This is posted on Ellen Cohen's Website. Originally the article is from:
http://texasmedicalcenter.org/root/en
“Remember, it’s not the Houston Medical Center, it’s the Texas Medical Center,” Wainerdi said. “It belongs to all of us.” -Read the article on texasmedicalcenter about the growing medical center. Ellen Cohen appreciates how important the medical industry is to Texas, and, Texas' working families.
RONDA WENDLER
"The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston this month became the 49th institution to be named a member of the Texas Medical Center in Houston."
-By RONDA WENDLER Texas Medical Center News
The official link to the University of Texas Medical Branch: http://www.utmb.edu/
"The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) is a component of the University of Texas System located in Galveston, Texas, United States, about 50 miles (80 km) southeast of Downtown Houston." -wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Texas_Medical_Branch
UTMB Receives Strong Support from Legislature
"Between the Legislature’s appropriations and the other funding made possible by those appropriations — $450 million from FEMA, $130 million from insurance proceeds, $200 million from The Sealy & Smith Foundation and $50 million from the Social Service Block Grant Funds — UTMB will have approximately $1.4 billion available for restoration and expansion of facilities and services in coming years."
The 81st Texas Legislative session
Senate Bill 1 - $566.5 million in general revenue funding for UTMB, an increase of nearly $109 million over the previous biennium
The Supplemental Appropriations Bill (HB 4586) - makes funding available immediately, gives UTMB an additional $150 million to match FEMA’s $450 million for Ike-related mitigation and repairs.
House Bill 51— authorizes $150 million for a new hospital building on the campus that will restore UTMB’s inpatient capacity to pre-Ike levels.
The Sealy & Smith Foundation - $200 million grant.
-Jim
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
The Caucus Endorsements
Judge, 234th District Court: Tanner Garth
http://tannergarthforjudge.com/
Judge, 270th District Court: Lee Arellano
http://www.arellanoforjudge.com/
-"If I am fortunate enough to win the primary and general election I pledge to be a fair minded and even handed jurist, using all of my experiences to assure JUSTICE FOR ALL."
Judge, 308th Family District Court: Bruce Kessler
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kessler-for-Judge/277291366158?v=info
(The above link is to Facebook)
-"Bruce Kessler is the only candidate who is Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, indicating special competence in the practice of Family Law."
Judge, 311th Family District Court: Deborah Wright
(I was not able to find a link that seemed appropriate)
Justice of the Peace, Precinct 3, Place 2: Denise Graves
(Sorry, I am still looking for a good link)
This link is to an article in The Baytown Sun. Apparently, there were four Democrats vying for the spot for justice of the peace on the primary ballot. Now, for all of the above endorsed positions, we are in a Democratic primary runoff. Hows that for photo-finish politics?
I was honored to attend The Caucus meeting where some of these endorsements took place. Some meeting time was set aside for advocacy. For instance, we are supposed to be returning our Census forms.
The meeting I went to was held the first Wednesday of March. And you are welcome there, even if you are not a member. Memberships to The Caucus are inexpensive. Even I can afford the dues. And they do so much for the GLBT Community.
It would be easy for anyone to become a member of The Caucus and help guide this organization forward. Its easy, and, its a great place to meet GLBT-friendly candidates face to face. Plus, as I like to tell my friends, non-profits are the best place to meet nice people because they are the ones who tend to care about the community. After all, they are volunteering.
Technically, they are non-partisan, but, there are a lot of Democrats and not too many of anyone else.
Go to the Democratic convention and join one of the resolutions committees. Help guide the Democratic leadership forward. It is called democracy for a reason. And we need you to be there.
James Legare
"The race for Justice of the Peace, Precinct 3, Place 2 will certainly go to a Democrat, as no Republican candidates filed to run. Voters at the Democratic primary contest will effectively choose the only candidate on the ballot come November. " - The Sentinel
http://tannergarthforjudge.com/
Judge, 270th District Court: Lee Arellano
http://www.arellanoforjudge.com/
-"If I am fortunate enough to win the primary and general election I pledge to be a fair minded and even handed jurist, using all of my experiences to assure JUSTICE FOR ALL."
