Your Weekly News from the CCDP and Political Clubs
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Everyone who wasn’t born a Democrat has their own story about how they became a Democrat. For many it’s a story of the “other” party leaving them. For others it’s a story about waking up to an unthinkable nightmare in November 2016 and deciding they needed to get involved. Personally, I like to tell people that while I grew up in a Republican family, Richard Nixon made me an independent and Ronald Reagan made me a Democrat.
But this question begs even deeper questions – why do we even have political parties and why should someone affiliate themselves with a party?
The answer to the first is straightforward, even though it’s become fashionable to bash the very idea of political parties. Basically, people are stronger working together toward a goal than they are trying to pursue it by themselves. Political parties exist to elect people to office who share a certain set of values, goals, and policies. People affiliate themselves with a party because they share that mission.
So, why the Democratic Party’s values, goals, and policies instead of those of another party? The answer to the broad, long term aspects can best be found in the party platform (link to
https://www.texasdemocrats.org/our-party/texas-democratic-party-platform/) - things like equal rights and opportunity for all, social and economic justice, protecting the environment, and a basic belief that government can play a positive role in people’s lives. For more immediate concerns, we care about health care for all, common sense gun control, climate change, education, and restoring a level playing field in the economic and political spheres.
Not every one of our office holders or candidates necessarily support each and every one of these nor do they agree on the best policies to pursue them – and the same is true with rank and file Democrats. But we agree on enough of them to work together toward the whole.
Our vision includes a county, state, nation, and world where these values are realized. And as we move into the thick of the political season with Presidential debates and primary campaigns heating up, it’s essential that we keep these things in mind and not let petty squabbles distract us. As Secretary Clinton said in her campaign slogan three years ago, we are stronger together. And as we said in a recent editorial, we need to be unified to win.
Let’s keep our eyes on the prize and move forward together to victory.
Mike Rawlins, County Chair
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November 2019 - Texas Constitutional Amendments
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In our continuing series, we highlight the seventh of ten amendments that Texas voters will see on the November 5, 2019 statewide ballot.
Proposition 7 (HJR 151)
“The constitutional amendment allowing increased distributions to the Available School Fund.”
The School Land Board, an independent entity of the General Land Office, oversees the management, sale and leasing of more than 13 million acres of land for the Permanent School Fund. The State Board of Education (SBE) can then make distributions from Permanent School Fund to the Available School Fund. The revenue generated from the land is used to purchase real estate and make investments to help fund public education through the Available School Fund.
This proposition would increase the amount the General Land Office could distribute to the Available School Fund each year from $300 million to $600 million, meaning school districts should need to rely less on local property taxes for funding.
How our Democratic Legislators voted
Of the Democratic legislators voting on this amendment in the 86th Legislative Session,
• 94% of the Texas House Democrats voted “yes/for”;
• 100% of the Texas Senate Democrats voted “yes/for”.
To read about Amendment 1, click
here.
To read about Amendment 2, click
here.
To read about Amendment 3, click
here.
To read about Amendment 4, click
here.
To read about Amendment 5, click
here.
To read about Amendment 6, click
here.
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When: Thursday,
September 19 at 7:00 p.m. (Doors open at 6:45 p.m.)
Where: Collin College Spring Creek Campus, 2800 E Spring Creek Pkwy, Plano, TX 75074 [
Map]
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The Plano Balloon Festival
is
September 20, 21, and 22
and we can use your help to set up and staff the Collin Democratic Party booth. You will get a parking pass and get in free and it is lots of fun! We need Volunteer Deputy Registrars to come and register voters, also. Click here
txdp.cc/events
to sign up for a shift or two. Thanks for your support.
The Plano Balloon Festival takes place at Oak Point Park [
Map
]
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Become A Volunteer Deputy Registrar (VDRs)
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Collin Elections Office is offering training labs to deputize Volunteer Deputy Registrars (VDR). If you have never been a VDR or your term has expired (every 2 years in even years), please plan to attend one of the following sessions:
Saturday, September 21st at 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. at the CCDP Office, 1519 N Central Expressway, Suite 150. [
Map
] -
RSVP Here
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Frisco Democratic Club - General Meeting
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When: Sunday,
September 22 at 5:00 p.m.
Where: Rudy's "Country Store" and Bar-B-Q, 9828 Dallas Parkway, Frisco [
Map]
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Socialize to Organize Plano
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Collin County came very close to electing Democrats to the Texas House in 2018. In 2020, we aim to change the balance of power. With your help, we can make this happen!
