Your Weekly News from the CCDP and Political Clubs
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I guess I have to use a few words to say something about last weekend’s mass shootings in El Paso and Dayton, but frankly I am almost out of words. I am goddamned fucking tired of writing pieces like this. I am angry. And at the same time my heart goes out to those killed and those they left behind.
This meme succinctly sums up what I feel right now. And from the reactions when I re-posted it Saturday, a lot of you feel the same way.
- Mike Rawlins, County Chair Collin County Democratic Party
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November 2019 - Texas Constitutional Amendments
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In November 2019, Texas voters will once again decide the fate of ten amendments to the Texas constitution when they go to the ballot box. The current Texas Constitution was written in 1876 and has been amended nearly five-hundred times as compared to the United States Constitution, which has only twenty-seven amendments.
Why does the Texas Constitution have so many amendments? The Texas Constitution states very specific rules for how state and local governments should be run. This means our state legislators often have little freedom to make changes to laws without changing the state constitution.
The proposed changes must pass both houses of the Legislature by a two-thirds vote, and then the voters must approve all changes. The Texas Constitution cannot be changed by citizen-led ballot initiatives, referendums, or petitions, as in some other states.
Over the next ten weeks, we will highlight each proposed amendment to the Texas Constitution that passed in the 86th Legislative Session. This information will help you, as a Texas citizen, make an informed decision. Remember,
you
have a direct voice in our state government when you vote for or against the changes to the Texas Constitution.
Proposition 1 (HJR 72)
“The constitutional amendment permitting a person to hold more than one office as a municipal judge at the same time.”
The Texas Constitution prohibits a person from holding more than one public office at the same time. There are many exceptions, however, including county commissioner, justice of the peace, notary public, postmaster, etc. Proposition 1 would add municipal judge to this list of exceptions.
Proposition 1 would allow municipal judges to hold more than one paid public office at the same time. Under this change, municipal judges could simultaneously preside over multiple municipalities, regardless of whether they were appointed or elected. This amendment intends to ease the pressure on smaller communities to find municipal judges by allowing one person to serve multiple cities.
How our Democratic Legislators voted
· 94% of the Texas House Democrats voted “yes/for”;
· 100% of the Texas Senate Democrats voted “yes/for”.
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Your neighbors need you. The future of our democracy and the planet are on the ballot in 2020. Our government is only as good as the people we elect to run it, and we’re in pretty sad shape right now.
Too many good people won’t run for office because they find politics unsavory or too time consuming. Who does that leave to run things?
The truth is that it doesn’t take much to run for public office. The most important thing it takes is a willingness to serve and the heart to rise to the needs of our times. The strongest candidates will have name recognition and be seen as leaders in their communities. It helps to be able to attract the support of volunteers and donors. But first and foremost we need candidates, regardless of how strong or weak they think they might be. Don’t count yourself out.
Right now we particularly need candidates for the Texas House of Representatives in districts 33 (Frisco) and 89 (Murphy, Wylie, eastern Plano and nearby areas), County Commissioner in the northern half of the county, Sheriff, and Constable. If you’re interested or can suggest someone who would be a good public servant, please have them plan to attend our “Should I Run” session Saturday 8/10, or contact the party office.
Will you stand up to represent Democratic values and policies?
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Who? What? When? Where?
Upcoming Events
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August 10 - Walk the Vote!
When:
Saturday, August 10, 8:30 a.m.
Where:
CCDP Office, 1915 N Central Expressway #150 Plano, TX 75075
August 10 - Should I Run? Making the Decision
When:
Saturday, August 10, 1:30 - 4:30 p.m.
Where:
Hall Library - Delaney Room, 101 E Hunt St., McKinney [
map
]
August 10 - Rocio Hernandez Campaign Reception, TX State Representative HD 67
When:
Saturday, August 10, 4:00 p.m.
