich County.”
John Redcorn and Kahn Souphanousinphone, co-founders of the Arlen Emerging Communities Coalition, have also endorsed Mr. Maxey.
Arlen activist Boomhauer said, “Yeah man, I tell ya what, man, that dang ol' internet, man, you just go in on there and point and click, talk about w-w-dot-w-com, man you got voter reg on there, man, just go click, click, click, click, click, it's real easy, man."
Update: Casual Soapblox reports that Verissa's ne'er-do-well half-sister Fluffitude is not happy with her endorsement of Richie. The backlash reached all the way to Teeny Tiny Tortie McTortlesons who has now declined to get involved in the race on Richie's behalf. Any other breaking developments will be in the comments.
Below is my interview with Glen Maxey, who is running for Chairman of the Texas Democratic Party. Earlier this afternoon, I posted my interview with Boyd Richie. Both interviews were sit-down interviews that lasted about an hour. They are long, but I think they both give great insight into both Richie's and Maxey's vision for the TDP.
Leininger spent millions of dollars in the last primary race. He has a history of throwing money at campaigns and using the dirtiest tactics available. Many Democratic elected officials have counties that voted 80-90% in favor of banning gay marriage last November. The concern is that Leininger sends out thousands of mail pieces with a picture of the candidate, a picture of you, and the headline that says, "Democrat X and his Gay State Chair, Glen Maxey do not represent your values." I wanted to ask if you could address those concerns.
That doomsday kind of thought… if they wanted to do that today, they could say, "Democrat X and the Democratic Party who's platform supports all of this…" or "Democrat X and the Democratic Party that endorse this…". They can do that anyway.
I spent twelve years in the Legislature, and I know a lot of those guys with those concerns. And I fully hope they do whatever they need to win their campaigns. I'm pragmatic, I know how to play this game, and I'm not going to hang any of these people out to dry. As a Party Chair, my job isn't to run people out of office. It's to build an infrastructure that will elect Democrats today, tomorrow, and for years to come.
I know that as Party Chair my job right now would be to rebuild the infrastructure of the Party for the state and for the county operations of those members in those more conservative districts. It is not my job to be campaigning in their district. It is my job to give them the tools.
Do you believe the Party Chair should be the spokesperson for the TDP?
I'd be the Party Chairperson - not the Party spokesperson. There are people who say that for 100 years, the job of the State Party Chair is to raise money and be the poster child for the Party on TV. That's what they believe. We don't have the infrastructure anymore. I will have to say, that I can't do that poster child work. I don't need to do it, and I'm not going to do it.
The face of the party has to be Allan Ritter, and Abel Herrero, and Senfronia Thompson. The face of this party has to be our candidates, because quite frankly the Party doesn't bring much. A Party Chair giving a speech in any of those districts will not win anybody an election. We should be electing a state party chair for every commissioner, JP, and constable in this state. We should elect a state party chair that helps every county chair build an infrastructure that exists when the chair walks away.
For the rest of the interview, please click on the "There's More" button.
Below is my interview with Boyd Richie, who is running for Chairman of the Texas Democratic Party. Later this afternoon, I will post my interview with Glen Maxey. Both interviews were sit-down interviews that lasted about an hour. They are long, but I think they both give great insight into both Richie's and Maxey's vision for the TDP.
One of the big differences between you and Glen Maxey is that Maxey has utilized the "netroots" community. For the most part, Democrats my age are more comfortable and supportive of Maxey, whereas many people - including lots of folks on our blog - don't know you at all, and see you as more of an "establishment" choice. I know you are endorsed by a large portion of elected officials across the state. Is that because you are the safer choice for Chair, someone everybody is more comfortable with, or is it because you honestly offer better options and choices for the position?
I want to speak, if I can, about being establishment. My father would probably turn over in his grave if he thought I was a member of the establishment, because there were a great deal of times when he was so progressive and so liberal that he couldn't be heard even as a delegate. I can't imagine how I would be labeled as establishment. I don't know what that means. I really don't. I have always been active in the Democratic Party. I served two terms with the SDEC - is that what makes me establishment? I don't know, and if it does, and if getting involved and trying to improve the Party makes you establishment, then…
I just don't know what that term means. And I know I've been called an insider and that I'm supposedly conducting backroom deals and all that. None of that is true. None, whatsoever. I was expecting, just as everyone else was, that Charles would stay on as Chair through the convention. He didn't, and that was his choice.