Come gather with Democratic neighbors on Sunday,
September 22
at 4:30 p.m. to get acquainted and learn how you can help turn Collin County blue! Appetizers and drinks will be provided. Since this event’s location is a private residence, please
email
for more details.
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Michael Payma
for 471st District Court
Collin County Campaign
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Reception hosted by MAS Law Firm
RSVP: MichaelPaymaforJudge@gmail.com
DONATE: https://donorbox.org/paymaforjudge
When: Tuesday, September 24 at 5:30 p.m.
Where: Wild Salsa Downtown Dallas, 1800 Main Street, Dallas
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Judge Craig Smith
for 5th District Court of Appeals
Campaign Reception
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RSVP: JudgeCSmith@gmail.com
DONATE: https://donorbox.org/judge-craig-smith-campaign
When: Tuesday, October 1 at 5:30 p.m.
Where: KoonsFuller, P.C. Family Law, 5700 W Plano Pkwy Suite 2200, Plano
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Sam Johnson
for 366th District Court
Collin County Campaign Reception
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RSVP: SamJohnsonforJudge@gmail.com
DONATE: https://donorbox.org/samforjudge
When: Thursday October 3 at 6:00 p.m.
Where: SNUG on the Square, 109 N. Kentucky Street, McKinney
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Judge Bonnie Goldstein
for 5th District Court of Appeals
Campaign Reception
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RSVP: JudgeBonnieGoldstein@gmail.com
DONATE: https://donorbox.org/judge-bonnie-goldstein
When: Tuesday October 1 at 5:30 p.m.
Where: Sommerman, McCaffity, Quesada & Geisler, LLP, First Floor Event Space, 3811 Turtle Creek Boulevard, Dallas
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Town Hall with Colin Allred
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Join the Park Cities Democratic Women's Association and Flip Texas Blue for a Neighborhood Meeting with US Representative Colin Allred. If you have a question you would like to ask Rep. Allred, please feel free to email it to info@pcdwa.org in advance.
When: Saturday, October 12 at noon
Where: University Park Public Library, 8383 Preston Center Plaza, #Suite 200, Dallas
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Ice Cream, Chocolate & Wine FUNdraiser
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Do you like chocolate? How about ice cream infused with alcohol like Bailey’s Irish Cream? You will love
WOW Dems’ fall fundraiser!
You’ll roll your own chocolate truffles with the guidance of Yeli Marshall, owner of artisan chocolate company:
Yelibelly, and get to take home all of the chocolate you make! You’ll also enjoy two flavors of Yelibelly’s famous alcohol-infused liquid nitrogen ice cream plus toppings - as much as you can eat in 2 hours!
Your ticket also includes a chance to win one of ten bottles of wine you can enjoy at home with your handmade truffles
Chocolate, ice cream and wine to support women Democrats? Isn’t that all we could ever want and more?
When: Thursday,
September 26, 6:30 p.m.
Where: Sam Johnson Recreation Center at 401 W 16th St, Plano, TX 75075 [
Map]
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Meet and Greet With MJ Hegar, Democrat for US Senate
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Veteran and Democratic candidate for
US Senate MJ Hegar
brings her campaign to Plano for a Meet and Greet with Collin County Democrats. Don't miss this chance to meet MJ and hear about her campaign for Senate.
This event takes place at Collin College Spring Creek Conference Center, Room C on Wednesday,
October 2
from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. (Doors open at 6:00 p.m.) The Conference Center is located at 2800 E Spring Creek Pkwy, Plano, TX 75074. [
Map
]
The event is free, but you must
sign up here
to reserve your seat.
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Join
Team Sharon
and the amazing
James Munton
on Thursday,
October 3rd
, for an evening of magic and merriment as we raise money for our campaign. James has performed at the White House and has the amazing and peculiar talent of making elephants disappear. With your help and his, we may just be able to turn a red state blue!
Appetizers, desserts, and beverages are included in your ticket or sponsorship. Sponsors will receive special recognition for their contribution.
Location:
North Texas Performing Arts in The Shops at Willow Bend (Chapel Hill Entrance, 2nd floor near Dillard's) 6121 West Park Blvd. B216, Plano, TX 75093 [
Map
]
Time:
7:00 p.m.
Reserve your tickets
here.
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The 2019 Ann Richards Dinner will be Friday,
October 25th
, 7:30 p.m. at the Delta Marriott Allen Hotel. This annual dinner brings together hundreds of Democrats from across the DFW Metroplex to support our work to transform and improve Collin County, elect our Democratic candidates, and turn Texas blue.
