In the News

Today the Harris County Democratic Party continues the tradition of honoring hard working Texans by celebrating Labor Day. According to the United States Department of Labor, “Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers.” The first Labor Day in the United States was celebrated on September 5, 1882 in New York City.
A big “Thank You” goes out from the Harris County Democratic Party to all hard working Houstonians who continue to strive for fair wages and safe working conditions.

Come join us in celebrating Labor Day at the 2010 Harris County Labor Day Weekend Celebration and BBQ Cook-Off hosted by the AFLCIO on Saturday, September 4 and Sunday, September 5, from 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. at the Pasadena Fairgrounds.

In the spotlight this week is Sherri Cothrun who is running for Judge of the 246th Family District Court. This court has jurisdiction over matters including divorces, division of marital property, child custody, adoptions, paternity, termination of parental rights, cases involving Children’s Protective Services as well as enforcement proceedings relating to child support and possession (visitation) orders. Cothrun has been a litigator and mediator in Harris County for the past 29 years. She is also a Board Certified Family Law Specialist, a member of the Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists, and the Gulf Coast Family Specialists.

Cothrun states the importance of this race in her own words, “The Judges in family courts decide the most basic personal issues of family life: where your children live; the financial obligations of each parent in raising the children and the division of your property accumulated during the marriage, just to name a few. The families of Harris County deserve judges who know and will follow the law and will consider the individual facts and circumstances of each family.” Cothrun is a prime example of how all races down the ballot will have a big impact on how Houstonians live their lives for the foreseeable future.

Hundreds of Democrats packed the Sheraton Suites ballroom for the Harris County Democratic Party’s Brunch Honoring Latino Trailblazers Brunch last Saturday, August 28th.

Over 300 enthusiastic Democrats packed the room as we honored: Commissioner Silvia Garcia, Senator Mario Gallegos, Lenora Sorola-Pohlman, Tony Campos, Frumencio Reyes and Leonel Castillo. Master of Ceremonies, Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia led the program along with keynote speaker, Former Senator Gonzalo Barrientos.

Speakers treated Democrats to a program that expressed sheer gratitude for the progress made by each Latino Trailblazer. With common themes such as investing in future generations, honoring those who have come before and making way for those who will come after in each of their speeches, presenters and Honorees served as an inspiration to all who attended. Longtime Democratic activist Tony Campos even brought many to tears with his stories of WWII and the hardships and challenges he faced as a Latino man in Houston.

The Brunch was a celebration of achievement and a reminder that although there is still work to be done, me must stop and appreciate those Trailblazers who have made the future possible.

This week the Coordinated Campaign continued direct voter contact through neighborhood Precinct Chair trainings, phone calls, and community events around the county.

While many students were worried about finding their class and buying books, the Harris County Democratic Party focused on registering student voters at the University of Houston.  The Coordinated Campaign partnered with the Eta Mu Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha, Fraternity, Inc., the Student Government Association (SGA) and the University Democrats to register voters.  We participated in the first day of class lunchtime event and the Cat’s Back clubs and organization fest.  We registered 72 voters for Harris County.  The Youth Outreach team also collected over 150 names and emailsfor individuals interested in learning more about or candidates and helping the Democratic Party turn Texas Blue!  With a little sweat and loads of enthusiasm, we will continue to engage our college campus through youth outreach! Read More »

Despite a fire that destroyed Harris County’s voting machines Friday, County Clerk Beverly Kaufman said she intends to keep all polling places open with replacement machines on Nov. 2.

Commissioners Court approved Kaufman’s emergency plan this afternoon to spend $13.6 million to buy 2,325 electronic voting machines and supporting equipment.

“Your polling place is going to be open early and on election day. You’ll be able to vote conveniently as you’re accustomed to doing,” Kaufman said afterward.

Kaufman’s request included 1.4 million paper ballots, which will be distributed to polling stations as a backup in case a shortage of machines leads to long lines.

A fire before dawn on Friday destroyed the building that housed all 10,000 of the county’s voting machines. The cause of the blaze has not been determined, but arson investigators returned to 606 Canino today to continue their investigation, Houston Fire Department spokesman Patrick Trahan said. Read More »

The Harris County Democratic Party proudly recognizes and celebrates the 90^th Anniversary of Women’s Suffrage. Women’s suffrage is the right of women to vote and to run for office. On August 26, 1920, it was granted to women in the United States as the 19^th Amendment was certified as part of the U.S. Constitution.

“What is forgotten now, 90 years later, is that a long and hard-fought struggle was necessary to gain the vote. Suffragists marched, chained themselves to the White House gates, went to prison, fasted and were force-fed to get the right to vote,” says Debbie Walsh, director of the Center for American Women and Politics.

The Harris County Democratic Party celebrates women, both in politics and out. We salute women professionals, single moms, stay-at-home moms, civic and community leaders, and all women officeholders representing Texans from city hall to Austin to Washington D.C. On this historic anniversary, we also applaud all of the women in our most impressive slate of Democratic candidates for election this November.

Christina Bryan, candidate for the 113th Civil District Court, has the credentials, the character and the commitment to serve as the judge of this court. She brings the highest quality education, an accomplished legal career, and with a proud devotion to community service. Ms. Bryan will bring 20 years of experience in state and federal courts and would bring to the bench. Read More »

The people of Pakistan are in our thoughts and prayers, and the Harris County Democratic Party encourages everyone to please donate to relief efforts as that nation recovers from its most devastating flooding in 80 years.

Four weeks of monsoon rain has destroyed villages, crops, bridges and roads, killed at least 1600 people, and left more than 4 million homeless. At least 20 million people – 1 in 5 Pakistanis – have been affected by the floods, including 3.5 million children who may be at risk from water-borne diseases.

We are not unfamiliar here in Southeast Texas and the Gulf coast, with the ravaging effects of flood waters, so please keep the people of Pakistan in your thoughts and please support aid to that nation: Pakistan Relief Fund.

This week the Coordinated Campaign was visible all over Harris County, partnering with Democratic candidates and elected officials to reach as many voters as possible. We continued to meet with precinct chairs in an effort to give them the resources they need to implement the 50 for Victory Program. This week we hosted neighborhood precinct chair trainings in State House District 150 for Brad Neal’s campaign and the Spring Democrats. The enthusiasm remained strong Tuesday, as Precinct Chair Coordinator Natalie Rovira spoke to scores of individuals about our 50 for Victory program at the Senate District 6 meeting. Read More »

With only 78 days left until Election Day, the Harris County Democratic Party’s Coordinated Campaign is busier than ever this week. The Coordinated Campaign continues to focus on our direct voter contact and community outreach programs. The HCDP Coordinated Campaign staff participated in a number of community events throughout the city, in addition to hosting the Grand Opening of our Pasadena Campaign Office.

Last week, we continued our efforts in training precinct chairs on our 50 for Victory Plan, as we hosted trainings in House Districts 131,134, 146 and 149. Special thanks to the Ellen Cohen Campaign and staff for allowing us use of their office to hold our training Thursday. If you are a precinct chair or wish to participate in this program by contacting prospective Democratic voters in your neighborhood, and have not attended one of these trainings, you can find one in your neighborhood by clicking here.

Read More »