Sunday, March 23, 2008

Elected Offices For Texas And Collin Co.


Collin County Commissioners' Court

Four Commissioners, each elected from a quarter of the county's population, serve with a Presiding County Judge on the Commissioners Court. The Collin County Commissioner's Court approves the annual budget and all county expenditures, sets the county property tax rates, approves the tax roll and determines public works policy such as building programs and conducting elections. The court appoints most non-elected department heads and standing committees and represents the county in state and regional matters.

Your Collin County Commissioners' Court Precinct Number can be found on your 2008 Orange Voter's Registration Card within the box titled "Com." More


Texas Railroad Commission

There are three individuals who serve together on the Texas Railroad Commission. Railroad Commissioners serve six year terms, with one commissioner seeking state wide election every two years, including this year. The Texas Railroad Commission is the state agency that regulates the oil and gas industry, gas utilities, pipeline safety, safety in the liquefied petroleum gas industry, and surface coal and uranium mining. As is suggested by its name, the Railroad Commission was initially created to regulate railroads. Pipelines, the oil and gas industry and and gas utilities were added to the commission's jurisdiction by 1920. Effective October 1, 2005, the Railroad Commission of Texas no longer has regulatory authority over railroads, but the Texas legislature has never renamed the agency. Hence, the misnamed agency is a constant source of confusion among most voters . More


Texas Fifth District Court of Appeals

The Texas District Courts of Appeals are distributed in fourteen districts around the state of Texas. The Courts of Appeal have intermediate appellate jurisdiction in both civil and criminal cases appealed from district or county courts. Like the Texas Supreme Court and Court of Criminal Appeals, Justices of the Texas Courts of Appeals are elected to six-year terms by general election. (Graphical Guide to the Court System of Texas) Appeals from Collin, Dallas, Kaufman, Rockwall and Grayson counties (map) are all heard by the 5th District Court of Appeals, which includes one Chief Justice and 12 and twelve additional Justices. More


Texas Court of Criminal Appeals

The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals is the court of last resort for all criminal matters in the State of Texas and is composed of a Presiding Judge and eight additional Judges. Each appellate Judge is elected to "court place positions" in staggered six-year terms by state-wide general election. The appeal of all cases in which the death penalty has been assessed go directly to the Court of Criminal Appeals from the trial courts. (Graphical Guide to the Court System of Texas) The appeals of all other criminal cases go to one of the fourteen District Courts of Appeals in Texas, however, their decisions may also be reviewed by the Court of Criminal Appeals. More


Supreme Court of Texas

The Supreme Court of Texas is composed of a Chief Justice plus eight Justices and it is the court of last resort for civil matters in the State of Texas. A different court, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, is the court of last resort for criminal matters. (Graphical Guide to the Court System of Texas) All justices are elected to a "court place position" in state-wide general elections. Other than Place 1, which is reserved as the Chief Justice place position, the Supreme Court place numbers have no special significance. More


U.S. House of Representatives Districts for Collin Co.

The boundaries of the 3rd Texas Congressional District and the 4th Texas Congressional District meet in Collin County. Your Congressional District Number can be found on your 2008 Orange Voter's Registration Card within the box titled "Congress."

The 3rd Texas Congressional District includes a large portion of the southwestern corner of Collin County that includes Plano and most of Frisco and McKinney. The 3rd District also encompasses a northeastern corner of Dallas County that includes parts of Richardson, Garland and Dallas. The 4th District includes the northern and eastern parts of Collin county. More


U.S. Senate Seats for Texas

Article One of the Constitution of the United States specifies that each state shall have two Senators. The Constitution assigns special responsibilities to the Senate to advise and exercise its consent on proposals made by the President of the United States for key executive and judicial appointments, including Justices to the Supreme Court, and on the ratification of treaties with foreign countries. The two U.S. Senators from Texas cast two of the fifty votes the Senate needs to advise and exercise its consent on appoints and treaties proposed by the President. More


