SDEC Views

The following report on this weekend’s SDEC meeting is by Joy Demark, SDEC member from SD 7. It came across several of the Texas Dem Yahoo Groups this morning and I thought I’d post it here as well.

The SDEC started working with committee meetings at 8AM.

The General Session began at 1PM. Chairman Soechting encouraged us to “hold our base together”. He reminded us that Chris Bell is out working hard all around the state.
We can win and we can pick up more House seats. Maria Luisa Alvarado is out “working her magic” because she turned out the vote in the runoff.
Soechting let us know that he is going to be working hard at his law firm now and hopes to be very successful so he can contribute more financially to TDP.
I for one – devoutly wish him success and plan to remind him later.

The Nominations Committee held an open meeting (yes – you can come and watch). Glen Maxey was invited to speak at Nominations but he passed.
Lakeshia Rodgers (LaRouche) did speak for 3 minutes. The only name placed in nomination by the committee was Boyd Richie and it was unanimous. At the General Session, Charlie Urbina Jones was nominated from the floor. He made a short speech about reaching out to our grassroots and then withdrew his name. At which point the SDEC elected Boyd Richie by acclamation. Boyd has earned the respect of the SDEC. He and his wife Betty (DNC) are hard grassroots workers. They know what it takes to win. Boyd has recently won several terms as County Attorney so he is experienced in campaigning and WINNING. Boyd told us to “Practice inclusion and show each other respect and respect to each voter.”  He made it clear “It’s not about winning arguments, it’s about winning elections.”

New Chair Boyd Richie gave the meeting back to Soechting to finish as a courtesy.

Resolutions reviewed the process for Temporary Resolution Committee before the Convention. An overhead was discussed so that all can read the resolutions onscreen and see them clearly when presented. Bill Scruggs will serve on the Temporary Resolutions Committee for SD 7 before the Convention.

Grassroots manual is out – tremendous effort and a real good read.

Legislative–recommended and the SDEC adopted the following statement:
The Senatorial District Executive Committee of the Texas Democratic Party encourages every Democratic member of the Texas State Senate and the Texas House of Representatives to support legislation which would improve our children’s schools and provide meaningful property tax relief during the 3rd Called Special Session as called by Governor Rick Perry. We encourage every Legislator to support any measure that would:
1,  Provide an across-the-board teacher pay raise
2,  Restore health insurance benefits for both teachers and educational support personnel to at least the level that was cut in 2003
3,  Ensure up-to-date textbooks in every classroom across the state
4,  Reduce class sizes with new facility funding for classrooms
5,  Increase transportation funding
6,  Increase state funding/support to help students with the “greatest needs” such as: at-risk students, bilingual education, mentoring programs and pre-K and 9th grade initiatives
7,  Triple homestead exemption from $15,000 to $45,000.
The Texas Democratic Party has an historic tradition of supporting quality public education that gives all Texans the opportunity to reach their potential.  We encourage all democratic members of the state House and Senate to support a real solution that truly invests in our children’s future.

Finance Committee-  At the Convention there will be space on the rail for Candidate and Club Banners – $50 to TDP and you get to hang your banner at the State Convention. The Blue Star Breakfast will sport a new look this time – Sponsored VIP tables. A Club, Candidate or individual/group may sponsor a table at the breakfast. You can sponsor a Silver Star (half  table-5 seats) for $500 and get 2 tickets to the Kickoff Reception and VIP Reception as a bonus. If you choose a $1000 Gold Star you get a full table (10 seats) plus the 2 Tickets to the Kickoff and VIP Receptions, 2 VIP Credentials to the Convention and 2 VIP Seats at Convention and an eighth page ad in Program. For the $2500 Blue Star you get all of the above and a quarter page ad in the Program. Let’s see if we can come up with some  tables from SD 7.
Don’t forget – donate something nifty to the Silent Auction at the Convention.

Finance formed a new subcommittee to study the possibility of combination state/county sustaining memberships. There are 3 members from Finance (I volunteered) 3 from TDP staff and 3 from the County Chairs Association.

We elected Permanent Convention Officers (check TDP website). Soechting gave the keys to the party office to Richie and the meeting was adjourned in memory of Billy Goldberg.

Joy Demark, SDEC for SD 7

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