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TX-21 
Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 03:53 PM CST
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Thank you so much for your amazing support over the past 9 months. Because of your hard work and dedication, we did it. I am now officially the Democratic Nominee for the TX-21 Congressional Seat. In November 2010, I will face the 22-year Republican incumbent, Lamar Smith. Our challenge is really only just beginning. The results of the primary show that he is a skilled career politician who understands the business of re-election. His opponent was able to get about 20% of the Republican vote, denting his base, but not nearly enough to split the support. I think he put himself in a difficult position though trying to run on the right of Lamar Smith, there wasn't much wiggle room there. Smith also lost support that he had from the 2006 primary, so he came away with about 16,000 votes less than he could have had.
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Wed Feb 17, 2010 at 10:19 PM CST
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Today, I received an e-newsletter from my opponent, Congressman Lamar Smith. On the one-year anniversary of the Recovery Act, he outlines the failure of this legislation with partisan sarcasm highlighting only wasteful spending in "The Top 12 Spending Lowlights." Wasteful spending is a huge problem with our government, both during Republican and Democratic majorities and Presidents. We must have accountability for all these programs to assure there are not abuses.
But, as usual, Lamar Smith isn't telling the whole story of the Recovery Act. He omits everything related to our own Congressional District. He has left out the most important information for our own community...What has this Recovery Act done for us here in Central Texas? The highest amount of awards in Texas came into our district, obviously without any assistance from Representative Smith. $2,481,005,612.00 was pumped into our local economy. Our Congressional District also tops the list with the highest amount of jobs created in Texas from the Recovery Act, 20,500 new jobs, just in our district alone.
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Mon Feb 15, 2010 at 09:33 PM CST
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After 8 months of tireless campaigning, the first major milestone is finally upon us. It will be such an honor to walk into the voting booth and see the names of so many of my friends and colleagues along with mine on the Democratic Primary ballot. I know that I'm unopposed and so just one vote will make me the winner of my race, but I am still filled with anticipation. I can't wait for the evening of March 2nd to see the results.
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Fri Dec 04, 2009 at 05:30 PM CST
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Today Houston Mayor Bill White made the official move to run in the Democratic primary for Texas Governor. Hank Gilbert decided to switch races and run for Agriculture Commissioner instead of Governor, leaving Bill White as the frontrunner battling it out with CHI founder, Farouk Shami, and Kinky Friedman, as well as Felix Alvarado and Bill Dear. John Sharp is waiting out the race for Kay Bailey Hutchinson's seat. Those in Judicial races have also been swapping places which leaves Karen Sage and Cliff Brown now both unopposed for the time being although Mindy Montford is considering joining the race for retiring Judge Baird. This election season is full of surprises.
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Mon Nov 16, 2009 at 04:31 PM CST
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Today we are faced with another fear-based debate about whether or not the Guananomo Bay Detainees should be housed in US prisons and be given their days in court. If you were to believe the rhetoric from the Republican partisans, America has never faced such danger from any other past enemy or based decisions during wartime on human rights, the Constitution and international law. The reality is, of course, that we have been faced with all these things before and our values cannot be compromised especially in challenging times. The Supreme Court decisions upholding habeas corpus rights for these detainees is evidence that we, as a people, have a firm belief in the Constitution and our role as model for international law and human rights.
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Sat Nov 07, 2009 at 10:33 PM CST
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Tonight we witnessed a landmark vote for our generation, 220-215. Never again will people be turned down from health insurance due to pre-existing conditions. Never again will Americans go bankrupt due to health care crisis. Never again will our health care be based on our continued employment. Never again will we stand by and watch our neighbors die from lack of access to affordable health care.
This was an historic day that we've worked towards for decades, and now we are one step closer to achieving total victory. We now wait for the Senate version and then the process to combine them into the final law.