We are thrilled to host Samantha Power as the keynote speaker at this year's Ann Richards Dinner. Power was the United States Ambassador to the United Nations under President Barack Obama from 2013 to 2017.
Called by Forbes "a powerful crusader for U.S foreign policy as well as human rights and democracy" when it named her one of the "World's 100 Most Powerful Women," Ambassador Power has also been named one of TIME's "100 Most Influential People" and one of Foreign Policy's "Top 100 Global Thinkers." A Pulitzer Prize winning author, Power is the Anna Lindh Professor of the Practice of Global Leadership and Public Policy at Harvard Kennedy School and the William D. Zabel '61 Professor of Practice in Human Rights, Harvard Law School.
As a known fighter for LGBT and women's rights, atrocity prevention, and combating human trafficking, Ambassador Power is set to provide sharp and powerful insight and inspiration for Democrats across the Metroplex at this year's Ann Richards Dinner. Don't miss the 2019 Ann Richards Dinner.
Delta Marriott Allen is located at 777 Watters Creek Blvd., Allen, TX 75013 [
Map
]
Sponsorship and tickets for the Ann Richards Dinner are available
here
.
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The Un-Knocked Blue Door — Getting Your Base Out
North Texas Asian Democrats
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Learn how to reach the traditionally unreached blue voter, analyze the 2018 blue wave in North Texas, get a 2020 Election preview and understand the political strategy of the 2020 census. Any democrat or candidate interested in turning out the base that you didn’t know you had in the 2020 election should attend.
When: 10/26/2019 9:30 AM
Where: DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Dallas - Richardson, 1981 N Central Expy, Richardson
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How to Run and Win - Candidate Training Series
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An interactive workshop series to prepare candidates and campaign teams to win races, this campaign training series is designed to build the skills to elect Democrats in Collin County and across Texas. The six sessions cover the critical components of running a winning campaign. Each session will be presented by experienced activists and staff. This is for any Democrat in the area who is interested in either running for office or working on a candidate’s campaign team. Attendees will be asked to sign an Oath of Affiliation with the Democratic Party.
When:
Session 3 – Wednesday,
September 25 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. – Organizing to Win
Objectives: define three pillars of campaign team: Communications, Field Organization, and Funding and the roles of each
Session 4 – Wednesday,
October 2 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. – The Win Numbers
Objectives: how to calculate the votes you plan to earn to win, using data of past results and forecasting how and where to get more votes
No Class in Observance of Yom Kippur, Wednesday, October 9
Session 5 – Wednesday,
October 16 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. – It Takes Money to Win
Objectives: budgeting, donor prospecting, fundraising, compliance and reporting, ethics, how to “make the ask”
Session 6 – Wednesday,
October 23 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. – Creating the Winning Plan
Objectives: putting it all together, define goals, areas of responsibility, develop timeline, doing opposition research
Where: Collin County Democratic Party Office, 1915 N Central Expressway, Suite 150, Plano, TX 75075 [
Map]
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Now Hiring for Assistant Primary Administrator
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JOB DESCRIPTION – COLLIN COUNTY DEMOCRATIC ASSISTANT PRIMARY ELECTION ADMINISTRATOR
Position: Primary Election Administrator
Location: Party Headquarters in Plano
Salary Range: To be determined by Texas Secretary of State’s office (SoS)
Exempt/Non-Exempt: Exempt
Term: From November 1, 2019 to March 31, 2020 if there is no runoff, or June 30 2020 if there is.
SUMMARY: This position will assist the Primary Administrator with the planning, preparation and conduct of the 2020 Collin County Democratic Primary Election. Other responsibilities include: helping to ensure that the election is conducted in compliance with state and federal laws. The work schedule hours are varied and dependent upon the needs of the election.
SUPERVISION RECEIVED: Works under the general supervision of Primary Administrator, County Chair, and Primary Committee.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Assists in recruiting and trains presiding and alternate judges and clerks for all Election Day positions.
2. Assist with arranging for polling places.
3. Assist with review of and processing candidate applications for a place on the primary ballot.
4. Develop or maintain familiarity with the Texas Election Code and other legislation that pertains to elections and communicates pertinent information to subordinate personnel.
5. Assist with planning and developing budget for the Primary Election and ensures all expenditures are within allocated budget amounts. See subsection below for further details.
