10.12.10
Diana Maldonado – When the going gets tough, the tough get going
Diana Maldonado’s first TV ad is up.
Good stuff!
10.06.10
The difference between Diana Maldonado and Gonzales is stark
In the latest campaign finance reports from the Democratic incumbent Diana Maldonado in HD-52 and her GOP opponent Larry Gonzales the difference is stark. Maldonado’s money was raised from over four times as many donors (236) as her opponent (58). Which shows a truly grassroots, people-financed campaign. While her opponent raised more money than her Maldonado raised quite a bit too.
The average donation for Maldonado was about $570, the average donation for her opponent was $4,500 – almost eight times as much. And here’s why. The vast majority of her opponent’s money (85%) came from two places. One being the rich, extremist, GOP sugar daddy Bob Perry – which includes his wife and his PAC (TLR). The other from a state GOP PAC, Associated Republican of Texas, (which has Perry on it’s steering committee).
One candidate is bought and paid by a predetermined, corporate, anti-consumer, agenda. Then there’s Diana Maldonado who is beholden to the people of District 52. The difference is stark and the choice is clear.
09.28.10
Bill White to Join Rep. Maldonado at Campaign Rally
Here’s all the information:
ROUND ROCK – State Representative Diana Maldonado (HD-52) will host a campaign rally and day of action at the Williamson County Coordinated Campaign Headquarters with gubernatorial candidate Bill White this Saturday morning. White and Maldonado’s remarks will be followed by a mega-walk of the district.
What: Campaign Rally and Block-walk
When: Saturday, October 2nd at 9:00 AM. [Time Updated]
Where: Williamson County Coordinated Campaign; 894 Summit St., Suite 109 Round Rock 78664Contact:
Mitra Salasel
512-351-3418
mitra@dianamaldonado.com
09.21.10
Rep. Maldonado To Host Transportation Community Forum
Via the Round Rock Chamber of Commerce:
ROUND ROCK – State Representative Diana Maldonado (HD-52) will join with the Round Rock Chamber of Commerce to host a Transportation Community Forum in Round Rock on Monday September 27th. This forum is designed to discuss current issues surrounding transportation and how the state’s current budget situation will play a role in future transportation financing.
The Community Forum is open to the public and will consist of a panel discussion including the Chairman of the House Transportation Committee, an expert from the Texas Transportation Institute, and others.
“Safe and accessible roadways are vital to the success of our businesses, schools and communities, but without proper financing for maintenance and growth they can become more of a burden than a tool,” Maldonado said. “Amid the current budget shortfall our state is facing, it is imperative that the legislature and local municipalities work together to find ways in which we can continue to grow and sustain roadways throughout the state. This forum will bring local and state leaders together to discuss the challenges and opportunities funding decisions can have on our short-term and long-term prosperity.”
What: Community Forum on Transportation
When: Monday, September 27th at 5:30 p.m.
Where: Round Rock City Hall, 221 East Main StreetRepresentative Maldonado is hosting a series of Community Forums on issues of importance facing communities and residents throughout House District 52.
Maldonado is serving her first term in the Texas House of Representatives and represents House District 52 which encompasses a portion of Williamson County, including Round Rock, Taylor, Hutto, Thrall, Coupland and part of Georgetown and Austin.
09.17.10
Maldonado fires back over debate flap
State Rep. Diana Maldonado (D-Round Rock) officially responded to the latest round of attacks from Republican Larry Gonzales, saying Gonzales “shot himself in the foot”. Maldonado confirmed her intention to appear at two bi-partisan candidate forums. Gonzales claimed on his campaign web site and social network outlets that Maldonado has refused to debate. Maldonado offered Gonzales a ride to the forums that the campaigns have mutually agreed to attend in case “he doesn’t know how to keep a schedule”.
The full text of the press release is right after the fold, and includes some of the strongest language seen from the Maldonado campaign. Political observers have questioned the wisdom of Gonzales’ attacks, given the ease with which they are refuted. The Gonzales campaign’s prior attack, in which he criticized the Maldonado campaign for hiring canvassers, also fell short of its mark. The use of paid canvassers is common on a campaign of this size, and besides it creates jobs in Williamson County. Is Gonzales opposed to job creation?