Judge, 308th Family District Court: Bruce Kessler
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kessler-for-Judge/277291366158?v=info
(The above link is to Facebook)
-"Bruce Kessler is the only candidate who is Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, indicating special competence in the practice of Family Law."
Judge, 311th Family District Court: Deborah Wright
(I was not able to find a link that seemed appropriate)
Justice of the Peace, Precinct 3, Place 2: Denise Graves
(Sorry, I am still looking for a good link)
This link is to an article in The Baytown Sun. Apparently, there were four Democrats vying for the spot for justice of the peace on the primary ballot. Now, for all of the above endorsed positions, we are in a Democratic primary runoff. Hows that for photo-finish politics?
I was honored to attend The Caucus meeting where some of these endorsements took place. Some meeting time was set aside for advocacy. For instance, we are supposed to be returning our Census forms.
The meeting I went to was held the first Wednesday of March. And you are welcome there, even if you are not a member. Memberships to The Caucus are inexpensive. Even I can afford the dues. And they do so much for the GLBT Community.
It would be easy for anyone to become a member of The Caucus and help guide this organization forward. Its easy, and, its a great place to meet GLBT-friendly candidates face to face. Plus, as I like to tell my friends, non-profits are the best place to meet nice people because they are the ones who tend to care about the community. After all, they are volunteering.
Technically, they are non-partisan, but, there are a lot of Democrats and not too many of anyone else.
Go to the Democratic convention and join one of the resolutions committees. Help guide the Democratic leadership forward. It is called democracy for a reason. And we need you to be there.
James Legare
"The race for Justice of the Peace, Precinct 3, Place 2 will certainly go to a Democrat, as no Republican candidates filed to run. Voters at the Democratic primary contest will effectively choose the only candidate on the ballot come November. " - The Sentinel
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Nile Bailey Copeland
The following was e-mailed to me:
ast night's election results were indeed mixed. We all knew this being an election that someone had to prevail. We just never knew how the numbers would fall.
Please take a moment and consider the amount of work all of these candidates have done, and the voters they have touched. Send a candidate a personal email or personal Facebook message, I guarantee that it will be well received.
Last night, I heard from one candidate with regards to the party infighting that this was indeed the worst year for such and the candidate feared it had the potential to hurt us in November. In my humble opinion, the biggest danger is that it potentially polarized some of our voters and may continue to do so. As such, a voter said this morning they were so unhappy with the results that they will be getting voters to switch sides and cast a vote on the otherside (R). That comment has prompted me to send this email out... Please, if anyone reading this email is considering such tactics, please consider this:
These candidates, including myself, have worked long and hard for every vote we received and we are proud and honored for every vote, all the support, encouragement, and love from our friends, families, and colleagues but to hear voter(s) wanting to switch sides and vote or even donate to a Republican candidate is a huge disservice to every minute we have been in the car driving to events, talking with voters, speaking to groups, juggling our schedules for family, work and our campaigns, and working endless hours at the polls in the sun, rain, and wind with some of the best poll workers in the state.
Do not give up just because your candidate is not still in the race we have a lot of work ahead. Please remember, there are candidates going into a runoff who do not get a break. The "Political Groundhog Day" has deemed they will have at least 6 more weeks of hard campaigning. I do not hesitate for one second when I say that the Harris County needs more Democratic Judges! and that is a fact. However, we will never get there without your support. We need it more than ever and trust me you do not know how honored we are when we receive it from you.
Finally, with one election behind us, we have two hard elections ahead of us: the runoff and the General Election in November. We have more work ahead of us but lets have fun on the way. Now, I want to put every Democratic voter out there to the task of electing as many Democratic Judges as possible. I also put every Candidate to the task of staying active and helping organizations that have given so freely of there time and support to us.
Sincerely
Nile Bailey Copeland
ast night's election results were indeed mixed. We all knew this being an election that someone had to prevail. We just never knew how the numbers would fall.
Please take a moment and consider the amount of work all of these candidates have done, and the voters they have touched. Send a candidate a personal email or personal Facebook message, I guarantee that it will be well received.
