[Tcdp_newsletter] Travis County Democratic Party Weekly E-Newsletter for Friday, December 7, 2007 - Friday, December 14, 2007

Thu Dec 6 19:12:58 CST 2007

Travis County Democratic Party Weekly E-Newsletter 

Friday, December 7, 2007 - Friday, December 14, 2007

Special TCDP Office Hours during candidate filing period

Monday - Friday  8:30pm - 6:00pm

Please check the TCDP calendar on our web site for holiday closings.

http://www.traviscountydemocrats.org/calendar.php?month=12
<http://www.traviscountydemocrats.org/calendar.php?month=12&year=2007>
&year=2007 

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IN THIS ISSUE 

- Message from Chris Elliott, Chair Travis County Democratic Party

- Calling All Potential Candidates- Filing For Office Has Begun!

- Precinct Chair Filings Continue!

- TCDP Holiday Party on Tuesday, January 11-  YOU'RE INVITED!!

- March 4, 2008 Primary Workers Needed

- Presidential Campaign Bumper Stickers

- Become a TCDP Sustaining Member

- TCDP Finance Council and Sustaining Members

- Did you know?

- Calendar of Upcoming Events

- In the News 
- Contact Info for TCDP Administrative Office
- Newsletter: How to Subscribe or Unsubscribe Your E-Mail 

- To Subscribers Who Use AOL

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MESSAGE FROM CHRIS ELLIOTT, CHAIR TRAVIS COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY

Dear Fellow Democrats:

Filing for candidates for offices on the Democratic Primary ballot in March
has begun and a number of folks have already either paid the filing fee or
submitted petitions (subject to validation by TCDP) in order to secure their
place on the ballot.  We expect a steady stream of filers in the next few
weeks as the filing deadline ends on January 2.  If you are reading this and
are a current office holder seeking re-election or a new candidate and you
haven't yet filed, please pop by our office on E. 6th Street and get
everything in order.  

2008 should be an exciting election year and I am personally excited about
the great slate of candidates that will be on our primary ballot and
thereafter the general election ballot.  I fully expect that with the
quality candidates whom have already filed, and whom we expect to file in
the coming days, we will continue our recent past electoral success.  With
just a few more victories, we can turn Travis County into an entirely
Democratic county with respect to our locally elected officials.

I also want to encourage all of you to join us at Threadgill's on Riverside
Drive next Tuesday, December 11 for TCDP's annual Holiday Party.  It starts
at 5:30 and, as usual, we will enjoy good food, good drink and great
Democratic fellowship.  It will be a great opportunity to meet and mingle
with elected officials as well as 2008 candidates whom you may not yet know.
Please join us.  I guarantee a good time.  

Best Holiday wishes to everyone and I hope to see you next Tuesday and
beyond.  

Democratically yours, 

Chris Elliott

Chair, Travis County Democratic Party  

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CALLING ALL POTENTIAL CANDIDATES- FILING FOR OFFICE HAS BEGUN!!!

To become a candidate on the March 4, 2008 Democratic Primary ballot, you
must file in one of two ways: by fee or by petition.  To see a chart of fees
and petition requirements, please click the following link:

http://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/candidates/guide/demorrep.shtml

For offices whose districts are wholly contained within Travis County, the
potential candidate must file at the Travis County Democratic Party (TCDP)
office at 1311 E. 6th St.  TCDP has the filing form at the office, and we
can notarize it for you. 

Multi-county district offices, statewide office, or federal office
candidates must file at the Texas Democratic Party (TDP) at 505 W. 12th St.,
Suite 200. 

TCDP Staff: 477-7500 or info at traviscountydemocrats.org

State Party Staff:  478-9800

If you are a candidate and you will file with the TCDP with a petition, the
following are some general guidelines that we strongly suggest:

1.         Please turn in your petition, in its entirety, as early as you
can to the Travis County Democratic Party.  Our staff is required to verify
each signature up to the minimum amount needed for you to become a
candidate.  Turnover to verify a standard petition takes approximately three
days to complete.  Our staff will notify you upon completion of verifying
every signature on your petition for accuracy.  If it is determined that
there are not enough valid signatures before the deadline, we will notify
your office and you may submit more signatures.  However, you run the risk
that our staff may be verifying other candidates petitions and not have
ample time to work further on yours.  If it is determined that there are not
enough valid signatures after the January, 2nd deadline, your petition will
not be accepted and in turn, you will not be a candidate on the March
Primary ballot.  

