May 2, 2022
Happy Mothers Day!
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Click on the Contribute button to help turn Montgomery County Blue!
Please consider becoming a sustaining member at $10 per month
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In this issue:
Upcoming Elections!
May 7th Election
Texas Public Education
Join Us at Headquarters!
Final Friday Speaker
Biden's Corner
State Convention
Shop the Blue Store (New Items)
Upcoming Events
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This newsletter is published on or about the 1st and the 15th of every month. Email content for consideration to communications@mcdptx.org
no later than 3 days before publication.
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Montgomery County Democratic Headquarters Hours
Hours of operation: 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.
Due to the continuing spread of COVID, our policy now is for staff and visitors to comply with social distancing guidelines. The best way to reach someone at the MCDP headquarters is to call or leave a message at 936-703-5841 or send an email to mcdpoffice@gmail.com. For urgent matters, please text 404-431-6551 or email chair@mcdptx.org outside of office hours.
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Montgomery County Democratic Headquarters
704 N. Thompson St. #195
Conroe, Texas 77301
936-703-5841
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Two Upcoming Elections in May! |
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CITY AND LOCAL ELECTION – MAY 7, 2022
JOINT EARLY VOTING – April 25 – 30 and May 2 -3
As many of you may know, there were a lot of issues in the March primary election with people going to the wrong voting precinct. With all the redistricting, it’s important to verify that you know where to vote for this election. There are two State propositions related to property taxes that pay for schools and other local elections. Here is some information that might be helpful.
A great resource for unbiased information about what is on your ballot, go to The League of Women Voters Voters’ Guide at Vote411.org.
Here are two videos that provide detailed info and the pros and cons of the two-State Propositions
Remember that you may EARLY vote at any voting location in Montgomery County but on election day you must vote in your precinct.
PRIMARY RUNOFF ELECTION – MAY 24, 2022
EARLY VOTING – May 16 - 20
Don’t forget the primary runoff election is on May 24, 2022. Early voting for that election is May 16 – 20. Information on the May 24th election is also accessible on the sources listed above for the May 7, election. Also, check out the Texas Tribune for more.
If you voted in the March Primary, you must vote in the same party’s Primary Runoff. You may vote in the Runoff, even if you didn't vote in the Primary. If the candidate you voted for made it to the Runoff, you need to come out and vote for them again. Turnout for the Runoff is important. Help us elect the best candidates to TURN TEXAS BLUE in November. Visit montgomeryvotes.org to find voting locations, times, and your sample ballot.
Democrats in the Primary Runoff:
Lieutenant Governor
Attorney General
Comptroller
Public Lands Commissioner
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Texas has new political maps. See which districts your home is in.
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Vote Now in the May 7th Election!! |
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Early voting for the May 7th local election is happening now! In this election, Texans have an opportunity to cast a ballot for Texas Constitutional Amendments and local races like City Council and School Board.
It's crucial that we elect leaders who are fighting for progress on a local level -- leaders whose decisions have an enormous impact on our day-to-day lives.
School board trustees are on the front lines of the fight for our children’s education and better classrooms. City council members are leading the way on housing affordability, safer roads, and stopping extremist legislation from state Republicans. Municipal Utility District directors have the long-term interests of each of their neighborhoods at heart, including both the conservation of water resources and financial resources. Our local leaders need our support.
We all need to go vote in the local May 7th elections.
Early voting is happening now!
For information on the candidates and issues, go to
Your Vote is Your Voice!
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The Texas public education system is in trouble with an overall rank of 28th and a quality rating of 30th in the United States. The vast majority of teachers go into the profession with the goal of making a difference in their students’ lives. However, there is a disturbing trend of teacher shortages, and many leave the field for various reasons. From 2010 to 2019 over 20% of Texas teachers have abandoned their educational careers. Stagnant low paying salaries have plagued the system for over a decade. Within the past 6 months, a record number of teachers have left in the middle of the school year with an estimated 471 contract abandonments reported representing a 60% increase from 2021.
A new requirement is causing more problems in the form of Reading Academics (kindergarten to 3rd-grade level) which requires teachers to invest 60 to 120 hours in training without pay or compensation. Failure to complete this training course will cause them to lose their jobs in 2023.
Recent legislative measures (Texas House Bill #3979) have placed unreasonable restrictions and limitations on what and how teachers teach due to an inaccurate perception of Critical Race Theory. One of the new requirements is the 1619 Project which refers to the year that African slaves came to the American colonies. An argument is that the Declaration of Independence was designed and the Revolutionary War was fought to preserve the economic benefits of slavery for the colonies at a time when Britain was experiencing a wave of abolitionist sentiment.
If you desire to learn more details, refer to the linked articles below.
Submitted by Michael Stacey
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SCHOOL BOARD TRUSTEE ELECTIONS IN 2022
Three seats on the Conroe Independent School District school board in Texas are up for general election on November 8, 2022. The filing deadline for this election is August 22, 2022.
