Coastal Bend Connection - Texas Democratic Women

Coastal Bend Connection
The Newsletter of the Coastal Bend Texas Democratic Women
Newsletter - Volume 7, Issue 5
www.tdw.org/CoastalBend
May 2009
THREE THINGS TEXAS DEMOCRATIC WOMEN
SHOULD KNOW ABOUT BETTY JEAN LONGORIA
The following interview marks the third
installment in TDW’s Three Things series.
TDW member and Precinct 2 County
Commissioner, Betty Jean Longoria, is
the sole female on the Court, and faces
re-election in 2010.
citizens with forums,
and by attending
senior center events,
city council and school
board meetings. It
allows me to hear the
OUR
What is the most important issue concerns and needs of
the citizens I repreMISSION 1.
facing women in Corpus Christi?
sent, especially those
The Coastal Bend Though we have several women in leader- in the rural communiTexas Democratic ship positions, there is still a glass ceiling ties of Bishop,
Women provide: and a tough sell for women to advance to Petronila, Agua Dulce and Banquete.
top positions. Continuing to encourage,
* A political VOICE support and mentor the advancement of
3. Do you think Commissioner’s
for Coastal Bend
women in leadership positions is essential. Court needs to do a better job
Democratic
In understanding the challenges young
appointing women to the County’s
Women of diverse women face with juggling family, school
36 Boards & Commissions?
ethnic origins;
and career, it is essential to support parOdds are probable. When a position
* Timely, effective
enting skills and child care resources in
becomes available, a Notice of Pending
communications
order to combat the high statistics of child
Appointments is posted on the county’s
about ISSUES
abuse cases in Nueces County.
website: www.co.nueces.tx.us. Everyone
important to the
2. What is your biggest achieveis welcome to submit their letter of interest
membership;
ment benefitting Precinct 2?
along with a resume to the court, ad* Support (VOTES)
dressed to the County Judge who will then
As the first Democratic woman elected
for the election of
Commissioner of Precinct 2, I have worked distribute to the Commissioners. I usually
Democrats to
try to pass on the word, but rely on women
to improve the quality of life for families
local, state, and
stepping forward to apply, if they wish to
whether it is a neighborhood park or a
national offices.
septic tank, I make myself available to the serve, and meet the qualifications.
NEXT MEETING:
Tuesday, May 26th
6 - 8 p.m.
Central Library
Retama Room
805 Comanche
Refreshments provided
Guest Speaker:
May
Casey Scott
19th
City Council
Swearing-In
Ceremony
Women’s Shelter of South Texas
Community Educator
Topic: Domestic Violence &
The Women’s Shelter
City Hall
1201 Leopard
1:30 p.m.
2009 Coastal Bend TDW Chapter Membership
Promoting the increased political activity and influence of Democratic women in
Texas politics and government, the Coastal Bend Chapter of the Texas Democratic
22 Years Women was founded in 2003 and has grown into one of the largest chapters in
Texas. Half of each $20 Membership benefits the state TDW.
Faye Anderson
Diana Barrera
Hope Barrera
Stacey Barrera
Olga M. Bell
Gail L. Blanpied
Linda Bridges
Armando Caceres
Gloria Caceres
Abel Cavada
Joy Miller Cavada
Norma Cisneros
Barbara Cline
Sylvia Cueva
Sharie Del Rio
Nancy J. Devlin
Margaret J. Di Clemente
Anne Eiseman
Linda Figueroa
Patricia Frelix
Alicia Gallegos-Gomez
Brandy Garcia
Vicki Garza
Ernestine Glossbrenner
Armando B. Gonzalez, Jr.
Antonio Gonzalez
Clementina S. Gonzalez
Joe A. Gonzalez
Coretta Graham
Jerry Guerra
Gilbert Gutierrez
C.M. “Hank” Henry
Allen G. Herkimer, Jr.
Angelica E. Hernandez
Lisa Hernandez
Abel Herrero
Joyce Hope Jarmon
Anna Maria Jimenez-Martinez
Laura Garza Jimenez
Join the
HEART
OF THE
PARTY!
Tony Jimenez, Jr.
