Maxey or Richie?

[johncoby2]

You know, I got to talk with Maxey and Urbina Jones this weekend. Both are pretty impressive. I have met Richies wife, but not Boyd yet.

Although I think Jones could be effective, I dont think he has the momentum. Maxey or Richie will be the choice. Now, which one? Comments anyone?

I think it will be fun if there is a good competition and as long as we are united when it is over, I am confident we will be moving in the right direction.

Anyone think I am full of it?

Ok. How about anyone have any comments?

[rusty_parts2001]

1. I'm waiting until the convention to see them both

[PDittie]

2. I have decided that

I am not going to decide until the convention.

And I am the Decider.

[Melissa G]

3. I think Maxey's surrogate speaker drank a bit too much coffee

before he spoke on Saturday...:evilgrin:
I was very impressed by Jones. Don't underestimate the power of the valley.. Is there momentum for him down there?
Maxey had been my likely choice. The others looked good too.

All four have a lot to offer and the party needs every bit of it. I hope the one that wins is smart enough to see the big picture and co-opt the other three to best advantage. I hope they all play well together in the sandbox afterwords because they each have an important piece of what we need to rebuild this state.
That said,I'll probably fence sit until the convention and enjoy the show..:popcorn:

[crispini]

4. I'm for Glen. I think Glen has the technological know how

and the reform minded spirit that it will take to really reform this party.

I really like what Glen has to say about giving the activists the tools and letting people do the work they are interested in. He related a story about how people would come to him with ideas and his response was always, "Ok you're in charge of that." What a wonderful spirit that is! To trust someone with their own idea. And to allow someone an opportunity to lead. That is how activists turn from ordinary activists into leaders.

He told another story about how one person down in Austin went to the state party to volunteer and they told her that they didn't have any work for her to do. I have heard the same story up here in our county party prior to the most recent election. I think that that attitude is CRAZY.

Honestly, in all of my interactions with Glen, he understands about building the tools and empowering the grassroots. He not only talks the talk, he walks the walk.

To me, Glen represents new ideas and a fresh future for the TDP. Boyd Richie may be a fine fellow, but he represents the establishment choice of the SDEC members. Do we really need more of the same? The TDP has been dying on the vine for YEARS now. It's time to do something different.

[muse]

5. I'm pretty sure this is not going to be popular

but, hey, I've never been one to run for a popularity contest.

I'm at the same exact place I was when this thing started. And, someone I had lunch with on Saturday who is big into politics in Fort Bend said it best. Glen has skills in running grassroots campaigns, but doesn't seem to have the social skills needed to be chair which requires schmoozing with donors and people of all stripes (I'm talking the cocktail, dinner party set as well as the rural field worker). I'm for Richie for chair and then hire Maxey ASAP to get our field systems up to modern standards.

[Son of Bentsen]

18. Personal attacks are getting old

These personal attacks on Glen are getting incredibly old. Here is what I know about Glen Maxey and his personal skills. This man has always answered his office phone personally. He talks with anyone and he listens to all opinions. He has listed his personal cell phone number on virtually every email and piece of information that has gone out about his campaign. He personally responds to every email, usually within minutes. He is incredibly accessible and open.

From the Governor of Texas to the children of migrant laborers he taught in Navasota, Glen has never treated anyone differently because of status or power. Ann Richards loves Glen Maxey and so do the thousands of activists and organizers he's touched over the course of his 35 years working to elect Democrats in Texas.

Your point seemed to concern fund-raising, but, last I saw, Glen Maxey was leading the Prop 2 campaign which raised damn near half a million dollars in less than 90 days. How much money did TDP raise during that period?

We're blessed to have three great folks running for TDP Chair. I don't think personal attacks advance the discussion at all. Let's focus on the significant differences and not the irrelevant nonsense.

[muse]

19. This is absolutely not a personal attack

But I'm not going to get into a flame war with you.

This has to do with me being around Glen and word of mouth from others. So, it's based on observations. I could have actually gotten a lot more personal and specific and given examples, but I didn't.

