Texas Democratic Women
Coastal Bend Chapter
Largest in the State . . . and still growing!
Newsletter Volume 5, Issue 11
CBTDW
MISSION
The Coastal Bend
Texas Democratic
Women provide:
* A political VOICE
for Coastal Bend
Democratic Women
of diverse ethnic
origins;
* Timely, effective
communications
about ISSUES
important to the
membership;
*Support (VOTES)
for the election of
Democrats to local,
state, and national
offices.
*************
Calendar
November 27
TDW Monthly
Meeting
December 2
TDW Christmas
Party
www.tdw.org/CoastalBend
November 2007
Join Abel Herrero, Juan Garcia & Solomon Ortiz, Jr.
HOLIDAY PARTY SET FOR SUNDAY, DECEMBER 2
Tis the season to be Democrat. . .fa la la la la!
The Coastal Bend Texas Democratic Women
will host a Democratic Holiday Party on Sunday,
December 2nd, from 2:00-4:00 p.m. at a the
Corpus Christi Police Officers’ Association Hall,
3122 Leopard across from Buc Stadium.
Special Guests include the Coastal Bend delegation of State Representatives: Abel Herrero,
Juan Garcia, and Solomon Ortiz, Jr.
The event is FREE of charge, but contributions
to the Nueces County Democratic Party are
greatly appreciated.
The Holiday Party promises food, drink, and fun
along with the opportunity to visit with your Democratic Elected Officials and candidates.
The deadline to file for office to be on the March
4 Primary ballot is January 2nd.
For more information call 225-3060.
NEXT MEETING:
6 - 8 p.m.
Tuesday,
Featured speaker:
November 27th
Planned Parenthood of South Texas
CENTRAL
LIBRARY
Topic: Sex Education is
a Life Long Process
Amanda Stukenberg
RETAMA ROOM
805 Comanche
1
Renew your TDW
membership today!
TDW Coastal Bend Chapter Membership
Jeanne Adams
Pat Adams ⌂
Linda Allen
Marie Adams
Helen Amador
Faye C. Anderson*
Rowland Andrade
Hon. “Bobby” Balderas~
Hon. Peggy Banales~
Andrea Barrera
Hon. Diana T. Barrera
Hope Barrera~
Carol Bateman
John Bell *
Myriam Bell
Olga M. Bell
Gail L. Blanpied
Linda Bridges ~
Bif Browning
Mary Bustos
Armando Caceres
Dolores G. Caceres
Gloria Caceres
Rudy Caceres
Abel Cavada
Vicente Carranza
Joy Miller Cavada
Lydia Cervantes
Mary Christmas
Norma Cisneros
Barbara Cline*
George E. Clower
Evy Coppola~
Michael Creacy
Pam Creacy
Shari Del Rio
Delores Dees
Kim A. Dees
Linda Dorsey~
Carmen Duron
Anna Eiseman
Julissa Espinoza
Christy Esparza
David Farrington
Julia Figueroa
Linda Figueroa
Joe A. Flores~
Patricia Mikell Frelix
Alex Garcia, Jr.
Vicki Garza
Helga Brown Gibbs
Olga Gonzales~
Clementina S. Gonzalez
Hon. Joe A. Gonzalez~
Joe Ray Gonzalez
Linda Gonzalez
Rachel Gonzalez
Francisco Guerra
Nora Gutierrez
Coretta Graham~
Elia Gutierrez
Martha Gutierrez
Nanette Hasette+
Ken Hawkins
C. M. “Hank” Henry
Allen G. Herkimer, Jr.
Lisa Hernandez
Hon. Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa*
Mike Hummell
Joyce Hope Jarmon
Ann Jaynes
Ben Jimenez
Hon. Laura Garza Jimenez
John Kelley
Michelle King
Hon. Betty Jean Longoria~
Hon. Jose Longoria
Rosa Lopez
Judith A. Loverde
Peg MacPhail
Juanita Maddox~
Esther Martinez
Flo Martinez
Nelda Martinez
Bryan McCool
Peggy Miller
Becky Moeller~
Jesse Molina
Maria Molina
Martha Moore
Mary Morales
Janie Mumphord
Joel Mumphord
Lupita Muniz
Ashley Nunez
Jeanne Marie O’Leary
Esther Oliver
Anita O’Rourke
Hon. Solomon Ortiz, Jr.
