November 7, 2019
Your Weekly News from the Collin County Democratic Party
What's a Constable?
by Mike Rawlins, County Chair
As the filing period for a place on the primary ballot approaches, we’re still looking for people willing to run for some of these offices. And to help identify good prospects, we’re going to tell you a bit about each of these offices – what they do, necessary qualifications, and what you might look for in yourself or someone you know. We’ll start this week with a constable.

Most everyone has heard the title “constable” from books or old movies, but very few could accurately describe what a County Constable does in Texas. Here’s a brief description of the duties from the Texas Association of Counties:

  • Serves as a licensed peace officer and performs various law enforcement functions, including issuing traffic citations

  • Serves warrants and civil papers such as subpoenas and temporary restraining orders

  • Serves as bailiff for Justice of the Peace Court

In Collin County, constables oversee a small staff consisting of deputies and administrative support.

There are four Constable/Justice of the Peace Precincts as indicated by the map. All four Constables are elected in Presidential election years.

A Constable must be licensed as a Peace Officer in Texas. Police Officers, Sheriff’s Deputies, Deputy Constables, and Prison Guards are the most common positions that have this license. Persons with a background as Military Police can usually obtain a license with supplemental instruction.

Good prospects for this office are people with peace officer licenses who have some degree of management experience. Ideal prospects are people living in the precinct and currently serving as Deputy Constables in other counties or bailiffs in Municipal Courts.

If you fit the profile or know someone who does, please contact John Shanks our Executive Director, or me.

(Comment here )
Minnie's Food Pantry Thanksgiving Food Drive Challenge
Tomorrow is the last day to make your donations. Help us meet our goal of feeding over 10,000 people in our community!

Plano Area Democrats ( PAD ) Club is challenging the other Democratic clubs to meet or exceed the cash donations of $1,060 PAD members gave to Minnie’s Food Pantry on October 19 plus another $500 donated by CCDP – meaning 32 families that will get a Thanksgiving meal! 

Does your employer match charity donations? Minnie's Food Pantry has one employer who will match up to $500 in monetary donation. You can make your donation help more families with an employer match.

What is Needed

  • $15 for a Turkey OR,
  • $50 for a Thanksgiving meal for a family

(Make checks payable to “Minnie’s Food Pantry” with “Thanksgiving” in the memo.)

While shopping, please add one or more of these items to your food cart:
 
  • 1 Box Instant Potatoes
  • 1 Box Stuffing or Bagged Rice (complete stuffing mixes for Thanksgiving packages given to veterans needed)
  • 1 Can Sweet Potatoes
  • 2 Cans Vegetables (Corn, Green Beans, Mixed Vegetables)
  • 1 Can Gravy
  • 1 Can Cream of Mushroom Soup
  • 1 Can Cranberry Sauce
  • 1 Can Fruit Cocktail
  • 1 Box Cake Mix & Icing

Donations can be dropped through Friday, November 8 th at CCDP [ Map ] during normal hours. Drop offs are also located: 5116 Sea Pines Dr. Dallas [ Map ], 9818 Bell Rock Rd. Frisco [ Map ], 7209 Harvey Ln. Plano [ Map ], 6525 Copperfield Ln. Plano [ Map ], 2620 Barrington Dr. Plano [ Map ], 2501 Honeysuckle Dr. Richardson [ Map ] and 804 Firestone Ln. Richardson [ Map ] - whichever is most convenient for you. 

For more information, please call or text Paula at 682-407-6509.
Mark Your Calendars for Fifth Debate Watch Party
Wednesday, November 20th is the date. Atlanta is the location. Rachel Maddow, Andrea Mitchell, Kristen Welker and Ashley Parker are the moderators. You don't want to miss this one!

Please RSVP for the location of your choice. This will help us get a good head count to give each venue. Be ready to enjoy conversation with like-minded friends who want to hear about real issues that affect our communities! No cost to attend. Food and drinks available for purchase. Festivities begin at 6:30 p.m.

