Texas Democrat Stars of The Future

[salonghorn70]

What Texas Democrats will we be talking about 5-10 years from now?
Who are our up and coming stars? I vote for Julian and Joaquin Castro of San Antonio. Identical twins. One is a City Council person and the other is a state rep.

[jburton]

1. Laura Miller (current Dallas Mayor)

Former investigative journalist for The Dallas Observer (alt weekly)

Media savvy, smart, nerves of steel.

However, Dallas mayor hasn't been a good stepping stone for higher office in the past.

[Maestro]

2. Well, Kirk would not have been very good either

In fact, I have seen first hand Dallas politics and it is dirty if not just downright illegal what goes on. Although I haven't been around since Miller took office and Benavidez became City Manager. Perhaps things have changed. Heck they got rid of Chief Bolton.

[leftistagitator]

4. Her husband is in the Texas Senate

So they kind of have that Bill and Hillary thing going on, albeit on a lesser level. I always kind of liked her. She came to my political science class and came across very well. The Dallas Observer has turned on her however, and attacks her for even the most minor of reasons.

[Gman]

3. Both Castros lack "gravitas"

I don't consider either an intellectual. They're good public servants but neither has a promising future statewide. Not that they won't run for state office. But neither is a Henry Cisneros by any stretch, academically or intellectually. Neither has any charisma. Neither will hold a statewide office.

[SilasSoule]

5. Leticia Van de Putte....

I'd really like to see her run for Bonilla's seat in congress.

[girl gone mad]

6. Dallas Mayor Laura Miller.

I don't know if she has any ambitions beyond mayor, but if she does I think she could do well. She has a lot of crossover appeal because she's a common sense, fiscal conservative with a lot of integrity.

[BlueCollar]

7. Sherry Boyles

and maybe Terri Moore?

[PDittie]

8. David Van Os, candidate for Supreme Court

(if you get a chance to hear him speak, GO)

I think Bill White (current mayor of Houston) could stand for the Senate when Kay Bailey gives it up to run against Rick Perry.

Ron Kirk still has a future in this state's politics.

[Lisa0825]

16. I completely agree about Van Os!

He's a very talented speaker. He really has a way of appealing to all types of audiences. I have seen him three times in three different settings, and have been impressed each time. He is very personable, and really comes across as being there for "us," as in caring about the affect of the political climate on the average person.

As a political newbie, I feel that some things that keep many people from getting involved, are feeling like they wouldn't fit in, or it would all be in "lawyer speak," or that they wouldn't be able to relate to what politicians are saying. I have to say that those presuppositions have been completely proven false by my interactions in local and state races so far. And in particular, Van Os is very good about connecting on an individual level.

[Gothmog]

9. Kirk Watson and Bill White

Kirk Watson is going to run for higher office again. He did a good job at mayor of Austin and just ran in the wrong year for attorney general. Kirk spoke at the Fall State Convention for the Texas Junior State of America (www.jsa.org) and told three hundred high school kids that he is going to run.

Bill White is very very smart and has taken on some tough problems here in Houston. If he can survive the budget problems and a $1.5 billion underfunded pension plan left to him by past mayors, then he could be a contender.

[Freddie Stubbs]

24. But when is a good year to run as a Democrat state-wide in Texas?

1994 was the last time that a Democrat has won a state-wide election in Texas. I think that the state in going to have to change a lot before a Democrat can win again.

[GOPisEvil]

10. Dawnna Dukes, State Rep. from Austin.

She was the MC for the Redistricting Rally last summer.

[johncoby2]

11. John Cobarruvias from Clear Lake Texas

Consumer activist.
VP of local Democratic club.
Real nice guy.
Good looking.
and Energetic.

John Cobarruvias

[johncoby2]

12. Did I say "good looking"?

I meant to say "Marvelous", like Ricardo Monteban.:P :puffpiece:

[Lisa0825]

15. Hey, Coby....

Just how energetic ARE you???

hehe...

:loveya:

[Mattforclark]

13. Chet Edwards for Senate, 2006...

:)

[efhmc]

26. Campaigned with and for Chet. Sorry, he says he's not interested. He

is one of the really good guys. I wish he were still my rep. I do so hate repukes.