Additionally, if your petition is presented to our office during the final
days before filing ends on Wednesday, January 2nd, 2008, our staff may not
have adequate time to verify all the signatures depending upon how many
others are also filing by petition at that time.  If your petition is found
to have not enough valid signatures after the deadline, then you will not be
a candidate on the March Primary ballot.  Again, TCDP asks that you present
your petition as early as you can.

2.         Due to state law, the TCDP cannot accept a check as a backup to
the petition.  Once a check is presented for filing, the candidate files
with that check.  According to rules set forth by the Texas Secretary of
State, ".if (a candidate) files with a check he or she has filed with a
filing fee and there is no refund provided in the Election Code 'if the
petition is good.'"

3.         Please review the TCDP online web calendar for times around the
holidays that our office will be closed so that you can plan accordingly.
You may view the upcoming months here:
http://www.traviscountydemocrats.org/calendar.php?month=12
<http://www.traviscountydemocrats.org/calendar.php?month=12&year=2007>
&year=2007 

FILING FOR OFFICE ENDS ON WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2008 AT 6:00PM!

************************************************************************

PRECINCT CHAIR FILINGS CONTINUE! 

Are you interested in becoming a precinct chair?  The position has potential
rewards, such as being in a leadership position that comes with a title and
some visibility, venues for camaraderie, opportunities to influence the
process, to go to county and state conventions or even beyond, and an outlet
for your creativity and energy.  The office of precinct chair is an elected
two-year position for the term 2008 - 2010.

For all current precinct chairs and anyone considering becoming a new
precinct chair, filing in the upcoming March Primary for the office of
Democratic Precinct Chair is ongoing.  Filing ends for all offices on
Wednesday, January 2nd 2008 at 6:00pm.  

If you are planning to run again or run for the first time, you must file
with the TCDP.  We have the form here so you do not need to do anything
before hand.  The process will take a mere 5 - 10 minutes.  TCDP staff
notarizes your form at the time of filing.  There is no fee to file for the
office of precinct chair.

Reminder: All current chairs must re-file every two years if they wish to
continue to hold the office!  

TCDP will accept filing forms during regular business hours, 9:00 a.m. -
5:00 p.m. Monday - Friday but we would ask that you call first just to make
sure that either Elizabeth or Garry are in: 477-7500.  Thank you!

************************************************************************

TCDP HOLIDAY PARTY ON TUESDAY, DECEMBER11-YOU'RE INVITED!!!

Tuesday, December 11, 2007
5:30-7:30
Threadgill's World Headquarters Restaurant, 301 W. Riverside Drive

All Democrats are invited to join the Travis County Democratic Party for
their Annual Holiday Party. Light appetizers and a cash bar available. And
the best part? There's no charge to come to the event! 

Start off your holiday party season with Democrats!

************************************************************************

MARCH 4, 2008 DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY WORKERS NEEDED

The TCDP works with Travis County Elections to secure election workers for
all Primary elections, and currently we are recruiting Democrats to work at
polling locations for the March 4, 2008 Democratic Primary.  Every precinct
must have a Democratic presiding judge, alternate judge, and at least one
clerk (the number of clerks are dependent upon a formula set forth by the
office of the Texas Secretary of State and will be determined at a later
date).  Every effort will be made to place you in your home precinct or as
close to your home as possible.  The sooner you contact our office, the
better the selection of precincts you have from which to choose.  Judges
must work all day (with breaks), but clerks may work part of the day.

If you are chosen by the TCDP to be a presiding judge, you may choose a
Democratic alternate judge and clerk to work with you if the positions have
not already been taken.  Please provide the names and contact information of
your workers to the TCDP, so we may forward that information to Travis
County Elections Division.

