Kuff has a great Q & A of Javier Valenzuela, here.
Check it out and Vote Javier Valenzuela!
Kuff’s Q & A: Javier Valenzuela for County Civil Court at Law #3
February 9, 2010 · Leave a Comment
→ Leave a CommentCategories: Texas Dems 2010
The Endorsement Game…
February 9, 2010 · Leave a Comment
Well, by now you must have seen Lisa Falkenberg’s piece on Democratic endorsements. OK–it’s out there.
Frustrated candidates are abuzz with reports of behind-the-scenes controversies and shenanigans ahead of next month’s primary, from a local Democratic club hitting up candidates for hefty donations to big-name elected officials throwing around their weight with their own endorsing group.
All of our Democratic candidates (well, most) have been running the gauntlet of Democratic clubs, Labor Unions, and other organizations to see who can win the most endorsements. DosCentavos.net did not have a gauntlet. As an individual voter who actually pays attention, I made my choices based on various factors: The ability to win in November and the candidates’ knowledge and respect of “new media” weighed heavily, beyond the usual factors.
When it comes to the other groups, I cannot really criticize. DC is now known as a vendor of political advertising (cheap advertising, at that!) that reaches political junkies and activists who more thank likely vote in a Primary. Did that tip my favorites? Of course not, since I’m known to have sold ads to folks in the same race and still endorsed one of them. That doesn’t stop the “other guy” from not having his name out there. That’s why they call it advertising. (And no, I did not send a “Now that I endorsed you, take out your wallet” e-mail.)
Now, as a political advisor which I try to keep separate from my blog (other than using DC as a tool to disseminate information on the campaigns I serve), I have had clients who were endorsed and who were not endorsed by all these clubs. As an advisor, I use the endorsement process as one of many benchmarks to determine a course of action for a campaign–that’s it. If an advisor (or candidate) solely uses endorsements to determine their chances, well, that would make them bad candidates (and advisors). It takes work, not just a club nod, to win.
I mean, a non-endorsed candidate can see it in many ways: Most of the Electeds in that club Falkenberg mentions supported Gene Locke for Mayor, and we all know that outcome. Still, in a Democratic Primary, these folks do wield a lot of influence, so, the end-result could be a little different, but nothing that cannot be overcome by a strong, busy campaign and candidate. And if someone did get the endorsement (any endorsement), then they can and should use it as best as they can.
HBAD seems to be suffering more from a lack of public relations, than anything else.
When asked about the section of election code that appears to ban such contributions to PACs, Pruitt said the H-BAD PAC is different from the H-BAD “club.”
“I feel if you’re worth your salt as a lawyer, you can figure it out,” he said.
Of course, the voters seldom see the inside stuff, so, when stuff like this comes out and questions are asked, well, it turns folks off–at least the ones paying attention. But did H-BAD do anything wrong by asking someone to contribute to an outreach effort? Whether I agree or not with some of their endorsements, I don’t think they did anything wrong.
And that’s the thing. Accusations of “backrooms” and “old boys” don’t get you much when the 50,000 others who might vote in our primary don’t hear about that sort of stuff like some of us entrenched Party folks, unless it comes out in some sordid description in an article. We need more Democrats voting in the Primary, and the negativity just does not help any cause.
So, the Party gets a jab from the media this week. Big deal. Falkenberg has as much access to the Ethics Commission website as I do, and one will find how money works its way through the political system–in the worst ways, at that. Club endorsements (and their outreach efforts) are just one way to get out the vote.
To all the candidates who did not get endorsed: Keep moving forward. These nods are not the end-all solution to winning. I give you the best example of a low-funded candidate who did not get all the club nods: JUDGE Larry Weiman.
Si Se Puede!
Disclaimer: I chose to belong to two local clubs who do not endorse, since our job as Democratic clubs should be to increase Primary voting and competition, rather than simply choosing one candidate and suppressing the vote, as if a club is some sort of kingmaker.
→ Leave a CommentCategories: Houston Politica · Texas Dems 2010 · Texas Lege
Bill White Wins Debate, but…
February 8, 2010 · Leave a Comment
DosCentavos.net declares Bill White the winner of tonight’s debate; however, not without a few issues that need to be pointed out.
