Tarrant Legislators Deliver Electricity Legislation to Consumers

by: Todd Hill

Sun May 31, 2009 at 09:39 AM CDT

Passage of this legislation are seen as key campaign victories for Davis and Turner, who campaigned rigorously in House District 96 and Senate District 10 respectively throughout Tarrant County articulating the problems and identifying potential solutions for escalating utility costs to Texas consumers.

From Senator Davis:

"It has been an uphill battle with some powerful interests, but we succeeded in passing legislation that will have a very real, very positive impact on Texas families and their pocketbooks," Senator Wendy Davis said. "This is a common-sense measure that will give people an opportunity to shop around and secure the best electricity rates available, taking advantage of the competition among electricity retailers."

From Representative Turner:

"This legislation is a major victory for Texas families. It will provide more transparency for consumers by preventing unexpected, dramatic utility rate hikes," said State Representative Chris Turner. "I applaud Senator Wendy Davis for her hard work in getting these provisions into the bill and for her strong leadership on consumer issues."

Tarrant County is not only proud of Davis and Turner, but Representatives Veasey, Pierson, and Burnam as well.  You each represented our county, and your districts, well throughout the 81st legislative session.

Will Rick Perry Appoint JD Granger to Tarrant County DA?

by: Phillip Martin

Sun Apr 26, 2009 at 08:00 AM CDT

Key Point: JD Granger has a history of controversial political appointments at the behest of his mother, and Congresswoman Granger has not yet announced who she will endorse in the upcoming Republican primary between Governor Perry and U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison. Perry appointing JD Granger to try and get mother Granger's endorsement is not only possible -- it is very, very likely. The question is: would it work?

Last week, Tarrant County District Attorney Tim Curry -- who had served in the position for 36 years -- passed away in his home. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram blog reported the news last Thursday:

Mr. Curry is likely among the longest-serving criminal district attorneys in Texas history, according to incomplete records from the Texas District & County Attorneys Association, spokeswoman Sarah Wolf said.

According to the Texas constitution, Mr. Curry’s replacement will be appointed by the governor to serve until the next election.

Governor Rick Perry's role in appointing a replacement has everyone in Tarrant County talking:

"The governor is going to have to think about his own upcoming race and what will help him in the long run," said Fort Worth attorney Greg Westfall, former president of the Tarrant County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association. "The fear is that it will be a political appointment, not a merit-based appointment."

Perry will "appoint a replacement upon completion of the process of fielding and interviewing potential replacements," said Allison Castle, spokeswoman for the governor.

One of the major and most likely names on the list is that of Republican JD Granger, son of Republican U.S. Congresswoman Kay Granger. JD Granger has a history of controversial political appointments at the behest of his mother, and Congresswoman Granger has not yet announced who she will endorse in the upcoming Republican primary between Governor Perry and U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison. Perry appointing JD Granger to get mother Granger's endorsement is not only possible -- it is very, very likely.

JD Granger was a former assistant district attorney for eight years before, at the age of 36, was hired to run the Tarrant Regional Water District, better known to those in Tarrant County as "Trinity Uptown." The controversial water district -- and Granger's appointment -- is well articulated in an editorial from the definitely not-liberal Fort Worth Business Press editorial from November 27, 2006, "The Uppity Dumpties":

The water board likes a close-knit familial group, as seen in its relationship with U.S. Rep. Kay Granger, R-Fort Worth, foremost proponent of the plan, and her son, J.D. Granger. Congresswoman Granger has led the drive to secure federal funding for the project. J.D. Granger is executive director of the Trinity River Vision Authority, which was created by the water board to oversee development of an 800-acre commercial and residential project. Some long-established businesses, particularly on the north side of town, will be uprooted by the plan.

Granger was appointed — without a search — to his $100,000 a-year job by the water district’s general manager, Jim Oliver. Following his boss’ example, Granger chose Eppstein without a formal search, and the authority’s board rubber-stamped the Eppstein contract.

