DNC Chairman Gov. Tim Kaine To Be In Dallas Wednesday

Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chairman Gov. Tim Kaine will hold an informal meet and greet with Organizing for North Texas (Dallas/Ft. Worth) volunteers and supporters on Wednesday, May 20th between 3PM and 4:15PM at the Iron Cactus, 1520 Main Street, Dallas.


The event is free and open to the public but please RSVP to gillianpar@gmail.com.

Luke Hayes, OFA's Texas Director, will also be in attendance and will speak briefly about the President's upcoming focus on health care reform and future plans for OFA in Texas.

Organizing for North Texas is a grassroots group that works with Organizing for America (OFA) in the DFW area.

Commemorate The Service of U.S. Armed Forces Members And Veterans

The Democratic Party Of Collin County Is Sponsoring A Memorial Day "Pot-Luck" Picnic to salute all active and veteran members of the U.S. armed services.

Where: Frisco Commons Park at 8000 McKinney Road in Frisco, TX (map) When: Saturday May 23 from 3-6 PM.

You will enjoy great food and conversation with friends and neighbors by the park's beautiful veteran's memorial. The Democratic Party will provide grilled hot dogs. The DPCC asks that attendees with last names beginning with 'A - M' bring a covered dish or vegetables, chips, etc., and attendees with last names beginning 'N - Z' bring desserts. Also everyone should bring the beverage of their choice.


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Mark Thompson (D) Joins The Race For Governor

KXAN is tweeting that Mark Thompson, 2008 Democratic candidate for Railroad Commissioner, has announced he will run for Governor in 2010.

Thompson received 44.6 percent of the vote in 2008 when he ran against Republican incumbent Michael Williams for the Railroad Commission seat.

Thompson joins Tom Schieffer (left) and humorist Kinky Friedman (right) as the line up for the Democratic primary ballot next March.

Friedman, who received 12 percent of the vote in 2006 when he ran as an Independent in the four way race for Governor against incumbent Republican Governor Rick Perry, Democrat Chris Bell and Independent Carole Keeton Strayhorn, is still in the exploratory phase.

So far, the Republican primary ballot choices will be Texas Gov. Rick Perry's (R) and Texas Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, pictured left.

House Legislator Kuempel (R-Seguin) In Intensive Care

Texas House legislator Rep. Edmund Kuempel (R-Seguin) was found unconscience Tuesday evening from an apparent heart attack in a capitol building elevator by the House Sergeant at Arms Jennifer Irvy. Emergency medical services personnel used a defibrillator to restore heart activity before Kuempel was transported to Brackenridge Hospital where he remains in remains in the intensive care unit.

From Quorum Report: He is on a ventilator in a medically induced coma and will be so for the next several days as physicians monitor his condition. They will know more as they bring him back up.

Physicians reportedly feel good about his prospects. They believe he was found and resuscitated in time. But nothing will be certain for several more days.

The 81st regular session of the Texas Legislature is scheduled to adjourn on June 1, 2009.