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Chair: Ginger Blair
Deputy Chair: Kimberly Valdez
Secretary: Carmen McZeal
Treasurer: Natalie Ward
Sergeant At Arms: Marc Meyer
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August 1, 2022
National Lazy Day
Be lazy while you can - we have a whole lot of work to do between now and Election Day to turn Texas BLUE!
Will you help?
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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 (or more!).
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Montgomery County Democratic Headquarters
704 N. Thompson St. #195
Conroe, Texas 77301
936-703-5841
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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 713-256-1420 or email chair@mcdptx.org outside of office hours.
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In this issue:
July 4th Parade Recap
MCDPTX Strategic Planning Meeting
What is a Precinct Chair?
Texas Democratic Party Convention Highlights
MC Commissioners’ Court Summary – July 26, 2022
Recent GOP Votes in Congress and GOP Extremism
To All Beto Believers - Buy a Sign!!
Texas Democratic Candidates
Veterans Protest at the Capitol
Important Information About Working the Polls
Beto's Corner
Joe's Corner
Tweets
WAPO Opinion - I Stopped Reading the News
THE GOOD MAGA! Mothers Against Greg Abbott
Final Friday - Meet the Candidates - August 26, 2022
New MCDP Officers and Interest Group Chairs
Blue Store
Free Senior Plant (AARP) Training Classes
Upcoming Party & Community Events
CEC/SAC 2022-2023 Meeting Calendar
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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On July 23, 2022, MCDPTX leaders met for several hours to begin the process of strategic planning for the year 2022-2023. A lot was accomplished and there was a lot of enthusiasm and excitement about our future in the County. Below is a recap of plans developed at the meeting. Please contact headquarters if you have input or questions. And let us know if something strikes your fancy and you want to help out as we work to turn Montgomery County BLUE! |
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The Montgomery County Democratic Party Needs Precinct Chairs. Our Precinct Chairs are a vital connection to our community for organizing and getting out the votes for every election.
What is a Precinct Chair?
A Precinct Chair is a Democratic Party unpaid official, elected every two years in Democratic Primary elections. Each Precinct Chair represents the voting precinct in which they live and serves on the Montgomery County Democratic Party (MCDP) County Executive Committee (CEC). A precinct with no precinct chair is referred to as a “vacant” precinct. Before and after primary elections, County parties may appoint precinct chairs to serve in vacant precincts. We provide training for all our new Precinct Chairs.
As a Democratic Precinct Chair, you should be willing and able to:
- Attend quarterly MCDP CEC meetings as a voting member.
- Attend training as scheduled by the MCDP.
- Contact Democrats who live in your precinct, provide them local Party information, and remind them to vote in all elections.
- Support Democratic candidates/officeholders on your precinct’s ballot.
- Not openly endorse candidates/officeholders from any other political party.
As a Democratic Precinct Chair, you will be given priority if you wish to serve as an Election Judge at your polling location. However, Precinct Chairs are not required to be Election Judges.
These listed precincts are currently vacant:
2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 11, 14, 16, 17, 19, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27, 28, 30, 34, 37, 38, 41, 51, 52, 54, 55, 59, 60, 65, 66, 72, 74, 83, 84, 89, 91, 94, 98, 102, 104, 106, 107, 111
If you don't know your precinct number, you may look it up by entering your address and running a Street Search on the Montgomery County Elections website. To identify the area, check the maps also posted on the same website. MAPS Scroll all the way down to Individual Precinct Maps and click on your precinct number.
To apply for a Precinct Chair Vacancy, please download, print, and complete this application form, and submit it to us by U.S. mail, email as an attachment to mcdpoffice@gmail.com, or drop it off in person at 704 N. Thompson St. #195, Conroe, TX 77301. We would be delighted to meet you!
If your precinct is not listed here as vacant, you may find out who your Precinct Chair is by going to the Secretary of State website. Or please call or email the MCDP HQ Office to get in touch with your Precinct Chairperson to volunteer as a Block Captain for your neighborhood.
Submitted by Carol Ortiz
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THE TEXAS DEMOCRATIC PARTY
STATE CONVENTION HIGHLIGHTS 2022
Dallas was hot, but our candidates were blazing! While official numbers are still being compiled, over 6,000 strong Democrats braved the summer heat wave and a new round of COVID to make the 2022 State Convention one to be remembered.
