Tom Daley Endorses Linda Magid For SD 8 SDEC

Barbara Oldenburg, who has served on the Texas State Democratic Executive Committee as one of the two Senate District 8 Representatives for several years, has resigned effective January 1, 2010. (SD 8. Map PDF) The State Democratic Executive Committee (SDEC) is a special body created by the Texas Democratic Party (TDP) to effectively serve as the TDP governing body. As specified in the Rules of the Texas Democratic Party:

"When a vacancy occurs on the SDEC, the vacancy shall be filled by the majority vote of the members of the SDEC. The new member shall be an eligible person of the same sex and from the same senatorial district as the vacating member. The Senatorial District Committee of the affected district shall meet to nominate a person for such position."

The following letter was release by Tom Daley, 2008 candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives, supporting Linda Magid's candidacy to fill Ms. Oldenburg's SD 8 Democratic Executive Committee vacancy. Ms. Magid served as Mr. Daley's campaign manager during his 2008 run for the Texas 3rd Congressional District Seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Mr. Daley's letter:

By Tom Daley 2008 Democratic candidate U.S. House of Representatives, TX 3th Congressional District January 4, 2010 I am writing regarding the now-vacant position on the State Democratic Executive Committee that Barb Oldenburg so capably filled. It is important that battlegrounds such as SD-8 be represented by active and committed Democrats who have the time and energy to represent our area in SDEC proceedings. When I ran for US Congress in 2008, I soon found myself in need of a campaign manager. That presented me with two challenges: First, I wasn’t sure what a campaign manager should be doing. Second, I didn’t know where to find one. What I did know was that I needed an energetic person who was willing to take on an ill-defined job, for less than minimal pay, and work extensively with a candidate who was not very experienced. Fortunately, I didn’t look long. Linda Magid met my wife at a TDWCC meeting. Linda told Ava that she heard I was running for Congress and that she wanted to be part of the fight to bring energetic, effective representation to the Third Congressional District of Texas. Linda quickly identified what needed to be done, worked tirelessly to set measurable goals and helped me focus on meeting those goals. She worked hard to do whatever task needed doing, whenever it needed doing, and helped keep our campaign on track. She didn’t just execute—she was also an important source of ideas and never let her enthusiasm be overcome by the challenges of the day. Democrats in Texas are nearing a tipping point. We are poised to become the majority party and thereby bring good governance to the people of the state of Texas. But this won’t happen by fiat, luck, or wishful thinking. It will happen because we continue to work together doing the right things the right way. I believe Linda Magid is the perfect person to represent us on the SDEC. Her combination of drive, organizational skills, and willingness to roll up her sleeves and do the hard work required to help us be all that we imagine we can be is exactly what we need today. Please share my endorsement of Linda Magid with those who will vote in the election. Wishing us all success in 2010, Tom Daley, Attorney at Law

Letter To The Editor From Linda Magid

Barbara Oldenburg, who has served on the Texas State Democratic Executive Committee as one of the two Senate District 8 Representatives for several years, has resigned effective January 1, 2010. (Dist. Map PDF) As specified in the Rules of the Texas Democratic Party, "When a vacancy occurs on the SDEC, the vacancy shall be filled by the majority vote of the members of the SDEC. The new member shall be an eligible person of the same sex and from the same senatorial district as the vacating member. The Senatorial District Committee of the affected district shall meet to nominate a person for such position." The following letter to the editor of the DBCC is from Linda Magid, who has announce her candidacy to fill Ms. Oldenburg's vacancy:

Letter To The Editor by Linda Magid The State Democratic Executive Committee (SDEC) is a special body created by the Texas Democratic Party (TDP) and effectively serves as the TDP governing body. The State Democratic Executive Committee's mission is to: "Carry on the activities of the Party between State Conventions in compliance with the law and with the directives of the Convention." The SDEC is composed of elected TDP officers, one female and one male representative from each of the 31 Senate Districts currently defined in Texas. Rather than voting during a Texas Democratic State Convention, as normally happens, SD8 precinct chairs in Dallas and Collin County will vote for one precinct chair each to serve on a committee that will then recommend one person to the SDEC to fill the vacancy left by Ms. Oldenburg's resignation. With the current vacancy of the Senate District 8 female SDEC member, I am asking SD-8 Precinct Chairs in Collin County to support my candidacy for this position. As Campaign Manager for Tom Daley, the Democratic Congressional Candidate running against Sam Johnson in 2008, I understand the challenges we Democrats face in Collin County. I am by no means deterred by those challenges; in fact, I am only bolstered by them, ready to take on more responsibility and leadership to elect Democrats to county and state office. I see this SDEC position as not just an opportunity to participate in the TDP leadership but as an opening for bringing knowledge, ideas and experience from around the state to our work here. Our Collin County Democratic Party Chair, Shawn Stevens, has shared that the State Party sees Collin County as an important ingredient in winning in 2010. I want to work with Shawn to remind the State Party of our growing numbers, our needs and our determination. Three months after I moved to Texas in 2007, I joined the Texas Democratic Women of Collin County and almost immediately joined the Board of Directors as Events Chair. I successfully organized (with the North Dallas Texas Democratic Women) bringing Arianna Huffington to Collin County, a speaking engagement the Dallas Morning News said would be a flop. The event raised $2000 for each women's group. When the Primary Caucus came, I had the privilege of running Precint 135's caucus and was elected a Delegate to our County Convention and served on the Resolutions Committee. By the State Convention, I was already Tom Daley's Campaign Manager and was elected as an alternate delegate to the State convention. Once the election was over, I was elected Vice Chair to the Democratic Campaign Development Coalition (DCDC), a group committed to creating a pipeline of Democratic leadership in Collin County. Shortly after that I was promoted to Chair, which I serve as today. When the former Collin County Democratic Party Chair stepped down, the DCDC organized a successful County Chair Candidate Forum, providing a platform for Precinct Chairs to hear what the three candidates had to offer. Recently, the DCDC organized a seven session campaign training program to jump start possible candidates and campaign workers. Out of 44 unique attendees, we have 3 new Precinct Chairs and 4 new candidates for 2010, with more people considering a run in 2012. I believe my experience, my effort and my passion are evidence that I will fulfill this SDEC position with the County in mind. I want us to win. I want you, the precinct chairs, to win. Vote for me, and I promise to do all I can to make that happen.

Disclosures: Ms. Magid is a guest author for this blog. The editor of this blog is an active member of the Democratic Campaign Development Coalition, which Ms. Magid chairs.

Bill White Files For Texas Governors Race

Official press release from the White campaign: Today, after listening to thousands of Texans from all backgrounds, Bill White filed to run for Governor, pledging to fight for Texas' future. "I am proud of the people of Texas, and as Governor I will move us forward as America's great state of opportunity," White said. "I'll be a Governor who challenges Texans to lead, not leave, the United States."

White highlighted ways of creating new jobs with businesses small and large across the state. He emphasized that Texas could not be its best with skyrocketing insurance and electric rates and college tuition that increases faster than the incomes of Texans.

The son of San Antonio school teachers, White vowed to focus on improving educational achievement in K-12 grade levels, improving high school graduation rates, and reducing the costs of college.

White, a successful businessman, was first elected as Houston Mayor in 2003 and was twice re-elected with margins averaging 88%. He has been hailed as a strong leader and a problem-solver, with the Houston Chronicle noting that he has "deftly steered Houston through fiscal and tropical storms."

During White's administration, Houston led the nation's cities in job growth, adding more jobs than 16 states combined. At the same time, he cut property tax rates five years in a row. After Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Ike, Bill White mobilized an effective disaster response including first responders, businesses and churches.

"I don't have the polish of career politicians. But as a businessman and Mayor I know how to be accountable for results, not just rhetoric. I have a track record of bringing people together to get things done," White said. "That's what Texas needs now."

Last December, White launched a U.S. Senate campaign that in 11 months attracted more than 1500 volunteers, more than 5500 contributors, and more than $6.5 million. He has visited 70 Texas counties to date.

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Hank Gilbert

With Bill White entering the gubernatorial race, Hank Gilbert today announced he is dropping his gubernatorial bid and has instead filed to run for Agricultural Commissioner.

Hank Gilbert (picture right) ran for Agricultural Commissioner in the 2006 election cycle and received the most votes of any Democratic statewide candidate in that election year.

Farouk Shami

As part of his announcement that he is dropping his gubernatorial bid, Gilbert endorsed Houston hair care magnate Farouk Shami (picture right) for governor.