And let me tell you -- having been a lawyer for thirty-five years, if I'd been going to cook up some backroom deal it would have been a hell of a lot better than this one.
Fair enough. Why, then, do you think you'd make a better Party Chair?
Well, I think I have better options and better solutions. I'm not going to lie and say I have all the answers, because I don't. But I certainly believe I'm the better choice for Party Chair. Glen has wonderful talents, and he's far more technologically savvy than I am. But, I still say those are tools. They're important, and need to be utilized, and I recognize that. And I'm not trying to denigrate Glen in anyway, but the Party Chair needs to be more than a mechanic. You've got to be out there, doing those things on a broad-base that raise money, energize people, and unite the very diverse issues of Democrats across the state. The Democrats in East Texas have different needs than those in El Paso, or Austin, or Amarillo. We need to be able to bring together the leaders from across the state and talk to them about how we can do funding, how we can do field work, and how we can do it all together.
For the rest of the interview, please click on the "There's More" button.
Over the past weeks while I've been out of house, the campaigns for state party chair have issued various endorsements for their campaigns. For the most part, they have been in line with which one would expect from each campaign: Richie- Party Officials, Maxey- those involved with the grassroots, Jones & Rogers- nothing. Quotes not sourced are from campaign e-mails.
Representative Gallego's endorsement was made because he recognizes that the Party is rebuilding and good things are happening. Over the past month as Chairman, I have led efforts to increase our use of technology, increase the number of both large and small donors to the State Party and hired an experienced communications staffer to focus on Hispanic media and outreach.
Sen. Royce West
"Boyd, with you at the helm of the Texas Democratic Party, I know that we will realize the resurgence of Democratic leadership that this state so badly needs." - Sen. Royce West
Maxey-
Richard Morrison
One of the keys that made my campaign so successful was Glen Maxey. He taught local activists from Ft. Bend County how to use information, organizational structure, and other tools we needed to run an effective campaign. Because of our local activists and Glen Maxey's leadership, we've turned Fort Bend County into a battleground Democrats will take back in '06.
I'm endorsing Glen Maxey for state party chairman because he is the person we need to rebuild our party infrastructure. A lot of people talk the talk, but Glen Maxey is the only candidate in this race who has walked the walk.
What separates Glen Maxey from others in this race is that he has thirty-five years of in the trench, hand-to-hand, grassroots campaign experience. Glen Maxey is going to rebuild our party structure starting on day one. He doesn't need to hire a fancy consultant to tell him what needs to be done.
Glen Maxey’s response was broader and more compelling, "I believe in people power, message, and sheer determination. In 2002 we had a ticket and a gubernatorial candidate that did lay the golden egg. But the golden egg just means a different set of challenges. We must build permanent infrastructure that endures at the local level. I believe intrinsically in the power of individuals and not putting money into consultants, but into tools to empower all people."
Nick Chu, University Democrats President
Glen has consistently put young people in positions of responsibility in order for them to learn. Being a college student, I know that there are some things that I cannot learn from books. Politics is one of those things. First hand experience is the only way people develop a passion for politics. Providing that first hand experience by giving young people the chance to learn through responsibility is the only way our party can grow. Glen knows this.
Young people represent the future of our party. The Democratic Party cannot grow without youth. People are always talking about how more young people need to get involved in politics. But we are at the door and Glen Maxey wants to open it for us. Glen wants to see our party grow. He wants more young people to get involved. He wants our party to be strong.
While I have received nary an e-mail from Rogers or Urbina-Jones, from those who have heard them in person at panels their speeches are reform messages and as was characterized to me by one observer, Charlie Urbina-Jones (who won't win but could force a run-off in the vote) is "more aggressive then Glen in speaking the depth of reform needed but without Glen's experience in winning elections".
There are folks out there who want to tell you that Glen Maxey is only known in the circles of Austin politics. That Glen Maxey can't generate interest in other areas of Texas. I attended two events today that should prove some naysayers wrong.