Please review the following items:

1.	Though the Primary Election is partisan, it is important that you
work cordially with your Republican counterpart.
2.	If you are a presiding judge, one of the duties will be to
physically set up the voting machines.  They are bulky and may be somewhat
heavy for some folks to handle.  However, alternate judges and clerks can
and should help set these up.
3.	The integrity of the election process is of the utmost importance,
so you must be reliable and dependable in making sure you have everything
for your polling location; that everything is ready to go and is operational
by 7:00am when the polls open; and when your polling location closes, that
you return all materials to your designated receiving station in a timely
manner before you go home or attend any Party function or event (e.g.
precinct conventions).
4.	Travis County Elections requires attendance for training for all
presiding and alternate judges, regardless if you have been trained in the
past.  Training will be offered for clerks.
5.	Pay for the primary is set by the Texas Secretary of State.  The
hourly rate for the 2008 Primary for presiding and alternate judges is set
at $7.00/hour, and it includes the hour before polls open and up to two
hours after polls close.  Clerks also are paid $7.00/hour if they attend
training.  Otherwise, the pay is $5.85/hour.  

To let us know of your intent to work or for any questions you may have,
please contact TCDP Asst. Director Garry Brown at
garry at traviscountydemocrats.org. 

************************************************************************

PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN BUMPER STICKERS

Travis County Democratic Party now has bumper stickers from a few of the
presidential campaigns.  We have the following:

Hillary Clinton

John Edwards

Barack Obama

Bill Richardson

TCDP asks for a $2 donation for each bumper sticker.  Get yours now!

*********************************************************************** 
BECOME A TCDP SUSTAINING MEMBER!

Since 2004, seven Republican-held offices within Travis County have switched
to Democrats, and now, there are only four Republicans left and one of those
was just appointed by Rick Perry last September!  As you can see, the TCDP
has stepped up to make Travis County even more Democratic!

Sustaining members are our lifeblood.  They are the reason that we are open
year-round (one of the five county parties in Texas), have two staff
members, and our work has been so successful.  We do not receive any funds
from the national or state parties!  

Stand with us and other Travis County residents and support TCDP by becoming
a Member.  We have two levels of membership:

Sustaining:  minimum of $10.00 per month or $120.00 annually. 

Finance Council:  minimum of $84.00 per month or $1000.00 annually.  Members
at this level receive prominent listing in our publications and web site as
well as at Travis County Democratic Party functions along with free
admission to TCDP sponsored events. 

The Travis County Democratic Party is dependent on your generosity for
everything we do!

To join the Travis County Democratic Party go online to:
<http://www.traviscountydemocrats.org/> http://www.traviscountydemocrats.org
and click on "Donate" in the red box at the bottom left of the page.  Or
contact us at info at traviscountydemocrats.org or 512-477-7500.       

Mailed donations for the Party should be made out to "Travis County
Democratic Party" and sent to: 

TCDP

P.O. Box 684263 
Austin, TX 78768-4263

*********************************************************************** 
TCDP FINANCE COUNCIL AND SUSTAINING MEMBERS

Member Updates for the week of November 30 - December 6, 2007

New Finance Council Member

Constable Richard T. McCain

Sustaining Member Renewal

Elizabeth Hartman

Thank you!!!

For a full list of member names, please visit the home page of our website
and choose from the blue menu on the left hand side of the page.

If you feel your name should be on the web list yet do not see it, give us a
ring:  477-7500

*********************************************************************** 
DID YOU KNOW?

The Travis County Democratic Party has two other email lists: Activism and
Events.  These lists are used occasionally for folks who want to know more
about action items and particular events respectively.

