Ten to Win in 2010

The Top Ten things you can do to help Bill White and all of our candidates win in November:

1. Vote. The Straight Democratic Ticket and make sure your friends and family do too.
2. Walk or Drive! July 10, Aug 7, Sept 11 and Oct 2 Participate in Rep. Chris Turner’s Super Walk
3. Walk or Drive! July 17, Aug 21, Sept 18, and Oct. 16 Participate in Rep. Paula Pierson/Bill White Mega Walk
4. Walk or Drive! August 14, and Oct. 9 Participate in a  TCDP Great Walk
5. Call. The Virtual Phone Bank system is loaded and ready. Request your account and start talking to Democratic Base Voters Today!
6. Volunteer. All of our candidates need your help. Contact them to learn how you can make a difference.
7. Become a Precinct Chair. If your precinct doesn’t have a chair apply. If you have a precinct chair, call them to find out how you can help.
8. Put out yard signs. Even the reddest streets have Democrats and independents. Let them know whom you support.
9. Work. Take off on Election Day or one of the days of early voting so you can help Get Out The Vote!
10. Join. Become a TCDP Sustaining Member. Members are the foundation of the Party!

By the numbers, If just 500 of the 17000 people that receive these emails commit to spend 5 hours, between today and Oct. 1, making phone calls 75,000 voters would be contacted.

If only half that number 250 people showed up at each of the walk’s mentioned above,93,750 voters in Tarrant County would receive the most effective type of communication.

If you commit to spending 35 hours, less than one workweek, between Today and Oct. 16 to helping get Democrats elected, then 168,750 voters in Tarrant County could receive the most important and effective type of communication possible, a personal appeal.

Many of you are already doing all of these things and more. We appreciate what you have done, and what you will continue to do.

Chairman’s Corner, April 2010

A DIFFERENT SORT OF MARCH MADNESS

Let me take a moment to reflect on the status of our Party as we bid farewell to March, and welcome Spring with open arms.

We started out with a Primary Election on March 2nd, followed that same evening by the precinct conventions. To give everyone an idea of what a difference two years can make, instead of dealing with 200,000 Democratic Primary voters, we handled less than 25,000 voters this time. Although the energy and excitement of the contested Presidential Primary was missing, nevertheless, the relative ease with which the election was handled was not at all unwelcome. The Primary went smoothly, thanks mostly to our incredibly capable Election Judges some of whom were “Cheered’ in the Star Telegram for not only doing a great job, but helping out the poorly trained and understaffed Republican Judges. We all owe a huge debt of gratitude to everyone who made the process work so well—especially our excellent Party Staff and Volunteers who helped organize the Election Judges, and then train them.

Then on March 19th, several hundred enthusiastic Tarrant County Democrats gathered at the Downtown Hilton. The turnout and the enthusiasm were tremendous. Upon seeing the participation and the support of the many good Democrats who served as sponsors for the event, and the attendance of hundreds there is no doubt that our local Party is energized and primed to continue the success of the past 4 years.

The next morning hundreds more were graciously hosted by the Great Commission Baptist Church for the Senate District Conventions. Our Chairpersons, Marvin Sutton, Linda Cozzen, and Lee Henderson and Office Volunteers: Jo-Ann Zimmerman, Betty Fischer, Barbara Mayfield, Gabriel Rivas, Stephen Harris, Emma Allen, Beverly Bundy, Paul Belisch, David Rogers and Mike Haney did a fabulous job in putting together a great day. I hope everyone will pass along their thanks to these people who worked tirelessly to make these conventions informative and interesting.

In my position, I see enthusiastic Democrats every day. I get to observe our wonderful Office Staff and our irreplaceable volunteers as they help us run what is becoming without a doubt the best, most effective County Party in the State. So it is small wonder that my optimism is limitless when I look at what we are going to accomplish in the November elections. But there are other reasons all of us should be feeling the same amount of pride and satisfaction that I feel. Consider this: We have the finest bunch of elected Democratic officials representing us that we could ever imagine. These are people with energy, vision, and commitment who don’t just say all the right things, they DO all the right things. They have a passionate commitment to make this county, this state, and this country a better place for all of us—not just for the privileged few. And they are doing that. We have an incredible slate of dedicated individuals who have given up any semblance of a normal life for the next 7 months to run for office. They are the true believers—folks who are willing to sacrifice to gain the right to call themselves our elected representatives. We need to proudly assist them in every way we can.

One final thought. Our hearts and our prayers go out to the families of the victims of this week’s horrific mine disaster in West Virginia. What is especially alarming is the fact that this is a disaster that should not have happened. It should not be lost on us that the owners of the mine where this tragedy occurred had destroyed the right of the mineworkers to unionize. It should come as no surprise that the safeguards and safety regulations that are required in union mines were not in place in this one. Tragedies like this virtually never happen at union mines, because the unions care more about the safety, the working conditions, and the fair treatment of their members than they do about the extra few bucks of profit that short-cutting common sense regulations can produce. I add to the list of the things I am proud of that the unions of Tarrant County so capably represent and promote the values of all Americans. They are stronger with our support, and we are stronger and better for their commitment to the principles of our Party.

I’ll see you in Corpus Christi—

Steve

Help For Haiti

This is a time when we are reminded of the common humanity that we all share, and Americans have always responded to these situations with generosity of spirit. If you would like to support the urgent humanitarian effort in Haiti, please visit this website where you can learn more about how to contribute:
http://www.WhiteHouse.gov/HaitiEarthquake

Americans trying to locate family members in Haiti are encouraged to contact the State Department at (888) 407-4747.