Geraldine Jones-Woods
Michelle S. King
Frank Lazarte
Minerva Leal
Rudy Lerma
David Loeb
Betty Jean Longoria
Jose Longoria
Judith A. Loverde
Juanita Maddox
Esther Martinez
Flo Martinez
Vicente Martinez
Peggy E. Miller
Becky Moeller
Carolyn Moon
Hope Moon
Beatrice C. Molina
Jesse Molina
Mary Morales
Jeanne O'Leary
Emilie J. Olivares
Yolanda Olivarez
Esther Oliver
Anita O’Rourke
Oscar Ortiz
Solomon Ortiz, Jr.
Margaret Palacios
Sylvia Ramirez
Nelva Gonzales Ramos
Susan Reeves
Jean Rice
Vicki Rochelle
Nelda V. Rodriguez
Kate Rodriguez
Gerald A. Rogen
Natalie Rogen
Natasha Rogen
TDW
Mary Saenz
Stephanie G. Saenz
Rene Saenz, Jr.
Rene Salazar
Sylvia Samaniego
Marcus Sandoval
Marcy Santos
Lita Saucedo
Ann Smith
Nicki Sohn
Rosa Solis
Lorraine Stehn
Diana Stillman
Christy Stockman
Amanda Stukenberg
Patricia Sugarek
Patricia H. Suter
Judy Telge
Yvonne Gonzalez Toureilles
Jesse Treviño
Carlos Truan
Elvira Truan
Glenda Turner
Carlos Valdez
Consuelo Valdez
Robert Vargas
Carol Vasquez
Joan Veith
Sandra Watts
Jan Weaver
Linda White
Kathryn Williams
Sylvia Wilson
Virginia “Ginny” Yager
Epi Ysassi
Isabella Ysassi
Lydia Zamora
Auxiliary
Members
listed on
page 5
Page 2 - Coastal Bend Connection - The Newsletter of the Texas Democratic Women – May 2009
Chapter News
TDW Coastal Bend Chapter
2009 Executive Committee
President:
Linda Figueroa
883-9997
Vice-President: Lisa Hernandez
882-4726
Treasurer:
Glenda Turner
937-1790
Secretary:
Ann Smith
992-1535
2009 Committees
Communications
Chair: Stacey Barrera
361.815.0183
sbarrera47@yahoo.com
Lisa Hernandez
Ann Smith
Joy Miller Cavada
Education
Chair: Gloria Caceres
808-9228
gcaceres@stx.rr.com
Kate Rodriguez
Fund Raising
Chair: Coretta Graham
334.5929
lawyergraham@msn.com
Membership
Chair: Esther Martinez
991.6970
EstherMartinez2@sbcglobal.net
President’s Message
A mere THANK YOU falls short for my heartfelt
gratitude to all our membership whose talents made
for a successful social with area Democratic elected
officials inaugurating our Battle for Nueces County on
Cinco de Mayo. A special THANK YOU to the
Rodriguez family—Kate, Nelda, Robert and Rene—
for their hospitality at the Palacio Rodriguez.
Thank you to Peggy Bañales, former Nueces County Commissioner,
who shared her expertise on securing more appointments for women
on Nueces County Boards and Commissions at last month’s meeting.
Please join us for our monthly meeting next Tuesday, May 26th.
Our speaker Casey Scott, will discuss domestic violence and what the
Women’s Shelter of South Texas is doing about it. Each of our women
elected officials in the area list domestic violence as a key concern
facing local women. Please make time for this important presentation.
Finally, condolences to the families of Nueces County Justice of the
Peace Bobby Balderas on the loss of his wife, Maria and to TDW
Treasurer, Glenda Turner on the death of her sister Loretta Chappelle.
CENSUS 2010
Congratulations to TDW Member and Commissioner
Betty Jean Longoria who has agreed to Co-Chair the
CENSUS 2010 Committee. She would like two to three volunteers
from TDW to serve on the 2010 Census Committee. Interested
members should expect to attend two to three meetings this year
as we participate in planning and implementing education efforts
to insure a correct count. If you would like to serve, please contact
Commissioner Longoria at 888-0296.