I'm entitled to my opinion and you are to yours.

[VelmaD]

20. Don't you just luv...

getting taken to task by someone with one fucking post who knows everything that's wrong with DU? :eyes:

[muse]

21. Ahhh

Not that observant this early in the morning. :)

[johncoby2]

22. I've noticed the 1 post also.

I dont see any personal attacks. It is the truth.

Now LaRouche people. Yes they are young, but geez they are so wrapped around their own message which is lost after they push a few books of detailed crap into your hands.

You would think that with all the money they have, they would pay their way into events.

[muse]

25. So . . .

Do you have personal experience with them not paying to get into an event? :)

Since we are talking objectivity and observations, I could probably back you up on this one.

[Son of Bentsen]

26. Huh?

As they say on talk radio. First-time caller, long-time listener. I'm all for a discussion of this state party chair race on the merits. I didn't know that the number of posts that comes after my name informs that validity of my comments. :( Why won't you be my friend?

[johncoby2]

27. Who are you?

Look at my profile. Nothing being hidden there. Look at your profile. Either you are new and dont know how to update your profile, or you want to be anonymous.

[Son of Bentsen]

29. Sharing is Caring

This site is sort of awkward in terms of format. But I figured out the profile deal. Now am I a little cooler?

[crispini]

28. LOL!

:hug: welcome to DU! :hi:

To return to our originally scheduled discussion, although the concept of electing Boyd Ritchie and hiring Glen Maxey may be appealing, muse, you do realize that would never happen?

Boyd Ritchie and his associates on the SDEC don't see anything wrong with the way the party is currently operating. If Boyd Ritchie is elected, nothing will change. The party will continue to be the same ol' do nothing dinosaur it is today. If you think the TDP is currently in fine shape, vote for Boyd.

I don't think it is.

[muse]

6. Well, how amusing. Did yall just get this email?

Not sure I want to post the whole thing on DU.

TO: TDP 2006 Delegates, Alternates & Activists

FROM: Dennis D. Speight, Vice-Chair of Finance, Texas Democratic Party

DATE: May 22, 2006

RE: The "Missing" $250,000 Donation, or,
How Boyd Richie Fixed Charles Soechting's Money Problem.

[TexasThoughtCriminal]

7. I got it

Not more than an hour after I read your post! Hmmmm....

[CoolOnion]

8. I got it this morning

Too much math for 5:00 am.

[NoPasaran]

9. So, as I understand it

If Richie had worked his magic a couple of years ago, the TDP own a building and we'd likely have a few fewer Democrats in the Lege. Sorry, I have other priorities.

[crispini]

12. I got it, and to be honest I find this whole thing annoying.

I find it to be a transparent political ploy by Ritchie's supporters on the SDEC, quite simply, trashing Soechting to make Ritchie look good.

As a noted DU'er would say, "Don't piss on my shoes and tell me it's raining."

[NoPasaran]

10. Glen all the way

I was amazed by Boyd Richie at the Travis County delegates meeting. He seems to feel that the TDP really has no problems that won't go away if we all "work together". Sorry, I just don't think that anyone with such a complacent view of things should be running our party these days.

I liked what Charlie Urbina-Jones had to say, especially when he started out with "there is a serious disconnect between the grassroots and the party establishment." I don't doubt that he'd be a good chair, but I don't think he has the organization behind him to win.

Glen. Okay, maybe he doesn't have the smoothest, schmooziest personality in the world. But while others talk about technology, Glen uses it. During the primary, I was supporting a candidate running against one of Glen's. We had more money, we had better name recognition. And we had our ass kicked. The TDP needs some serious work, and I think Glen Maxey is the one to lead, empower and mentor the ones who are going to do it.

I've tried not to be inflammatory in this forum. If you want to know how I really feel, read this.

[VelmaD]

11. Uh...

none of the above.

Frankly I think Richie is out of touch and I don't think Maxey has the people skills to be an effective chair at the state level. Not sure about Urbina-Jones. The LaRouche person is completely out of the question.

