As we head into the last weekend of the Democratic primary, I want you to know how honored I am to have your endorsement.
I'll be criss-crossing Texas (get it?) between now and Election Day, taking my message of balanced justice and positive change to Democrats in every corner of the state.
Your confidence means a lot to me-I won't let you down.
New Year’s Eve is the one night of the year I almost always stay home. I think it goes back to my days of being assigned to be on call with the District Attorney’s Office. My routine is to have a quiet night taking stock of the past year and planning for the next one.
This time last year I had just finished running for re-election. I was looking forward to planting tomatoes and jalapenos, fixing up my house, traveling and finishing the biography I have been working on for over a decade of Minnie Fisher Cunningham. Well, at least the traveling part came true but not how I expected. If someone would have told me I would spend eight months of the year running for statewide office I would have thought the person to be crazy.
But what a year it has been. These eight months have been an incredible adventure. I have experienced this wonderful state in ways I would never known as a tourist. I always loved Texas but now I have a better understanding of why this place is so special.
In a recent interview with Mary Flood of the Houston Chronicle Racehorse Haynes remarked, "They've taken the courthouse away from folks." The legal community recognized that he was speaking figuratively about statutes and court opinions in Texas that take away the right to trial by jury. Many have used the phrase "closing the courthouse doors" to describe these attempts to restrict access to justice for Texas citizens.
Our jury system is in serious trouble. The right to a jury trial that has been guaranteed by our state and US Constitutions. Yet too many judges and lawmakers have whittled that right away in the name of a manufactured crisis called "tort reform".
Lawyers have lost faith in our civil justice system. Too many Texans no longer expect to receive justice in Texas courts. I am running for this Court because that has to change. We must begin restoring balance to our state's highest court. All of us who took an oath to "protect, preserve and defend the Constitution" have a moral, ethical and professional obligation to live up to that oath. Our constitutional rights need defending now. Our civil justice system is in a serious crisis.
(Another great candidate here at YDA. - promoted by Matt Glazer)
Dallas Host Committee Chair Juan Ayala welcomed an energized crowd of Young Dems from all over America and forty other countries at the opening reception of the 75th Young Democrats of America Convention. This was the first time the YDA Convention has been held in Texas.
Texas Young Democrats president Shondra Wygal introduced Texas Democratic Party Chair Boyd Richie. Chairman Richie told of his experience as a Young Dem working as an intern at the U.S. House of Representatives. He described how proud he felt to stand on the House floor and hear President John F. Kennedy give his first State of the Union address. His story inspired many young dems and this not so young one.
Dallas County Democratic Party Chair Darlene Ewing told the attendees how Dallas County Democrats shocked the Texas GOP by turning Dallas County blue and defeating over 40 GOP incumbents in the November 2006 election. She ran one of the best coordinated campaigns this state has seen in decades!
Many of the newly elected Dallas County public servants were at the reception along with other local elected officials such as Texas Senator Royce West.
I visited with Young Dems from Arizona, Iowa, Colorado, New York, Louisiana and all over Texas. Several them planned to go to the JFK Museum.
I got to look at the convention agenda. TYDs and DCYDs did a great job planning a week of grassroot campaign training sessions.
It was exciting to see so much passion and energy from young people who care about participating in the political process.
