It was good to see at least two of the the Democratic candidates, Farouk Shami and Bill White, get some free media on statewide TV last night. Let’s hope people watched. (If anyone missed it it can be viewed online here). It was not a contentious debate, which usually makes for better TV, but it was one where those watching were able to get a good sense of both candidates.
It’s clear that White will lean heavily on his experience bringing people together as Mayor of the fourth largest city in the United States, and Shami will lean heavily on his success as a self-made business man. Because of the non-contentiousness of the debate there really wasn’t a winner/loser situation. Both had certain things to do and, of course, each voter has certain things they want to hear. White was trying to get his name out and not make any gaffes, he did that. Shami too was trying to get his name out and also show he can be a credible Democratic nominee for the governor of Texas. And that last part is what I’m still not sure about with Shami.
I’ve never been one who thinks that just because someone can run a business, they can run a government. I don’t think it translates to good government most times. Some of the answers to his questions, and the harping on the governor as CEO, seems naive and seem to imply a top down type of management style. That’s not likely to work very well with the legislature. That being said there are many areas where I agree Shami on the issues.
White for his part has a very good command of the issues and where he stands on them. Spent a good amount of time attacking Perry, and some time attacking TxDOT. His answers on education, health care, and job creation/training were good. While White made a few good comments on transportation, hopefully he will come around to to raising the gas tax sooner, rather than later.
AAS, HChron, Burka, have some analysis. The Texas Tribune has it’s analysis including post debate Q&A’s with both candidates.
There could have been much better questions, delving deeper in the budget, health care, and education. There certainly should have been something on the Texas Enterprise Fund, on Perry’s cronyism and the the governor’s appointment power in general. The bottom line is at least two Democrats go to debate and they both did good for themselves and the Democratic Party in Texas.
All I can Say is WOW!! We had a great turn out today in support of Mayor Bill White and his run for Governor of Texas! It was a pleasure to have Diana Maldonado as our host and the Williamson County Democratic Party for allowing the use of their office for this event. While I saw a fair number of old faces in attendance, I am overwhelmed at all the new faces!
The WC4BW Team is also thankful that many of the local candidates were on hand as well. This is very inspiring to our team and to the Bill White Campaign as well. The momentum is definitely building and we can do a lot good work between now and the primary, and even more between now and November! Thanks to all of you who attended today, and spread the word. Your help is compounded by the help you recruit in this campaign effort! Let’s make this happen!
I posted about the exclusion of the other five candidates for governor from tonight’s debate here, an entreaty that fell on completely deaf ears. I also had a compilation of news and blog articles on Shami last month, and my 2007 meeting on e-Slate issues with White, before and after.
We have two candidates vying to be the next Chair of the Williamson County Democratic Party (WCDP). They are Paul Stempko and Gregory S. Windham. The WCDP Communications Committee had the candidates put together their biographical information and their answers to several questions, which can be perused here, In Their Own Words . . .[PDF]. From the questionnaire on why the chair of the WCDP is so important.
The strength of the Texas Democratic Party depends on the hard work of volunteers and political activists
in the county parties. County Democratic parties are the focal points of political campaigns and building the Democratic Party. The people who take leadership roles in their local Democratic Parties are critical to the local, state, and national Democratic Party success.
During each Democratic Party Primary Election, Democrats throughout Texas elect the local leaders of the Democratic Party, including a Precinct Chair for each voting precinct and a County Chair to lead the local party for the next two years. The Precinct Chairs and the County Chair make up the Executive Committee that organizes Democrats in the county to support Democratic candidates, handles the finances of the local party, and runs the primary election.
County Chairs are expected to lead their county’s Executive Committee. In order to do this, they must work closely with candidates, precinct chairs, party activists, and the Texas Democratic Party staff to build a network of volunteers. They provide critical support to Democratic campaigns and are essential to turning out the Democratic vote and winning electoral victories.
The will also be appearing at a candidate forum next Saturday.
“MEET THE CANDIDATES” PUBLIC FORUM
WHO: Candidates running for County Chair of the WCDP
The Candidates are:
Paul Stempko
Gregory Scott Windham
WHEN: Saturday, February 13, 2010, 2:30-4:00
WHERE: Moody’s Restaurant
309 N Hwy 183
Leander, TX 78646
WHY: To become an informed voter!
This is the only event where both candidates are scheduled to publicly present their arguments for why we should elect them.
County Democratic Party Chairs are elected at the Primary Elections.
Your only chance to make your voice heard will be during the March 2, 2010, primary election or during early voting (begins Feb. 16).
Come. Meet them. Mark you calendar now!
SPONSORS:
West Williamson County Democrats
East Williamson County Democratic Club.
Questions?
Contact Karen Carter 512-260-6965;
KarenCarter2008@aol.com
Via Williamson County for Bill White, they are hosting a “Kick Off” event:
Williamson County For Bill White Kick off WITH MAYOR BILL WHITE!!
Please join State Representative Diana Maldonado as she hosts Mayor Bill White for the Williamson County for Bill White Campaign Kickoff!
Date: Saturday, February 6, 2010 Time: 10:30am – 1:00pm Location: Williamson County Democrats Office, 110 North Interstate 35, Suite 170, Round Rock [MAP]
Via Williamson County for Bill White, they are hosting a “Kick Off” event:
Williamson County For Bill White Kick off WITH MAYOR BILL WHITE!!