To catch just a bit of the flavor of the convention and the issues that were discussed, you can watch the opening video that brought the crowd together by clicking on this link: Opening Video
The Convention was well orchestrated, and it was clear that the crowd was happy to be together again in person with fellow Democrats from throughout the state. And even though there were unexpected cancellations because of the new strain of Covid that is making the rounds, the Lady Bird Johnson Breakfast which always features our strong Texas women leaders was sold out with folks standing at the back of the breakfast hall to hear our leaders speak. Lucy Baines Johnson and Wendy Davis both gave particularly moving addresses at the breakfast, and they were followed by a succession of outstanding statewide candidates. The attendees found themselves standing repeatedly to applaud while their coffee got cold.
One of the main reasons to attend a State Convention is to attend some interest group caucuses. Because of time constraints, many caucuses were held simultaneously, and attendees had to choose which interest groups to attend. The Texas Environmental Democrats Environmental Caucus had to meet in two rooms, the Stop Gun Violence Caucus needed a Ballroom as did the Stonewall Democrats. A VDR training certification workshop was set up in an exhibit hall as was the workshop on Relational Organizing. Overall, there were more than 40 interest groups represented and all were productive for the participants.
Each State Senatorial District (SD) had its own caucus so attendees from Montgomery County had to attend one of three caucuses based on the area of their residence. Most of our delegates reside in SD4, but some of our attendees attended the caucus for SD 7 and SD 18. Mary Hamm and Chris Powell were elected SD 4 representatives, Angela Williams and Glenn Etienne were elected from SD 7 and Jennifer Cantu and Cecil Webster were elected from SD 18. They will all be invited to make reports at our various meetings.
Gilberto Hinojosa survived a challenge from two strong contenders to maintain his position as State Party Chair for another term.
But of course, the most important part of the convention was the appearance of the State Party Candidates from the top of the ticket including Rochelle Garza for State Attorney General, Mike Collier for Lt. Governor, and Beto O’Rourke for Governor. The Party faithful waited hours for them to speak but the wait was well worth it.
Unfortunately, after three long days of Party work and due to some technical delays, the end of the convention ended with a fizzle instead of a bang as most of the delegates had to leave the convention hall catch planes or otherwise start their long drives home. Consequently, there was not a quorum present when it was time to consider adoption of the Party Platform and that matter will be taken up by our Senate District Representatives when they meet on August 6th, 2022.
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Montgomery County Commissioners’ Court Summary – Meeting July 26, 2022
Ginger Blair, MCDP Chair, attends Commissioners’ Court meetings to stay on top of what is happening in our county. Here is her report from the July 26th meeting.
One topic of interest was related to the Mental Health Unit which is handled by Constable Cash in Precinct 1. Constable Cash does an outstanding job given the increased calls for assistance. Calls involving mental health issues so far in 2022 are 1102. Based on this trajectory for the entire year - we will likely reach 2000 by year end. Total calls for 2021 was 1359. Almost eight calls come in every day. Constable Cash reported he believes they will be able to maintain through the end of 2022.
While this meeting was very routine, starting Tuesday August 2nd the Court will be working on the 2023 budget. These sessions are daily from 8-5 next week and are open to the public. All County departments must submit their budgets for review and approval. History shows it usually takes 40 hours to complete. I plan on being in attendance for the entire session.
Some budget issues worth watching are the mental health unit budget and Judge Keough’s expense for his driver. It will be interesting to see how the budget can be finalized with some 31,000 protests over property taxes; most are commercial protests, representing $7.9 billion in revenue to the County.
Stay tuned for the outcome of the 2023 budget!
Submitted by Ginger Blair, MCDP Chair
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Recent GOP Votes in Congress and GOP Extremism
In the past several weeks, Texas Republicans in Washington have shown us just how extreme they’ve become.
- Almost all Texas Republicans voted against codifying same-sex marriage.
- Almost all Texas Republicans voted against federal protections for contraception access.
- Almost all Texas Republicans voted against bolstering American computer chip manufacturing, including here in Texas.
- Both Texas Senators voted against lifesaving resources for Texas veterans impacted by burn pits and toxins.
Republicans’ extreme MAGA agenda goes beyond taking away Americans’ freedoms. GOP leaders in Congress have proposed out-of-touch policies that would raise costs and make life harder for working families.
- In the House, the Republican Study Committee, representing the majority of House Republicans, unveiled their plan to drastically cut Medicare and Social Security benefits.
- Senator Rick Scott, in charge of electing Republicans to the Senate, has doubled and tripled down on his plan to end the Social Security and Medicare guarantee if given the opportunity.
- And Scott put out a plan to raise taxes on more than half the country – specifically working Americans – while the ultra-wealthy wouldn’t pay their fair share.