Where:
Mexican Bar Company 6121 W. Park Boulevard Suite RS-10 Plano, TX 75093
August 17 - Plano Area Democrats: "Untangling the Web of Campaign Finance" with Christopher Tackett, former Granbury ISD Trustee
When:
Saturday, August 17, 11:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Where:
El Noa Noa Tex-Mex, 1915 N Central Expy, Plano, TX 75075 [
map
]
August 17 - It's Time to Organize HD89
When:
Saturday, August 17, Noon
Where:
The Lucas Community Center located at 665 Country Club Rd, Lucas, TX 75002 [
map
]
August 19 -
CCDWD Monthly Meeting
When:
Monday, August 19, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Where:
REACH of Plano 720 E. Park Blvd., Ste 104 Plano 75074. [
map
].
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Senator John Cornyn Holds a Fake Town Hall
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Several Democrats received a text message from John Cornyn's office saying that there was going to be a telephone Town Hall and they would call at 7:00 pm, August 1, 2019. We eagerly awaited the call.
However, the “Town Hall” turned out to be prerecorded questions. Though prompted that we were in the queue, we never got to ask a question. After the entire call, it became obvious that the "callers" were prescreened and prerecorded, and Cornyn's responses may also have been prerecorded.
Here at CCDP we thought that our petition, along with the efforts from other groups to put pressure on Cornyn, had compelled him to hold this Town Hall. But no, it seems it was just Cornyn hiding behind a phone.
So we are going to continue with our petition to demand that Cornyn COME HOME to Texas during the August break and hold a REAL LIVE Town Hall in front of his constituents.
Is he too chicken to do that? We shall see.
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Opportunities: Jobs and Volunteering
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Primary Election Administrator (Paid)
Are you election savvy and detail oriented? Do you have a heart for politics and a head for election law?
If so, you may be the perfect candidate for the Primary Election Administrator for Collin County Democratic Party. This newly created position will run from November 1, 2019 to March 31, 2020 if there is no runoff, or June 30 2020 if there is.
This position is responsible for the planning, preparation and conduct of the 2020 Collin County Democratic Primary Election. Other responsibilities include ensuring election is conducted in compliance with state and federal laws. The work schedule hours are varied and dependent upon the needs of the election.
The candidate will work under the general supervision of County Chair and Primary Committee and supervise other paid Primary Election Staff as well as volunteers supporting the Primary Election. The position provides oversight of the activities of Election Judges and their Election Day staff.
For more details about this position and instructions on how to apply,
click here.
Applications must be received by 5:00 p.m., Friday, August 16, to be considered for the position.
Citizen Journalist (Volunteer)
If you have a special interest in the workings of your city council, school board or the Commissioner Court, you could be the right person to report on meeting, agendas and activities.
Keeping Democrats in Collin County is our goal and you could be a part of that team. Much of that starts at the local level. Help us continue chipping away at the stranglehold Republicans have held in Collin County.
As a Citizen Journalist, you would report on meetings you attend, agendas or even minutes meetings. Help keep Collin County Democrats informed and active.
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You Can Make the Difference. Become a Sustaining Donor
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Your Collin County Democratic Party office provides a wide range of resources throughout the year to our candidates and communities. Your contributions allow us to have a central location for candidates and voters during elections. Strengthen the Democratic Party in your city by becoming a sustaining donor to the Collin County Democratic Party. Donate with
FastAction
or with automatic payments from your bank to the Collin County Democratic Party 1915 Central Expy #150, Plano, TX 75075.
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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.
Our summer office hours are:
Monday, Tuesday and Thursday: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Wednesday and Friday: 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
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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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.
When: Friday, August 9, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Where: 8604 Preston Rd #100, Plano [
map]
When: Friday, August 9, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Where: 2600 W, FM 544, Wylie [
map]
MADC joins Living Liberally in August.
When:
Friday, August 16, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Where:
301 E. Virginia, Suite 103, McKinney [
map
]
When: Friday, September 6, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Where: 401 Central Expy S, Allen [
map]
When: Friday, September 6, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Where:
5454 Main St #123, Frisco [
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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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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