Ercilia Perez
Hon. Patsy Perez
Sheri Phillabaum
Belinda Pompa
Joseph Ramirez
Sylvia Ramirez
Hon. Nelva Ramos+
Michael Reeves
Steven P. Reeves
Susan Reeves
Mike Rendon
Amanda Reyes
Jean Rice
Richard Rock
Alicia Rodriguez
Kate Rodriguez
Robert Rodriguez
Hon. Nelda V. Rodriguez
Natalie Rogen
Natasha Rogen
Bertha Roldan
George Rosas
Mary Saenz+
Rene Saenz, Jr.
Stephanie Guerrero Saenz
Delia G. Salazar
Sylvia Samaniego
Carlos Sanchez
Yvette Ortiz Sanchez
Hon. Henry Santana
Marcy Santos
Lita Saucedo
Estelle Sawyer
Gerald Sawyer
Gloria R Scott
Eunice Simmons~deceased
Ann Smith *
Shelly Smith
Angel Sosa
Buck Sosa
Lorraine Stehn
Diana Stillman
Therese Strain
Charlene Straley~
H. W. “Chuck” Straley
Patricia Sugarek
Patricia H. Suter~
Judy Telge~
Denisha Thompson~
Jesse C. Torres
Hon. Yvonne Toureilles
Jerry J. Trevino
Glenda Turner +
Carlos H. Valdez
Connie Valdez
Rhonda Vann~
Carla Vasquez
Carol Vasquez
Pricilla Vasquez
Joan Veith
Lillian S. Waldbeser
Hon. Sandra Watts ☺
Jan Weaver
Linda White
Kathryn Williams +
Sylvia Wilson
Saralee Witt*
Lydia Zamora
⌂ $500.00
☺$250.00
*$100.00
+$50.00
TDW Coastal Bend Chapter AUXILIARY MEMBERS
$500.00
Memory of Max & Evelyn
Kenady Maples
$250.00
Hon. Sandra Watts
$100.00:
Faye C. Anderson
John D. Bell
Barbara Cline
Hon. Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa
Ann Smith
Saralee Witt
50.00:
Linda Bridges
Patricia Frelik
Hon. Jose Longoria
Hon Nelva Ramos
Gerald Rogen
Mary Saenz
Hon. Henry A Santana
Hon. Yvonne Toureilles
Jerry J. Trevino
Glenda Turner
Kathryn Williams
Gloria Young
Under $50.00:
Hon. “Bobby” Balderas
Hope Barrera
Hon. Peggy Banales
2
Linda Bridges
Evy Coppola
Linda Dorsey
Joe A. Flores
Vicky Garza
Hon. Joe A. Gonzalez
Olga Gonzales
Coretta Graham
Hon. Nanette Hassette
Hon. Laura Jimenez
Hon. Betty Jean Longoria
Juanita Maddox
Becky Moeller
Eunice Simmons
Charlene & Chuck Straley
Patricia H. Suter
Judy Telge
Denisha Thompson
Rhonda Vann
TDW Coastal Bend Chapter
2007 Executive Committee
President:
Chapter News
It’s that time of year again. . .
Gloria Caceres
808-9228
Vice-President: Linda Figueroa
883-9997
Treasurer:
Barbara Cline
992-1634
Secretary:
Susan Reeves
991-7747
Parliamentarian: Lisa Hernandez
Time to be thankful, time to count your blessings, time
to be grateful for family and friends, and it’s TIME TO
RENEW YOUR TDW MEMBERSHIP! Your $20 membership helps elect local Democrats, helps sustain the
local Democratic Party, and helps defend democracy at
home.
882-4726
2007 Committees
Communications
Chair: Ann Smith
[email protected]
Joy Miller Cavada
Lisa Hernandez
Sylvia Samaniego
Lydia Zamora
Linda Allen
[email protected]
Education
Chair: Judy Loverde
[email protected]
Esther Martinez
Nelda Martinez
Stephanie Saenz
Pat Suter
Glenda Turner
Fund Raising
Chair: Mary Saenz
[email protected]
Evy Coppola
Maria Molina
Mary Morales
Belinda Pompa
Membership
Chair: Sheri Phillabaum
[email protected]
Olga Bell
Gail Blanpied
Norma Cisneros
Nora Gutierrez
Jeanne O’Leary
www.tdw.org/CoastalBend
At this time in life when our nation is at war, our country
is electing a new President, and local races impact our
daily lives, your $20 TDW membership insures that
women and their issues remain at the forefront.
Think globally, act locally! Renew your TDW membership. Complete the application in this newsletter or call
Barbara Cline at 992-1634 today.