President of the United States Candidate

In Texas, the presidential candidate who receives the most popular votes determines whether the Democratic or Republican slate of 34 electors will cast the electoral votes for president approximately one month after the Nov. 4th general election. In other words, if Barack Obama, the Democratic candidate, receives the most popular votes in Texas, then the Democratic Party's slate of 34 electors is certified to cast the Electoral College votes for president in Texas. A total of 270 out of 538 possible electoral votes are require to elect the President of the United States. More









Odds and Ends

32 Minute Video of Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton Discussing Women's Issues

In Gratitude and with Great Respect for Senator Hillary Clinton's contributions to the Democratic Cause!


With Optimism and Hope in a new direction for America!


One of our very own Frisco Democratic Meetup Group members, Amy Manuel, created a music video for the 2008 Democratic Convention Contest.


Submission to 2008 Democratic Convention
"Why Am I A Democrat" Contest

Thursday, March 20, 2008

Your Voter Registration Card

For information on 2014-15 voter registration cards and 2015 voter I.D. requirements - CLICK HERE
 


Information about the November 2012 election and Your 2012 Collin Co. Voter Registration Card.

Check your Collin Co. registration status - click here. Check your registration status in another county - click here. Update Jan. 01, 2012 from post, "Voter Registration Cards On Hold Until High Courts Draw Redistricting Lines"
If you are a registered voter with an expired 2010-2011 [voter registration] card, then you will not receive a new [2012-2013 voter registration card] until the courts decide on how the Texas congressional and state house lines will be drawn. [County election officials may also have to wait until the U.S. Dept. of Justice, and possibly the federal courts rule on Texas' new voter photo ID law. Also see revised 2012 election schedule]
Sample Registration Card for Collin Co., TX
“A lot of voters are calling because their cards are expired,” Kristi Allyn, Taylor County Elections Administrator, said. All Texas voter registration cards expired at the end of 2011.
Usually, election officials mail out new cards [in December], but this year, things are a little different. “We will be sending out new cards, we’re not sure when,” Allyn said.
Election offices across the state are on hold until the redistricting limbo is all settled. “We’re just waiting at this point to see what districts we’ll have to put on the cards,” Allyn explained.
Full Article: Voter Registration Cards On Hold Until High Courts Draw Redistricting Lines – Abilene News Story – KTXS Abilene.
Description of Codes on your Collin Co. Voter Registration Card

Description of some of the fields on the voter registration card:

  1. VUID – This is your 10-digit statewide Voter Unique Identification Number issued by the Secretary of State’s office. This number remains the same as long as you are a registered voter in the State of Texas regardless of the County in which you reside or if you move from one County in Texas to another.
  2. Prec. No. – Your precinct is based upon your residence address and determines your election ballot style.
  3. Valid from January 1, 2010 thru December 31, 2011. Upon expiration, new certificates are automatically mailed to voters with active registrations.
  4. Name and Permanent Residence Address – Your name and address of residence as provided when you registered to vote. Your election precinct (polling place) is based upon this address.
  5. X signature line. The "fine print" below the signature line says, "VOTER MUST PERSONALLY SIGN HIS/HER NAME IMMEDIATELY UPON RECEIPT, IF ABLE."
  6. Voted in the ________ Party Primary. When voting in a primary election, you must state in which political party's primary you will vote. Your selection will then be stamped in this space on your registration card. This also helps ensure you will receive a ballot from the same party should a runoff election be required. If you did not vote in the initial primary but would like to vote in a subsequent runoff, you will be able to make your party selection at that time. You must vote in a party's primary election to qualify to attend that party's precinct, county and state conventions. You will present your stamped registration card when you check in for the precinct convention as proof that you did vote in the primary election.
  7. Various Election Districts
    • CONGRESS - U.S. House of Representative District Number
    • STATE SEN. - Texas Legislature - State Senate District Number
    • STATE REP. - Texas Legislature - State House of Representatives District Number
    • COM - Collin County Commissioners Court Precinct
    • JP - Justice of the Peace District
    • CITY - City
    • CITY DIST. - City District Subdivision
    • ISD - Independent School District
    • ISD DIST. - Independent School District Subdivision
    • SBOE - State Board of Education
  8. Cert No. - This is your Collin County Voter Unique Identification Number.
  9. BARCODE – This is an internal tracking number which should be electronically scanned by poll workers at a polling location to check-in voters. Please DO NOT cut the bar code off of the card!!
  10. Mailing Address – Just below the Bar Code is your Mailing Address provided by you indicating where you wish to receive your mail. This address is not used in determining your precincts or in which races you will be eligible to vote.
Can you find your 2010 Blue and White voter registration card?
In December 2009 the Collin County Registrar's Office mailed new 2010 Blue and White voter registration cards to every "active" registered voter in the county. Make sure you sign the card on the front by the X at the bottom left of the card.
If you did not received a blue 2010 Voter's Registration Card in the mail, you are likely not registered to vote in Collin Co:
  • If you have moved and you have not voted in an election in Collin County during the past two years, your voter registration record may have been suspended or even canceled. You must contact the Registrar's office and update your registration information every time you move. To find the change of address information click here.
  • If you have not moved, but mail sent to your address by the Collin Co. Registrar's Office was for some reason return to the Registrar's office as undeliverable mail, then the Registrar will think you have moved and the Registrar will suspend your voting status. Why does this happen? The most typical reason is if your mail was being held at the post office while you were on vacation and the Registrar's office sent mail to you (e.g. your new voter registration card or other information mailing) during period your mail was held at the post office, then the Registrar's mailing would have been returned to the Registrar's office as undeliverable mail. This returned mail marked as undeliverable causes the Registrar to think you have moved and your registration recorded will be suspended for two years and then canceled.
  • If you checked the "Register to Vote" box when you changed or renewed your Texas Driver's License, but you never received a voter registration card from the Collin County Registrar's Office, you are likely not registered to vote.
If your voter registration record has been suspended or canceled, or you have never registered to vote in Collin County you must take action to be properly registered by October 4, 2010 in order to vote in either the November 2, 2010 General Election. Voter Registration Applications must be post marked on or before October 4, 2010 in order for you to be properly registered to vote in the election. It is always good practice to check your registration status at least 45 day before every election by going to the Registrar's website - click here.

Have you ever registered to vote? In general, you are eligible to vote in Collin County if you are a United States Citizen, a resident of the county, will be 18 years old before election day, are not a convicted felon and have not been declared mentally incapacitated. For specific information and to determine your eligibility, click here to visit the Secretary of State’s web site and read the pamphlet on Texas Voting. Check whether you are already registered to vote here and if you are not yet registered to vote, get your Voter's Registration application here.

Please remember to take your Voter's Registration Card with you to the polling place when you vote. Several forms of identification (in place of your voter registration card) are acceptable, but election clerks can use the bar code on the registration card to electronically verify your voter registration status in just seconds. This makes the voting lines move much faster for everyone!!! Please DO NOT cut the bar code off of the card!! Click here to find the forms of identification, other than your voter registration certificate, that you may use to vote.

Friday, March 7, 2008

Collin County Congressional Districts

The boundaries of the 3rd Texas Congressional District and the 4th Texas Congressional District meet in Collin County. Your Congressional District Number can be found on your 2008 Orange Voter's Registration Card within the box titled "Congress."

The 3rd Texas Congressional District includes a large portion of the southwestern corner of Collin County that includes Plano and most of Frisco and McKinney. The 3rd District also encompasses the northeastern corner of Dallas County that includes parts of Richardson, Garland and Dallas.

Collin and Dallas County residents must check their Registration Card to verify their respective congressional district number. Click on the map to enlarge. The 3rd District on the map is shaded in yellow and the 4th District is shaded in pink.