Organizing For America

Chairman’s Message, October 2009

Last Friday, Keith and I had the privilege of attending the Presidential Forum on Service at Texas A & M. Hosted by former President George H. W. Bush’s Points of Light Institute, the forum featured a discussion by several nationally known governmental leaders, as well as speeches by former President Bush and President Obama.

Few events I have attended have been as inspiring as this one. For one thing, it was truly wonderful to be witness to a completely non-political, non-partisan discourse on a part of American life that is often overlooked and certainly under-appreciated—the service of volunteers to our country.President Obama could not have made his beliefs any clearer than when he noted that volunteerism is the very essence of what America is all about.

These inspiring words are certainly not lost  on all of you who are reading this email. Your dedication to the Tarrant County Democratic Party, and the ideals we stand for, underscores the commitment all of you have already made to volunteering so much of your life to making things better for everyone in this country. I want to thank all of you for this commitment, and for the love of country and democracy that produces such incredible, selfless work. Your volunteer service to our local party is no less a response to the call echoed through the passage of the Edward Kennedy Service to America Act than the actions of the thousands of other volunteers whose work was praised in Friday’s event. None of the ideals of our Party, or of our country, could ever be accomplished without all that you do. As we move into another election cycle, let’s all aim towards the realization of the goals that will create a stronger, more inclusive nation, one in which the American dream is more than a rhetorical phrase.

Steve

Chairman’s Message, September 2009

As we collectively work our way through the Dog Days of Summer the challenges we face are not solely related to the heat. The debate over Health Insurance reform continues, with the heated rhetoric, lies and propaganda from the right continuing unabated. In some cases the extremists are clearly trying to intimidate proponents of change by showing up at town hall meetings armed to the teeth.

Locally, we are challenged almost daily by extremists pushing their agenda, local polling places espousing the most extreme ideologies, media outlets spreading hate disguised as commentary and Republican politicians reciting “facts” that have long sense been debunked. It is with gratitude that I say we have been able to rise to each of these challenges. We are actively supporting our President, helping to facilitate phone banking and canvassing four days a week. We have organized effective and vocal Democratic participation at town halls in our area. We are well into the important work of planning and organizing for the 2010 elections. But, as you know, all of these activities take resources– resources of which we are badly in need. In order for us to be effective in the upcoming election cycle, we must be effective now. To do that we need your help. Please join us now by becoming a Sustaining Member. If that is not something you are able to do right now, then please consider making a donation of $100.00, $50.00, $25.00 or even just $10.00.Everything you can do to help is appreciated.

Steve Maxwell

p.s.

I know that with the current economy many people are not able to help financially. I encourage you to consider volunteering your time, the office is open Monday Through Friday from 9:00 a.m. -5:00 p.m.

We currently need help with Data Entry and general office work.

If you are interested in helping us with this important project, please contact headquarters.

If you have time available in the evenings please stop by any Monday, Tuesday or Thursday evening from 5:00-9:00 and help phone bank.

Many of you have asked what can I do to help our President and counter the extremists. I suggest the following:

• Coming to the TCDP Party office on Monday, Tuesday Or Thursday evenings starting at 5:00 p.m. and make phone calls in support of President Obama;
• Canvass with Organizing For America; every Saturday at the TCDP Party office starting at noon.
• Contact or better still, visit your US Representative and let them know you are tired of the lies and scare tactics and that you support the President’s Goals for health care;
• Write a letter to the editor
• Add your name to the list of Americans that support President Obama;

Thanks for what you are doing,
Steve Maxwell
Chair, Tarrant County Democratic Party

Chairman’s Message, July 1st, 2009

Our recently concluded Spring Sustaining membership drive was a success! We not only met, but exceeded our goals. I want to take this opportunity to thank all of the people that demonstrated their commitment to turning Tarrant Blue by becoming Sustaining Members. I have posted a list of these good folks on our website. To all of these good people I say thank you.

Without our Sustaining Members we would not be able to support the efforts of President Barack Obama and Organizing for America.

It is because of these folks that we are able to keep the Tarrant County Democratic Party Office up and running at full capacity. Without these folks, candidate recruitment, precinct development. grassroots lobbying and long term planning for the 2010 election would not be happening.

For making the commitment to support the efforts of the Democratic Party here In Tarrant County, I want all of our Sustaining Members to know that I am grateful for all that you have done.

Steve Maxwell
Chair, Tarrant County Democratic Party

Chairman’s Message, March 4th, 2009

Happy Anniversary!

Our most successful year…

Exactly one year ago today, across Tarrant County tens of thousands of you stood up for change. You declared in no uncertain terms that you were tired of the Republican status quo, and you demanded something new. Regardless of which Democratic candidate you supported you made it known that new leadership was badly needed, not just at the national level but right here in Tarrant County. Your actions one year ago today were the foundation upon which the victories on November 4th were built. On that day we replaced archconservatives Bill Zedler and Kim Brimer with Representative Chris Turner and Senator Wendy Davis, legislators that are making us proud to call them our own.

By becoming a Sustaining Member today you can guarantee that we have the resources to continue the work you started.

Because of you, the conventional wisdom which said that the only place a Democrat could win in Tarrant County was Fort Worth; that statewide candidates should simply write off Tarrant County; and that Arlington was a Republican stronghold-was proven wrong. Today, Democratic Senator Wendy represents the only Senate District entirely in Tarrant County. Today, candidates for statewide office in 2010 have already begun to visit Tarrant County. Today, two of the three State Representatives for Arlington are Democrats.

In order for the Tarrant County Democratic Party to maintain its rapidly expanding presence in Tarrant County, we need Sustaining Members.

Read The Entire Message…