McKinney - Host Julie Luton
Delaney's Irish Pub & Scratch Kitchen
150 Eldorado Pkwy #120 McKinney, TX 75070 [ Map ]

Wylie - Host Dick Hildenbrand
Josephine's Neighborhood Bistro
960 W Fm 544, Wylie, TX 75098 [ Map ]

Plano - Hosts Billye Johnson and Barb Walters
Rugby House
8604 Preston Road, Plano, TX 72024 [ Map ]

Allen - Host Deborah Angell Smith
Cafe Del Rio
401 Central Expy S, Allen, TX 75013 [ Map ]
Election Administration Volunteers Needed
Would you like to be engaged in the coming record-breaking Collin County Democratic Primary? We need volunteers who will work with party staff in administering the March 3 Primary and May 26 Runoff Elections . Activities will include recruiting election workers, processing candidate filing petitions, double-checking ballot proofs, scheduling training, answering questions from workers and voters, supporting the district or county conventions and a myriad of other tasks.

Please respond if you can contribute 2 or 20 hours per week (or anything in between). Particularly welcome will be people who can be “on call” for peak workloads, such as receipt of multiple candidate petitions or quick turnaround ballot proofing.

Work will begin this November and continue through June of 2020.

Election administration volunteers may also become paid polling place workers when voting is underway. Volunteers may get preference for some of the better 2020 polling place assignments as well as build qualifications for applying for paid administration work in the 2022 or future cycles.

If you can serve or have questions, please contact party elections administration at elections@collindemocrats.org .
Please Note: There will be no edition of The Rally on Thursday, November 28th due to the Thanksgiving Holiday.
Collin County Campaign Events
Meet Jenna Royal with Vickie Parker
What: Meet Jenna Royal for State Representative for HD 67
Where: At the home of Vickie Parker - address will be provided upon registration.
When: Saturday, November 9, 2019 at 2:00 p.m.
Mike Rawlins County Chair Re-Election Campaign Kickoff
What: Campaign Kick-Off for the Re-Election of Mike Rawlins, County Chair
Where: Cafe Del Rio, 401 Central Expy S, Allen, TX 75013 [ Map ]
When: Saturday, November 9, 2019 at 4:00 p.m.
RSVP Here
Judge Craig Smith for 5th District Court of Appeals Campaign Reception
What: Campaign Reception for the Re-Election of Judge Craig Smith,
5th District Court of Appeals
When: Thursday, November 21 at 5:30 p.m.
Where: 10401 Lennox Lane in Dallas [ Map ].
RSVP Here
Dallas Reception Supporting Collin County Judicial Candidates
What: Dallas Reception for Collin County Judicial Candidates
When: Wednesday, December 4th , 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Where: Hamilton Wingo, LLP, 325 N. St. Paul Street Suite 3300 Dallas, TX 75201 [ Map ]
No RSVP Required.
Campaign Reception for Christy Albano
for Collin County 468th District Court
What: Campaign Reception for Christy Albano for 468th District Court
When: Thursday, December 5th 5:30 p.m.
Where: To Be Determined
Other Upcoming Events
Plano Area Moms Demand Action November Meeting
What: Plano Area Moms Demand Action discuss Myths and Gun Violence
When: Saturday, November 9th at 2:30 p.m
Where: Grace Avenue United Methodist Church at 3521 Main Street in Frisco. [ Map ]
Please RSVP on our Facebook Event if you can join us.
Women Organizing Women Democrats General Meeting
What: Featuring U.S. Senate candidate Cristina Tzintzún Ramirez, Texas Family Project, and Dallas County Judge Staci Williams
Where: Collin College Spring Creek Campus Rm C103 at 2800 E. Spring Creek Pkwy, Plano [ Map ]
When: Thursday, November 21 st at 7:00 p.m.
RSVP Here
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.

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

When: Friday, November 8, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Where: 2600 W, FM 544, Wylie [ map]

McKinney -  Mellow Mushroom
When: Friday, November 15, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Where: 218 E Louisiana St, McKinney [ map]

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

Frisco/Little Elm - The British Lion Pub
When: Friday, December 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!