August 15, 2019
Your Weekly News from the CCDP and Political Clubs
Our New Executive Director
Winning in Collin County requires that we ramp up our expertise and efforts. We are excited to announce that due to some very generous donors we are finally able to realize a long-held dream - hiring a full time, paid Executive Director. John Shanks comes to us with an impressive resume, detailed knowledge of the political situation in the county, and an urgent commitment to winning. 
-- Mike Rawlins, County Chair
 
I’m so excited to join the party as your new Executive Director. There is so much to do, and no time to waste. Our next year will define our county and country’s future for decades to come. What we choose to do today will decide whether we live up to the best of our shared values or change our country forever for the worse.

Across Collin County, from the smallest local office up to our federal representatives, we see the urgent need for responsible, transparent, responsive and ethical leaders. We have extremists on the Plano City Council trying to shut down our only rape crisis center, County Commissioners playing backroom politics to shield Ken Paxton from his felony prosecution, state legislators that under fund our schools and expect credit for doing so, and Congressmen that vote in lockstep with an irresponsible President.
 
Extreme, out of touch, and unethical politicians that spend less time listening to us than their donors on the other side of the state is a recipe for failure. That’s what we have today, and Collin County is paying the price. Longer commutes, school budget holes, potholed roads, overpriced water deals – this is what we get with inexperienced politicians who earn office because of their ideology instead of their experience.
 
We are the alternative. A party of math, not a party of extremists. A big tent with a single vision – opportunity should belong to everyone, no matter your background. Experienced and respected candidates, not the latest empty suit with an Empower Texas platform. And a party driven by the people, by what you do each day.
 
That’s what will make the difference for us in 2020. We’re going to win by building a community for change, by showing our neighbors that there’s a better alternative, by registering voters and fighting so that every person in our county has their voice heard. We know that when Democrats vote, Democrats win – and Collin County has tens of thousands of Democrats waiting to hear from you and me. Block by block, we’re going to make our county a better place, because when we change Collin County, we’ll change Texas, and when we change Texas we’ll save our country.

Ready to work,
John Shanks
Executive Director
Collin County Democratic Party
November 2019 - Texas Constitutional Amendments
In our continuing series, we highlight the second of ten amendments that Texas voters will see on the November 5, 2019 statewide ballot.  

Proposition 2 (SJR 79)
“The constitutional amendment providing for the issuance of additional general obligation bonds by the Texas Water Development Board in an amount not to exceed $200 million to provide financial assistance for the development of certain projects in economically distressed areas.”

Economically Distressed Areas Program (EDAP) assists water infrastructure projects (water supply, sewer service, and drainage projects) when the median income of a region is less than 75% of the state’s median income. Currently, when the Texas State Legislature wants more bonds for the EDAP, voters need to approve a constitutional amendment. 

This amendment allows the Texas Water Development Board to keep issuing bonds, as long as the outstanding principal does not exceed $200 million, without voter approval.

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”;
·        92% of the Texas Senate Democrats voted “yes/for”.   

If you missed last weeks piece on Proposition 1 , you can read it here .
Training Session to Register Voters - August 20th
Voting season is fast upon us. Not only will the 2020 Elections be crucial, but there is also an Election November 5th, 2019 and the last day to register to vote is Monday, October 7, 2019. Change will not happen if people do not vote. If you want to be deputized as a voter registrar in Collin, Dallas, or Tarrant Counties, sign up to attend this Deputation Training in Dallas on August 20th.

WHAT: Voter Registrar Certification Session
WHEN: Tuesday, August 20th, 7:00-8:30 p.m.
WHERE: Temple Emanu-El, 8500 Hillcrest Avenue, Dallas [ map ]
HOW: Sign up by sending name, email address and cell phone to the organizer, Richard Marcus, at mrmarcus@themarcuscompany.com

When you have been deputized, please notify vdrlead@collindemocrats.org with the Counties where you can register voters. The VDR Leads will add you to the email distribution so that you can learn of voter registration events and other activities..
Upcoming Events
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 ]
RSVP: Click Here
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 ].
Senator John Cornyn Holds a Fake Town Hall
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.

Please sign the petition here: txdp.cc/cornyntownhall
Opportunities
Primary Election Administrator (Paid)
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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.
For more information, contact the Communications Director.
You Can Make the Difference. Become a Sustaining Donor
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.
A New Way to Vote
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.
Yes, We Can Talk Politics
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 August.
When:  Friday, August 16, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Where: 301 E. Virginia, Suite 103, McKinney [ map ]

Allen - Cafe Del Rio
When: Friday, September 6, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Where: 401 Central Expy S, Allen [ map]

Frisco/Little Elm - The British Lion Pub
When: Friday, September 6, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Where: 5454 Main St #123, Frisco [ map]

Plano - Rugby House Pub
When: Friday, September 13, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Where: 8604 Preston Rd #100, Plano [ map]

When: Friday, September 13, 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!