Message from the Chair

Friends,

Last night I outlined my plan for moving our Democratic Party forward in Harris County.  At a meeting of the County Executive Committee, I outlined my vision and plan for building a strong party, one that will serve the needs of the third largest county in the United States and help us elect Democrats up and down the ballot.

My vision is based on a set of principles that, if followed, will give us a stronger footing and make us ready to take on Republicans this November, and beyond.

Principle 1:   Creating a Strong and Diverse Harris County Democratic Party

We will fully realize our true strength as a party when we bring all the communities of Harris County together.  With this in mind, we will work diligently toward the goal of having all communities represented in party and committee leadership.

Along with party representation, we will focus on recruiting candidates of all communities to run for elected office.  Bringing together the diversity of Harris County will enable our party to make sure the voices and opinions of everyone are heard.

Principle 2:   Organizing Does Not End on Election Day

Organizing is an activity that should be done throughout the year, and not simply days leading up to an election.  Organizing is key to winning elections and should be the primary goal of the HCDP.  Moving forward, we will ensure that we are taking steps to continuously organize like-minded individuals.

Principle 3:   Strong Precinct Chairs Make an Effective Party

Our power as a party comes from the grassroots.  In order to have a strong and effective party we must increase our capacity at the precinct level.  This means we need to reduce the number of vacant precinct chair positions, so we can increase our reach throughout Harris County.

As an organization that is dependent on people’s ability to work hard, it is up to us to identify and cultivate leaders.  The party will take the steps necessary to identify and cultivate a diverse group of leaders, so we can ensure the progress we make today has someone to carry it into the future.

Principle 4:   Financial Health Promotes Organizational Capacity

In order to successfully accomplish the goals of the party, we must be on sound financial footing.  To fully reach our potential we must work to increase our revenue and aim higher than mere financial security.  To achieve this goal: our efforts will be directed toward raising enough resources so we can carry out programs needed to win on Election Day.

We must begin this process by asking if we are leading by example.  Precinct chairs, elected officials and party activists should step-up and become Sustaining Members.  The party will undertake necessary efforts to increase Sustaining Members.  These funds are vital to the day-to-day operation of the party and can be used to greatly increase our capacity and efficiency.

Principle 5:  Message Development, Delivery & Discipline Advance Party Priorities

Message development, delivery and discipline are easier said than done.  Message development takes quantitative and qualitative research; delivery takes a strong communications infrastructure, utilizing new and traditional media; discipline takes training, practice, and patience.

Our party will build a communication infrastructure and invest time and resources into sound message development and utilization.  To let opportunities pass us by because we are not using social media strategically is unacceptable.  Rather, we will work to increase our capacity in social media, and push to garner earned media at every opportunity.  Focusing staff resources on ensuring our agility and effectiveness in utilizing all communications platforms will accomplish this.

When we all work together we can accomplish great things.  This framework for a stronger HCDP is the first step for moving our party forward.  We can only be as successful as the work we all put into building our party.  Today, I ask you to step-up and help us lead the HCDP into the future.

Will you join those who sustain the Party by donating $10 today?

Sign up here to Volunteer for the Party.

Do you know of know of any students or recent graduates that would like to Intern for the Party?

Respectfully,

Lane Lewis

County Chair

Harris County Democratic Party

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

20 January 2012

SCOTUS Send Maps Back To San Antonio

“The Harris County Democratic Party continues to hold that the State maps ignore the realities of voter demographics,” said County Chair Lane Lewis.

“Every court that has looked at the Republican gerrymandered maps has smelled something fishy.  The Supreme Court today did not dismiss the Court drawn maps that returned fair play to the voters, they simply said that they wanted the San Antonio court to be more clear as to how they arrived at their conclusions. We are confident the San Antonio court will accomplish this.”

“Meanwhile,” said Lewis, “HCDP continues to focus on building a strong grassroots and advocacy organization that works toward making better lives for all folk in Harris County.”

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I am incredibly humbled and proud to be elected chair of the Harris County Democratic Party. First, I ask you to join me in thanking our outgoing chair, Gerry Birnberg, for his incredible service. Gerry served our party for almost a decade, through some very tough times for Democrats in Harris County and our country. He served with distinction and honor, and I look forward to working with him as we transition toward the future. Thank you, Gerry. Read More »

On Tuesday afternoon, December 13, the federal court in San Antonio moved the filing deadline for ALL offices on the 2012 Primary Ballot to 6:00 p.m. on Monday, December 19, 2011.  This does not change the December 20 County Executive Committee Meeting in any way. Read More »

December 20 marks the first night of Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights, an eight-day Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Holy Temple (the Second Temple) in Jerusalem at the time of the Maccabean Revolt of the 2nd century BCE.

The Harris County Democratic Party wishes our Jewish friends a holiday season bright with joy and rich with memories. Chag Sameach!

As most of you are aware, on Friday night, December 9, the Supreme Court of the United States issued an order suspending the order of the federal court in San Antonio which had promulgated new interim boundary lines for offices of Members of Congress, Texas State Legislators, and Texas State Senators for the 2012 primary and general elections. The effect of that ruling is that there are no boundary lines in effect right now for those positions on the 2012 primary and general election ballots. Read More »

URGENT – THE TEA PARTY IS TRYING TO KEEP YOU FROM VOTING IN THIS ELECTION. DON’T LET THEM!