Justice Linda Yanez, Speaks on
Immigration Today
Month in Review
The members attending the October 30th monthly meeting were shocked,
enlightened and informed by Judge Linda Yanez about the current state of immigration in Texas when she began with the statement "There has been a collision at the intersection of law and justice. Homeland Security IS the immigration service now." She underscored that federal employees in Immigration and
Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other federal agencies like the Border Patrol
are not peace officers, so she encouraged everyone to carry a copy of the U.S.
Constitution to remind us of our rights and of the universality of human rights
for all.
About non-citizens: She went on to tell us about "Zero Tolerance" (each person
apprehended would be tried in a criminal court) which she fears will lead to the
push to build more and larger prisons. She pointed out that privatized prisons
are profit making for the corporations that build and run them so there is an eagerness exhibited by businesses to opt for larger prisons due to the profit motive. A backlog of cases will be in the future as well as humanitarian issues if
Mexicans looking for work and "OTMs" (other than Mexican) when they are
caught inside U.S. border will be sentenced to time in prison. She stated that
we all realize that some persons apprehended should be due to the criminal drug
traffic industry on both sides of the border.
Judge Yanez went on to explain how profiling is practiced by some of the federal officials so it is very important that each person understand their rights and
stated that no official can rightfully walk up to you while you are waiting in an
airport and ask you for ID. To do so is legal only at checkpoints.
3
LOCAL, STATE & NATIONAL NEWS
Presidential
Contacts
Joe Biden
www.JoeBiden.com
Hillary Clinton
www.HillaryClinton.com
Chris Dodd
www.ChrisDodd.com
John Edwards
www.JohnEdwards.com
Mike Gravel
November 6 Turnout Lower Than Expected
Despite a voter turnout of less than 5%, Nueces County voters
passed all 16 Propositions and the all-important collective bargaining
measure for local law enforcement. Ten years in the making, the
Nueces County Sheriff’s Officers’ Association came together for the
greater good: Collective Bargaining!
Proposition 1—Clarification measure to keep Angelo State University funds as part of the Texas Tech University System.
Proposition 2—Creates bond to fund student loans for funding gaps
not covered by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
Proposition 3—Protects homeowners from hardship of having ad
www.Gravel2008.us
valorem taxes increase substantially from one year to the next as a result of
appraisal increases.
Dennis Kucinich
Proposition 4—Provides for necessary state infrastructure and
www.Kucinich.us
Barack Obama
www.BarackObama.com
Bill Richardson
www.RichardsonforPresident.com
homeland security projects, including mental health state schools and the
Texas Youth Commission.
Proposition 5—Gives small cities a tool to create incentives for private property owners to revitalize downtown properties.
Proposition 6—Remedies inconsistencies in the taxation of personal motor vehicles used for the production of income.
U.S. Senate Candidate
Proposition 7—Allows property to be sold back to property owners
lost through eminent domain at the initial price.
Rick Noriega
Proposition 8—Protects borrowers from unscrupulous practices
www.RickNoriega.com
involving the one-year waiting period between home equity loans.
Proposition 9—Exempts disabled veterans from ever-increasing ad
valorem taxes.
The Capitol
Report
Coastal Bend Delegation
Democratic State Reps
Seek Re-Election
The dream team of Democratic State
Representatives Abel Herrero, Juan
Garcia, and Solomon Ortiz, Jr. are all
seeking re-election to their posts.
Help re-elect:
Abel Herrero
Juan Garcia
Solomon Ortiz, Jr.
For more information, call 991-0047.
Proposition 10—Cleans up the Texas Constitution by removing
archaic references to the office of Animal Hide Inspector.
Proposition 11—Ensures that every legislator’s complete voting
record on bills and proposed constitutional amendments is a matter of public record.
Proposition 12—Helps finance state transportation projects.
Proposition 13—Allows judges to determine whether a defendant
poses an unacceptable threat to a victim of domestic violence or to the
community and if so, deny bail to the defendant.
Proposition 14—Removes the issue of a judge’s age from the
political arena, removing mandatory retirement from politics.
Proposition 15—Authorizes the issuance of $3 billion in general
obligation bonds to help find a cure for cancer, the number 2 killer of
Texans.
Proposition 16—Provides additional funding to help the state meet
water and wastewater infrastructure needs.
Remember, 4your vote is your voice!
Countdown to Victory
Campaign Calendar
September
7
1st Day to Apply for
Ballot by Mail
October
4
TDW Grassroots
Workshop, 6-8 p.m.
