Update

Dear Precinct 2207 Democrats:

 

Fall is upon us, and campaigns are now moving into high gear.  Here are a few important dates:

 

1) Voter Registration for the General Election ends on October 6

2) Early voting begins October 20th and ends October 31^st (electronic voting at various locations)

3) General Election is November 4^th

4) Precinct 2207 Meeting – 6:30pm Thursday, September 25^th, Picasso’s Pizza (NW corner Skillman & Walnut Hill) – we will network, discuss precinct plans for volunteering, and find ways to make change right in our own backyard

 

The Dallas County Democratic Party’s Coordinated Campaign (214.523.8080) and the Obama Dallas Campaign (214.291.4606) have kicked off precinct walking and calling programs.  I highly encourage you to get involved in these high impact activities.  If you would like to participate, please call me at 214.697.8166 (or email jasonmattox@hotmail.com) or the Dallas County party office at 214.821.8331.

 

Planned walk/canvass activities in our precinct include the following weekend dates:

 

• Sunday, Sept. 21^st – morning
• Sunday, Oct. 5^th – morning and/or afternoon
• Saturday, Oct. 11^th – morning and/or afternoon
• Sunday, Oct. 19^th – afternoon
• Sunday, Nov. 2^nd – morning and/or afternoon

 

There are obviously many activities available at other times throughout Dallas County for many campaigns.  Please contact me if you would like to explore these opportunities.

 

Other notable local activities:

 

• Tuesday, Sept. 17^th, 6:30pm, Lupe Valdez (Sheriff) Town Hall Meeting (Garland), Plumbers and Pipefitters Union Hall, 3629 W. Miller Rd.
• Saturday, Sept. 20^th, 6:30pm, Lake Highlands White Rock Democrats’ 14^th Annual Chili Supper – 6:30pm, Dancemasters, 10675 E. Northwest Hwy.

 

See more activities at www.dallasdemocrats.org and www.changingdallas.com.

 

Please don’t forget to join us at our precinct meeting on Thursday, September 25^th at Picasso’s (see details above).  I look forward to working with you all to create a Democratic victory in November from the Dallas County court house to the White House.

 

Democratically yours,

Jason Mattox, precinct chair

Breakfast with Rick Noriega

I had the pleasure of having breakfast with Rick Noriega today and wanted to provide everyone with a first hand account. Rick is a fantastic candidate and we need to everything we can to get that message out there.

Following his introduction, Representative Noriega said, "Our state has great potential. But we have serious challenges to meet, and the first is to unseat John Cornyn. Cornyn has managed to cloud the possibility of hope."

Rick spoke specifically about Cornyn's troubling position on cuts in Medicare fees. If Cornyn's position stands, more than 58% of doctors in the state will not be able financially to serve seniors, service people and the disabled. They will stop taking new Medicare patients. This situation has caused the Texas Medical Association to withdraw its support of Cornyn and galvanized seniors across the state

For the sake of our seniors, Rick hopes Cornyn will change his vote, just as he voted against the 21st Century GI Bill, then voted for it.

"He initially voted against the GI Bill, which is unconscionable. It is my hope he will flip again on this Medicare vote. The American Dream is how we can provide for our children from generation to generation, and Cornyn stands in our way." At this point, I asked why myself why we have to keep going through this kind of thing with our elected officials. We deserve better government than this.

Asked about our failed policies as a nation and a state, Noriega said, "Somebody has to stand up and say the emperor has no clothes.
There needs to be a new path in the Iraq War, beginning with a new Commander-In-Chief to correct this strategic blunder. Then benchmarks need to be established for the Iraqi government to meet, an idea from the Iraq Study Group. Nothing compels the Iraqi government to perform." And he noted, our government is now NINE TRILLION DOLLARS IN DEBT.

Asked about immigration, Noriega said the policy is broken and he speaks from experience. He served as Border Sector commander, Laredo for Operation Jumpstart for six months. Rick has said the border also is a national security issue. His groups seized 10,000 pounds of marijuana as well as cocaine. But he noted that the wall is a cheap trick that does not address the whole issue. A virtual fence will work, but we still need to address people who are already here. Not dealing with this issue squarely only pushes people further back into the shadows.

I left thinking this is the kind of pragmatic leadership Texans once were famous for. Won't you join this grandmother in bringing sense back to Texas politics.