Chuckle of the Month
Gail Blanpied
Jeanne O’Leary
Sylvia Samaniego
Parliamentarian
Barbara Cline
992-1634
bcline213@aol.com
General Counsel
Christine Ysassi, Attorney at Law
883.9997
Newsletter Editor: Lisa Hernandez
www.tdw.org/CoastalBend
Page 3 - Coastal Bend Connection - The Newsletter of the Texas Democratic Women – May 2009
WOMEN IN GOVERNMENT: Nueces County
COUNTY BLOCKS REQUEST
FOR PUBLIC INFORMATION
Seeks Ruling from AG’s Office
Nueces County Boards
& Commissions
To be considered for an appointment to one of the 36
County Boards & Commissions, submit a letter of interest
On March 3, 2009, Nueces County Judge Loyd
with a resume to Nueces County Judge Loyd Neal,
Neal delivered his State of the Country address
promising a spirit of cooperation in Nueces County. 901 Leopard, Room 303, Corpus Christi, Texas 78401.
Public Information - Following Judge Neal’s
speech, the Coastal Bend Texas Democratic
Women submitted a Public Information Request to
Nueces County for a list of appointees to its Boards
with contact information and terms of service.
TDW requested the information in pursuit of our
mission to (identify, support and) increase the
number of women in local government.
Nueces County responded with certified letters
denying the request.
County Shutdown - Citing numerous statutes
of the Texas Government Code, Nueces County
insisted that a listing of County appointees is not
public information.
They have further appealed to the Texas Attorney
General to issue a ruling in support of their denial
of the requested information.
TDW recognizes exceptions in public information
as dictated by state “shield” laws which exempt the
release of certain contact information for County
employees engaged in sensitive jobs such as
judges, peace officers and law enforcement
personnel. However, it should be noted that the
City of Corpus Christi provided the same requested
information in a timely, courteous manner.
Nueces County could have provided the requested
information and redacted all information that falls
within any exempt category. Rather, the County
has opted for secrecy over transparency sending a
less than cooperative message about local government.
Women Appointees - While awaiting word from
the County and Attorney General, TDW has been
able to access the names of most appointees to
the 36 County Boards and Commissions.
Total County appointees number near 317;
some boards represent a composite of several
jurisdictions. Around 122 women serve among the
317 or 38 percent— roughly the same percentage
as women appointees at the City of Corpus Christi.
Air Quality Services Monitoring Committee
Christus Spohn Health Board of Trustees
Citizens Advisory Health Board
Coastal Bend Council of Governments
Coastal Bend Housing Finance Corporation
Coastal Bend Workforce Development Board
Intergovernmental Commission on
Drug & Alcohol Abuse
Loss Control Committee
Nueces County Animal Control Advisory Committee
Nueces County Bail Bond Board
Nueces County Beach Management
Advisory Committee
Nueces County Bishop Driscoll Drainage District #3
Nueces County Child Welfare Board
Nueces County Civil Service Commission
Nueces County Community Action Agency Board
Nueces County Grants Committee
Nueces County Historical Commission
Nueces County Hospital District Board of Managers
Nueces County Housing Finance Corporation
Nueces County Juvenile Advisory Council
Nueces County Library Advisory Board
Nueces County MHMR Community Center Board
Nueces County Park Board Commissioners
Nueces County Purchasing Board
Nueces County Rural Rail Transportation District
Nueces County Emergency Services District #1
Nueces County Emergency Services District #2
Nueces County Emergency Services District #3
Nueces County Emergency Services District #4
Nueces County Special Task Force of
Adult Protective Services
Nueces County Tax Appraisal District
Nueces County Veterans Local Land
Board Committee
Port of Corpus Christi Authority of Nueces County
Regional Health Awareness Board
Regional Transportation Authority
South Texas Water Authority
Page 4 - Coastal Bend Connection - The Newsletter of the Texas Democratic Women – May 2009
The Plan for 2010: TURN Nueces County BLUE
Special thanks to the 2009 Auxiliary Members who support Coastal Bend Chapter
activities through direct contributions for grassroots organizing and GOTV efforts.
Funds donated by all FRIENDS of TDW help turn Nueces County back to BLUE!
$1,000
Under $50
Abel Herrero
Solomon Ortiz, Jr.