It is important for citizens to take an active interest in what is happening in our public school system, now more than ever. The right wing has been waging continual attacks on funding and teachers, recently making fictitious claims that educators are teaching “Critical Race Theory” in the K-12 classrooms. Book banning has become an obsession of the Texas Governor and Republican legislative officials, ordering the removal of modern and classic works of history and literature from schools and libraries if they contain nebulously defined “offensive” ideas. Our First Amendment rights are at risk.
I am sharing a commentary on the March CISD board meeting by my friend, Linda Evans. It made me think more about how important it is to show up and be aware of what is happening in our public education systems all over the country.
--Carol Ortiz, Montgomery, TX
WHAT’S GOING ON IN CONROE ISD?
Linda Evans, Montgomery County, TX
If you have not been to a CISD board meeting lately, you should go. Last night members of the Support CISD group attended the meeting, and it was eye-opening! It was a night to recognize 4 students who had won state level wrestling meets...and 2 of them were girls! It honored a student who was the state champion in film animation. And we applauded the actions of 3 employees who checked on an absent teacher and got help that ultimately saved her life.
During the citizen participation section we heard from 6 citizens on a variety of topics: a proposed proclamation for the arts; opposition to mask mandates and the district’s recommendation for the COVID vaccine plus concern that the vaccine would cause heart damage to student athletes which would not be revealed in routine physicals; concern about CRT being taught, calling it satanic crap bombarding our country; loss of teachers and the difficulty in filling those positions; and about a band not having proper uniforms for state competition.
The board officially hired a new assistant superintendent for a high school, heard a report of the new Gordon-Reed Elementary school, adopted new health and P.E. materials, and reviewed a variety of projects ranging from new construction to renovations. They also heard a report on a new employee health plan and a new technology contract. The financial report was mind boggling, and showed that CISD deals with money approaching a billion dollars!
This was also a chance to see our school board members in action. Three of
them will be up for re-election this fall, so it’s important to get to know
them and to see the kinds of decisions they make each month.
In a district that is nearly 350 square miles with 68,500 students on 65
campuses there is always something going on! And we need to be informed,
champion the programs that make an excellent district for all students, and
be the voice of reason to push back against unsound, partisan policies. Join
us at the next board meeting, May 17, 2022
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Join Us At Headquarters!!! |
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THERE IS ALWAYS SOMETHING HAPPENING AT
MONTGOMERY COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY HEADQUARTERS!
We are constantly energized by the need for change, by our new volunteers, by worthwhile projects, and by frequent snacks!
Twice this week, we were busy handwriting “Get Out the Vote Postcards” that will be distributed by other volunteers targeting two of our “flippable” precincts before the Runoff Elections on May 24, 2022.
Some recent market research has shown that some voters respond to the “human touch” of a handwritten card over glossy printed matter and since we are laser-focused on reaching out to our targeted precincts multiple times before November, this time we are trying the handwriting technique. Our plan is to track our efforts and learn from them.
Become part of the team by calling 936-703-5841 or sending an email to mcdpoffice@gmail.com to volunteer! We need you!
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Around the table, left to right- Olivia Latham, Laura Applegate, Pam Janks, Glenna Sloan, Angelica, and Julie Bond
In the background, Linda Moore and Carol Ortiz. Around the table, left to right – Kathleen Moreno, Bea Rouse, Olivia Latham, and Peggy Roscoe.
Around the table, left to right – Glenna Sloan, Gracie Githail, Hannah Githail, Esther Githail, Mignon Mabry, Ruby Gonzales, and Charlene Allen
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Mary Hamm, Senatorial District Executive Committeewoman
for Senate District 4 to Speak on the May Final Friday!
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UNDERSTANDING THE STRUCTURE OF THE
TEXAS DEMOCRATIC PARTY
We are happy to announce that our long-time Senate District 4 Committeewoman, Mary Hamm, has agreed to give us all an introduction to the structure of the Texas Democratic Party at our Final Friday Speakers Event on May 27, 2022. Mary is currently our SDEC Committeewoman for SD 4 and has been our representative since June 2014. She was County Chair for Chambers County for thirteen years, having first served as a volunteer and then as a precinct chair. She has also worked on a variety of campaigns.
Mary Hamm is a graduate of Lamar University with a Bachelor’s in Social Work. Lamar University was the first university in the state of Texas with an accredited social work program. She has worked as a social worker on the federal and state level. Ms. Hamm currently works for the Office of Injured Employee Counsel as an Ombudsman III where she assists injured employees in developing their cases within the Workers Compensation system and presenting them in mediation and court.
She has promised to decode the alphabet soup of our organization and to lead us through the levels of governance within the Democratic Party just in time for the State Democratic Convention that is being held this year in Dallas on July 14 – 16. She will also explain the purpose of the State Democratic Executive Committee and the Senate District Caucuses and how it came to be that Montgomery County will be electing 2 SDEC members from each of three Senatorial Districts for the first time ever.
