A Conversation with Your Precinct 2207 Neighbor . . . Juan Ayala

Juan Ayala is a man with a clear understanding of what he wants to do and how to get there. Currently a candidate for the State Democratic Executive Committee, Juan is a poster boy for illustrating how hard work, scholarly accomplishment, career achievement and volunteer efforts can move an individual toward desired goals.


Juan grew up in East Dallas and graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School with honors after earning college hour credits from his several advanced placement courses. Awarded a scholarship and grants to Trinity University, he graduated with a degree in economics and is the first person in his family to graduate from college.

A part time job with Dean Witter was helpful during college and became a full time job following graduation. Enjoying his job and life in San Antonio, adversity suddenly struck and he lost both parents and his position with Dean Witter. This difficult experience was monumental but Juan emerged with a renewed vision and determination to succeed.

A senior executive with USA Mobility in Dallas for the last 12 years, Juan now works with international corporations in wireless communications. But as he says, “Politics is my passion.”

Currently president of Dallas County Young Democrats, Juan also is running for the State Democratic Executive Committee. “There’s a lot of energy in the air this year, and I think I can help the party tap into it, especially the youth and Latino vote. We have a lot of great candidates running for the SDEC slot, but I think I can bring a fresh perspective.”

Few people can match Juan’s political, community and volunteer involvements. He has worked on International, Representative and Executive Committees of Young Democrats of America. He is a Deputy Voter Registrar and a member of the Dallas Stonewall Democrats. He also serves as a board member of the Greater Dallas Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse, is a member of LULAC Council 4871 and volunteers with Habitat for Humanity, Dallas Life Foundation, For the Love of the Lake and was a delegate for the Senate District 16 Convention.

He was Co-chair of the Young Democrats of America National Convention held in Dallas in 2007 and helped raise $96,000 for that event. Speakers were: Senator John Edwards, General Wesley Clark, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee and former Agriculture Commissioner Jim Hightower. Young Democrats from 46 states attended as well as 23 guests from foreign countries.

Juan moved to the Lake Highlands area two years ago when he bought his first house. As if his other commitments weren’t enough, he says he’s excited about turned Lake Highlands blue this fall. “We must do more than just talk about Democratic values: we must live them,” he says.

We're Blogging the Convention

Lake Highlands is a pretty savvy area (in a suburban sort of way) and, in the spirit of 21st century politics, we'll be blogging the upcoming state convention--some live, some near live (we do have to get sleep sometime).  Stay tuned for the latest from Austin . . .

A Conversation with Your Precinct 2207 Neighbor . . . Darwin Payne

If you ran into longtime Precinct 2207 resident Darwin Payne at Mi Cocina, you might not know that the dignified but unassuming man at the next table had led such a colorful life.

(Darwin Payne with daughter Hannah and wife Phyllis. Hannah is studying music at SMU.)

But as a reporter for the Dallas Times Herald, Darwin was the first newsman to find Abraham Zapruder moments after he shot the now famous film of the assassination. The next night he was at the Dallas police station amidst the estimated 300 reporters from around the world who were covering the story. “It was a great time for a young reporter but a terrible tragedy for the nation,” he says. “JFK was the first Democrat I voted for. He was a visionary and had the ability to bring out the best in the youth of the country. You can’t help but wonder what might have been.”

At the Times Herald, Darwin became friends with Jim Lehrer, and not long after Darwin joined Jim’s “Newsroom” program on KERA – TV, where he appeared on camera along with A. C. Greene, Patsy Swank, Bill Porterfield, Martin Frost and Lee Cullum. Although local, “Newsroom” was not that much different from Lehrer’s present-day PBS “News Hour.”

Darwin taught journalism at SMU for thirty years before retiring in 1999 as professor emeritus. He holds a bachelor of journalism and a PhD in American Civilization from the University of Texas at Austin as well as a master of arts degree in history from Southern Methodist University.

As if that weren’t enough, in 1996, Darwin organized his own publishing concern - Three Forks Press (http://www.3forkspress.com), publishing books by Steve Blow, Marshall Terry, Michael Hazel and others. He also is the author of numerous books himself, including most recently Indomitable Sarah: The Life of Judge Sarah T. Hughes, which won the Liz Carpenter Award from the Texas State Historical Association and Big D : Triumphs and Troubles of an American Super City in the 20th Century. His next book to be published in 2009 will be Crusade for Justice: Louis A. Bedford and the Struggle for Equal Rights in Texas.