Maldonado is quoted in the press release drawing a pattern from the Gonzales attacks, relating it to his prior experience as a Republican political consultant.
“Larry may not understand this, but working on policy issues is different than working on political campaigns,” Maldonado stated, referring to Gonzales’ political consulting business that has taken in over a million dollars to create attack ads. “In policy, you actually have to know your facts,” she added. (Emphasis added)
09.16.10
Out of ideas, Gonzales resorts to lying about Maldonado
Republican house district 52 nominee Larry Gonzales has resorted to lying about his opponent in order to get his campaign out of the ditch. In one single press release, Gonzales makes no less than six false or deceptive statements.
- Gonzales implies that Maldonado employs a consultant in Virginia. To disprove this statement, simply look at the campaign finance reports. There are no payees or donors from the state of Virginia.
- Gonzales claims that Maldonado “has ducked and run from any attempt at a public debate”. Maldonado will appear at the GAHCC forum on Oct. 5, and a second bi-partisan forum is being planned at Southwestern University.
- Gonzales claims that Maldonado declined a debate at the Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (GAHCC). This lie falls flat when you check the calendar and find that Maldonado has been booked for the GAHCC’s Oct. 5 forum for several weeks.
- Gonzales claims that Maldonado requested questions 7 days in advance of the GAHCC forum. Maldonado campaign spokesperson Mitra Salassel said, “The only request we made was a standard inquiry as to the format of the forum.”
- Gonzales claims that Maldonado represents Austin instead of Williamson County. Maldonado’s record of securing funding for critical projects in district 52 speaks for itself. Maldonado secured funding for the Renewable Energy Training Institute of Williamson County, $16 million for the Texas A&M Health Science Center in Round Rock and $350,000 for the Texas State University’s Round Rock Higher Education Center. Maldonado also secured $10 million in funding for the expansion of FM 1460. These projects directly improve the economy and quality of life in Williamson county, and represents a total change in direction from the former Republican representative from that district, Mike Krusee, whose singular focus was on converting agricultural land into toll roads.
- Gonzales uses “Texas P2″ to refer to the “Texas Prosperity Project”, a Koch Industries-funded fake-grassroots organization that is part of a nationwide effort, active in 35 states, to undermine President Obama, prevent access to health care, avoid regulation of clean air and stop financial regulation. Gonzales states that Texas Prosperity Project “is comprised of business and industry”, which is true if what you mean by “business and industry” is a sampling of oil and gas companies, banks and insurance companies.
The voters in district 52 remember well what it was like to have an Austin-focused representative who carried water for Gov. Perry on his pet projects — toll roads — using district 52 as a laboratory for experimenting with selling off our public infrastructure to private corporations. We don’t want to go back to that. The voters of district 52 know why most of Gonzales’ campaign has been financed by Bob Perry. A vote for Gonzales is a vote to keep the Texas Residential Construction Commission, even though the Sunset Commission staff found the TRCC to be dysfunctional and recommended its repeal.
Burnt Orange Report’s Philip Martin is also all over this.
09.08.10
HD-52: Texas Political Report looks at Maldonado vs. Gonzales
It’s inarguable that Democratic state Rep. Diana Maldonado had a solid first legislative session. She received key committee assignments, took care of her constituents with by securing much needed funding for projects while earning Freshman of the Year honors. Maldonado also recently scored the endorsement of the Texas Association or Realtors.
Yesterday the Burnt Orange Report, in a joint project with Annie’s List, launched their latest project the Texas Political Report. It’s a look at the most competitive house races in 2010 by region. Here’s how they describe it. On that is the race in HD: 52 between incumbent Democratic state Rep. Diana Maldonado and her GOP opponent Larry Gonzales. Here’s a little of what they had to say, HD 52: Rep. Diana Maldonado (D) vs. Larry Gonzales (R).
