MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR:
Harris County Democratic Party Has Not Endorsed Any Candidates in City Races

I have received some reports indicating that there is some misinformation circulating suggesting that the Harris County Democratic Party (or I personally) have endorsed or recommended candidates in the upcoming City of Houston elections. Let me be very clear about this: THE HARRIS COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY HAS NOT ENDORSED NOR RECOMMENDED ANY CANDIDATE FOR ANY POSITION IN THE UPCOMING CITY OF HOUSTON ELECTION AND NEITHER HAVE I PERSONALLY!

We will have an executive committee meeting on November 6 to consider endorsements in any runoff election, but I repeat: neither the party nor I personally have endorsed nor recommended anyone for the November 4 election, nor will we.

I think the source of the confusion may be that the "Harris County Democrats" have endorsed and recommended candidates. "Harris County Democrats" is NOT the "Harris County Democratic Party" and DOES NOT SPEAK FOR THE HARRIS COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY. "Harris County Democrats" is an entirely separate, distinct, and independent organization neither financed by, controlled by, nor affiliated with the Harris County Democratic Party (other than as one of the 30 or so Democratic organizations, such as Harris County Tejano Democrats, Houston Black American Democrats, West Houston Democratic Club, Braeswood Democrats, and others, recognized as such by the Harris County Democratic Party). It was founded 50 years ago by a group of local Democrats who regarded themselves as the "real" Democrats in Harris County, because the Harris County Democratic Party at the time had endorsed a Republican (Dwight Eisenhower) for President of the United States. Over the years, "Harris County Democrats" has been an organization operating outside the Harris County Democratic Party (except for being one of 30 or more recognized independent Democratic clubs in the area) generally advancing progressive causes and candidates. Its most prominent leader was the late Billie Carr, who devoted years of tireless effort to molding the group into an effective organization for achieving the entity's purposes. It has never changed its name, and since it has been operating as "Harris County Democrats" for over 50 years, and gained a reputation for what it stands for and supports under that name, it is unlikely it ever will.

Undoubtedly, the name "Harris County Democrats" produces some confusion, and some people think the positions, work, endorsements, or recommendations of the "Harris County Democrats" are those of the Harris County Democratic Party. They are not. I have asked the leaders of the "Harris County Democrats" to help alleviate this confusion by including on their printed materials a disclaimer to the following effect: "Harris County Democrats" is not the "Harris County Democratic Party" and endorsements, positions, and recommendations of the "Harris County Democrats" are not those of the "Harris County Democratic Party." I hope, in the interests of the very progressive principles the Harris County Democrats have stood and fought for all these years - including fairness, openness, and honesty in the electoral process - they will honor this request. I know Harris County Democrats believe its 50 year history and existence have disabused the public at large of any notion that its endorsements are those of the Harris County Democratic Party and its intentions are not to create voter confusion, but simply to honor its tradition and past and the name it has built for itself. I just think the ideals for which Harris County Democrats stands counsel in favor of taking pro-active steps to minimize the risk of voter confusion, and I hope the group will take steps to accomplish that objective.

Now, so there can be no confusion about the issue, while the Harris County Democratic Party has not endorsed any candidates in the November 4 election, and will not prior to the runoff, I personally endorse and support each of the following:

For Mayor, I personally support and endorse both Sylvester Turner and Bill White - two excellent Democrats, either of whom would make an exceptional Mayor for the City of Houston.

For City Controller, I personally support and endorse both Annise Parker and Mark Lee - two highly qualified individuals (and Democrats), either of whom would make a fine controller for this city.

For City Council at Large Position 1, I personally support and endorse Andrew C. Burks, Jr., Don Seributra, and Brian Wozniak.

For City Council at Large Position 2, I personally strongly recommend a vote for Gordon Quan.

For City Council at Large Position 3, I personally support and endorse both Peter Brown and Jolanda Jones.

For City Council at Large Position 4, I personally support and endorse both Sue Lovell and Ronald Green.

For City Council at Large Position 5, I personally support and endorse both Dwight Boykins and Beulah Shepard.

As far as district races are concerned, there is no Democrat running in the district in which I reside (District G), and these are races which should be decided by voters who live in those neighborhoods, rather than being influenced by endorsements from someone who doesn't even live there, so I will refrain from indicating my favorites in district races (except to note that Ada Edwards in District D, Vicky Garnett Keller in District E, and Carol Alvarado in District I have no serious Democratic opponents in their races, are fine Democrats themselves, and would definitely be my choice if I lived in any of their districts).

Finally, both the Harris County Democratic Party (having voted to do so at its July 22 Executive Committee meeting) and I support the Metro Solutions/rail referendum. While the Harris County Democratic Party has not taken an official position on the issues (because we were unaware of them at our meeting last July), I personally will be voting in favor of the Houston Community College bond proposal as well as the firefighters' collective bargaining proposition on the ballot.

Good luck to all the Democratic candidates on the November 4 ballot. We have a terrific crop of leaders and I urge everyone to go to the polls and help make these fine Democrats elected officials of the City of Houston.

Gerry Birnberg
Chair, Harris County Democratic Party
October 24, 2003

Archive of Gerry Birnberg's Messages

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