It's Convention Time - And We Need A New State Party Chair

(The picture above is from the web site of The Texas Tribune.)

The Texas Democratic Convention will kick off in just a couple more days. The official start is on Friday (June 8th), but most people will be arriving in Houston on Wednesday or Thursday. I will be there, pulling double duty with both delegate and press credentials (and anyone who would like to meet or talk with me can find me either with Senate District 31 or in the press room). I have to admit I am a political junkie and I love the state convention. Living way up in Amarillo, I don't get a chance to see many other Democrats very often, and the convention gives me a chance to see old friends again and to meet new ones.

There will be a lot to do in the two days of the convention (meeting and making friends, meeting and listening to our candidates, approving a party platform, etc.), but nothing is more important that choosing a new party chair -- the person who will lead out state party for the next two years.

Our current party leaders have led the state party down the road to near irrelevance. There hasn't been a Democrat elected to a statewide office for at least 18 years, and both houses of the state legislature have large Republican majorities. We don't just need a new leader, we need a leader that will shake up the party and get it turned around -- a leader that can re-energize Texas Democrats all over the state, and put them back on the path to victory.

There are two major candidates for party chair. The candidate of the current party leadership is Gilberto Hinojosa. I have nothing against Mr. Hinojosa. I'm sure he's a very nice guy and a good Democrat. But I question whether he would be a real change from the current leader, or whether he can be the real change this party needs. After all, he is the choice of those currently leading the party.

The other candidate is the lady pictured above -- Rachel Barrios-Van Os. She's not only a good Democrat and a real progressive, but she's a ball of energy ready to get this party moving again. I will be voting for Rachel, and I hope you other delegates will give her some serious consideration also. Here is her latest missive:

If I am elected State Party Chair, we are going to go straight to work organizing every part of Texas for victory for President Obama and every Democratic candidate. Here are the schedule and locations by city and town of the regional planning meetings that I will personally facilitate for 14 consecutive weeks beginning on June 23. (Specific venues to be announced):


June 23 – San Antonio

June 30 – Houston
July 7 – Arlington
July 14 – McAllen
July 21 – Texarkana
July 28 – El Paso
Aug. 4 – Orange
Aug. 11 – Del Rio
Aug. 18 – Nacogdoches
Aug. 25 – Lubbock
Sept. 1 – Austin
Sept. 8 – Abilene
Sept. 15 - Waco 
Sept. 22 – Corpus Christi

These will not be lectures, but collaborative, interactive planning meetings involving: SDEC Members, County Chairs and other County Party representatives, all Democratic Candidates, and Democratic organizations, with all interested Democratic activists welcome to attend and add their ideas and volunteerism to the coordinated campaign.I firmly believe grassroots Democrats have the collective vision, brainpower, and know-how to penetrate every part of Texas at every level and take Texas back.

Every County Democratic Party in Texas will be encouraged to pick a regional meeting to attend based on distances, schedules, and convenience. The regional meetings will generate more ideas, assistance, and support for your localized planning. If the demand exists, I will work with County Chairs and SDEC members to set up more meetings in more towns. As I have promised, I am going to be an extremely hard-working State Party Chair.

Join me in the campaign for a Democratic Texas. There is so much at stake. If Texas’ electoral votes go into the Democratic column, there will be no possibility of a Republican president being elected for many years. I’m positive that with the right attitude and fighting spirit we will carry Texas for President Obama and all Democrats. We Can Do It! It’s Time to Win!

Sincerely,
Rachel

P.S. If I am elected Party Chair next Saturday, in 2014 this kind of cross-state regional planning will start much sooner than June.