[sonias]

14. Richard Raymond

He is one of the smartest Texas House Reps we have. He's a Democrat from Laredo. He was the only glimmer of hope we had on the House redistricting committee. He's the one that caught them at several racist tricks, like trying not to have any public hearings in the Valley. Chairman Crabb said no one on the commission spoke Spanish so he didn't see the point in having hearings in the Valley. Not that pointing out these racist ploys, did us any good with DOJ. DOJ knows what repukes did was disenfranchise minorities but they didn't care.

I would support Richard Raymond for Governor any day. He's intelligent, articulate, charming and he's Latino. Unlike Tony Sanchez he's a real Democrat through and through. This dog can hunt.

Sonia

[ChickMagic]

18. I agree about Richard Raymond

I saw him speak at redistricting hearings and he is awesome! Definitely one of the most persuasive speakers. He made quite an impact on all of us.

[pinkpops]

21. me too

[Brazosboomer]

25. Move over ----

.... and make room for me on this Raymond bench.

He's a keeper.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

17. Re: Laura Miller--I'm new to Dallas (Plano). Where are the

Democrats in this town? They certainly aren't where I am. How did this city elect a Democratic mayor?

[ChickMagic]

19. Not in Plano!

Laura Miller is from Oak Cliff and it is overwhelmingly Democratic. At our senatorial convention I learned that Bush only won Dallas 52-48%. I thought it was a lot higher than that.

[derby378]

20. Congressman Lon Burnam (Ft. Worth area)

He started making a name for himself when he helped lead the House revolt against the redistricting mess last year.

[anarchy1999]

22. He was making a name for himself long before then. Check out the

www.dallaspeacecenter.org

Come and join us on Fridays at Halliburton in North Dallas. Weekly protest from 4:30 to 6:30 pm, Belt Line and Webb Chapel. This week the band that helped us launch the weekly vigil will be back, Halliburton(s). Hope to see you there Derby.

S

[anarchy1999]

23. Here is a new one for everyone, newly created 24th Congressional District

www.garyrpage.com

Here is Gromer Jeffers column from April 27th in the Dallas Morning News and

Marchant has returned to Austin a victor

08:46 PM CDT on Monday, April 26, 2004

By GROMER JEFFERS JR. / The Dallas Morning News

They called him "Congressman."

And this time for good reason.

After years of chasing a dream of serving in the U.S. House, state Rep. Ken Marchant, R-Coppell, beat a crowded field in the
March 9 Republican primary for the 24th Congressional District.

He made a triumphant return to Austin last week, when the Legislature's special session on school finance began.

A steady stream of folks, mostly fellow House members, greeted him with "Hello, Congressman."

But it was the warm reception given by Democrat Garnet Coleman, the Houston representative who waged a fierce battle against Republicans over congressional redistricting, that made the mild-mannered Mr. Marchant smile.

"Congratulations, Congressman," Mr. Coleman said. "You're a nice guy. I mean it. You deserve it."

Mr. Marchant, the former mayor of Carrollton and a state representative since 1987, has always dreamed of serving in Congress.

In 2002, he was poised to run for the newly created 32nd Congressional District but stepped aside when U.S. Rep. Pete Sessions decided to run there instead.

Mr. Sessions had represented the 5th District.

Undaunted, Mr. Marchant got another chance this year when the Legislature redrew the 24th District as part of a bitter, partisan redistricting battle.

HERE IS THE KEY:

Formerly the turf of Arlington Democrat Martin Frost, the redrawn 24th District now includes much of Mr. Marchant's North Dallas Republican base.

He does not face a serious challenge in November.
It's going to be different in Washington," Mr. Marchant said. "I've got my work cut out for me."

As Mr. Marchant received praise and compliments from his colleagues, others were receiving condolences.



MOST AMAZING OF ALL IS THIS REPORTER WAS ALLOWED TO DECIDE THIS ELECTION BEFORE HE EVEN TALKED WITH ANOTHER CANDIDATE!

Gromer has to go down for this travesty of election politics being reported in a local newspaper!

piece of response from our Democratic Candidate to the Dallas Morning News and Gromer:

True democracy only works with choices on the ballot. To promote a winner at this point in the election does a disservice to the democratic process by generating voter apathy. If this is your intent, then the shame is yours.

Gary R. Page
Democratic Candidate
U.S. Congress, District 24