County Courthouse
9
TDW Heart of the Party
Bi-Annual Banquet
Omni Bayfront Hotel
5:30-8:30 p.m.
Voter Registration
DEADLINE
San Patricio United Democrats
SPUDS—Heart of the Party
Grassroots Training
The San Patricio United Democrats or the
SPUDS, as they are called, will hold delegate training on Thursday December 13th
at 6:00 pm in Taft, Texas at Papa Jose's
restaurant.
9
(for Nov. 6 Election)
22
1st Day to
Early Vote in Person
30
Last Day to Apply for
Ballot by Mail
2
Last Day to
Early Vote in Person
6
ELECTION DAY!
7 a.m. - 7 p.m.
361-888-0676
www.co.nueces.tx.us
December
3
First day for file
for March Primary
January
2
Last day to file
for March Primary
Papa Joe’s is located right on the main
street in town– Highway 181. Linda Perez November
has agreed to present it with help from Anthony Gutierrez, Regional Director, DNC
State Partnership.
SPUDS (San Patricio United Democrats)
is sponsoring the event, but it is open to
anyone interested from Senate District
20.
Linda Perez is setting aside the first two
Saturdays in January to do candidate
training in Nueces County if there is any
interest in doing so.
File for Precinct Chair:
Filing for Precinct Chair began October 4, 2007 and
continues through January 2, 2008. The building
block of our Democratic Party, Precinct Chairs are
the Democratic voice in your neighborhood. To file
for Precinct chair, call Susan Reeves at 991-7747.
5
DEMOCRATIC ISSUES: Working to Win
First in a two-part series by Ed Martin, Democratic Consultant
Perhaps nothing defines our progress better than serious conversations one hears in political and press circles
about the possibility of Democrats winning a majority in the Texas House and winning statewide races in 2008 or
2010. As we work toward a majority, there are clear lessons to learn from both past elections and the ups and
downs we've experienced as we've progressed in recent years. As enthused as Texas Democrats are about that
progress, we must also prepare to win and secure a Democratic majority that will govern for all Texans, because
winning elections is only the first step toward real change. With that in mind, I've made a list of ten key things we
must do to continue our progress and make change a reality.
1. Never Quit
Something worth winning is something worth fighting for, and if our winning is about more than just taking back
power, we'll never quit. Within weeks of 11-05-02, we organized an editorial board campaign that resulted in over
200 anti-redistricting, anti-DeLay editorials, compared to two for it. From the start of the 2003 session, House Democrats fought an "autoCraddick" Speaker bent on rewarding TRMPAC cronies with tort reform, vouchers, and redistricting, not to mention education and CHIP budget cuts and tuition deregulation. When House Democrats went
to Ardmore to deny DeLay in May, they inspired Democrats nationwide to fight back. And when eleven Senators
went to Albuquerque for 45 days after Dewhurst caught the "contagious (redistricting) flu" and changed the rules,
thousands rallied in 100 degree heat.
2. Rebuilding and Maintaining a Strong Party is a Year-Round Job
A lesson learned from the 1998-2002 years is that party building involves more than all that money can buy a few
weeks before the election. Although many people worked hard to build our party through those years, the lure of
the silver bullet that would reverse Democratic fortunes offered enticing scenarios that often prevailed until we hit
rock bottom. There will always be a party structure, and more people now understand that responsible, year-round
party building and message delivery is a sound investment that can define and enhance election year opportunities
that otherwise may turn on factors beyond our control.
3. Fighting Smart: State of the Art Voter File and On Line Tools
Whenever possible, we should fight Republicans on our turf and on our terms. We've made great progress by providing party organizations and candidates an enhanced voter file with voter-specific targeting and the on-line tools
to better utilize time and resources. We don't have to compromise our principles one bit to target communications
to persuade and motivate voters who are most likely to be receptive to our message, to vote for us, and provide a
winning margin. As more Democratic voters move beyond traditional "core" precincts, advanced targeting and
modern campaign tools are necessary to communicate with Democrats wherever they live.
4. Teamwork: "We" Beats "Me"
A successful party, like any organization, is a first person plural operation. A candidate who puts his or her name
on the line must have a certain first person singular attitude, but when we all work together as a team, we are
greater than the sum of our parts. I worked as the TDP Executive Director for ten years back in times when we had
extraordinary, strong-willed individuals in statewide office in addition to our legislative leaders. Yet we were always
better when we worked together and worse when we didn't unite as a ticket. As a minority party, teamwork is essential. As a majority party, a lack of teamwork is a recipe for losing that majority - just look at the Republicans
today.