As early voting began in Harris County, we experienced the most overt and extensive effort to intimidate African American and Latino voters and keep them from voting we have seen here since the days of Jim Crow and before passage of the Voting Rights Act.

Folks reportedly paid by the Tea Party have swarmed minority early voting locations throughout Harris County, appointed as “poll watchers” by the local Republican Party and Republican candidates. Once inside, they try to disrupt voting and intimidate voters. They try to block access to polling places and hover over voters trying to vote, even positioning themselves to watch the minority voters while they are casting ballots. They try to talk to voters and election workers and are confrontational and hostile. THEIR GOAL IS SIMPLY TO DISCOURAGE AND INTIMIDATE MINORITY VOTERS AND KEEP THEM FROM VOTING! Read More »

Fellow Democrats:

There have been a few incidents at the polls where voters have tried to enter polling locations wearing tee-shirts or other clothing of a political nature (such as with a picture of the President on it).

While we are thrilled there is so much enthusiasm, you need to be aware that the Texas Election Code strictly prohibits any form of “electioneering” within 100 fee of an outside door of a building where voting is taking place. The courts and the Texas Secretary of State have long ruled that wearing any kind of campaign or political paraphernalia constitutes “electioneering” and is prohibited under the statute. In fact, it is a Class C misdemeanor.

If you are wearing a political tee shirt when you go to vote, please turn it inside out. If you are wearing a political hat or pins or stickers, they must be removed.

Especially because folks on the other side have such difficulty bringing their actions within the requirements of the law, it is imperative that Democrats demonstrate that we do believe in following the law – scrupulously. And if you see someone who is not following the law in this regard, report them to the election officials at that polling station and if they doesn’t take care of the problem immediately, report them at once to the Harris County Democratic Party.

Gerry Birnberg
Chair, Harris County Democratic Party

Recently every single Republican in the United States Senate voted against allowing that body to even consider the so-called DREAM Act. The Dream Act would have allowed children who were brought to this country by undocumented parents at least five years ago and before the age of 15 and who obtained a high school diploma or G.E.D. a chance to earn U. S. citizenship by completing at least two years of college or two years of military service and fulfilling other demands and requirements. It would be a good deal all the way around – for young men and women who were brought to this country by their parents, without any choice, but who have worked hard, succeeded well, done what has been asked of them, and want to serve their country – the United States – in its military; for the military, which wants the service these you people want to provide; and for the country, which gets good, educated, motivated, contributing citizens.

But Republicans – every single one of them – oppose that.

Once again Republicans showed their deep disdain for Latino families. So what else is new?

Do you realize that if it were up to Republicans, no one would even be allowed to speak Spanish in this country?

Think I’m kidding? Or exaggerating? Well, read the official Platform of the Texas Republican Party passed at their state convention just last July. This is a direct quote from that document: “We have room for but one language here and that is the English language.” Their platform goes on to demand, “One nation, one flag, one language.” And in case you didn’t get the point, the platform also calls for “adoption of American English as the official language of Texas.”

The second most important (for Republicans) item on their education agenda (according to their Platform) is elimination of bilingual education after first grade (for children attending pre-K, which, by the way, they oppose), after the second grade for kids who go to kindergarten, and after the third year of school for everybody.

No bilingual education and no speaking Spanish (or any other language other than “American English,” whatever that means – I guess English speakers from England or Canada wouldn’t be welcome here either, because they probably use “English English” or Canadian English”). How much more hostile to Latino families can you get?

And that after deciding that Cesar Chavez shouldn’t be in the schoolbooks our students study.

Republicans also want to kick children younger than 26 off their parents’ health insurance policies and allow insurance companies to refuse to cover kids who have preexisting conditions. They want to eliminate all programs that deal with early childhood development. The Republican platform also calls for repeal of hate crimes laws and unashamedly advocates use of racial profiling.

And I haven’t even mentioned the “I” word yet – immigration, where Republicans want to increase deportations dramatically, amend the Constitution to eliminate making anyone born in this country a citizen of the United States, allow hospitals to refuse to provide care to undocumented individuals, and do away with “Adjustment of Status” in immigration cases (among other things), while vehemently opposing “any” path to citizenship for folks who entered the country without documentation or overstayed their visas.

How can anyone doubt the hostility Republicans continually and unabashedly display for Latino families? Or vote for people who associate themselves with those beliefs and “values”?

It’s simply beyond me.

Gerry Birnberg
Chair, Harris County Democratic Party
September 23, 2010

County Judge Ed Emmett has recently suggested that the county consider creating an Election Administrator’s position within the county and transferring voter registration duties from the county Tax Assessor-Collector/Voter Registrar and responsibility for conducting elections from the County Clerk to this appointed official. On the one hand, such a proposal might reduce to some degree the politicization of those offices. Democrats have been screaming for some time about the unlawful partisan activities of the Voter Registrar’s Office (even filing suit over it), and have complained bitterly that prior Republican Tax Assessor-Collector/Voter Registrars have made a politicized mess of that office. Read More »