Charter Schools: I am not one to support charter schools since they take public dollars to fund schools at higher costs for fewer students. Most are run by corporations and all have little-to-no accountability to the taxpayer. Fund school districts more effectively.
Immigration: Shami attempted to set the standard and probably gave the answer I most liked. White did not give a good answer at all, since it sounded more like an enforcement-only sound byte than anything wonkish–which is how he responded to most other questions. E-Verify is a very flawed system, so giving support to it without any reservations shows either some ignorance, or just the need to add another soundbyte. Why do the Latinos get soundbytes and all the other issues get full explanations? White also did a good job of avoiding being brought into a debate on 287(g). We don’t need a KBH responses to this issue; although, I have more trust in White to lead on the issue toward something sensible once he is in office.
Bill White has a record to run on, while Shami is full of ideas. Ultimately, we need a governor who can lead on making the legislative process effective for the people, and in this case, White exhibited this ability well.
→ Leave a CommentCategories: Texas Dems 2010 · Texas Lege
Live Blogging the Debate
February 8, 2010 · Leave a Comment
Check out Muse-Musings Live-Blog!
→ Leave a CommentCategories: Texas Dems 2010
DC Does North Texas!
February 6, 2010 · Leave a Comment
After a successful fundraiser for Juliet Stipeche, I took a working vacation to North Texas. I checked out another great performance of Crystal City 1969 by the Caramia Theatre of Dallas at UNT, and I got to visit with my friends from the Mexican American Democrats of Texas, including State Rep. Roberto Alonzo and Dr. Jose Angel Gutierrez. It has been an enjoyable weekend and I thought I’d share some pics.
Our Next Lt. Gov., Linda Chavez-Thompson
The Cartel's Blessing: LC-T visits with my mom, Flora Medellin.
CD-26 Democrat Neil Durrance addresses Denton County MAD
Stace Medellin, Dr. Beto Calderon, Linda Chavez-Thompson, and State Rep. Roberto Alonzo
Dr. Rudy Rodriguez, Rep. Alonzo, Artista Joseph Gomez, ??, and Dr. Beto Calderon
→ Leave a CommentCategories: Chicano Politics · Cultura Chicana · DC Chicanos · La Familia · Texas Dems 2010 · Texas Lege
Thoughts on Viernes…02052010
February 5, 2010 · Leave a Comment
ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL EVENT FOR TEAM STIPECHE
I, along with my sis Sylvia, my friend Angie Martinez of Angie’s Tax Service, my bud Jerry Greenspan, and Vera Martinez-Wynn hosted an awesome reception and fundraiser for Juliet Kathy Stipeche for the 281st District Court at what is becoming my favorite spot, The Flying Saucer. Thanks to all who attended, despite the weather. We had some VIPs in attendance, including County Commissioner Sylvia R. Garcia and State Reps. Carol Alvarado and Ana Hernandez. Another buddy also was in town, Vince Leibowitz from the Farouk Shami Campaign (and Capitol Annex fame). And thanks to our next County Treasurer Billy Briscoe and my good friend Chad Khan for showing their support. See you all at the next event for the candidate who can win in November!
Farouk Sets the Standard on 287(g)
Once again, Farouk Shami has made another border pronouncement favorable of sensible reform, rather than enforcement-only approaches that hurt families and the Texas economy.
Governor Perry supports 287(g) and “Secure Communities,” two Homeland Security programs designed to give local law enforcement the ability to detain undocumented workers and turn them over for deportation. Working with local officials, including Mayor Bill White, these programs have been implemented in many areas across Texas. Studies have shown in both programs, the majority of those targeted have been caught in routine traffic stops. This allows some bad apple police officers to racially profile Hispanics and promotes a culture of fear in the Hispanic community. Furthermore, it diverts police attention from catching violent criminals and instead uses them to check immigration status.
Frankly, I hope this becomes part of the discussion during the upcoming debate. Democrats need to set a standard for discussion in Texas, rather than following the Obama way of avoiding the issue–at least, thus far.
Krystafer Redden Update
Earlier this week, I wrote a post in which I asked folks to contribute to an upcoming trip that my friend Krystafer Redden is taking to DC. We’ve gotten some contributions from some awesome people, and just recently, I received a pledge from a Councilmember from my neck of the woods–Thanks, Mike! DosCentavos is sending in some cash, too. I also give some mention to my friend and DC-Endorsee Steve Reilley for his commitment.