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Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 01:28 PM CST
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Last night's election results were less a referendum on the Democratic Party, and more a referendum on incumbents and limitless campaign spending. Exit polls showed that the number one concern of voters was the economy and jobs, and the voters themselves said that their vote was not about the performance of the President. The candidates pouring money into their own campaigns, spending millions of dollars to win, only reminded the voters of the vast gap between the rich and poor in America. In several races, those spending the most, did not win. Here in Texas, in the race for Houston Mayor, Annise Parker came in first after being outspent 5:1 by her challenger. While the latest poll averages from realclearpolitics.com show that the President's approval is still high at 51.4%, the approval of Congress is only at 24.8%, and of those polled only 38.8% think that America is on the right track. At this time of economic hardship, high unemployment, and job insecurity, the voters across the country voted out incumbents, those seen as contributing to our economic conditions, and voted for change.
These election results offer hope and inspiration to those of us challenging long-time sitting Republican incumbents with their own large war chests, such as Lamar Smith. Americans are ready for a change, ready for Representatives who will take action and represent their interests, not the special interests. It is time for Representatives to find solutions to our most critical issues, create and grow jobs, and put our country back on the right track. That is precisely what I will do when I am elected in 2010.
If you feel that your voice isn't being heard, if you are tired of the failed policies of Lamar Smith, and if you have a vision for a better tomorrow, then please join me in taking action to win in 2010. Go to my website, http://www.laineyforcongress.com, and contribute to my campaign, join our team, add your endorsement and spread the word that we have a winnable race in Texas Congressional District 21.
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Lainey Melnick
Candidate for US Congress
Texas 21st District
http://www.LaineyForCongress.com
lmelnick@laineyforcongress.com
On Facebook, http://www.facebook.com/pages/...
On Twitter http://www.twitter.com/lmelnick
Paid for and authorized by the Lainey Melnick for Congress Committee
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Wed Oct 14, 2009 at 07:58 PM CDT
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In what can't be considered anything other than a very slow start for a campaign, Democrat Lainey Melnick raised less than $13,000 in the last quarter, spent just over $10,000 and has $2,435.33 in cash on hand in her bid to defeat incumbent Republican Lamar Smith. Even worse, nearly half of the amount posted as raised in her 3rd Quarter FEC filing is from "in-kind" contributions. That's in comparison to the over $1 million cash on hand Lamar Smith had on his last report. James Arthur Strohm is the Libertarian candidate. | CANDIDATE NAME | NET RECEIPTS | NET DISB | CASH | DEBT | THROUGH | | | | | | | | | MELNICK, LAINEY | $12,950 | $10,515 | $2,435 | $0 | 09/30/2009 | | SMITH, LAMAR | $366,509 | $151,185 | $1,005,442 | $4,552 | 06/30/2009* | | STROHM, JAMES ARTHUR | $1,495 | $1,193 | $347 | $0 | 06/30/2009* |
*Numbers are from June 30th report. TX-21 was already an unwinnable race before this report. It's even more so now. That's not to say that candidates shouldn't run, I was and am a subscriber to the 2005 "Run Everywhere" caucus. Candidates have proven, as John Courage did in 2002 and 2006 in this very district, that one can run in seats they know they will likely not win but can use their campaign to build the party and assist other candidates running (as Courage did in 2006 redirecting his efforts to help Valinda Bolton get into office after TX-21 was redistricted in the middle of the election into the atrocious seat it is now). Melnick already faced concerns over an early email list mishap which spammed her list relentlessly for a couple days. TX-21 is no TX-10 and this report shows Lainey Melnick is no Jack McDonald on the fundraising front. That's two unfortunate strikes already in a district that doesn't require three strikes to be called out.
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Thu Sep 24, 2009 at 06:41 PM CDT
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The saying goes, "For evil to triumph, all is needed is for good men to do nothing." Of course, I would modify that to include us all, men and women.
Due to Lamar Smith's 22 years of inaction, our community has suffered. Our public school system is lagging behind the rest of the world. Our natural resources are dwindling. Our economy is struggling. Our infrastructure is crumbling. Our military continues fighting without a plan for victory or exit. Our health care system continues to flounder under the weight of increasing costs. And our climate continues to change.
