Rep. Jim Dunnam Welcomes Kirk England to Democratic Caucus

The Irving Democratic Club welcomes Rep. England to the fold (3.80 / 5)

As President of the Irving Democratic Club I would like to extend a heart-felt welcome from our group to Representative England as he joins fellow Democrat Rafael Anchia in representing South Irving in the State House of Representatives.

While some aspects of Rep. England's record do trouble some Democratic activists in Irving, particularly his key votes in favor of advancing the GOP voter suppression bills out of the House Election Committee, we look forward to helping educate him on the issues important to his Democratic district: better schools and working conditions for Texans, tougher environmental and consumer protections, and honest government that respects the rights of all.

Overall, though, his record in the last legislative session was far superior to that of North Irving's extreme right wing Representative Linda Harper-Brown.  Her continual attacks on fellow Republicans in their primary election campaigns have sharply limited her effectiveness in Austin.

Glad to see you join the party of the people, Kirk!  I hope to see you at the next meeting of the Irving Democratic Club.

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by: Michael McPhail @ Thu Sep 20, 2007 at 11:26:16 AM CDT

The 2008 Democratic Primary (0.00 / 0)

> "While some aspects of Rep. England's record do trouble some Democratic activists in Irving, particularly his key votes in favor of advancing the GOP voter suppression bills out of the House Election Committee, we look forward to helping educate him on the issues important to his Democratic district..."

But he just got through telling you "I am confident that my friends and neighbors agree that doing what is right is more important than partisan politics."

It seems to me what grass roots Democrats do to participate in the process IS "partisan politics." 

I was personally present for the League of Women Voters debate where Mr. England appeared in 2006, at the Irving City Hall.  It would be difficult to have been there and suggest that he somehow represents the views of Democrats.

I am impressed with the stand that our County Chair Darlene Ewing is taking on the matter. 

> "Dallas County Democratic chairwoman Darlene Ewing said Mr. England's
> move to the party was a positive. But she said that many grass-roots
> party activists would not support Mr. England if Ms. Hubener decided
> on another run.
>
> Though the party remains neutral in primary elections, Ms. Ewing said
> she personally backs Ms. Hubener.
>
> "If Katy runs, I'm sticking with her," Ms. Ewing said. "He's going to
> have trouble beating her in the primary. The grass-roots Democrats are
> going to back Hubener."

I fail to see why any local jurisdiction that receives Robin Hood money to fund public schools would ever elect a Republican to the Legislature.  I hope the people of Irving will concentrate on the matter of Republican Rep. Linda Harper Brown, who did not show up at all for her opportunity to debate.

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by: Tom Blackwell @ Fri Sep 21, 2007 at 02:33:30 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

video of press conference (0.00 / 0)

Raw video footage of England's press conference this morning is available on KVUE, here

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by: Joe @ Thu Sep 20, 2007 at 23:09:56 PM CDT

I'm in the press release! (0.00 / 0)

video of press conference (0.00 / 0)
Raw video footage of England's press conference this morning is available on KVUE, here

by: Joe @ Thu Sep 20, 2007 at 11:09 PM CDT

http://www.kvue.com/...

I watched it, and one of the questions of him was had he talked to me (Harvey Jackson, president of the Grand Prairie Democrats). Of course the answer was honest, and "no". I'm sure I'll meet him soon. We have a new candidate meetup group for Grand Prairie and I expect that we will make some time for him. http://democrat.meet...

Despite whatever political differences I may have with him, he seems like a friendly guy, I'm still glad that he saw the light and switched parties, and I look forward to meeting him.

I have started my own BOR journal on this issue here:
http://burntorangere...

I hope we can continue this conversation there. Once again, Welcome to the Democratic party, Kirk England!

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by: Mo @ Sun Sep 23, 2007 at 18:28:21 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

The Grand Prairie Democratic Club also welcomes Rep. England to the fold (0.00 / 0)

I can't promise that he won't have a primary opponent, but I can promise that I am happy that he took a stand against Craddick. One way or another England has secured this seat for a Democrat, either him or another.

I'm sure that my Democratic Brethren in the legislature (safely out of the 106th) have promised him the moon for switching parties. I count on them for no less of a sell-job, but I hope that Mr. England has considered the distinct possibility that he may get a good-ole-fashioned hazing in the Democratic primary depending on who actually announces. I know his daddy already has the political bug, so I'm guessing he won't leave us for that kinda treatment.

We have further uses for him whether he sinks or swims on this. If not the 106th, we may need him to run against either Marchant for US house, or Chris Harris for State Senate, if not county commissioner, that Republican seat is due for a 2010 election too. If he has has as big-of-balls as some state-wide Democratic names claim, I'm sure he's got big enough balls for more things too. He may even get a promotion out of the deal if he has the patience for it, (which I suspect he does).

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by: Mo @ Thu Sep 20, 2007 at 23:11:45 PM CDT

Hubener (0.00 / 0)

I really hope Katy Hubener actually decides to take a pass on HD-106 and run for SD-9.  I have no idea if she is even considering this.  However, SD-9 is more vulnerable than people think it is.  It's the fourth most Democratic Republican-held seat in the Senate.  Whoever runs in SD-9 can piggy back on the loads of money that will be spent on Paula's race in HD-93.  Katy already has support in HD-106, which makes her a prime candidate for the southern half of SD-9.  Clearly the northern half of SD-9 is going to be a challenge.  But, this area hasn't had a real Democrat run for some time.  Any Democrat running in that district probably gets in the low 40s, but I suspect Katy could probably get in the high 40s.  It would build infrastructure, which is something we need for future elections.