In Collin Co. the 4th Texas Congressional District county. The 4th Texas Congressional District also includes all or parts of Bowie, Camp, Cass, Collin, Delta, Fannin, Farnklin, Grayson, Hopkins, Hunt, Lamar, Morris, Rains, Red River and Rockwall counties.

A Congressional District is an area within a state entitled to elect one "congressional member" to the United States House of Representatives. The United States has a total of 435 Congressional districts and each district has about 570,000 people. The 435 congressional seats are reapportioned within and among the 50 states after each decennial census as prescribed in Section 2, Article I of the Constitution of the United States according to a formula established by the congress.

Texas has 32 U.S. Congressional Districts. The Texas legislature has primary responsibility for "redistricting" the U.S. Congressional Districts within Texas as well as the districts for the Texas State Senate, State House and State Board of Education after each decennial census. The Texas legislature also has the primary role in making changes to state judicial districts. Section 28, Article III of the Texas Constitution requires the legislature to "redistrict" the various governmental jurisdictions during its first regular session following publication of each United States decennial census. For an Interactive Map of Texas U.S. Congressional (110th Congress) districts, plus State House, State Senate and State Board of Education Districts click here.

The U.S. House of Representatives 3rd Congressional District seat is currently held by Republican Sam Johnson.
Mr. Johnson, who will be 78 years old in October 2008, was first elected to the 3rd District House Seat in a special election on May 8, 1991. Johnson has been reelected to the U.S. House Seat in eight regular elections beginning in 1992. The Texas 3rd District House Seat has arguably been one of the deepest red Republican districts in Texas and the United States since 1968 when the Republican Party first took control of the 3rd district House Seat. Johnson ran for reection unopposed by a Democratic Candidate in the 1992, 1994, 1998 and 2004 elections. Johnson has voted against tax incentives for energy conservation and clean/alternative energy development. Johnson also voted to eliminate "critical habitat" for endangered species and to reduce liability for hazardous waste dumping and clean up. Johnson opposes universal health care coverage, supports the privatization of social security and has voted against re-regulating the home mortgage industry. To review Johnson's positions on the issues and his U.S. House of Representatives voting record, click here.
The U.S. House of Representatives 4th Congressional District seat is currently held by Republican Ralph Moody Hall.
Mr. Hall, who at 85 years old is the oldest serving member of the House of Representatives, first ran for and won the 4th District House Seat as a self-described "old-time southern conservative Democrat" in the 1980 general election. Hall was reelected to that U.S. House Seat as an "old-time conservative Democrat" in every regular election until 2004 when he switched parties to run as a Republican. Hall switched parties after House Majority Leader Tom DeLay engineered the controversial mid-decade redistricting of Texas in 2003. That mid-decade redistricting of Texas added the northern and eastern portions of Republican strong-hold Collin County to the 4th district. After the switch, the Republican Party allowed Hall to keep his seniority and Hall became chairman of the House Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality. Hall has voted against tax incentives for energy conservation and clean/alternative energy development. Hall also voted to eliminate "critical habitat" for endangered species and to reduce liability for hazardous waste dumping and clean up. Hall opposes universal health care coverage, supports the privatization of social security and has voted against re-regulating the home mortgage industry. To review Hall's positions on the issues and his U.S. House of Representatives voting record, click here.