Darwin and Phyllis Payne along with daughter Hannah were delegates to the Senate District 16 County Convention. “I’ve never been more committed to the Democratic party than I am right now,” said the 3 Forks Press publisher and Lake Highlands resident. "These are exciting times."

538 Blog

One blog to add to your must list is the Five Thirty Eight Blog (http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/) which has the latest polls and, more importantly, outstanding poll analysis. It's been dead on several times this political cycle and is a great read even if you're not a total political junkie (like some of us). Check it out.

P.S. The blog takes its name from the number of electoral votes.

Meet Chris Turner, Candidate HD 96 (May 19)

This year, we don’t have a Democratic candidate in House District 114 (our local house district), but there are a number of very competitive races in our area.

One of the most exciting is the race for House District 96, where Chris Turner is the Democratic standard bearer. Texas Monthly, in fact, recently called the seat the Democrats’ ‘best hopes for a pickup’ and a leading GOP consultant calls it a ‘battleground’ race.

Chris is a terrifically impressive candidate and, if you are interested in meeting him, he will be having a fundraiser next Monday, May 19, from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. at the home of Leslie MacLean (5714 W. Caruth - just noth of Inwood and Lovers). Tickets are $100.

Democrats are only five seats away from having a majority in the Texas House. Races like this are absolutely vital not only because of the impact on state and local issues but in order to ensure that Democrats have a voice at the table after the next Congressional redistricting (when Texas is slated to pick up between 4-5 seats in Congress - more than any other state).

Come and support a great candidate.

For more on Chris and his race, go to www.votechristurner.com.

Be a Neighborhood Captain!

Today, we're exactly six months out from the November 4 General Election.

And though we don't have a presidential candidate yet, planning is already under way to run a competitive, high energy campaign locally and across Texas as part of the Democratic Party's fifty-state strategy.  But we need your help.

There will be lots of activities over the course of the summer and fall, but one way you can help right now is to sign up to be a Precinct 2207 neighborhood captain.  Our success this fall will depend on the grassroots efforts of people like you - people who know our neighborhood and have an insider's insight into what will and won't work (something no consultant in Washington or Austin could ever hope to tell us).

**What's involved, you ask?**

Well, that's really up to you and the volunteers you will be heading up.  Every neighborhood is different, and you're the ones who know your neighborhood best.  In some neighborhoods, the best way for getting people fired up and out to the polls might be a block party or series of smaller house parties.  In other neighborhoods, door-to-door contact or phone calls might be the ticket.  In other areas, the need could be to register voters and to educate people on early voting options.  We need your help to figure all this out. Once we come up with a game plan, we'll give you the support and resources to get the job done.

If you are interested, or even if you're just thinking about it, let us know by filling out this form or emailing precinct2207@gmail.com. We'll have an informational get together later this month to begin discussing 'strategery' (as President Bush would say).

A Conversation with Your Precinct 2207 Neighbor . . . Barbara Churchman

Though she is a lifelong Democrat, Barbara Churchman had never really taken an active role in politics. This year was different. "I became alarmed at the negative changes I’ve seen in our country during the last eight years and also about our future. That’s what prompted me to act." said Barbara, who works at The Turner Corporation as Executive Assistant to the Treasurer and is a Clinton alternate to the Democratic State Convention in June.

The daughter of a career Air Force professional, Barbara moved every two years, but claims Little Rock, Arkansas as home. Barbara first came to Dallas in the 1980s and worked full time while earning her Associates Degree from Mountain View College. In 1990, she left the area for an opportunity with the Seattle Metro, leaving DART. In 1996, she decided to attend Washington State University full time to finish her International Business degree, a long held ambition. "I personally credit Bill Clinton and his responsible economic stewardship for letting me do that. I don't think I'd be able to do that today," she says. In 2004, Barbara returned to the Dallas area and has lived in the Huntington Lakes community on Skillman for the last three plus years.

As an alternate to the Democratic State Convention in Austin, Barbara is determined to take in as many of the sights and proceedings that will be taking place during the convention. She also plans on making time for a bit of personal sightseeing. "I’m going down early so I can visit the Bob Bullock Museum and other places I’ve missed on previous visits," said Barbara.

As for this political cycle, Barbara says she is pumped up. "We've got great candidates across the board," she says. "I've followed Hillary's career from back in the days when I lived in Arkansas, and I know what she has done and can do. But we're really blessed with choice this year as Democrats. I think people are really going to be very surprised this November when the polls close in Texas. We're going to do better than people expect from top to bottom."

P.S. Barbara adds that she really is a "true blue Democrat" despite wearing red for this photograph.