Meanwhile, as Democrats continue to pass bills to help lower costs and address supply chain issues, Republicans in Congress keep voting on the side of huge oil companies and big pharma instead of working people. In just the past few months, congressional Republicans have voted against bills to:
- cap insulin prices at $35 a month,
- prevent price gouging and help lower gas prices,
- help cut food and fuel costs,
- and get the FDA resources to address the baby formula shortage.
And Republicans in the Senate have made clear they’ll block these critical bills from becoming law – denying Americans relief at the pump, on their grocery bills, and more.
source: Texas Democratic Party
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TEXAS DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES RUNNING IN NOVEMBER
(including links to their websites)
Please become familiar with all of our candidates - up and down the ballot. They are all working hard for your vote but many have limited resources.
Learn what each stands for and consider donating to individual candidates as well as MCDPTX.
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TX Court of Appeals District 9 Place 2 - Bob Mabry
Montgomery County Justice of the Peace Precinct 3 - April Prim
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Veterans Protest at the Capitol after
25 Republican Senators Vote Against the PACT Act
What was supposed to be a gathering of veterans celebrating the victory of the passing of the PACT Act, better known as the burn pit bill, turned into a weekend long protest at the Capitol on Thursday. On July 28th Twenty-Five Senate Republicans reversed their previous votes on the PACT Act, effectively blocking passage of legislation which would have provided healthcare and benefits for veterans who were exposed to burn pits during deployment in the Middle East. After strong bipartisan support and passage last month in the Senate, the legislation was then passed in the House and sent back to the Senate for a re-vote following a last-minute rewrite by Republican Senator, Pat Toomey. The gathering of Veterans and their families were understandably surprised and angered at the sudden and unexpected blocking of the bill which would have expanded VA healthcare and eligibility to more than 3.5 million post-9/11 combat veterans who were exposed to toxins while serving in the military.
This past weekend, in response the blocking of the bill, veterans staged a sit in at the capitol. Rosie Torres, the Executive Director of veterans rights group, Burn Pits 360, is leading the protest along with celebrity and veterans rights advocate, Jon Stewart. “We got punched in the gut, right by those 25 senators that flipped their vote from yesterday,” Rosie Torres told The Hill late Thursday. Stewart mocked Cruz for arguing that Democrats moved “discretionary” spending in the bill to “mandatory.” Cruz referenced the budget policy dispute that was first raised this month by Sen. Patrick J. Toomey (R-Pa.), who objected to the way the bill would change the accounting of about $400 billion in preexisting veterans spending to make it not subject to yearly congressional appropriations. To add insult to injury, Cruz and other Republican Senators were seen fist bumping on the Senate floor in celebration of blocking the legislation.
Another Senate vote is scheduled for Monday, Aug 1st. The Senators who switched their votes are: John Barrasso, Marsha Blackburn, Roy Blunt, Mike Braun, Bill Cassidy, John Cornyn, Tom Cotton, Kevin Cramer, Ted Cruz, Joni Ernst, Deb Fischer, Bill Hagerty, Josh Hawley, Cindy Hyde-Smith, Jim Inhofe, Ron Johnson, John Kennedy, Roger Marshall, Mitch McConnell, Rob Portman, Ben Sasse, Tim Scott, Rick Scott, Dan Sullivan and Todd Young. Additionally, Steve Daines and Roger Wicker voted against the bill after not voting in June. The protesting veterans are hopeful that their demonstration will be enough to convince these Senators to reconsider their actions and vote in favor of the bill in the next vote. "Promises were made and promises were broken," said Kristina Keenan of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Jeremy Butler, CEO of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America stated, "We’ve seen partisanship and games within Congress for years but what is shocking is that so many senators would literally be willing to play with veterans’ lives so openly like this." If you would like to stand in solidarity with our veterans, here are the links to contact your TX senators: https://www.cruz.senate.gov/contact and https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/contact
Submitted by Susan Shofkom, Chair, Precinct 29
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Important Information
About Working the Polls!
Greeting Fellow Democrats:
I hope you are enjoying this hot summer. Although it may seem early, we are already preparing for a very busy election to come in November. This election will likely include many changes, including the strong possibility of new equipment, so it is imperative to get ready early.
Make sure to mark on your calendar that the General Election is on November 8th, 2022. We are planning early to ensure that each location is well-staffed and fully comfortable in its position.
The last day to register to vote for this election is Tuesday, October 11th
The last day to apply for Ballot by Mail is October 28th
The first day of Early Voting is October 24th
The last day of Early Voting is November 4th
And yes, we have already begun to assign people to polling locations for election day, November 8th, so if you are willing and able to serve on election day, please contact me as soon as possible. There is a spot on my spreadsheet for your name. Let's prepare to win big in November. Please feel free to contact me or MCDP headquarters with any questions or concerns.