6. Assist in coordinating with the Collin County Elections Department with regard to any contracted services as well as whenever coordination is appropriate or necessary.
7. Assist with publication and posting of required notices.
8. Assist with review of primary ballot.
9. Assist with review of election results to meet certification before submitting to the appropriate authorities.
10. Performs other functions as directed by Primary Election Administrator in support of the election.
QUALIFICATIONS
The basic qualifications for this office are:
• Prior experience as Assistant Primary Administrator, Election Judge, or similar experience is desirable
• High school diploma or equivalent
• Must be a qualified voter of the State of Texas
• May not be a candidate for public office or an office of a political party, hold a public office, or hold an office of or position in a political party pursuant to the Election Code.
The preferred qualifications for this office are:
• Associate, bachelor’s, or master’s degree or;
• Experience in a management position involving public contact, preferably in an elections office
• Competence with QuickBooks or similar bookkeeping software
Document all qualifications and experiences in the application you want considered.
DISCLAIMER REGARDING QUALIFICATIONS: The afore-mentioned qualifications are considered desirable by the Party, but we reserve the right to consider the best candidate regardless of qualifications.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER: The Collin County Democratic Party is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is dedicated to the achievement of equality of opportunity for all its employees and applicants for employment without regard to genetic characteristics, race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, military/veteran status, age, national origin or disability. All offers of employment made are contingent upon the successful completion of a background investigation (which must be completed within 48 hours of any conditional offer of employment).
HOW TO APPLY
Please submit a cover letter and full résumé that includes all relative work history and education.
The application package must be submitted via email to Mike Rawlins, County Chair, at
chair@collindemocrats.org. You will receive an acknowledgement by email. If you do not receive an acknowledgement within 48 hours of submission please call the party office at 972-578-1483.
**Applications must be received by 5 p.m., Thursday, October 3, to be considered for the position.**
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Yes, We Can Talk Politics
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Drinking Liberally
and
Living Liberally
are
informal, inclusive progressive social groups. Raise your spirits while you raise your glass, and share ideas while you share a pitcher. Drinking Liberally gives like-minded, left-leaning individuals a place to talk politics. You don't need to be a policy expert and this isn't a book club - just come and learn from peers, trade jokes, vent frustration and hang out in an environment where it's not taboo to talk politics.
MADC joins Living Liberally in September.
When: Friday,
September 20, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Where: 301 E. Virginia, Suite 103, McKinney [
map]
When: Friday,
October 4, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Where: 401 Central Expy S, Allen [
map]
When: Friday,
October 4, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Where:
5454 Main St #123, Frisco [
map]
When: Friday,
October 11, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Where: 8604 Preston Rd #100, Plano [
map]
When: Friday,
October 11, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Where: 2600 W, FM 544, Wylie [
map]
While drinking liberally, always remember to drink responsibly, and make liberal use of designated drivers. Drinking and driving is reckless and irresponsible, like a neocon war or corporatist tax cut. Liberals, don't do it!
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Looking for Communication Volunteers
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Collin County Democratic Party (CCDP) is ramping our volunteer communications teams to increase messaging during the 2020 election cycle. Get involved and help turn Collin County blue!
First, we need another editor for our weekly e-newsletter, The Rally. Experience with writing and/or Constant Contact is preferred but not required. We will train.
Next, we need 1-2 more volunteers to work on social media on our main Communications team. Experience with social posting tools like Social Pilot/Hootsuite or graphics editing is preferred but not required. We will train.
Finally, we need 3-4 people to work on our Coordinated Campaign team to develop CCDP core messaging and messaging calendar. Experience with messaging, writing and/or Adobe Illustrator are preferred but not required. We will train.
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Collin County voters will be using a new voting system beginning with the November, 2019 election. This new system features touch-screen technology and produces a marked paper ballot for voter review and tabulation.
The new voting machine made its debut at BITHOC where many of the attendees where able to “test vote” the system. If you didn’t get to try the voting machines at BITHOC, you still have an opportunity to do so at the Collin County Democratic Party office (1915 N. Central Expy, Ste 150, Plano) during regular office hours.
Watch for our fall and winter hours soon. After Labor Day, the office will have occasional evening and weekend hours to try out the new voting machine.
The new voting machine will be in the CCDP office through the November 2020 election.
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Collin County Democratic Party (CCDP) | 972-578-1483 |
Website
© 2019
Political advertising paid for by the Democratic Party of Collin County.
Not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.
Political donations are not tax exempt.
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