Last night, I heard from one candidate with regards to the party infighting that this was indeed the worst year for such and the candidate feared it had the potential to hurt us in November. In my humble opinion, the biggest danger is that it potentially polarized some of our voters and may continue to do so. As such, a voter said this morning they were so unhappy with the results that they will be getting voters to switch sides and cast a vote on the otherside (R). That comment has prompted me to send this email out... Please, if anyone reading this email is considering such tactics, please consider this:
These candidates, including myself, have worked long and hard for every vote we received and we are proud and honored for every vote, all the support, encouragement, and love from our friends, families, and colleagues but to hear voter(s) wanting to switch sides and vote or even donate to a Republican candidate is a huge disservice to every minute we have been in the car driving to events, talking with voters, speaking to groups, juggling our schedules for family, work and our campaigns, and working endless hours at the polls in the sun, rain, and wind with some of the best poll workers in the state.
Do not give up just because your candidate is not still in the race we have a lot of work ahead. Please remember, there are candidates going into a runoff who do not get a break. The "Political Groundhog Day" has deemed they will have at least 6 more weeks of hard campaigning. I do not hesitate for one second when I say that the Harris County needs more Democratic Judges! and that is a fact. However, we will never get there without your support. We need it more than ever and trust me you do not know how honored we are when we receive it from you.
Finally, with one election behind us, we have two hard elections ahead of us: the runoff and the General Election in November. We have more work ahead of us but lets have fun on the way. Now, I want to put every Democratic voter out there to the task of electing as many Democratic Judges as possible. I also put every Candidate to the task of staying active and helping organizations that have given so freely of there time and support to us.
Sincerely
Nile Bailey Copeland
Houston Area Stonewall Democrats
Houston Area Stonewall Democrats met tonight to consider endorsements in the Democratic Primary Runoff scheduled for April 13, 2010. HASD is proud to announce that 60 of its 73 previously endorsed candidates ( 82% ) either won their respective races or made it into the April runoff. The following candidates are endorsed by HASD in the Democratic Primary Runoff:
TANNER GARTH - Civil District Court 234
LEE ARELLANO - Civil District Court 270
BRUCE KESSLER - Family District Court 308
BRAD MORRIS - Family District Court 311
DON COFFEY - Justice of the Peace, Pct. 3, Place 2
In other club business, HASD elected officers for the coming year. The following members were elected unanimously:
PHILLIP MCNUTT - President
CHRISTOPHER PLATA - Vice President
DR. LARRY PONDER - Secretary
VIRG PARKS - Treasurer
TANNER GARTH - Civil District Court 234
LEE ARELLANO - Civil District Court 270
BRUCE KESSLER - Family District Court 308
BRAD MORRIS - Family District Court 311
DON COFFEY - Justice of the Peace, Pct. 3, Place 2
In other club business, HASD elected officers for the coming year. The following members were elected unanimously:
PHILLIP MCNUTT - President
CHRISTOPHER PLATA - Vice President
DR. LARRY PONDER - Secretary
VIRG PARKS - Treasurer
NEW OFFICERS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 8, 2010
Media Contact: Brad Pritchett
Director of Communications, HSYD
713-898-9734
HOUSTON STONEWALL YOUNG DEMOCRATS ELECT NEW OFFICERS
Houston, TX - This evening the Houston Stonewall Young Democrats (HSYD) elected a new executive committee to lead the organization through the next year.
Houston Stonewall Young Democrats hold elections each March for its executive committee.
The 2010 elections were held on Monday, March 08, 2010 at the Stag's Head Pub.
The following members were elected to represent the membership on the board:
Robert Shipman - President
Shaun Nelson - Vice President of Political Affairs
Hunter Cauble - Vice President of Community Affairs
Brittani Williams - Director of Membership
Brad Pritchett - Director of Communications
David Page - Secretary
Andrea Ward - Treasurer
"I am excited to work with the new board of HSYD to help continue building upon the successes we have had in past elections," said new President Robert Shipman, "We are ready to work hard for our endorsed candidates and help pro-equality Democrats make sweeping accomplishments in and around Houston."
The Houston Stonewall Young Democrats is a group of Houston-area young progressives, aged 14 to 40, whose focus is to educate the GLBT community about the issues affecting them, to mobilize the community to get out to vote on Election Day for fair-minded Democrats, and to fight for GLBT civil rights while leading the Democratic party to continue improving its record on issues important to the GLBT community.