The time has come for someone to represent our community who will take action, someone who will fight for your interests rather than the special interests. That is precisely what I will do as your representative.
This election is about far more than simply saying no to Lamar Smith...It's about our future. And so, my question to you is: what vision for tomorrow do you have? Is it a vision of better roads and better schools?; A vision of safety, security, and prosperity for you and your loved ones? Is it a vision in which we put people before politics?... Or is it a vision of inaction and status quo? If you're tired of the failed policies of Lamar Smith, and if you have a vision for a better tomorrow, then join me in taking action to win in 2010!
How can you take action?
1. Donate $100, up to a maximum of $2400 per individual, or whatever your own financial circumstances allow, before the end of our first reporting period on September 30th: http://www.actblue.com/page/lm...
2. Volunteer to help in a variety of roles by filling out the "Join Our Team" form: http://www.laineyforcongress.com
3. 10 in 2010. Find 10 friends and ask them to support my campaign, then follow through and make sure that they go out and vote.
4. Spread the word. Suggest my Facebook Fan Page to all of your friends. Forward this email to all of your contacts. Post all our events and pages to your social network. Come to our Environmentalists for Lainey Melnick House Party hosted by Robin Rather and Melinda Taylor: http://www.actblue.com/page/en...
With your help, we can win this race.
Thank you,
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Lainey Melnick
Candidate for US Congress
Texas 21st District
http://www.LaineyForCongress.com
lmelnick@laineyforcongress.com
512-799-0626 cell
On Facebook, http://www.facebook.com/pages/...
On Twitter http://www.twitter.com/lmelnick
Paid for and authorized by the Lainey Melnick for Congress Committee
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Fri Jun 26, 2009 at 02:07 PM CDT
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Democrat Lainey Melnick filed her papers earlier this week to be a candidate in 2010's election for U.S. Congressional District 21, a district currently represented by Lamar Smith. Her kickoff event is planned for Wednesday, the day the Special Session is set to start. From her press release:
Lainey Melnick will kick off her campaign with her official announcement for the 21st District Congressional seat on July 1st at the Shoreline Grill, 98 San Jacinto Blvd., from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. CHAMPS quartets from Anderson and Westlake High Schools will play live and other entertainers are expected. Advance tickets are available at actblue.com/page/lmkickoff.
"We need a representative in Congress who actually represents us." says Ms Melnick, "We face enormous challenges with the economy, health care, energy, and education to name only a few. We can't afford to play partisan politics. We need a Congressman willing to vote for the people instead of a political party if we are to return to stability, prosperity, and our position as a global leader."
Lainey, a grassroots leader, small business owner, mother and grandmother, is leaving her position as the Central Texas Regional Lead with Organizing for America to put full-time effort into the race. Her website, www.LaineyMelnick.com, already includes a long list of public supporters and endorsements.
Although Melnick is a political novice, her list of public supporters already includes some good Austin Democratic names, including Councilman Mike Martinez, and Councilman Chris Riley. Go view her website and check out her campaign. She has facebook and twitter accounts, but links to those are hidden in the bottom right-hand corner of the website, which is probably ineffective. That said, though, she's still off to a decent start for what will definitely be a very uphill battle.
Update by KT: I just noticed this in a Statesman post about Lainey's kick-off next week but there is apparently another Democrat looking at running in the primary. I haven't heard of him until now.
Separately, an Austin businessman who's been weighing a run for the Democratic nomination for the seat said the race might cost a challenger more than $1 million considering the district takes in two major media markets.
Tejas Vakil, 52, described himself as conservative on economic issues but less so on foreign policy and social issues. He said: "The issue is whether or not I can run a credible campaign."
Update by Michael (7:11 pm): When this post was written, Mayor Lee Leffingwell and Councilmembers Mike Martinez and Chris Riley were listed as supporters on Melnick's website. We got a call by source knowledgeable about the mayor and councilmembers to strike out that part of the post for the time being. Since then, Mayor Leffingwell's name has been taken off of Melnick's public list of supporters, but the names of Martinez and Riley remain.
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