Charlene Straley
H. W. (Chuck) Straley
Hope Barrera
Joy Cavada
Vicki Garza
Patricia Frelix
C. M. "Hank" Henry
Judy Loverde
Juanita Maddox
Esther Martinez
Yolanda Olivarez
Nelva Gonzales Ramos
Rene Saenz
Sylvia Samaniego
Judy Telge
Linda White
Kathryn Williams
$250
Becky Moeller
$50
Alicia Gallegos-Gomez
Jose Longoria
Gerald Rogen
Pat Suter
Glenda Turner
FRIENDS of TDW
$100+
Faye Anderson
Pat Beam
Barbara Cline
Epi Ysassi
Ernestine
Glossbrenner
Armando Gonzalez Jr.
Antonio R. Gonzalez
Jerry Guerra
Laura Garza Jimenez
Rudy Lerma
Frank Lazarte
Vicente Martinez
Mary Saenz
Rene Salazar
Ann Smith
Amanda Stukenberg
Jesse Treviño
Carlos Truan
Robert Vargas
Sandra Watts
Battle for Nueces County
Cinco de Mayo Reception
with Democratic Elected Officials
A BIG BLUE Thank You
to the Rodriguez Family,
Kate, Nelda, Robert & Rene,
who went beyond hospitality for the
more than 50 area Democrats gathered
to share ribs, grilled seafood, tortillas,
sweets, lemonade & margaritas
poolside at the Palacio Rodriguez.
The Plan for 2010:
Turn Nueces County BLUE!
Page 5 - Coastal Bend Connection - The Newsletter of the Texas Democratic Women – May 2009
Democratic News & Views
Organizer drives Texas on behalf of Obama's political operation
His April arrival sparks Democrats' hopes for Obama's
long-term investment in Texas politics.
A dozen years ago, a little-known schoolteacher shocked the state's political establishment by winning the Democratic U.S. Senate
nomination while driving the state in a little white pickup truck.
Luke Hayes isn't running for office. But like Victor Morales before him, he has been driving around Texas lately in a white pickup as
part of a national effort to keep Democrats energized after last year's presidential race.
Hayes, 25, is the recently arrived state director of Organizing for America, a political committee overseen by the Democratic
National Committee. He's among directors placed by the DNC in 20 states, ranging from Democrat-leaning bastions such as California to GOP strongholds such as Alaska and Texas, which probably hasn't had anything close to a national political operative assigned
to fanning grass-roots support for a Democratic president's policies since at least Lyndon Johnson's era.
The directors have been holding "listening tour" events focused on fueling grass-roots support for the Obama administration.
Natalie Wyeth, the committee's spokeswoman, said: "We're also asking supporters and people new to the effort for their ideas on
how we can best organize around the president's agenda in their community. The 'bottom up' philosophy served us quite well during
the campaign."
The Republican National Committee hasn't dispatched anyone to Texas. A state GOP leader said, however, that doesn't mean Texas
Republicans expect to coast through the 2010 and 2012 elections. The state party has hired a county party development coordinator
to help local party leaders recruit candidates, with the goal of Republicans taking a majority of all the state's partisan elected offices
for the first time in history next year.
Eric Opiela, executive director of the Texas GOP, said: "Obviously, the Texas Democratic Party, after nearly two decades in the
wilderness, needs some help."
Hayes, who was most recently in the Rio Grande Valley, has traveled Texas before. The Vassar College graduate, who grew up in
the Bronx, was a Waco-based field worker before last year's Democratic primary and previously worked as a campaign aide to
Austin Mayor Will Wynn. Through November's election, he was deputy field director for Obama's campaign in the battleground
state of Virginia (which Obama won).
Hayes' April 11 arrival in Austin spurred speculation in Democratic circles that he'd lay groundwork for the national committee to
put as many as 30 staff members and related funding into Texas, starting with a trickle this summer and potentially fueling 2010
gains in state legislative races and bolstering the chances of a Democrat winning statewide office for the first time since 1994.
Local Democrats hope on the horizon is that Obama's campaign — which didn't commit significant resources to Texas after last
year's heated primary with then-Sen. Hillary Clinton — puts firepower into competing for the state's electoral votes in the 2012
presidential race. A Democratic presidential nominee hasn't carried Texas since 1976.
Hayes emphasized that he doesn't know the president's political game plan for the state. "But people in Texas want to show there's
more to them than just eight years of (George W.) Bush," he said.
