What a Difference!
The following are the remarks of Harris County Democratic Party chair Gerry Birnberg at senate district conventions throughout Harris County on Saturday, March 20.
As we meet here today – on the eve of passage by Democrats of landmark, transformational, life saving health care reform – something no one but a Democratic president has been able to accomplish, despite trying for more than 100 years – I am struck by an awesome observation:
What a difference one election makes!
When we last met two years ago, before the historic 2008 election, there were:
No Democrats holding countywide administrative office.
No Democrats serving in countywide judicial office.
No Democrats on the Court of Appeals here.
Oh, and by the way, no Democratic Presidential candidate who had carried Harris County since Lyndon Johnson in 1964.
What a difference one election makes!
Now there is:
A Democrat – Loren Jackson – who is our County Clerk.
A Democrat – Vince Ryan – who is our County Attorney.
A Democrat – Adrian Garcia – who is our Sheriff.
Two Democrats – Debra Kerner and Jim Henley – on the Harris County Department of Education.
13 Democrats on the civil district courts – including, for the first time in nearly 20 years, a Democrat – Al Bennett – serving as Administrative Judge of the Harris County civil courts, a Democrat on the probate bench, a Democrat on the family court, and a Democrat on the Court of Appeals.
And, President Barack Obama carried Harris County by 20,000 votes!
What a difference one election makes!
But it’s not just about winning an election; it’s about accomplishments and results Democrats have been able to achieve:
While significantly lowering costs, District Clerk Loren Jackson has revolutionized that office with technology and leadership so transformational our District Clerk’s Office is now the model for the nation, the lawyers in the Houston Bar Association recently gave him the highest marks by far of any lawyer or other administrative official in Harris County, and Texas Lawyer Magazine named him its Impact Player of the Year.
Sheriff Adrian Garcia has cleaned up much of the mess he inherited and at long last brought our Harris County jail into compliance with state law, earning plaudits from the National Institute of Corrections for a jail that “other jail systems can look to as an example of best practices.”
County Attorney Vince Ryan, among other things, has been actually pursuing and prosecuting polluters. Imagine that!
What a difference one election makes?
And as we meet here today, we are just one election away from turning Harris County entirely blue, once and for all.
One election away from electing Bill White Governor of Texas and bringing competence and real solutions to the entire state of Texas.
One election away from a holding a majority on the Harris County Commissioners Court, with Gordon Quan as our county judge and Sylvia Garcia re-elected to her commissioner’s post.
One election away from a Democratic Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives by electing just two more Democratic state representatives (and returning Kristi Thibaut to the legislature) from right here in Harris County, and folks, we can do that.
One election away from re-electing the best District Clerk in the nation – Loren Jackson.
One election away from putting in office a County Tax Assessor/Voter Registrar, Diane Trautman, who will put an end, once and for all, to the politicizing of our voter registration department and who will use the position to increase participation in the political process, rather than do everything possible to keep eligible voters off the rolls, and who, by the way, will be the first woman ever elected to serve as Tax Assessor/Voter Registrar in Harris County.
One election away from electing a County Clerk, Ann Bennett, who will make sure we have secure voting equipment with voter verifiable paper audit trails, and who will, by the way, be the first African American to be the chief elections officer of Harris County – the person in charge of all elections here.
One election away from a Harris County treasurer, Billy Briscoe, who will run that office competently and professionally, and be the first African American ever to hold that position.
One election away from electing a judiciary that looks like Harris County – outstanding Anglo, Latino, African American, Asian, gay and straight, men and women, who will serve on the bench with distinction, excellence, and Democratic values and hearts.
What a difference one election makes! And what a difference one more election can and will make!
And you, my friends, are the difference makers.
So thank you for being here. Thank you for all you do to assure that Democratic principles and Democratic ideals inform, inspire, and transform our government and that Democratic officials are elected to lead us and bring our Democratic values to all levels of our society.
Thank you for making the difference.
Now go out there and turn Harris County, and Texas, blue.
Gerry Birnberg
Chair, Harris County Democratic Party
March 23, 2010