CBTDW welcomes your input. Please send articles, letters and/or comments to
[email protected] or [email protected] or P.O. Box 8396 Corpus Christi, Texas 78468.
6
CELEBRATING WOMEN
TDW MEMBER of the MONTH
Esther Martinez
Last year Esther
joined TDW to get a
broader view of the
Democratic party and
to keep up with current events. A lifelong
Democrat, she chose
TDW because it emphasized women’s
values.
“I like Woman’s organizations because they are mostly
in keeping with my values in what I think.” exclaimed
Esther. “I get it better from a better perspective.”
She feels TDW feels has the perfect opportunity with
membership connections and with other Democrats to
bring local issues to the national level and make our
voices heard. It’s in the numbers, the big number of
members speak loud. We have a unique opportunity to
empower women.
For example the State Children’s Health Insurance Program—SCHIP program for children, so much has been
discussed but we’re still in the same place. We’ve made
no progress and children are not being covered. We
could be a catalyst in writing to our senators, representatives even President Bush . We still need to move to
influence the person who has the pen that will write that
bill.
Retired from the Social Security Administration after a 32
year career, Esther is a divorced, single parent who has
raised two daughters, both who have gone on to college.
Esther is all about volunteer work, especially giving time
to causes that help women making decisions about their bodies; she sat on the Planned Parenthood Board for six years.
She is a mentor at Lamar Elementary School and Haas Junior
High. Along with TDW, Esther is a member of the League of
Women’s Voters and the Hispanic Women’s Network of
Texas.
CONGRATULATIONS ESTHER!
CBTDW. . .FULL OF TALENT
CBTDW proudly brings you a monthly feature highlighting the best of our membership.
Send your suggestions to:
P. O. Box 8396 · CC TX 78468
by the 15th of each month7.
Emma Tenayuca
Paving The Way . . .
When the Great Depression hit, times were difficult
for all workers but much worse for Mexicans. At an
early age of 16, and while still in high school, Emma
began organizing workers and by 1934, at age 18,
she had already helped form locals of the Ladies'
Garment Workers Union. This same year Emma
organized a strike by Mexican women workers at
the Finck Cigar factory of San Antonio and because
she was the leader, she was arrested .
During the Finck Cigar strike, Emma Tenayuca met
Mrs. W.H. Ernst and both formed an organization
for the unemployed workers called the Workers Alliance.
In 1938, Emma was selected as the Strike Representative for the pecan shellers, who were developing tuberculosis from pecan shell dust and dying in
great numbers.
As the movement gained momentum, the “bosses”
felt threatened and Emma began receiving death
threats. Emma’s image striking in front a line of
marchers or standing at a microphone with fist
shaking as she stirred the workers still inspires the
workers of modern-day San Antonio.
To read more, visit www.aztlan.net.
Words from Wise
“What
started as an
organization for
equal wages turned
into a mass
movement against
starvation, for civil
rights, for minimum
wage law, and it
changed the character of West Side
Emma Tenayuca
San Antonio.”
1916 - 1999
Texas Democratic Women
Coastal Bend Chapter
MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION
Hear
t of t
he
Party
Name_______________________________________Address_____________________________________
City________________________________________State_______________________Zip______________
Phone_______________________________________Fax________________________________________
Email__________________________________________________________________________________
Employer____________________________________Occupation__________________________________
Contributions beyond the $20 TDW dues are greatly appreciated and recognized as Auxiliary Members.
TDW COASTAL BEND CHAPTER ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP DUES:
$20
Please make checks payable to CBTDW · Coastal Bend TDW · P O Box 8396 · Corpus Christi TX 78468.
Contributions for political purposes are not tax deductible. For more information call Barbara Cline at 992-1634.
* Please indicate if you would like to be included in next year’s Membership Directory Yes No
I hereby certify that I am a Democrat who supports increased involvement and influence of women in
political party and government affairs.
Signature_________________________________________________ Date___________________________
Referred by (optional)_________________________________________________________________________
PRSRT STD
Coastal Bend Chapter
POSTAGE PAID
CORPUS CHRISTI, TX 78469
Texas Democratic Women
P.O. Box 8396
Corpus Christi TX 78468
PERMIT # 661
Join the rEVOLUTION
www.tdw.org/CoastalBend
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