Yes, JD Granger was hired without any official job search...and wait, Eppstein contract. That wouldn't be Bryan Eppstein, would it, the same Hutchison campaign spokesman that has worked directly with Congresswoman Kay Granger? Yes, yes it is. The blog Texas Watchdog ties it all together:

For example, two years ago, he helped elect Jim Lane and Marty Leonard to the Tarrant Regional Water District Board. Soon after, the board turned around and gave Eppstein two no-bid contracts for crafting a public relations strategy for its half-billion dollar plan to redirect the Trinity River as it meanders through downtown Fort Worth.

If only the back scratching stopped there. Richard Connor, who has skillfully dissected the board’s Trinity River plan for the Fort Worth Business Press, has unravelled the knot of ties Eppstein has to the deep-pocketed public agency. For example, Eppstein has worked on the political campaigns of Congresswoman and former Fort Worth Mayor Kay Granger, who just helped nail down federal funding for the project.

And guess where the congresswoman’s son, JD Granger, works? Try the Trinity River Vision Authority, which was conceived by the water board to oversee the massive public works project. As Connor reported, the boy Granger turned around and chose Eppstein for a PR gig without so much as a formal search.

So -- the million dollar question, of course -- is Perry going to appoint JD Granger to try and gain favor with Congresswoman Kay Granger? Is such an appointment enough to over-shadow the fact that Eppstein, who has worked with Congresswoman Granger in the past, is also a spokesman for Hutchison?

Or does Perry appoint someone else -- is the calculation that he won't get Congresswoman Granger's endorsement, and he would do better to appoint a different Republican that could do well in what will most certainly be a competitive race in 2010?

And do the people of Tarrant County even have a chance of a non-political appointment? Or are they stuck in scratch-my-back hell for another public official? We know that Eppstein got smacked down by the defeat of Republican State Senator Kim Brimer by Democrat State Senator Wendy Davis last November. Tarrant County would seem to be rebuking the status-quo back-scratching that Republicans like Granger (both mother and son) and Eppstein have been practicing all these years. Does that matter at all to Perry? (99% chance the answer is no, but still worth asking).

I don't know the inner-workings of the Republican primary race as well as someone who has lived and breathed Republican politics over the last few decades. I hope to gain insight from the Dean of the Texas blogosphere, Paul Burka, who is much more informed about the insides of the Republican Party than I am. Unless he's covering a Speaker's race, of course. (Ba-zing!)

What will Perry do? What's the calculus? Feel free to comment below...

Democratic Presidential Campaign Activities in Tarrant County

by: Todd Hill

Sat Feb 16, 2008 at 10:10 PM CST

This past Tuesday the Obama campaign kicked of their Tarrant County efforts by opening two offices, one on the northside of Fort Worth near Billy Bob's, and the other on the eastside of Fort Worth off I-30 and Brentwood Stair road.  Over 350 enthusiastic, diverse, and energetic people came out to celebrate the opening.  Another 300 people showed up today for precinct captain training on what turned out to be a stormy Saturday morning.  It didn't dampen enthusiasm or spirit though, because the energy was incredible.    

The Clinton campaign kicked off their week by announcing their 26 person strong steering committee, full of elected officials, dignitaries, and other individuals with diverse political backgrounds.  

Some voters in Tarrant County are reporting receiving at least two phone calls already from the Clinton campaign, who have staked their real estate claim at the local Machinists Union Hall near Lockheed in Fort Worth.  

Obama operations have also begun in earnest with many of the volunteers who have showed up for trainings now taking part in decentralized phone banking efforts throughout Tarrant County.

We are now 17 days away from the primary and caucus conventions taking place here in Texas.  Clearly the Lone Star State for the first time in decades is the focus of Democratic presidential campaign cross-hairs, which is exciting in of itself.  For political activists like me, especially coming on the heels of the HD 97 special election victory for Democrat Dan Barrett, this is some exciting, and historical, political drama taking place right now.    