Williamson County is one of the fastest growing counties in the state, with great public schools, a short commute to Austin and a supply of top-notch tech jobs anchored by Dell’s international headquarters in District 52. To that end, Rep. Maldonado, the former President of the Round Rock School Board, has a history of community service that predates her election to the Legislature. And since her election, she has done a lot and she’ll be working to communicate her successes to voters. She’s secured funding for the construction of the Eastern Williamson Co. Higher Education Center, which will house in-district campuses for many of the large state universities and funding for the construction of FM1460, an additional road for congestion that will also service the new Education Center. Tangible, concrete projects like these, and her expertise in education issues, have been Maldanado’s focus in office and in her campaign. Gonzales, on the other hand, will do his best to keep these local achievements out of voters minds by nationalizing the issues in a tough year for Democrats.
District 52 is located entirely within Williamson County, include the swiftly developing southern Williamson County cities of Round Rock and Hutto, as well as parts of far northwest Austin along US 183. These areas are rapdily being populated by a more diverse electorate seeking affordable housing that is becoming harder to find in central Austin, and that trend is reflected in the district’s politics. HD 52 also includes a slice of Georgetown and rural towns including Hutto, Taylor and Thrall. Traditionally a conservative strong-hold, a Republican had held this seat for 16 consecutive years until Maldonado won in 2008 by a slim margin. Obama lost the district in 2008 with 48.5% of the vote, another indication that the influx of new residents into the district as these suburbs expand is drastically changing the demographics.
They also refer to this race as being..”of critical importance this year — one of the truly contested races.” With decennial redistricting, the prospect of another Speaker’s race, and a much more extreme right-wing Texas House if the Democrats lose ground, it’s easy to see there is a lot at stake this year. Reelecting a solid leader like Diana Maldonado is very important for HD-52 in November.
04.14.10
Bob Perry…er..Larry Gonzales wins GOP runoff in HD 52
Incumbent Democratic candidate Diana Maldonado will again face a candidate well=funded by the special interests and corporate interest in November. Newcomer Larry Gonzales handily beat long time Williamson County resident John Gordon in the GOP runoff on Tuesday.
The person, Bob Perry, who has so far bankrolled Maldonado’s opponent is well known for his anti-consumer actions. Mainly making a shoddy product and not wanting to fix it when held accountable. Last session with Diana Maldonado in the legislature the wretched Texas Residential Construction Commission (TRCC), aka the Builder Protection Agency, which Perry was instrumental in createing was done away with.
It’s and advocate for ordinary working people in House District 52 that we risk losing if Maldonado is not returned to the legislature. With a serious budget fight coming next year we need someone who will be there to protect the working and middle class of HD-52. Not someone who will be doing the bidding of wealthy donors and the corporate special interests. Diana Maldonado has represented HD-52 well and will continue to so when returned to the legislature.
Also see Kuff’s Runoff wrapup for all of yesterday’s runoff action from around the state.
04.09.10
Check out Rep. Diana Maldonado’s new web site
From the announcement email.
The end of this week marks a new beginning for us. Today we officially launched our new website, DianaMaldonado.com. I couldn’t be more pleased to have a modern Internet presence that should be an enjoyable site to browse and a valuable resource for the constituents of Texas House District 52.
I hope you’ll take just a moment to visit DianaMaldonado.com, look around, and let me know what you think. We’ve accomplished so much together during my time in the Texas House of Representatives. I know that we’ll effectively face our challenges and improve our community only if we continue to communicate. Please use this new site to stay informed and in touch. DianaMaldonado.com is my website — and yours.
Sincerely,
Diana Maldonado
P.S. We have an eventful year coming up! Stay networked by joining me on Facebook and Twitter.
HD-52 GOP Runoff – issues take a back seat
A couple of things have become pretty clear in the GOP runoff in HD-52so far, these two candidates (Larry Gonzales and John Gordon) don’t like each other very much (hopefully is political and not personal), and the issues that matter to voters in the district don’t seem to be playing much of a part in either candidates effort. They attack each other, one saying the other is a meanie, the other saying his opponent is a shill for a rich corporate donor. And that’s where the conundrum comes in for the voters it seems. Do they go with the guy who’s going to run the same campaign Diana Maldonado’s losing opponent ran two years ago, or the guy with long ties in the county and an colorful record?
News 8 Austin has a report where one candidate accuses the other of attacking his wife, while the other denies he’s been bought.
The RRL accuses both candidate of “sniping“.
And this recent AAS article points out more troubling issues for the candidates, Emotions heat up in Republican runoff.
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