In Solidarity,
Claretna Vaxter
Election Coordinator
Montgomery County Democratic Party
281-239-1800
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Beto Letter Writing Campaign
Beto has a strong letter-writing campaign going on now. Go here to sign up for an online Letter Writing Party. It’s fun and easy and it can be done when you have the time. All letters will be mailed on October 19th - the goal is to reach voters before the election to get out the vote. Join the hundreds participating in the effort and make a real difference.
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THE GOOD MAGA!
Mothers Against Greg Abbott
If you haven't yet heard of this grassroots group that has now received national attention, please check it out!! It's an amazing story that is getting great results. Watch for their ads and join the group on Facebook.
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FINAL FRIDAY SPEAKERS’ SERIES WILL
INTRODUCE OUR CANDIDATES
Now that Primary Season is over and all our Democratic Candidates at the Federal, State and Local Level have all been determined, our Final Friday Speakers Series will begin to feature our Candidates. For August, September, and October we will provide an opportunity for our candidates to speak directly to us because nothing is worse than going into the voting booth and having no idea who to vote for or what the candidate stands for.
Instead of just a two-to-three-minute introduction they will each have a block of time to expound on their reasons for running for office, the major issues they face in their campaign and the things they would most like to accomplish while in office over the successive months.
If you have Republican friends, relatives that are “independents”, or neighbors who are searching for some new choices, ask them to tune in with you. It’s an easy and non-confrontational way to learn about different people and different points of view.
So, mark your calendars now for Friday, August 26, 2022, at 6:30 in the evening for the first in our series of presentations by our Candidates. The Series will be presented in a hybrid format with participants and speakers being able to attend via ZOOM or in person.
The link to watch virtually is highlighted in blue below. You may also watch on Facebook Live.
Topic: MCDP Final Friday Speaker Series – Meet the Candidates Forum
Time: Friday, August 26, 2022 , at 6:30 p.m.
Place: 704 N. Thompson St., Suite 195, Conroe, TX 77301
Manner: Zoom, Facebook Live, or In Person.
+13462487799ng ID: 915 3533 3507
Passcode: 969389
One tap mobile
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Election of New County Officers |
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At the County Executive Committee (CEC) meeting on Saturday, June 18, 2022, the following County Party officers were elected:
Ginger Blair - County Chair: Ginger has been Deputy Chair and has owned an architectural design company for twenty years.
Kimberly Valdez - Deputy Chair: Kimberly is a Precinct Chair, Chair of the 4th of July Parade, Chair of the Education Committee, and is a retired educator.
Carmen McZeal - Secretary: Carmen is a Precinct Chair and is a counselor and mediator.
Natalie Ward - Treasurer: Natalie has been Treasurer and returns to that position, is a Precinct Chair and is a retired air traffic controller.
Marc Meyer - Sergeant at Arms: Marc is a former MCDP Chair, a Precinct Chair. an attorney, and a Registered Nurse.
The following County Commissioner Precinct Representatives were elected to the Senior Advisory Council:
Nic Jefferson - MC Commissioner Precinct 1
Calvin Overstreet - MC Commissioner Precinct 2
Lore Breitmeyer-Jones - MC Commissioner Precinct 3
Betty McInturff - MC Commissioner Precinct 4
The following Interest Group Leads were also elected:
Rashmi Gupta - AAPI (Asian American/Pacific Islander) Democrats
Eartha Johnson - African American Democrats
Betty Daugherty - Environmental Democrats
Gordon Lopez - Hispanic Democrats
Mary Hamm - Labor Interests Democrats
Jay Sittleburg - LGBTQ+ Democrats
Mike Midler - Veterans Democrats
Angela De La Cruz Garcia - Young Democrats
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE NEW OFFICERS AND LEADERS! And Thanks to all those who are leaving or changing office for your dedicated service to the Democrats in Montgomery County.
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Drop by the Blue Store at Headquarters
to get your Merch!
As more of our neighbors show their Democratic Party allegiance, consider joining the crowd by becoming more visible as you are out and about. We have many beautiful unique items available to show that we are not alone in Montgomery County!
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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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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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Coffee, Conversation & Cardboard Rolls
Saturday, August 13, 2022 at 9:00 AM to Saturday, August 13, 2022 at 11:00 AM CDT
11133 Interstate 45 S · Conroe, TX
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Event Sponsored by Village Books of The Woodlands
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MONDAY, AUG 8 – TWJ MEETING, 7:00pm, South County Community Center 77380
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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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