Tarrant Turning Blue?

by: Todd Hill

Thu Mar 29, 2007 at 08:51 AM CDT

Now, I have no doubt in my mind that the collective work many activists are doing here in Tarrant County is leading to a much brighter, and certainly more blue future here, but I honestly had no idea that California would contribute to that effort.  We'll take what we can get though.

Logic tells me that since California is as blue as Texas is red, these new Texans are very likely Democratic voters.  Sounds like a golden opportunity to speed up the process of turning Tarrant County Democratic again if we target voter registration efforts towards these new migrants.  Lets get to work! 

Another Tarrant County Soldier Killed in Iraq

by: Todd Hill

Mon Mar 26, 2007 at 07:50 AM CDT

Army Spc. Lance Springer II represents the 23rd Tarrant County soldier killed as a result of combat operations in Iraq, and number 300 overall from Texas. 

The cost of war in both manpower and dollars is too great. 

This war must end now!

US Congress District 26: Tim Barnwell

by: John McClelland

Tue Aug 08, 2006 at 11:01 PM CDT

Democratic candidate Tim Barnwell takes on incumbent Republican Congressman Michael C. Burgess.

Below the fold, you will hear more about the district, it's two combatants, an interview with Tim Barnwell, and if Congressman Burgess is the doctor that George W. Bush referred to when saying gynaecologists should practice their love with women.

Knock, Knock...

by: missmeliss

Mon May 01, 2006 at 00:11 PM CDT

Now, when you have little G's, a neighborhood canvas involves gear. We had a jogging stroller, 5 rain slickers- two for the kiddos, two for the grown ups, and one for the jogging stroller, a set of rain boots, snacks and sippy cups. 

We were given a well organized folder with our scripts, a map of our locations and our 56-hit list and off we went.  I have to give kudos to the Southwest Democrats of Tarrant County- they did a good job of organizing the event. 

Here is some background on the neighborhood we canvased- largely blue collar, home values between 85-120, mixed demographics. 

Here are my impressions:
- People in these neighborhoods sleep late on Saturday mornings and don't want to answer the door.
- Those that do answer the door either a) proudly vote democrat or b) thought we were the pizza delivery people
- White people are least likely to come to the door.
- Hispanic families answer the door- but let their children do it. 
- Like in the movie Door to Door, the days of the neighborhood canvas are numbered. If this is how we reach people, we aren't reaching people.

I'm not sure what the answer for reaching folks is, but I think for anyone under 50, it involves the web, e-mail, text messaging, a call to action.

Maybe we sponsor block parties/voter registration drives and get people out of their homes. Maybe we target one person who can engage his or her neighborhood. But in the areas we visited, there was a serious lack of neighborhood unity... Home was inside the door and not one foot outside of it.  No kids on the street. No one out for a walk.  No friendly waves or smiles from people driving by. 

We finished our canvas about 3 hours later.  Despite our dismal results, we were proud of our effort.  The rest of the weekend my thoughts centered around one question: we have good volunteers, we have energy, and dedication. How do we reach the people?  I'm open to ideas.

Some Thoughts on the Eve of the SD Conventions

by: marc g

Fri Mar 24, 2006 at 10:36 PM CST

Dallas, Tarrant County Primary Races (FINAL FOR BOTH)

by: Vince Leibowitz

Tue Mar 07, 2006 at 02:26 PM CST

In Tarrant County, Art Brender held onto the Democratic Party Chairmanship, Curry held onto the DA's position, and Whitley won County Judge. This post is finished for now...more detailed updates in the morning.

In final results tonight, two Democrats vying for County Clerk—Greg Allbright and John Warren—will head to a runoff while DA candidates in both parties won their respective primaries without runoffs. More later, while I watch other results and wait for Tarrant's finals.