FYI – Rick Noriega is manager of economic development for CenterPoint Energy in Houston. He has a BA from the University of Houston and a Masters from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. He is a Lieutenant Colonel in the Army National Guard and spent a year in Afghanistan. He oversaw the Hurricane Katrina shelters in Houston and helped evacuees from Katrina and Rita.

For more information, check out www.Votevets.com. This is a site set up by General Wesley Clark with a mission to elect Iraq and Afghanistan vets to public office.

Another Bake Sale Opportunity

In case any of you are interested in participating in a local bake sale for the Obama campaign, here is a local event…(sponsored by moveon.org)

Hundreds of "Hungry for Change" bake sales all around the country - All to raise money for MoveOn's massive campaign to reach millions of voters this fall and help elect Barack Obama.

If you haven't already, please sign up to bring something sweet to sell at the bake sale in Dallas.

Here are the details:

Host: David E—fellow MoveOn member
Where: Crossroads Market (in Dallas)
When: Saturday, Jun. 21, 2008, at 12:00 PM

And here's the link to RSVP and tell the host what you're bringing:
http://pol.moveon.org/event/events/event.html?event_id=47992&id=12909-3606807-Q_1h_7x&t=5

 

Thanks,

Jason Mattox, precinct chair

 

Painting Party

Help get geared up for the 4th of July parade this Sunday (June 22) at
3:00 pm at the home of Darwin and Phyllis Payne (9021 Gunnison). We'll
be painting signs for the parade. Bring your ideas and any special
painting supplies.

Organizing Meeting & More

Dear Local Democratic Activists:

I would like to introduce myself again… I am Jason Mattox, the Precinct Chair for Precinct 2207.  I am pleased to report that we are finally past the primary season and we have an incredible slate of competent, qualified, and enthusiastic Democratic candidates – ready to bring real change to our lives and our neighborhood.  Ok, so how can you get involved?  1) You can socialize with other like-minded individuals and spread the word that the Democratic candidates look attractive locally and nationally to your other independent friends; 2) you can volunteer for a campaign of a local or national candidate; 3) You can join us in some activities to push awareness of Democrats and our causes in the local area.  Some upcoming events:

1)       Join Democrats in 2207 for a social evening on June 28 from 5:00 to 7:00pm.  Unite For Change!  This event will be simultaneously hosted at homes around Dallas and the broader area.  Come to the home of Jason and Andrea Mattox at 7505 Hundley Blvd (zip 75231) to socialize with others.  We will be online during the party to spread the word.  BYOB… we will have some light snacks available… please RSVP at 214-503-6737.

2)       Join the Lake Highlands/White Rock Democrats at the White Rock Lake Stone Tables Area, 600 E. Lawther Drive (Buckner Blvd @ Lake Highlands Blvd) Saturday June 21, 2008 at 11am -  $5 fee that includes hotdogs, chips, and drinks (kids 12 and under are free).  Meet Candidates and State Democratic Executive Committee members – we will plan our participation in the Lake Highlands 4^th of July Parade with this organization

3)       Hungry for Change?? Join fellow Democrats for a bake sale in Garland.  Host: Thalia D—a MoveOn.org member Where: MILLER & FIRST STREET
When: Saturday, Jun. 21, 2008, at 9:00 AM

4)       Lake Highlands 4^th of July Parade – for details email Michael Li at michael.chihpoh.li@gmail.com... We will walk alongside two vehicles to demonstrate our pride as Democrats at this great local event saluting our country and then staff a booth to register voters and spread the word on our great candidates.  Planning meetings are occurring now for this event.

 

I hope to see you at these events and others as the summer progresses.  We will organize our activities for the summer and upcoming campaigns this fall starting at the gathering on June 28.  Hope to see you there.

Thanks,

 

Jason

Rain Minns Fundraiser This Saturday

Rain Minns, the Democratic candidate for SD 16, is having a fundraiser this Saturday, June 14, from 1-4 p.m. right here in Lake Highlands, at the home of Maria Viera-Williams (8606 San Souci) (just north of the intersection of Ferndale and Northwest Highway).

Come out and meet a great candidate and find out more about this exciting and tight race.

The suggested donation is $30 and includes BBQ and all the fixins.

Videos from and of Convention

The Texas Democratic Party has posted videos from the convention on YouTube, including a moving tribute to Lady Bird Johnson and a great 'where we are today as Texas Democrats' video.

Click here to have a gander.