Saturday, March 1, 2008

Teaching Materials Used In Each ISD

McKinney ISD

Textbooks
  1. Publisher: Glencoe/McGraw-Hill Division
    1. Textbook Title: Health & Wellness, Texas Edition
    2. Textbook Title: Teen Health, Course 2, Texas Edition
    3. Textbook Title: Teen Health, Course 3, Texas Edition
    4. Textbook Title: Teen Health, Course 1, Texas Edition
Programs/Materials
  1. Aim For Success
  2. Choosing the Best
  3. W.A.I.T. Training
  4. Speakers (not classroom teachers):
    1. Turning Point Rape Crisis Center of Collin County
    2. Early Head Start
    3. Dental Hygiene during Pregnancy, Infants and Children
    4. Texas Attorney Generals Office
    5. Long List of MISD Nurses & Counselors
    6. Prestonwood Family & Pregnancy Center- W.A.I.T. training
  5. Videos:
    1. Disney- “Everything You Want to Know About Puberty…Girls”
    2. Sunburst- The New Improved Me: “Understanding Body Changes” boys only6.
  6. Texts:
    1. Understanding Psychology
    2. Sociology and You
    3. Essentials of Human Anatomy and Physiology
    4. Holt Biology (biology and AP biology)
    5. Diversified Health Occupations
    6. Nursing Assistant
    7. Childcare and Guidance, Management and Services
    8. Child Development/The Developing Child
    9. Individual and Family Life
    10. Successful Parenting for School-Age Parents Curriculum Guide
    11. Love and Logic Parent Guide
    12. Choosing the Best Path/Way/Life
    13. We Help Ourselves
    14. You Are Special parent guide
    15. Glencoe Teen Health Courses 1, 2, 3 plus Workbooks

Plano ISD

Textbooks
  1. Publisher: Holt, Rinehart and Winston
    1. Textbook Title: Texas Holt Lifetime Health
    2. Textbook Title: Texas Holt Decisions for Health, Level Blue, Grade
  2. Publisher: McGraw-Hill School Division
    1. Textbook Title: Macmillan/McGraw-Hill Health and Wellness, Texas Edition
Title V Funded Programs
  1. Medical Institute of Sexual Health
Materials
  1. Books
    1. Growing To Maturity
    2. ETR
      • Sexuality and Relationships
      • Abstinence
      • Puberty and Reproduction
      • Violence
      • STD & HIV
    3. PISD 1-District Created Lessons
  2. Laser Discs, Videos, DVD’s, Discovery Education Video Streaming:ABC News:
    1. Teenage Sexuality, copyright information not available
    2. Sunburst Communications-Real People: Teens Who Choose Abstinence, copyright information not available
    3. Aims Multimedia- The Teen Files, Surviving High School (School Version), 2001
    4. Aims Multimedia- The Teen Files, The Truth About Sex, (School Version), 1999
(No outside speakers, presenters, or volunteers deliver any instruction during either middle school “Growing to Maturity” or high school health “Sexuality” unit.)

Frisco ISD

Textbooks
  1. Publisher: Glencoe/McGraw-Hill Division
    1. Textbook Title: Health & Wellness, Texas Edition - Teen Guide to Sexuality
  2. Publisher: Holt, Rinehart and Winston
    1. Textbook Title: Texas Holt Decisions for Health, Level Red, Grade 7
    2. Textbook Title: Texas Holt Decisions for Health, Level Blue, Grade 8
    3. Textbook Title: Texas Holt Decisions for Health, Level Green, Grade 6
  3. Publisher: Harcourt
    1. Textbook Title: Harcourt Health and Fitness, Texas Edition
Title V Funded Programs
  1. Scott & White Worth the Wait
  2. Just Say Yes- Motivational Youth Speaker
  3. 180 Degrees
  4. Real Options For Women
Other Programs/Materials
  1. Aim For Success

Allen ISD

Textbooks
  1. Holt, Rinehart and Winston (ISBN: 0030379814)
    1. Textbook Title: Texas Holt Lifetime Health Publisher:
  2. Publisher: Glencoe/McGraw-Hill Division
    1. Textbook Title: Teen Health, Course 3, Texas Edition
    2. Textbook Title: Teen Health, Course 3, Texas Edition - Healthy Relationships and Sexuality Annotated Edition
  3. Publisher: McGraw-Hill School Division
    1. Textbook Title: Macmillan/McGraw-Hill Health and Wellness, Texas Edition
Programs/Materials
  1. Teen Awareness Programs (TAP)- The Turning Point Rape Crisis Center of Collin County
  2. The Always Changing Program
  3. Aim For Success
  4. Choosing the Best