March 8, 2010
Media Contact: Brad Pritchett
Director of Communications, HSYD
713-898-9734
HOUSTON STONEWALL YOUNG DEMOCRATS ELECT NEW OFFICERS
Houston, TX - This evening the Houston Stonewall Young Democrats (HSYD) elected a new executive committee to lead the organization through the next year.
Houston Stonewall Young Democrats hold elections each March for its executive committee.
The 2010 elections were held on Monday, March 08, 2010 at the Stag's Head Pub.
The following members were elected to represent the membership on the board:
Robert Shipman - President
Shaun Nelson - Vice President of Political Affairs
Hunter Cauble - Vice President of Community Affairs
Brittani Williams - Director of Membership
Brad Pritchett - Director of Communications
David Page - Secretary
Andrea Ward - Treasurer
"I am excited to work with the new board of HSYD to help continue building upon the successes we have had in past elections," said new President Robert Shipman, "We are ready to work hard for our endorsed candidates and help pro-equality Democrats make sweeping accomplishments in and around Houston."
The Houston Stonewall Young Democrats is a group of Houston-area young progressives, aged 14 to 40, whose focus is to educate the GLBT community about the issues affecting them, to mobilize the community to get out to vote on Election Day for fair-minded Democrats, and to fight for GLBT civil rights while leading the Democratic party to continue improving its record on issues important to the GLBT community.
Harris County Guidelines
Attached is a copy of the report prepared by Dr. Rea for delegate status in Senate 17. This process applies to each and every Senate District within Harris County and its guidelines must be used.
REMEMBER - Because it has been decided to use an open process, individuals who voted in the Democratic Primary on March 2, but did not attend their precinct convention, may still attend the Senatorial Convention, participate and run for delegate or alternate to the State Convention.
I was there and believe that some really good things are happening in the party.
All of the Senate District conventions will be open. If you voted in the Democratic Primary you can go to the senate district caucus and petition to be admitted to the precinct caucus and become a delegate to the state convention of the Texas Democratic Party. I explained it to the precinct chairs and am attaching it for your information.
It is an exciting time to be a Democrat in Harris County.
Ron
Nominations Committee Process Report for SD 17
March 20, 2010
Ronald B. Rea, Ph.D., Co-Chair of At-Large Nominations for SD 17
1. The 2010 convention will be an open convention. Anyone who voted in the Democratic Primary on March 2 may sign in and be seated as either a Delegate or Alternate whether or not they were selected as a Delegate or Alternate at the Precinct Convention, unless the precinct already has its full entitlement and provided that the Precinct Caucus votes to add them to the caucus. For each delegate there is one alternate slot allocated to the precinct.
2. After transitioning Alternates to Delegate status at the initial precinct caucus to fill all of the Delegate positions to which the precinct is entitled, the precincts will be able to add delegates and alternates from persons signing in who were not selected as either a delegate or alternate at the precinct convention on March 2. Provided the full number of delegates to which the precinct is entitled is not present at the time the Temporary Chair convenes the Convention, the precinct may caucus to add delegates until the entire precinct allocation is reached. Persons signing in at the SD convention who were not elected delegates or alternates at the precinct convention may be added by a precinct caucus. The precinct caucus secretary (or chair) will submit a report to the Credentials Committee asking that the caucus elects be added to the convention roll and receive credentials permitting them to vote on matters brought before the convention.
3. If the precinct elects its full allotted number of delegates and alternates, persons who sign in at the convention who are not elected as a delegate or alternate to the convention, may still submit their request to be a delegate or alternate to the state convention to the At-large nominations committee. Forms will be provided in each precinct packet to record the delegates and alternates elected at the precinct caucus. In addition the precinct packet will include forms for persons not selected as either a delegate or alternate at the precinct caucus to petition the Nominations Committee to be nominated as a delegate or alternate to the state convention.
4. Each precinct or paired precinct is entitled to a delegate. The number of delegates to which each precinct is entitled is determined by dividing the number of votes that the precinct cast for the Democratic Party candidate for Governor in 2006 by 180. Precincts that did not cast at least 180 will be paired with other precincts so that each paired precinct may select delegates and alternates by the same formula.