Who else wants to seal the deal and make Krys’ trip a memorable one? Let me tell you this much, Krys is going to end up in some brainy think tank developing policies that will affect the entire world. Frankly, I want him to run for office! Here’s how you can help:
Then make your checks payable to Krystafer Redden and mail them to the attention of:
Jodie Koszegi, Dean The Honors College 212 MD Anderson Library The University of Houston Houston, TX 77004-2001Crystal City 1969
With the permission of my clients, I’ll be headed up to the University of North Texas in Denton to catch another performance of Crystal City 1969. Here’s a good chance to learn some real South Texas Political history. More photos soon!
→ Leave a CommentCategories: Thoughts on Viernes
Houston Immigration Convention–Saturday
February 5, 2010 · Leave a Comment
→ Leave a CommentCategories: DREAM Act · Immigration
UTs Zamora Wins Tullis Prize
February 3, 2010 · Leave a Comment
Just received this through the ‘tubes.
Emilio Zamora will receive the Coral Horton Tullis Memorial Prize for 2009 on March 5 from the Texas State Historical Association (TSHA) during its 2010 meeting in Dallas.
The award for “the best book on Texas” recognizes Zamora’s publication, Claiming Rights and Righting Wrongs in Texas; Mexican Workers and Job Politics during World War II (Texas A&M University Press, 2009). It is the first book-length study that joins diplomatic, Mexican American, and Texas history to examine home-front experiences in the United States.
The publication casts a wide net over the wartime economy, New Deal policies, the official and popular language of justice and democracy, the deleterious effect of discrimination on recovery from the Depression, Mexico’s interventionist policies on behalf of Mexicans in the United States, and the State Department’s decision to bring the Good Neighbor Policy home as an anti-discrimination initiative in social and labor relations.
Zamora brings focus to his study with the overarching argument that wartime concerns in Mexico-U.S. relations raised the issue of race to a hemispheric level of importance and encouraged Mexican workers to continue their call for equal rights. As race morphed into an international issue, Mexico singled out Texas as the most important site for implementing the promise of non-discrimination in the State Department’s Good Neighbor Policy and the President’s executive orders 8802 and 9346.
The increased diplomatic cooperation that promoted good will and improved understanding in diplomatic and ethnic relations also provided the impetus for the League of United Latin American Citizens to emerge as one of the leading proponents of equal rights in the United States.
Despite the persistence of racial discrimination and inequality, the unprecedented attention that Washington, D.C. directed at Mexico and the Mexican community in the United States raised postwar expectations for better relations and encouraged further official activism and Mexican agitation for equal rights.
Zamora’s Claiming Rights and Righting Wrongs will remain relevant to scholars and policy makers in the present as questions about immigrant labor, Mexican Americans, Mexico-U.S. relations, and discrimination continue to draw our attention.
According to Zamora, the book prize has special meaning because it is named after Professor Horton Tullis. She was the TSHA’s treasurer and corresponding secretary during a 40-year tenure in the organization. She was also a member of the Department of History at the University of Texas at Austin for 35 years starting in 1924 when few women worked as faculty on campus.
Zamora added that the recognition from the TSHA is also important because the organization has a special historical relationship with the Department of History at the university. George P. Garrison, the first chair of the department in March 1897, was a founding member of the TSHA. The building that the department calls home is named after him.
→ Leave a CommentCategories: Cultura Chicana · DC Chicanos · Para La Gente · U.S. Ethnic Relations · Viva La Union
Secure Communities Under Microscope, Hopefully
February 3, 2010 · Leave a Comment
Here’s a press release that folks at the City of Houston and HPD should be reading.
February 3, 2010, New York, NY — Today, the National Day Laborer Organization Network (NDLON), the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) and the Immigration Justice Clinic of the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law filed a request under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requesting information pertaining to Secure Communities, a little-known program of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency launched in March 2008. The program, which ICE claims targets “dangerous criminal aliens,” further involves local and state law enforcement agencies in federal immigration enforcement. The three groups say that since the inception of the program, there has been a marked increase in racial profiling, excessive costs to state and local government and due process violations.
“The President has not only broken his promise to tackle immigration reform in the first year, the Department of Homeland Security is expanding a dangerous and ill-conceived program that is at the heart of our broken system,” said NDLON Director Pablo Alvarado. “President Obama can’t blame this on Congress—this program should be examined, debated and stopped if we are to have real comprehensive immigration reform.”
