February 2022 Newsletter

Hill Country Chapter of

Texas Democratic Women

February 2022

February HCCTDW Meeting

Tuesday, February 1, 2022

Check in at the Kroc 11:15 a.m.

Meal served at 11:30 a.m.

Beef Lasagna, Garden Salad, Fresh Vegetables,

Cheese Manicotti, Garlic Bread & Dessert

Don't forget your masks!

Reservations for the luncheon should be made with Julie Sentell by emailing to jmsentell@icloud.com no later than Wednesday, January 26, 2022. The cost of the meal is $16.00 per person. TDW pays for each reservation.

Attorney General Candidate Rochelle Garza to Speak on Civil Rights

Rochelle Garza, noted Rio Grande Valley attorney, will address both her candidacy for Texas Attorney General and her experience as an ACLU attorney during her presentation to the February 1, 2022 luncheon meeting of HCCTDW. Garza will be the first Democratic Primary candidate to speak to our group in 2022.

Garza’s career as a civil rights lawyer representing teenage girls in federal immigration detention touches a primary focus of local Democratic Women, who have been involved in a project to assist asylum seekers in transit through San Antonio for several years.“Garza is one of many Latina attorneys who are having an impact on Texas through the courts as both lawyers and judges. We are especially proud of Chief Justice Rebeca Martinez and the Democratic majority on the 4th Court of Appeals.

In a federal case filed for a migrant “Jane Doe” in 2017, Garza eventually won the right of pregnant teens in federal detention to choose whether or not to have an abortion. Garza’s opponent in the case was current Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.

Rochelle Garza was born in Brownsville, Texas and currently lives in her birth city with her husband. She practices in her own law firm after working for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) following law school at the University of Houston. Garza will speak about her civil rights work on behalf of Texans in the Rio Grande Valley as proof of her dedication and ability to protect the rights of all Texans.Retiring Democratic Congressman Philemon Vela of Brownsville stated that “we can trust Rochelle to never forget where she came from and never stop fighting for us.” Addressing her decision to run for statewide office, Garza says that she believes that change in Texas will have to come at the State level, where the Governor, Lt. Governor and Attorney General have damaged the State and harmed the people of Texas through their actions.

Garza is one of five candidates competing in the March 1, 2022 Democratic Primary to become the Party’s candidate for Attorney General in the General Election in November, 2022. Her opponents include Joe Jaworski, former Mayor of Galveston and Lee Merritt, civil rights attorney from Dallas. Less known opponents are Mike Fields, a former Republican Criminal Court judge from Harris County and S. T-Bone Raynor.

Currently, we plan to hold the February meeting in person with a luncheon beginning at 11:15 a.m. at the Kroc Community Center on Holdsworth Drive in Kerrville. Make reservations for the $16 per person luncheon by email to jmsentell@icloud.com preferably by Wednesday, January 26, 2022. Any change from meeting in person (due to COVID) will be reported through a follow-up newsletter and on the website: hillcountrytxdemocraticwomen.org.

Letter from the President

Dear “Raring-to-Go” Democratic Ladies,

Don’t you find it frustrating to look ahead to the political contests in the Democratic Primary while observing CDC Guidelines? I remember rallies before 2020, with all the cheering and hugging, looking forward to the next event and hoping for a BIG turnout. With omicron cases on the rise, including hundreds of infected kids in local schools, it is a relief when a gathering is small and shared with trusted friends and family.

Yet, if Democrats are to prevail in November, we will have to contact strangers with a lot of enthusiasm and hold them close so we can influence them to vote. Some commentators have said that the Democrats lost some close races in 2020 because Democrats were advised not to campaign in person, door to door, to avoid COVID. We were encouraged to donate more money for TV ads and robocalls.

Despite our disadvantage in “base” numbers in Bandera, Gillespie and Kerr, if we call on voters who are undecided or hesitant to vote we can boost turnout and provide those essential extra votes to get our state-wide candidates over the line. Republicans’ underhanded efforts to win through gerrymandering will have no impact on STATEWIDE races! Keep in mind that Biden-Harris held Trump to 52.5% in Texas without knocking on doors.

My husband, Rick and I recently watched Seabiscuit again on TV and really enjoyed this special movie. We were reminded that the horse that was considered small, with a one-eyed jockey, had a big heart and did not like to lose. He was victorious! As Democrats, we also need to fight hard to win. Even if we are still in our masks.

From my KN95 to yours!

Stephanie Ertel

President

A Get-Well Message for our Membership Chair

Jackie Morales, our Membership Chair, recently tangled with COVID-19. She works in healthcare, so it was hard to stay clear of the virus. Now she’s better, so let’s give her a really sweet Get Well present—more Membership RENEWALS. On top of that, let’s bring in some NEW members. Jackie, we’re glad you are feeling better and ready to sign up a bunch of new and renewing Members.

Membership forms are available by links from this newsletter and on our website. If you have not already renewed for 2022, just do it right now!

Membership 2022 Membership forms are available at the meeting or on line at this link: Membership Form Download and print the form and then follow the directions.

Key Dates for Voting in the Democratic Primary

Monday, January 31-- Last Day to Register to Vote
Monday, February 14 --First Day of Early Voting
Early Voting Locations
Hill Country Youth Event Center
510 College Street in Ingram
Friday, February 18-- Last Day to Apply for Ballot by Mail (Received)
Friday, February 25 --Last Day of Early Voting
TUESDAY, MARCH 1 --ELECTION DAY (All Precincts)

For more details go to co.kerr.tx.us/elections or Google Kerr County Elections

Candidates for Upcoming Primary

Currently, commentators are saying the candidates with a chance of winning the Democratic Primary are Rochelle Garza, Joe Jowarski and Lee Merritt.

March Meeting Moved

Our Guest Speaker is a friend from 2018 when she visited all of our counties and HCCTDW in her campaign for Commissioner of Agriculture, Kim Olson from Mineral Wells.

For Asylum Seekers

Donate time or money
Next IWC/Hygiene Kits Meeting
February 10,2022
2200 Medina Hwy, Kerrville
Contact: Coral Adema

Telephone: 830- 459-4016

E-mail: cadema@stx.rr.com

Learn about immigration issues

https://interfaithwelcomecoalition.org

https://witnessattheborder.org

From the Kerr County Democratic Party

Watch for your Mail In Application

Today’s an exciting day because the Texas Democratic Party is sending out nearly half a million vote-by-mail applications to seniors in every corner of the state and relaunching the live Voter Assistance Hotline.

Millions of Texas Democratic aged 65 and older rely on mail-in voting to cast a ballot, and the Texas Democratic Party wants to ensure that they have everything they need to make their voices heard. By sending their applications right to their mailbox and answering any questions they may have through the Voter Assistance hotline, the Texas Democratic Party is dedicated to do what the State of Texas won't: make voting as easy as possible.

The vote-by-mail program is one of the most important voter turnout programs Texas Democratic Party runs, and it takes a lot of effort and resources to make it happen.

If you are over 65 years old and want to vote by mail, please look for your application in the mail. Each voter must apply for a mail in ballot every year. Complete the form and put it in the mail.

The Kerr County Democratic Party supported this program with a contribution to the Texas Democratic Party of $450. These funds come from dedicated Democrats all over Kerr County. If you would like to support our efforts to get out the vote for the Primary elections in March, please consider making a donation at. https://secure.actblue.com/donate/kerr-county-democratic-party--tx--1.