Please join State Representative Diana Maldonado as she hosts Mayor Bill White for the Williamson County for Bill White Campaign Kickoff!
Date: Saturday, February 6, 2010 Time: 10:30am – 1:00pm Location: Williamson County Democrats Office, 110 North Interstate 35, Suite 170, Round Rock [MAP]
This Saturday The West Williamson County Democrats and The East Williamson County Democratic Club are sponsoring a chance to meet Democratic candidate for the 3rd Court of Appeal Kurt Kuhn.
WHAT: “Meet The Candidates Forum”
FEATURED SPEAKER: Kurt Kuhn, Candidate for Justice on the 3rd Court of Appeals.
WHEN: Saturday, January 9, 2010, 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.
WHERE: Moody’s Restaurant, 309 North Highway 183, Leander, TX [MAP]
From the press release:
The Third Court of Appeals jurisdiction includes Williamson and Travis Counties. It includes all of the immediate neighbors of Williamson and Travis, including Milam, Bell, Burnet, Blanco, Hays, Caldwell, Bastrop, and Lee Counties. And it includes fourteen other counties! The 3rd Court of Appeals handles criminal and civil cases, and is arguably the most important appeals court in the state.
Come join us! Find out why Kurt Kuhn believes the court needs him, and why we need him on the court. The setting is pleasant. The conversation is stimulating.
You will not get a better chance to meet and speak with Kurt Kuhn!
Jeff Maurice officially files to run for Williamson County Commissioner, Precinct 4
On the first day for campaign filing, Hutto resident Jeff Maurice filed to run in the Democratic
Primary for Williamson County Commissioner, Precinct 4. Maurice, a Democrat, will challenge
incumbent Republican Ron Morrison in the Nov. 2, 2010 general election.
“I’m enthusiastic about improving Williamson County’s representation from Precinct 4 on
commissioners court,” Maurice said. “From the Hutto landfill to property tax rates, the citizens of
Precinct 4 have been repeatedly ignored when it comes to issues that have the greatest impact on our
community.”
[...]
“I intend to approach issues professionally and with persistence,” Maurice said. “Like many
Williamson County residents, I’m frustrated by political gamesmanship. As County Commissioner, I’ll
always consider the needs of my constituents first and foremost.”
Again there will be five as Houston billionaire Farouk Shami officiallly announces his candidacy today. Kuff has much more on him and other rumblings in the primary, Shami and Shapleigh. Shami made his money in hair care products and the TexasTrib has this article on him, A Candidate to Dye For. Shami has vowed to put in $10 million of his own money into his campaign. But he’s a billionaire, that’s like me putting in $100.
Three of the five Democrats running for governor talked about transportation and education and assailed Gov. Rick Perry on Wednesday night at TCU.
The first candidates forum of the race featured former U.S. Ambassador Tom Schieffer of Fort Worth, East Texas rancher Hank Gilbert and Fort Worth teacher Felix Alvarado.
[...]
“Today our state education system is doing a reasonably good job for our high school students to be successful in the 1980s and the 1990s,” Alvarado said. He said the state can get more funding for schools by allowing casinos to be built around the state.
Gilbert said Texas has an uneducated work force “because this administration and this governor put it there and none of them are smart enough to pull the wagon out of the ditch.”
Schieffer faulted Perry for rejecting more than $500 million in stimulus money for unemployment benefits.
“I think the only reason he did that was he wanted to argue in a Republican primary that he was more conservative than somebody else,” Schieffer said.
[...]
Throughout the event, Gilbert’s campaign sent out e-mails to the news media and posted comments on Twitter, nearly all of which were excoriating Shieffer’s remarks and ignoring Alvarado.
“We think Schieffer is one of our principal opponents,” Gilbert campaign spokesman Vince Leibowitz said.
Anyone can read those emails at Gilbert’s rapid response web site The Scoop, in the Knockdown in Cowtown section. One thing many recent statewide Democratic campaigns have failed to do is not use new media to it’s advantage. The Gilbert campaign is clearly not going to make that mistake, and they should be commended for it.
Williamson County Democrat Jeff Maurice has officially entered the race for the Democratic nomination for today, stating that, “It’s time for the citizens of Precinct 4 to be represented by someone who has their best interests at heart”.
[Maurice is an] attorney and former Dell senior corporate counsel, Maurice has lived in Hutto for six years and has dedicated himself to public service. He currently serves 4,800 Williamson county residents as an elected Board Member of the Jonah Water Special Utility District and chairs the Landfill Committee
of the Hutto Citizens Group. He was also a founding member of the Williamson County Public Policy
Coalition. In addition to his community service work, Jeff and his wife Shawn rescue and provide a
home for animals in need at their ranch in Hutto.
“I’ve found out that you can make change happen if you approach issues professionally and with persistence, and that’s the approach I intend to take on the Commissioners Court,” Maurice said.
“Like many Williamson County residents, I’m frustrated by political gamesmanship. As County
Commissioner, I’ll always consider the needs of my constituents first and foremost.”
To sign up for updates or contact the campaign visit his web site at www.votejeffmaurice.com. Maurice is the first Democrat to enter the primary race for commissioner in Precinct 4, the filing deadline is January 4, 2010. The winner of the Democratic primary will likely face incumbent Ron Morrison, no word yet on whether he will have a primary opponent.