Can I vote for Donald Duck?

[Melissa G]

17. I don't want the La Rouche person for chair but i don't want her

lost either...We desperately need minority leadership in this party and particularly some prominent Black leadership. I hope we grow some...

Just listening to talking, Urbina-Jones sounded best to me but talking is only one feature of a person. This job needs someone who can integrate and deliver. So i'm still eating popcorn listening for more info.. :popcorn:

[johncoby2]

13. How about the laRouche candidate?

:-)

[Smarty Pants Liberal]

15. Well NOW I think you're full of it;-) n/t

[muse]

14. I got yet another Boyd Richie email today

This one with Bell, Barrientos and Travis County Sherrif endorsements featured.
White man, brown man, black man.

I'm ready to turn off this noise.

[merci_me]

16. Got it, too and

today I "unsubscribed" from his e-mail list for the THIRD time, the first time was April 3. Let's see if he's organized enough to finally show his organizational skills and drop me from his list. Plus, I've gotten a few snail mails, one just yesterday. Those I just toss.

I've been more than a bit annoyed with getting the e-mails from him, only to be followed (sometime preceded) by forwards from my SDEC woman, Whitmarsh and two other people. Richie was the only one with an unsubscribe option at the bottom, but alas, it doesn't seem to work.

I really was looking forward to getting something from Urbina-Jones, but I'm begining to think maybe he isn't really serious about running. At anyrate, I'll decide between him and Maxey when I get to Ft.Worth.

[PDittie]

23. I think the most important thing I would like to know

at this point is, can the Chair be elected on a plurality, or must it be a majority?

Anyone who's been to convention before know the answer? (This is probably in my rules handbook, the one I received at my swearing-in...)

It seems to me that if it is a majority (50% +1), then the minority candidates (in terms of voting strength, of course) will be recruited to endorse one of the other two remaining in the runoff. That by itself would be interesting.

If it's a plurality, then it will be similar situationally to our fall gubernatorial contest: one could win with 35% of the vote. In other words, a mad scramble.

Maxey won't be outworked; Richie isn't taking anything for granted; Urbina-Jones will draw the Hispanic delegates' votes (but otherwise his strategy appears to be "sit back and watch Glen and Boyd beat each others' brains out"); and Lakesha Rogers will collect a voting bloc of not-insignificant size comprised of fervent LaRouchies and African-American delegates from Harris County and elsewhere around the state.

Let's see: The Old Guard vs. The New Wave vs. the Hispanic candidate vs. the African-American candidate.

:popcorn:

[NoPasaran]

24. I haven't found the specific answer in the rules yet

http://www.txdemocrats.org/files/Rules2006.pdf

But since all other positions are filled by majority vote I'm assuming that the same is true for Chair.

One thing that I do know (thanks to the meeting for Travis Cty delegates last Saturday) is that Senate Districts vote their full delegation strength, not the number of delegates actually present. So if an SD is entitled to 150 votes but there are only 100 delegates actually present, each delegate will be casting 1.5 votes... I hope all the delegation chairs have their calculators ready!

[theredstate]

30. A couple of serious questions

If Maxey wins, does he plan on being the Party's consultant? If so, will he get paid to do that?

[WestHoustonDem]

31. He has said he would not remain a consultant if he

were party chair. That alone, is not good enough for me. But it makes me more comfortable about him. I heard them all speak a couple of times now and I really like Urbina-Jones. I wish we had instant runoff voting, because I may be foreced to vote for Maxey as a vote against Ritchie.

[NoPasaran]

37. Brace yourself

Not only will there be no IRV, there's no secret ballot either.

[WestHoustonDem]

38. I know that and it sucks. We have an SDEC race where

people are going to vote for the incumbent because they are scared of retaliation if they don't. Very sad.

[Melissa G]

39. No secret ballot is Stinky!!! Thanks for the heads up, NoPasaran..

[NoPasaran]

40. There is a reason for that

At the convention, you're not there as an individual, but as a delegate representing the Democrats in your precinct who elected you.

