In his three short decades of life, Ramey Ko has dashed like a racehorse to the front of Democratic politics and Asian American causes. The Carrollton, Texas, native zipped through Yale to earn a degree in history and then galloped through the University of Chicago Law School. Since 2010, he has served as an Associate Municipal Judge, a position appointed by the Austin City Council.

An electric spark of energy and intellect, Ko is active in about a dozen progressive groups, but he is perhaps most focused on the Capital Area Asian American Democrats, of which he is president. Nationally he works with Asian Pacific Americans for Progress and is one of only 20 people in the country appointed by President Obama to serve on the President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. And yes, he has met with the President in that capacity.

The young judge’s road to Asian American advocacy had a few right-hand turns along the way, but he has now firmly established himself in the Democratic Party. If you don’t know Ko, you’re not paying attention. Read More »

A longtime leader of the Stonewall Democrats, both nationally and locally, Rich Bailey has been fighting for LGBT rights his entire adult life.

He grew up a military brat, bouncing around Europe in his youth, and followed his father into the Navy after graduating from high school. But in 1982, his military stint ended abruptly when he felt the full force of official discrimination.

“They asked, I told, so I got kicked out of the Navy,” Bailey says.

Winding up in Austin, Bailey became active with the Austin Lesbian/Gay Political Caucus, worked on several Democratic campaigns, was elected to the Texas State Democratic Executive Committee representing Senate District 14, became chief of staff for Mayor Will Wynn and now works in government relations for the City of Austin. He remains a force in the Stonewall Democrats, but has decided to make some changes.

QUESTION: You are stepping down as president of Stonewall Democrats Austin next month, and in December, you ended your tenure as Secretary of the National Stonewall Democrats PAC. Why? Read More »

Everybody said it! Sunday night’s Johnson Richards Bentsen Dinner at the Four Seasons Hotel was the best TCDP event ever! And we raised nearly $300,000 ($287,450 to be exact)! Honoree Ben Barnes and U.S. House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi drew a remarkable crowd and generous donations.

From the VIP reception to the dinner to the after-party and the after after-party, venues were packed and filled with enthusiasm. In typical Austin style, the revelers turned out in everything from diamonds to denim, from black ties to motorcycle jackets.

Cappy McGarr, a top Democratic donor and humorous Texas toastmaster, had to shout above the joyous crowd in the ballroom to begin the evening’s program. After Pastor Anthony Mays’ invocation, we watched a beautiful tribute video to Governor Barnes that included praise from Vice President Joe Biden. Read More »

If you find yourself lamenting the youthful following of presidential contender Ron Paul, take heart that young Democrats who support smart, good-government candidates such as President Obama are alive and thriving on the University of Texas campus.

UT’s University Democrats, comprised of progressive and engaged young voters, stand in stark contrast to UT’s Republican student group, which has made national news more than once because of its leaders’ shockingly racist comments.

Recently elected UDems President Huey Fischer is proof positive that the future of the Democratic Party is in good hands. Only 19 and a sophomore government major, the Rockport native boasts the enthusiasm of youth along with the political IQ and instincts of someone decades older.

With Republicans young and old spewing so much negativity these days, we thought it was time for a conversation with UT’s own President Fischer!

QUESTION: Last month you were in the news condemning the president of the UT College Republicans for her racist Tweet about President Obama. Unfortunately, her predecessor also made inappropriate comments about Obama. What’s your take on all this?

FISCHER: My initial take was that they made really stupid mistakes and should have corrected them right away. When Lauren Pierce, the first one, made that assassination joke, I thought we could move on from that because I never assumed she meant it, and she apologized.

QUESTION: But then came Cassie Wright’s “My president is black, he snorts a lot of crack!” only a month later. Kind of shocking.

FISCHER: Right. Cassie would not apologize for what was blatantly a racist comment. I knew when she started defending herself that we had to take a stand, and we did it with other groups on campus. We would have called her out even if it had been a Republican president, because racism isn’t a Republican or Democratic issue. As the president of the Black Student Alliance said, this takes us backward instead of moving us forward. It really does harm the political dialogue. Read More »

When Democrats gather at the Four Seasons Hotel on January 15^th for our exciting Johnson Bentsen Richards Dinner, we will honor the extraordinary contributions of Ben Barnes. His work on behalf of the Democratic Party and the State of Texas are truly legendary, and House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi will be there to say so.

Born Benny Frank Barnes in 1938, he began his meteoric political career when he pulled off an upset victory for State Representative at the age of 21. A few years later, he was chosen Speaker of the House and within a few more years was elected to the powerful post of Lieutenant Governor.