5. The excess number of votes over 180 that each precinct cast for the Democratic Candidate for Governor are allocated to an at-large pool and totaled so that the SD may receive the total number of Delegates to which it is entitled. The excess number of votes from the precincts is divided by 180 with the sum being the number is the number of delegates that the nomination committee will select to assure balance in the delegation.
6. To determine the profile of the at-large delegates, a tally is made by the nominations committee for each of the fairness attributes to be considered in balancing the delegation. The fairness attributes that are considered are:
Age 35 years or younger
Ethnicity
GLBT status
Disability status
Gender
7. The Nominations Committee makes its report to the Convention. The convention may elect to approve the report or may entertain nominations from the convention. In making nominations from the floor to replace a delegate, the persons making the nomination must specify by name which of the delegates nominated by the nomination committee is to be replaced by the person being nominated from the floor.
8. Upon completion of the process of nominations from the floor, the entire delegation must vote to ratify the delegation.
9. The convention must elect the delegation chair.
REMEMBER - Because it has been decided to use an open process, individuals who voted in the Democratic Primary on March 2, but did not attend their precinct convention, may still attend the Senatorial Convention, participate and run for delegate or alternate to the State Convention.
I was there and believe that some really good things are happening in the party.
All of the Senate District conventions will be open. If you voted in the Democratic Primary you can go to the senate district caucus and petition to be admitted to the precinct caucus and become a delegate to the state convention of the Texas Democratic Party. I explained it to the precinct chairs and am attaching it for your information.
It is an exciting time to be a Democrat in Harris County.
Ron
Nominations Committee Process Report for SD 17
March 20, 2010
Ronald B. Rea, Ph.D., Co-Chair of At-Large Nominations for SD 17
1. The 2010 convention will be an open convention. Anyone who voted in the Democratic Primary on March 2 may sign in and be seated as either a Delegate or Alternate whether or not they were selected as a Delegate or Alternate at the Precinct Convention, unless the precinct already has its full entitlement and provided that the Precinct Caucus votes to add them to the caucus. For each delegate there is one alternate slot allocated to the precinct.
2. After transitioning Alternates to Delegate status at the initial precinct caucus to fill all of the Delegate positions to which the precinct is entitled, the precincts will be able to add delegates and alternates from persons signing in who were not selected as either a delegate or alternate at the precinct convention on March 2. Provided the full number of delegates to which the precinct is entitled is not present at the time the Temporary Chair convenes the Convention, the precinct may caucus to add delegates until the entire precinct allocation is reached. Persons signing in at the SD convention who were not elected delegates or alternates at the precinct convention may be added by a precinct caucus. The precinct caucus secretary (or chair) will submit a report to the Credentials Committee asking that the caucus elects be added to the convention roll and receive credentials permitting them to vote on matters brought before the convention.
3. If the precinct elects its full allotted number of delegates and alternates, persons who sign in at the convention who are not elected as a delegate or alternate to the convention, may still submit their request to be a delegate or alternate to the state convention to the At-large nominations committee. Forms will be provided in each precinct packet to record the delegates and alternates elected at the precinct caucus. In addition the precinct packet will include forms for persons not selected as either a delegate or alternate at the precinct caucus to petition the Nominations Committee to be nominated as a delegate or alternate to the state convention.
4. Each precinct or paired precinct is entitled to a delegate. The number of delegates to which each precinct is entitled is determined by dividing the number of votes that the precinct cast for the Democratic Party candidate for Governor in 2006 by 180. Precincts that did not cast at least 180 will be paired with other precincts so that each paired precinct may select delegates and alternates by the same formula.
5. The excess number of votes over 180 that each precinct cast for the Democratic Candidate for Governor are allocated to an at-large pool and totaled so that the SD may receive the total number of Delegates to which it is entitled. The excess number of votes from the precincts is divided by 180 with the sum being the number is the number of delegates that the nomination committee will select to assure balance in the delegation.