Mary is an inspiring person with an inspiring life story and you will not want to miss her informative presentation!
Remember you must register in advance to attend a virtual Final Friday program. The link is highlighted in blue below. You may also watch on Facebook Live, or RSVP at 936-703-5841 to watch in person from Montgomery County Headquarters. Now that vaccinations and boosters have made it safer for us to get together in person you are welcome to join us at your discretion.
Topic: MCDP Final Friday Speaker Series – The Organizational Structure of the Texas Democratic Party
Time: Friday, May 27, 2022 , at 6:30 p.m.
Place: 704 N. Thompson St., Suite 195, Conroe, TX 77301
Manner: Zoom, Facebook Live, or In Person.
Register in advance for this meeting:
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting via Zoom.
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How to Get Ready for the State Convention |
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For questions regarding the TDP Convention, email:
Our State Convention — the largest gathering of Democrats in Texas during the midterm election cycle — is from July 14th to July 16th, 2022, in Dallas, Texas at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center. Attending a Convention either as a Delegate or a Visitor is an educational experience that should not be missed.
The window to register as a Delegate is now closed. If you want to attend as a visitor, you may request a guest pass by filling out the form located here.
The Montgomery County Democratic Party is sending 99 delegates to the convention. All Delegates will be notified by the Texas Democratic Party of their confirmation. More information is posted on the convention website:
There is no charge for attending the convention either as a delegate or a visitor. Visitors are welcome to attend all meetings and events but cannot vote. Delegates and visitors are responsible for their own travel, lodging, and food costs. The Party has posted information on the Texas Democratic Convention website on how to book lodging in one of their hotel blocks. Please check there for negotiated rates at nearby hotels.
If you have never been a Delegate to the State Convention before, a handy guide has been prepared for you by the Texas Democratic Party. To access this information go to
Among other topics, the Delegate’s Guide includes a Convention Schedule Overview, information on Accessibility, a Special Interest Caucus Schedule, and even a Glossary of Terms.
Watch this space for an update
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CONTRIBUTE TO OUR YOUNG DEMOCRATS
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The Montgomery County Democratic Party has set up a fund to send several Young Democrats to the State Convention in Dallas on July 14 – 16. If you were able to attend our local County Convention you saw some helping with the sound system, running the Powerpoint presentation, working at the Blue Texas Store and the Silent Auction, staffing the food booth, and cleaning up. They are an amazingly talented and energetic group that is reorganizing and building in numbers.
If you would like to help send Montgomery County Young Democrats to the 2022 Convention in State Convention in Dallas, you may do so by donating directly to that fund here: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/youngdemsconvention, The money will be strictly earmarked for gas, lodging, and food. We must raise at least $500 to send one young person. With carpooling and shared lodging, $1000 will easily send three.
Please help if you can! The Future is Now.
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CHECK OUT OUR NEW SHIRTS AND MERCH!! |
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WE HAVE THE YARD SIGNS!
Beto yard signs are available to purchase for $25 and pick up at MCDPTX Headquarters.
Call us to reserve yours today.
936-703-5841
email: mcdpoffice@gmail.com
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Event Calendar - For more details, click on the image and follow link to the MCDPTX.org website; click on the date to view event.
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Other Groups & Community Events: |
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MON, MAY 2 to 3 – EARLY VOTING: TX AMENDMENTS + MUDS, 7:00am to 7:00pm
SAT, MAY 7 – JOINT ELECTION: TX AMENDMENTS + MUDS, 7:00am to 7:00pm
TUES, MAY 10 – MOCO COMMISSIONERS COURT, 9:30am, 501 N. Thompson St. 77301
MON, MAY 16 to 20 – EARLY VOTING: PRIMARY RUNOFF
TUES, MAY 17 – CONROE ISD BOARD MEETING, 6:00pm, 3205 W. Davis St. 77304 and Livestream
THU, MAY 19 – WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP BOARD, 6:00pm, 2801 Technology Forest Bl. 77381
TUES, MAY 24 – TEXAS PRIMARY RUNOFF ELECTION
TUES, MAY 24 – MOCO COMMISSIONERS COURT, 9:30am, 501 N. Thompson St. 77301
WED, MAY 25 – WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP BOARD, 6:00pm, 2801 Technology Forest Bl. 77381
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IMMIGRATION CLINIC REOPENS - VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! - Lorena Perez McGill |
Can you help?
- Legal consultation
- Set up, clean up, organize
- Speaker
Third Thursdays
5:00 to 9:00pm
24803 Oakhurst Dr. 77386
Questions and Information:
contact Lorena Perez McGill at
email or 202-294-4473.
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Paid for by the Montgomery County Texas Democratic Party, www.mcdptx.org. This communication is not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee. |
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