You may sign up for these lists at the following link:
http://www.traviscountydemocrats.org/newsletter.php 

*************************************************************************

CALENDAR OF UPCOMING EVENTS

The TCDP Calendar changes almost daily as we receive new information, so we
encourage you to check the calendar often.  Go to:
http://www.traviscountydemocrats.org/calendar.php       

**************************
Friday, December 7, 2007

Fundraiser for Responsible Growth for Northcross 

TIME:  Friday, December 7, 2007 at 7:30pm
PLACE:  Arbor Cinema, 9828 Great Hills Trail

You are invited to a film showing fundraiser for Responsible Growth for
Northcross. Did you see the film "Super Size Me"? Well, the makers of that
film have a new one called "What Would Jesus Buy?" It is opening this
weekend at the Arbor Cinema.

What Would Jesus Buy? follows Reverend Billy and the Church of Stop Shopping
Gospel Choir as they go on a cross-country mission to save Christmas from
the Shopocalypse: the end of mankind from consumerism, over-consumption and
the fires of eternal debt!

The 7:30 PM show on Friday night will be an RG4N fundraiser. Tickets will be
only $5 and the money goes to RG4N. Let's pack the theatre!

But wait, there's more. During the opening weekend, you'll be able to print
out a coupon from the RG4N website that will be good for one guest +1 to see
the film at the senior/child price. In other words, you can buy up to 2
tickets at a discount with the flyer. (That coupon will be available by
Friday on RG4N's website here: http://www.rg4n.org/node/299) 

Go here to learn more about the movie: http://wwjbmovie.com
<http://wwjbmovie.com/>  

Click here to see the trailer:
http://www.apple.com/trailers/independent/whatwouldjesusbuy/trailer 

Click here to read a review:
http://movies.nytimes.com/2007/11/16/movies/16buy.html 

RG4N will staff an information table during the run of the film, and even
answer questions from the audience during a quick post-film Q&A.

See you there!
http://www.rg4n.org <http://www.rg4n.org/>  

************************************

Saturday, December 8, 2007

YellerDawg/Saturday Sages Democrats Meeting
TIME:  Saturday, December 8, 2007 at 11:00am
PLACE:  Tres Amigos Restaurant, 1801 S. Capitol of Texas Hwy

CONTACT:  Bill McAfee at bmcafee at austin.rr.com 

You are invited to join the YellerDawg/Saturday Sages Democrats for their
weekly meeting.  

**************************

Sunday, December 9, 2007

Democrats of Comal County Holiday Party

TIME:  Sunday, December 9, 2007 at 4:00pm-6:00pm
PLACE:  Kapellas Greek Grill, corner of Common and Union in New Braunfels

CONTACT:  comaldems at mac.com, or call Carolyn or Bob at 830-935-4433

You are invited to join the Democrats of Comal County for a fun get-together
of likeminded folks- fellow Democrats.

For only $10 per head, there'll be a sumptuous spread of Greek appetizers,
coffee, tea, and soft drinks. The bar will be open at your pleasure for the
purchase of other beverages.

There will be a White Elephant gift exchange, which should be a hoot! Like
GOP elephants, the white ones can be very costly, but not much fun to have
around the house. Look in your closets, garages, and attics for a treasure
you've wanted to get rid of, but were ashamed to give to a friend. The
person that gets it will never need to know that it came from you. If you've
already shed all your treasures at the garage sale, please don't spend any
more than ten dollars for something you don't want, just so you can take
home a gift you probably won't like any better.

If you haven't done it yet, we'd appreciate your letting us know how many
folks you'll be bringing. There's no need to reply if you can't make it.
We'll miss you!

**************************

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Travis County Democratic Party's Holiday Party-Please refer to this event
earlier in this newsletter. 

Lake Travis Democrats Holiday Shindig 

TIME:  Tuesday, December 11, 2007 at 7:00pm
PLACE:  Lakeway Activity Center, 105 Cross Creek

CONTACT: Ed Benjamin at EBen731 at juno.com 

Please join Lake Travis Democrats for their holiday party in lieu of their
monthly meeting. 

**************************
Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Fundraiser for Armando Walle, candidate for TX House District 140 

TIME:  Wednesday, December 12, 2007 at 5:00pm-7:00pm
PLACE:  Four Seasons Hotel -- Stone Crossings Room, 98 San Jacinto Blvd.