Conservative Sam Johnson Files For 10th Term In U.S. House

Conservative Republican U.S. Rep. Sam Johnson today announced through a press release that he plans to run for a tenth full term in the Texas 3rd U.S. Congressional District. (Shaded in yellow on map - Your Congressional District Number can be found on your Voter's Registration Card)

Johnson, who is 79 years old, first won his seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in a special election on May 8, 1991. Johnson has been reelected to the 3rd district seat in nine regular elections since 1992.

The Texas 3rd District House Seat has arguably been one of the deepest red Republican districts in Texas, or any other state, since 1968 when the Republican Party first took control of the 3rd district House Seat. Johnson ran for re-election unopposed by a Democratic candidate in the 1992, 1994, 1998 and 2004 elections.

Maybe Sam Johnson will snag an endorsement from former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin when she drops by Plano to sign her book, "Going Rogue," at Legacy Books on Friday Dec. 4th. Get-R-Done Sam!

Johnson was opposed by Democratic challenger Daniel Dodd and Libertarian challenger Christopher Clayton in the 2006 election.

Candidate	Party	Votes	Percent
Sam Johnson	(R)	88,634	63%
Dan Dodd	(D)	49,488	35%
Christopher Claytor	(L)	3,656	3%

In the 2008 election Johnson was opposed again by Libertarian challenger Christopher Clayton and a new Democratic challenger, Tom Daley. In 2008 Johnson's margin of victory was trimmed to 59 percent of the vote with Tom Daley receiving 38 percent, even as Daley ran a modest "budget campaign" as compared to Johnson's campaign war chest of money.

Candidate	Party	Votes	Percent
Sam Johnson	(R)	169,557	59.8%
Tom Daley	(D)	107,679	38.0%
Christopher Claytor	(L)	6,300	2.2%

So far, a Democratic challenger to Johnson has not appeared for the 2010 election cycle, but the month long filing period has only just opened.

Johnson has voted against tax incentives for energy conservation, clean/alternative energy development and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Johnson also voted to eliminate "critical habitat" for endangered species and to reduce liability for hazardous waste dumping and clean up. Johnson opposes health insurance reform, supports the privatization of social security, has voted against regulating the home mortgage industry and opposes any repeal of the Financial Services Modernization Act of 1999. That "Modernization Act" lifted Glass-Steagall regulations that prohibited any one financial institution from acting as a home mortgage company, investment bank, a commercial bank, and/or an insurance company. That single piece of banking deregulation is a root cause of the near collapse of the American financial system in 2008.

Gov. Perry: Federal Government Protecting The General Welfare Of Americans Is Socialist

On the issue of Texans who have lost their jobs; Gov. Perry, Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, Senator John Cornyn, Congressman Sam Johnson and every Republican elected official in Texas made headlines for months pronouncing that President Obama’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) "socialist" economic stimulus plan was unneeded and unwelcome in Texas.

On the issue of health insurance reform; Texas has the most expensive health care markets in the country, and the least number of people insured and Gov. Rick Perry (R-TX) raise his 10th Amendment argument again over federal health insurance reform. [Star-Telegram] Texas Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, Senator John Cornyn, Congressman Sam Johnson and every Republican elected official in Texas again line up with Gov. Perry to reject the idea that Texans need health insurance reform.

To review Johnson's conservative positions all on the issues plus his U.S. House of Representatives voting record, click here.

picture of Ms. Van Auken used with her kind permission

On Monday August 31st of this year Texas G.O.P. Reps. Sam Johnson, Joe Barton of Arlington, Jeb Hensarling and Pete Sessions of Dallas hosted a town hall at the Eisemann Center in Richardson, TX.

During the meeting Barton said. "We do believe the president's proposal is a radicalization and some would say socialization." He said the best option would be to defeat the current plans.

Kelley van Auken (pictured above) attended the Eisemann Center town hall to voice her support for Health Insurance reform.

"Most people [who oppose health insurance reform] were actually quite nice, but there's an abundance of misinformation," said Ms. van Auken. She said that one opponent of health insurance reform told her that she doesn't need health insurance, rather, she just needs to go to church for help with health care costs. Ms. van Auken, who is confined to a wheelchair, commented that opponents of health insurance reform believe, "there are churches that will cover my $72k/year drug costs and other medical expenses." In a CBS 11 news interview Ms. van Auken said, "I've been disabled my whole life and I've been fortunate to have access to healthcare, unfortunately there are a lot of people like me or with less ailments who don't have it and really do need it."