Since leaving office, Barnes has been a successful businessman and devoted civic leader. Founder of the Ben Barnes Group, a business consulting and lobbying firm, he brings interest groups and companies together with high-placed Democratic elected officials. And always, he uses his business success to help Democrats — as a donor, a mentor and an advisor. Read More »

It rained a little — and then it poured. But that didn’t stop us from celebrating at the TCDP & OFA Holiday Party on Thursday evening.

Chairman Andy Brown hosted the festivities at his newly remodeled (and now possibly muddy) house in East Austin. We know that 144 people signed in, but many more people dashed inside without signing to avoid standing outside in the wet, cold air, making the count of great Democrats closer to 200!

Senator Kirk Watson and Representatives Elliott Naishtat, Dawnna Dukes and Eddie Rodriguez, along with other elected officials, precinct chairs, candidates and activists, mingled well into the evening. Chairman Brown introduced Representative Dukes (revving up the crowd), OFA organizer Michael Litt (leading the “Fired Up! Ready to Go” chant) and newly filed candidate Dan Grant, who will challenge Congressman Michael McCaul in District 10 next year. We thank all of our hard-working elected officials and candidates who showed up. Read More »

Most Texas politicos don’t remember a time when A.R. “Babe” Schwartz wasn’t wielding power under the dome. Molly Ivins referred to him as a “white-maned pixie,” but she also noted that the diminutive Schwartz has been a towering influence in the Democratic Party for generations.

A World War II veteran and lawyer, Schwartz represented Galveston in the Texas House in the late 1950s and the Texas Senate from 1960 to 1981, specializing in environmental legislation to protect coastal areas. He was a fiery liberal known for his sharp wit and splendid oratory. After leaving office, he transferred those skills to a successful lobbying career.

A friend and colleague of Johnson Bentsen Richards Dinner honoree Ben Barnes, Schwartz, now a spunky 85 years old, took a quick trip down memory lane with us from his Austin home. Read More »

This year’s TCDP & OFA Holiday Party on December 15 has a dual purpose: provide an evening of good cheer and help Trinity Center care for the people in Austin who need us most. As Democrats, we believe in helping the poor, and we hope that our holiday cheer should have a deeper meaning.

So please consider helping to fulfill Trinity Center’s simple wish list: jackets or sweatshirts, knit hats and gloves, socks and new or gently used sleeping bags. Don’t have time to shop? Just make out a check to Trinity Center. Donations can be dropped off at the TCDP office or brought to the party.

Trinity Center is a small-budget charity launched with funds from the Barbara Jordan Foundation and with the guiding hands of longtime Democratic activists, Diana and Doug Bell. The Center provides breakfast, clothing, computer training, counseling and other basic services to thousands of people every year.

Since 2010, the Center’s Executive Director has been Irit Umani, a self-described “Buddhist Jew from Israel by way of Berkeley.” For nearly 20 years, Umani has led organizations working with survivors of domestic violence. She says her work stems from a spiritual commitment to service, and she also believes in progressive politics that hold that government should care for its people.

QUESTION: What was your first impression of Austin’s homeless situation after you arrived from Berkeley? More than you expected? Read More »

The day before Thanksgiving, we learned that three federal judges in San Antonio had rejected the Republican legislature’s partisan slicing of Travis County’s U.S. Congressional districts. Instead of five, we now have three — including the Austin-anchored CD 25 represented by Lloyd Doggett.

No stranger to redistricting attacks, Congressman Doggett has been the target of the Texas right wing throughout his career, and Rick Perry has been an especially ardent foe. But this time around, the political assault was so obvious that a conservative court rejected the Legislature’s maps.

It’s been a long road of uncertainty, but barring a Supreme Court stay, the redistricting lines are set for the 2012 elections.

Back in the saddle and cheerfully on the phone, Congressman Doggett talked with us about the challenges of recent months and the victory of last week.

QUESTION: I bet you had a pretty good Thanksgiving! Read More »

Joining one of Travis County’s many Democratic clubs is a sure-fire way to become active in the community and involved in the electoral process. We have about two dozen Democratic clubs, many of which exert considerable influence through candidate endorsements.

One of the oldest clubs in our city is the Black Austin Democrats, currently presided over by Gerard Washington, a long-time activist with an almost institutional knowledge of city and state politics. He has been involved with BAD since he arrived in Austin in the early ‘90s and was an Obama delegate to the Democratic National Convention in ’08.

Gerard Washington (l), Andy Brown (r)

An accounts examiner at the Comptroller’s office for 20 years (after a stint in the Attorney General’s office), Washington grew up in El Paso and graduated from Washington, D.C.’s Howard University. He is deeply committed to the Democratic Party in general and to Travis County Democrats and BAD in particular. And he is happy to share his enthusiasm.

QUESTION: How did you first get involved with BAD? Read More »