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by: blank @ Fri Sep 21, 2007 at 00:12:47 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

England's grandmother is a yellow dog Democrat (0.00 / 0)

So says Kirk's father, Charles England, today:

Grand Prairie legislator blames party switch on GOP leaders

Republican leaders defend record as rep switches parties

08:00 PM CDT on Thursday, September 20, 2007

By GROMER JEFFERS JR. / The Dallas Morning News ~ gjeffers@dallasnews.com

GRAND PRAIRIE - A day after he bolted the GOP, Rep. Kirk England said Thursday that the Republican leadership in Austin had pushed him into Democratic pastures.

"My community's agenda and the Republican leadership's agenda are absolutely not the same," said the Grand Prairie lawmaker. "Certainly the speaker is included in that, but it's the Republican leadership in general. I'm going to throw the governor in there."

Mr. England said he and Republican leaders were not on the same page on issues related to public education, access to health care and other pocketbook matters. And he criticized Gov. Rick Perry for vetoing a bill that would have increased the state's contribution to community colleges.

"Shame on the leadership for that," he said, blaming House Speaker Tom Craddick and his lieutenants.

[...]

Mr. England's father, Grand Prairie Mayor Charles England, a Republican, sat with him during the news conference.

"They thought they could control how Kirk voted on all issues," said the older Mr. England.

He said many in the England family are Democrats, including the lawmaker's grandmother.

"My 94-year-old mother is a yellow dog Democrat," he said. "She's a happy camper today."[Emphasis added.]

It would also be nice if he would explain why he voted to suppress votes with the Voter ID Bill in the last session. Democrats were strongly opposed to it, of course.

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by: Elsbeth @ Fri Sep 21, 2007 at 00:17:56 AM CDT

Mr. England's record .... (0.00 / 0)

Somehow I just can't dismiss some of Mr. England's votes, just as I can not dismiss the things that took place in his last League of Women Voters' debate at the Irving City Hall.  It would be very difficult to have been there and suggest that Mr. England somehow represents the views of Democrats.

Here are pictures I took there.  Click here: 

http://www.n5gar.com...

This England sign was placed in front of some of the signs of Democratic winners at the Irving City Hall:

http://www.n5gar.com...

"George" attended the debate.  His message:  "Free us from England"

Click here: 

http://www.n5gar.com...

If there are any Democratic "leaders" from outside Dallas County who are interested in raising money for this England to try to defeat Katy Hubener in a 2008 Democratic Primary, there will be some questions.  They will have to answer about why they did that, in view of opportunities to spend that money on things that matter.  For example, there will be General Election campaigns in Harris County that might just be won the same way we won local elections in Dallas County in 2006.

And would Republicans who say they like England skip the opportunity to vote in top of the ticket races in their Republican primary, including President of the United States, just to vote for a down-ballot England in a Democratic primary?  I don't think so.

It is the people of District 106 who have made it first a swing district, and now a Democratic district. 

Democrats would not have to worry about Katy's vote on the House floor, while we would have to give time and attention to how Mr. England might vote, on our urgent issues.  It seems there are things that the people who were present for the last debate between Katy and England understand, that some "leaders" who were hundreds of miles away at their homes could not.

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by: Tom Blackwell @ Mon Sep 24, 2007 at 04:57:22 AM CDT

Talk and endorsements are cheap (0.00 / 0)

Tom Blackwell:

If there are any Democratic "leaders" from outside Dallas County who are interested in raising money for this England to try to defeat Katy Hubener in a 2008 Democratic Primary, there will be some questions.  They will have to answer about why they did that, in view of opportunities to spend that money on things that matter.  For example, there will be General Election campaigns in Harris County that might just be won the same way we won local elections in Dallas County in 2006.

It doesn't surprise me that so many of the State party leadership want to endorse Kirk at this time. The farther away from the 106th they live, the more likely they are to endorse Kirk. Many of them probably already met Kirk from his short political career in Austin, and the instinct to want to reward him for joining us probably runs  high. If I knew nothing about the district and lived elsewhere, I'd likely feel the same way. A good word, or even an endorsement doesn't cost anything.

Giving money, however, is another thing entirely. First of all Kirk England doesn't need any money. He and his father have become wealthy insurance salesmen with their extensive political connections. Secondly as an insurance man, he is also going to get a lot of donations from conservative business interests outside the district, which would otherwise be out of reach for other Democratic candidates. Spending precious loyalist money on Kirk's race would be a redundant waste.

I've started a BOR journal to consolidate discussions on Kirk England's switch and the 106th. I welcome all points of view there.

The 106th today:
http://burntorangere...

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by: Mo @ Mon Sep 24, 2007 at 07:16:58 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

More ... (0.00 / 0)

See my response at:

http://burntorangere...

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by: Tom Blackwell @ Mon Sep 24, 2007 at 11:54:49 AM CDT