You Are Cordially Invited to a Reception Benefiting Democratic candidate for
Texas State Representative, District 140 Armando Walle.

www.armandowalle.com <http://www.armandowalle.com/>   

Laura Morrison for City Council Kickoff Fundraiser

TIME:  Wednesday, December 12, 2007 at 5:30pm-7:30pm
PLACE:  Stubb's, 801 Red River St.

CONTACT:  Amy at amy at amyparham.com 

You are invited to a Kickoff Fundraiser for Laura Morrison for Austin City
Council, Place 4. There will be music, food, and great fun.

$300 donation per individual, $600 per couple, is encouraged. Any amount is
appreciated and everyone is welcome.

See www.lauraforaustin.com <http://www.lauraforaustin.com/>  for more
details or to sign up online. 

West Austin Democrats Holiday Party 

TIME:  Wednesday, December 12, 2007 at 6:00pm-9:00pm
PLACE:  Home of Suzy and Bill Reid, 1104 Wayside Drive

CONTACT:  Suzy Reid at 474-2696 or info at westaustindemocrats.org 

You are invited to join West Austin Democrats for their holiday party.

**************************

Thursday, December 13, 2007

Capital Area Democratic Women Meeting 

TIME:  Thursday, December 13, 2007 at 11:30am networking, 12:00pm lunch
PLACE:  Nuevo Leon Restaurant, 1501 E. 6th St.

CONTACT:  Megan Woodburn at 538-1329 or cadw at cadw.org 

Please join Capital Area Democratic Women for their monthly meeting. 

Texas Freedom Network Holiday Party

TIME:  Thursday, December 13, 2007 at 5:30pm-8:30pm
PLACE:  Scholz's Garten, 1607 San Jacinto Blvd.

CONTACT:  Ian Davis at 322-0545 or ian at tfn.org 

TFN invites you to join them for their annual Progressive Holiday Party
featuring live music by the Bad Precedents and free appetizers.

Sponsors include: ACLU, CPPP, Equality Texas, NOW,PFAW, Planned Parenthood,
Stand Down Texas, Texans Together, Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death
Penalty, Texas Impact, Texas Progress Council, Texas Watch, TFN and True
Courage Action Network. 

State Employee Union Holiday Party 

TIME:  Thursday, December 13, 2007 at 6:00pm-9:00pm
PLACE:  Texas State Employee Union Hall, 1700 South First St. (Across From
Jovita's, rear building)

CONTACT:  Vicki Bradley at vickicbradley at aol.com 

You are invited to a holiday party with our hard working state employees.
Good food and excellent drink will be available. 

Keep Austin Blue Meeting Holiday Party 

TIME:  Thursday, December 13, 2007 at 6:30pm socialize, 7:15pm meeting
PLACE:  Mother Egan's Irish Pub, 715 W. 6th St.

CONTACT:  Sharron Hargis at sharron at keepaustinblue.org 

Please join Keep Austin Blue for their holiday party at Mother Egan's.

************************************************************************ 
IN THE NEWS 
For up to date political news and commentary, please go to our web site at
<http://www.traviscountydemocrats.org/> www.traviscountydemocrats.org and
click on "Current News" 

************************************************************************ 
CONTACT INFORMATION FOR TCDP ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE
Travis County Democratic Party Administrative Office

1311 East 6th Street, Austin, TX  78702

Web:   <http://www.traviscountydemocrats.org/> www.traviscountydemocrats.org

E-mail:  info at traviscountydemocrats.org                 

Chris Elliott - Chair 

chair at traviscountydemocrats.org                

Elizabeth Yevich - Executive Director 

elizabeth at traviscountydemocrats.org                 

Garry Brown - Assistant Director 

garry at traviscountydemocrats.org                 

Monday - Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. 

Ph (512) 477-7500   Fax (512) 477-7769

MAILING ADDRESS: 
P.O. Box 684263 
Austin, TX 78768-4263 

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****************************** 
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P.O. Box 684263, Austin, TX 78768-4263

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