Burnt Orange Report

Endorsement Meetings Tonight

By Byron LaMasters

I'll be attending several endorsement meetings tonight. The UD (University Democrats) / CAD (Central Austin Democrats) / CCYD (Capitol City Young Democrats) / NXNW (North by Northwest Austin Democrats) endorsement meeting is at 6 PM and then I'll be heading off late to the ALGPC (Austin Gay and Lesbian Political Caucus) / Stonewall Democrats endorsement meeting at 7 PM. I'm a member of all of the clubs execpt NXNW. I've made up my mind in serveral of the races, and I'm undecided in some others. I planned on posting my recomendations earlier, but between hosting some friends for the Texas Young Democrats Executive Committee meeting over the weekend, school and work Monday, school and hosting a primary watching party last night and school and the meetings tonight, I just have about 10 minutes to post a few quick thoughts now.

These are my personal recommendations. I haven't consulted with Jim, Andrew or Karl-Thomas about these, yet.

FOR U.S. Congress (TX-25): Lloyd Doggett
Unfortunately redistricting has moved me out of the district in which Lloyd Doggett is running (East Austin to McAllen), but I strongly support him for reelection against Leticia Hinojosa. Doggett has been a great advocate for Austin, a strong supporter of UT and the University Democrats. He's a solid liberal who voted against the war. He represents Austin's values and should he not be reelected there's a good chance that Austin will no longer have a hometown representative. Furthermore, Doggett brings ten years of seniority to the table, whereas anyone else would have little clout as a freshman.

FOR Travis County Commissioner, Precinct 1: Celia Israel
This is a tough race for me, but Celia Isreal sought the support of the University Democrats early, and it paid off. She attended most of our fall meetings and presented to us her resume as a former aide to Ann Richards, as a board member of the Capitol Area Food Bank, as chair of Austin Woman's Political Caucus, and as a member of the Austin Environmental Board. She said that east and central Austin an advocate to bring in jobs and to protect our enviroment. When I asked a few more questions of her at a meeting, she invited me out for coffee, where she answered every question I had in detail to my satisfaction. The incumbent, Ron Davis has been a good vote on the Commissioners Court, but I think that Celia Israel will be a better advocate for Precinct 1.

FOR County Court At Law Judge #5: Nancy Hohengarten
I met Nancy last year when I was president of the University Democrats. She's a longtime Democrat and a longtime supporter of the University Democrats. She's also the best qualified candidate in the race, and has the endorsement of the Central Labour Council, the AFL-CIO and won 60% of the vote in the Travis County Bar Association poll (in a three-way race). She might have a tough time with the UD endorsement, but she has my vote.

Time to leave.... I'll post more later tonight...

Update: I'll post the endorsement results tomorrow, in addition to the rest of the candidates which I support. All six organizations that held endorsement meetings tonight endorsed Lloyd Doggett, five endorsed Celia Israel (CAD gave no endorsement. The first ballot was a 31-30-1 vote and the second was a 14-14 tie). All six organizations also endorsed Nancy Hohengarten for County Court at Law #5.

Posted by Byron LaMasters at February 4, 2004 05:22 PM | TrackBack