12.30.07

United States Senatorial candidate to appear at event in Williamson county Friday

Posted in Commentary, Democratic Events, Election 2008, Had Enough Yet?, Take Action, US Senate Race, Williamson County at 12:33 pm by dembones

As we’ve already reported, Lt. Col. Rick Noriega will speak at the Brushy Creek Community Center Friday. Next to President of the United States, the race for Senator from Texas is the highest office we’re going to be deciding on November 4, 2008. Bringing the top Democrat in the race to Williamson county is an accomplishment by the county party that demonstrates how far we’ve come since 2006.

The rare sighting of a 2006 statewide candidate in Williamson county was evidence of the perceived lack of support available here. But resurgence of the Democratic party in Williamson county was indicated by the very close finishes in the Texas House district 52 and county commission precinct 4 races. No county in the state of Texas produced a greater increase in votes for the Democratic candidate for Governor in the 2006 election versus 2002.

Chris Bell was more popular than Rick Perry in 27 of the county’s 92 precincts. That is 26 more precincts that had previously gone Democratic.

Republicans are quick to point out that were it not for the two Independent candidates in the 2006 gubernatorial race, Perry would have captured more votes. There are two problems with this flawed thinking. How much confidence does it demonstrate for Republicans to fall back to the argument that had voters been given fewer choices, they would have settled for Governor 39 percent? Also, it is not entirely clear that the independent candidates didn’t siphon more votes away from Bell than Perry.

What is clear is that the countywide Democratic performance is at its highest point in ten years. Coupled with the rapid demographic changes brought about by the county’s prolonged explosive growth, you have the makings of a major Democratic shift taking place.

As Thursday’s deadline for candidate filings approaches, Democrats now have challengers for every major office: starting with Rick Noriega for Senate, Diana Maldonado for Texas House district 52, Leonard Surratt for Texas House district 20 and Brian Ruiz for Congressional district 31; Democrats will challenge for county commission precincts 1 and 3 and county attorney.

All the Democratic candidates will join the Williamson County Democratic Party Friday night in Brushy Creek to kick off what promises to be one of the most exciting political seasons in recent memory.

• If you’ve been waiting for Democrats to rise up for the 95 percent of Americans who are worse off under corrupt and self-serving Republican policies,
• if you’ve had your fill of your tax dollars funneling into the pockets of Republican campaign donors,
• if you are worried about the Trans-Texas Corridor condemning and paving over your family’s land,
• if you’re unable to afford medical insurance and dread the sound of your children’s cough,
• if you’re working a second job to be able to pay $3 per gallon for gas and 17 cents a mile for tolls,
• if your son or daughter is in Iraq on an extended tour of duty,
• if the dream of affording college for your kids is fading,

then join us Friday night, 7 pm, at the Brushy Creek Community Center.

Permalink