I agree Andrew about Collin. We ought to have more candidates. But unless they are self-financed or have avenues for raising money, they are going to keep getting 27% of the vote. Many high tech folks haven't been able to find jobs that pay even close to what they had, so there are potentials votes that could be persuadable that never have been.

I hope former Plano Democratic city councilmen David Smith and David Perry, (who almost became Plano's first black mayor) run for higher office.

I happen to know Joe Jaynes and he's the only decent Republican in the county. But he used to have the only competitive Precinct in the County until they added Allen and Fairview to it. I grew up and still have property in Collin.

I live in Plano. I showed up to vote in the primary at 9am, and only 3 democrats had voted before me. That's 3 voters in 2 hours... :(

That was my first time voting in Plano. The times I voted in Dallas I at least had to wait in line a few minutes.

My precinct chair is currently empty. I'm debating whether to run for it or not...

Jason--

You don't have to run for precinct chair, just fill out a form with the County Party, and, since it's vacant, you can be Chair following some boring formalities.

It costs you only what you're willing to spend to organize, and Deb Angell Smith is a pretty hip chick to work for (for a straight girl).

The Colon County Commissioner's Court just fired a public employee that dared run against one of their ranks in the Rethuglican primary.

Thuggery at its best.

Colon County?? ;-)

As an aside, I mean to also mention that Plano uses Diebold machines. It was my first experience with one. The first time I put the card in, it didn't read. The second time it took. If I had had more time, I would have hung around and polled the election workers to see how they felt about the machines...

Since you guys have delved into county GOP parties a little bit, I wanted to throw in a juicy ditty about Van Zandt County.

As the incoming County Chair for the Democrats, I am watching our local GOP party split at the seams. Oddly enough, the ultra-conservative, radical-right wing branch and the rest of the ultra-conservative, radical-right wing have split in two, while both of those fractions are splitting from the "regular" not so radical Republicans.

Oddly, two of the things that have caused this schism are what candidates to support. The ultra-radicals have split because some support the current Precinct 4 Constable, who is a former Democrat. The other UCRR Republicans supported another candidate, also an ex-Democrat, except his wife is the Republican District Clerk who was put in office thanks to thousands from the local GOP Club PAC. Further adding to the schism is that the latter group (supporting the DC's hubby) also supported NOT running anyone against our conservative Democrat Sheriff, arguably the most popular official in the county. They are actually now SUPPORTING him, to the shirgin of the other radical right wings, over their "chosen" GOP candidate who is--get this--the HUSBAND of the DEMOCRATIC DISTRICT ATTORNEY.

Talk about an akwawd situation for a Demo County Chair: The spouse of the highest ranking official in this county (the DA, who also happens to be a friend) is running as a REPUBLICAN.

Yes, I've lost some sleep over this one, but welcome to Peyton Place '04.