6. To determine the profile of the at-large delegates, a tally is made by the nominations committee for each of the fairness attributes to be considered in balancing the delegation. The fairness attributes that are considered are:
Age 35 years or younger
Ethnicity
GLBT status
Disability status
Gender
7. The Nominations Committee makes its report to the Convention. The convention may elect to approve the report or may entertain nominations from the convention. In making nominations from the floor to replace a delegate, the persons making the nomination must specify by name which of the delegates nominated by the nomination committee is to be replaced by the person being nominated from the floor.
8. Upon completion of the process of nominations from the floor, the entire delegation must vote to ratify the delegation.
9. The convention must elect the delegation chair.
Women’s History Month
March is Women’s History Month so here is Herstory of this SDEC.
Chair Boyd Richie made it clear in his opening remarks that 2010 is about Texas , not Washington DC . We need to carry this message to all Texans. “Obama has nothing to do with the cronyism in Austin ….or skyrocketing utility costs in Texas .” This is a fight for Texas . “Pelosi didn’t orchestrate the Trans Texas Corridor.”
The Resolutions Committee Report was the focal, female and fun part of the meeting. The fun? A resolution to encourage the entertainment industry in TX. “Why shouldn’t Westerns be filmed in TX?” declared Dr Teal to a lot of amusement. “Why should there be a movie about Huntsville with pointy mountains in the distance?”
The female? A resolution that Texas Democratic Women will be honored at our 2010 Convention. Chair Boyd Richie noted that he is a member of Texas Democratic Women.
The focal? The resolution to allow Democrats to distance themselves from the self named “LaRouche Democrats.” There was much discussion centering on inclusion. Donald Bankston made it very clear that we should not have to endorse or support anyone who campaigned on an impeach Obama platform. “We don’t have Republicans, KKK or Nazi’s” was applauded.
Driving Texas on a gorgeous spring day leads the mind to wondering. First to mind - all the wonders of living in Texas . Next the wonder of the future compared with other states. That led to wondering about the 2010 election and census. Redistricting has long term consequences. Longer than 10 years. When we vote, we are messin’ with Texas . It’s no small hill of beans we are divvying up. It IS our hill of beans.
So in March (Women’s History Month) when you see the bluebonnets, remember Texas is not just those hardy masculine images that come immediately to mind. Texas needs us to take care of her. Please explain to all you meet that the spring Census and fall Vote matter.
Joy Demark, sdec for sd 7
13043 Taylorcrest
Houston, TX 77079
713-467-3056
713-302-0987
Chair Boyd Richie made it clear in his opening remarks that 2010 is about Texas , not Washington DC . We need to carry this message to all Texans. “Obama has nothing to do with the cronyism in Austin ….or skyrocketing utility costs in Texas .” This is a fight for Texas . “Pelosi didn’t orchestrate the Trans Texas Corridor.”
The Resolutions Committee Report was the focal, female and fun part of the meeting. The fun? A resolution to encourage the entertainment industry in TX. “Why shouldn’t Westerns be filmed in TX?” declared Dr Teal to a lot of amusement. “Why should there be a movie about Huntsville with pointy mountains in the distance?”
The female? A resolution that Texas Democratic Women will be honored at our 2010 Convention. Chair Boyd Richie noted that he is a member of Texas Democratic Women.
The focal? The resolution to allow Democrats to distance themselves from the self named “LaRouche Democrats.” There was much discussion centering on inclusion. Donald Bankston made it very clear that we should not have to endorse or support anyone who campaigned on an impeach Obama platform. “We don’t have Republicans, KKK or Nazi’s” was applauded.
Driving Texas on a gorgeous spring day leads the mind to wondering. First to mind - all the wonders of living in Texas . Next the wonder of the future compared with other states. That led to wondering about the 2010 election and census. Redistricting has long term consequences. Longer than 10 years. When we vote, we are messin’ with Texas . It’s no small hill of beans we are divvying up. It IS our hill of beans.
So in March (Women’s History Month) when you see the bluebonnets, remember Texas is not just those hardy masculine images that come immediately to mind. Texas needs us to take care of her. Please explain to all you meet that the spring Census and fall Vote matter.
Joy Demark, sdec for sd 7
13043 Taylorcrest
Houston, TX 77079
713-467-3056
713-302-0987
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