[Melissa G]

41. Okay, That's true... I'll buy that..

[Son of Bentsen]

32. From Maxey for Chair.com

http://www.maxeyforchair.com/onpay.php

STATEMENT OF GLEN MAXEY ON STATE CHAIR SALARY ISSUE

There has been a long history of this position, Chair of the Texas Democratic Party, being an unpaid or non-salaried position. I agree with that position.

Additionally, the budget of the State Party, approved by the SDEC, also includes a line item for reimbursement of expenses of the State Chair. That amount currently is $36,000 per year. In the past that has included the travel of the State Party Chair to events, and back and forth to Austin. Past chairs have also maintained living arrangements (apartments or hotels) in Austin and been reimbursed for meals and entertainment expenses.

As Chair, I would hold the line as conservatively as possible also on the reimbursement issue. Because I reside in Austin, my travel to the state office and my living expenses (hotels, meals, etc.) while here will not be a reimbursable matter.

Having said that, I will probably be more "full time" than any recent Chair. I'm here in Austin and that by itself will make me more available to staff and the public. Although it's not paid, I do believe the challenges and the work to be done to rebuild our Party amount to more hours than any full time job. Because of my retirement status, I'm available to spend quality time on the issues of the Party and intend to do so.

The question is begged by this issue of salary is about how we might "live" while being State Party Chair.

Fortunately, I am a retired State Representative with over 20 years experience in the retirement system as a legislator, legislative aide, and teacher. As you might have heard, retired legislators have a nice retirement income, including health coverage.

Just as all other past Chairs have done, I will continue working in the "outside" world. I will continue doing consulting work on issues, continue my public relations work with private clients, and some of my data work I do outside the Democratic political arena. I can still work on non-partisan campaigns and issue campaigns on my own time with my own resources.

Since retiring from the legislature, I have supported myself as a consultant to and employee of candidates, campaigns, and organizations of all types. I clearly will not continue any consulting work for any Democratic candidate running against another Democrat in the Primary. As Chair you shouldn't profit from the office by using the State Party apparatus for personal gain and I certainly would not do so.

During my time as State Representative, I also was a political consultant and campaign manager to candidates and the Party. I know very clearly where the ethics lines are on conflict of interest. I was careful to keep a hard line between state business and political activity. While not a legal requirement as in the above situation, I would hold the same standard to what I do as a consultant for personal income and what I should be doing for all Democrats. There will be no conflicts of interest.

[theredstate]

33. I am a bit confused then....

WestHoustonDem says Maxey will not remain a consultant but in the statement he states "I will continue doing consulting work on issues, continue my public relations work with private clients, and some of my data work I do outside the Democratic political arena. I can still work on non-partisan campaigns and issue campaigns on my own time with my own resources."

"Non-partisan campaigns?" Do we truely have those in Texas? I know most mayor races claim to be but we know who is the Repub and who is the Dem.

Besides campaigns, who are Glen's clients?

[merci_me]

34. Non-partisan issues?

My daughter works for a PR/market research company and some of their consulting is on issues, such as right now, they are doing consulting on the issue of pushing legislation in support of research of Parkinson's disease. That's very political, but is isn't (shouldn't be) partisan. There would be a lot of campaign issues.

Also, there are crucial campaigns for school boards, etc. that are suppose to be non-partisan, but often boil down to liberal/conservative, where it's not one Dem running against another Dem.

Another thing, do we pay enough for the chair to not have to work at something else? More often than not, people in these positions seem to be attorneys. What does their law practice involve? Should we ask who they will be representing and how their clients may dovetail with the "political"?

That being said, like WestHouDem, I tend to lean toward Urbina-Jones, but will support Maxey, if need be.

[WestHoustonDem]

35. I should have specified to his consulting relationship with the Texas

Democratic Party.

[Son of Bentsen]

36. There would be none.

It'd just be the chair, nothing more and nothing less to the state party.