“This nothing more than a sanitized version of the 287(g) program—a program guaranteed to fail as we saw in Arizona with Sheriff Arpaio,” said Bridget Kessler, Clinical Teaching Fellow at the Immigration Justice Clinic of the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law. “It is already extremely challenging for local law enforcement to work with immigrant communities because of distrust and fear of deportation; this program will have disastrous effects on community safety.”
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Secure Communities has been implemented in at least 95 jurisdictions with plans to expand nationwide by 2013. It includes a biometrics component that requires an individual’s fingerprints to be run through multiple databases upon arrest for any reason, even if no charges are brought. Advocates and attorneys say that in addition to concerns presented by relying on potentially inaccurate and erroneous information in those databases, the program functions as little more than a dragnet to funnel even more people into the already overburdened ICE detention and removal system.
“This program is designed to fail because it relies on information from infamously inaccurate databases. We’ve already seen an increase in racial profiling, pre-textual arrests and mistaken identity of U.S. citizens,” said CCR attorney Sunita Patel.“Combined with the lack of regulation and publicly available information on Secure Communities, ICE will be essentially immune to accountability or transparency. With a budget reaching the billions, taxpayers should be very concerned.”
The FOIA request covers materials necessary to provide the public with comprehensive information on the Secure Communities Program, including policies, procedures and objectives; fiscal impact; data and statistical information; individual records; communications; and assessment records.
For more information on the Secure Communities program and the FOIA request, click here.
The Center for Constitutional Rights is dedicated to advancing and protecting the rights guaranteed by the United States Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Founded in 1966 by attorneys who represented civil rights movements in the South, CCR is a non-profit legal and educational organization committed to the creative use of law as a positive force for social change. Visit www.ccrjustice.org.
The mission of the National Day Laborer Organization Network is to improve the lives of day laborers in the U.S. by unifying and strengthening its member organizations to be more strategic and effective in their efforts to develop leadership, mobilize day laborers in order to protect and expand their civil, labor and human rights. Visit www.ndlon.org.
The Immigration Justice Clinic of the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law was founded in 2008 to provide quality pro bono legal representation to indigent immigrants facing deportation. Under the supervision of experienced practitioners, law students in the Clinic represent individuals facing deportation and community-based organizations in public advocacy, media and litigation projects. Visit www.cardozo.yu.edu.
→ Leave a CommentCategories: HoustonVotes 09 · Immigration
Hinojosa Rounds Out DC’s Judicial Endorsements
February 3, 2010 · Leave a Comment
As I had specified previously, I had decided to delay my endorsement in the race for the 189th Civil District Court. With a late entry, as well as a late withdrawal, I decided to give this race some much deserved thought. Ultimately, I had to decide on electability. Needless to say, the DosCentavos.net Judicial Endorsements are now complete.
For some of the local clubs and entrenched electeds, electability is all about money. 2008 proved that it takes a lot more than money to win as a judicial candidate; just ask Judge Larry Weiman. It takes some money, sure, but it also takes heart, a loyal base of supporters who look beyond party “shot-callers,” and it takes someone who can roll with the punches. Let me tell you, Larry Hinojosa has been able to take a punch, while keeping a great attitude and staying committed to his cause. Ladies and Gentleman, this is the type of candidate that can win in November.
Although his South Texas roots helped his cause, sometimes one has to work on going beyond what’s “on paper” to find the true measure of a person. Even after he received some criticism from this blogger, he still sought me out to discuss some realities. Spending a little time with a candidate can sometimes prove to be a game-changer for a voter, and the fact that he didn’t expect support, but was willing to work for it spoke volumes to me.
And then there’s his experience of working in the Harris County Courts–vast experiences that would serve him well on the bench. His appointment by Mayor Bill White to the Houston Police Officers Civil Service Commission is equally impressive, as is his commitment to public and community service.
The 2010 Primary Season has been one filled with surprises, with annoyances, and with realities that many do not like. The voters are still responsible for going through all the muck and mud in their quest to determine who best will serve on a particular bench or seat. I hope these endorsements and statements on endorsed candidates will help you make an informed decision.
→ Leave a CommentCategories: Endorsements · Texas Dems 2010