Robert Jones, political director of Annie's List, a political group dedicated to electing Democratic women to office in Texas, hailed
Hayes' arrival, saying: "It's the first time in a long time we've gotten any serious investment from Washington, D.C., on the
Democratic side."
At Hayes' first Austin "listening tour" stop, he told about 40 people at Scholz Garten on April 23 that Organizing for America wants
"to make sure our voices are heard" in Washington.
"We couldn't have gotten there without people like you," Hayes said.
Retiree Carol Emmer, who lives in Austin's Balcones Country Club neighborhood, later said she was the first activist to RSVP for
the gathering.
"We got (Obama) elected," Emmer said. "Now we've got to keep working."
Among initial assignments: finding an Austin-area space Democrats can rent as a between-elections headquarters.
Hayes, meanwhile, plans to keep trolling the state in his 2001 Ford Ranger (which has rolled up 89,000 miles) fronted by a Virginia
license plate.
Hayes insisted he's going to put a Texas plate on his truck. "When I get a chance to breathe," he said.
By W. Gardner Selby, AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF, May 2009
Page 6 - Coastal Bend Connection - The Newsletter of the Texas Democratic Women – May 2009
CELEBRATING MORE WOMEN IN GOVERNMENT
Membership Spotlight
JUDY TELGE
Judy Telge spent her childhood
in picturesque New England.
Her parents were Republicans
in the red, red state of New
Hampshire. In high school
government class Judy
proclaimed herself a Democrat
to assert her independence.
Around that time, her dad was
elected a city councilor and
later, a state legislator.
Judy’s first teaching job in Beaufort, South Carolina,
during the district’s first year of school integration,
forever shaped her life’s work.
She married a Marine Corp pilot, and following his stint
in Vietnam, was assigned to Beeville, Texas, twice.
It was in South Texas that Judy saw the economic
and political suppression of Mexican Americans in a
community where they were the majority population.
Once again, she was dismayed at the blatant racial
prejudice against people of color.
Judy’s Beeville experiences solidified her political life of
public service with the opportunity to “do something” that
required her total commitment to activism, organizing
and the influence of media.
With locals and VISTA volunteers, Judy helped publish
an “underground” newspaper, El Exito, serving as editor
and co-publisher. El Exito was the first community
organizing tool in Bee County from 1970 through1975.
Her efforts are archived at TAMU-Corpus Christi.
Corpus Christi City Council
Takes Office this Month
A new council with many, not-so-new faces,
takes office on Tuesday, May 19th, after their
swearing-in ceremony. They will begin filling the
numerous vacancies on the City’s 50 Boards.
Mayor
Joe Adame
17,126 votes (66%)
At-Large
Nelda Martinez
13,608 votes (20%)
At-Large
Brent Chesney
12,017 votes (18%)
At-Large
Mark Scott
11,223 votes (17%)
District 1 Kevin Kieschnik
1,678 votes (58%)
District 2 John Marez
2,485 votes (71%)
District 3 Priscilla Leal
1,209 votes (34%) Forced Runoff
945 votes (51%) Runoff results
District 4 Chris Adler
6,166 votes (81%)
District 5 Larry Elizondo
3,650 votes (51%)
At its last council meeting, the old council
unanimously approved a motion to prohibit city
contracting with council members and their
families. Let’s hold the new council to it.
Words from
Wise Women
Judy continued organizing with the Raza Unida, then
with the Democratic Party. Waging a grassroots campaign of voter registration and Get Out the Vote, she
helped elect the first all-Chicano City Council in Beeville.
“If you think you
are too small to
be effective, you
have never been
in bed with a
mosquito.”
Judy has had the good fortune to work alongside Bob
Kafka, one of the great activists for people with disabilities and serves as Executive Director for the Coastal
Bend Center for Independent Living, and founder of
Accessible Housing Resources, Inc.
Judy enjoys many distinguished honors including her
appointment to the Board of Directors of the Regional
Transportation Authority. Way to go Judy!
Betty Reese
Page 7 - Coastal Bend Connection - The Newsletter of the Texas Democratic Women – May 2009
Coastal Bend Chapter
PRSRT STD
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
Texas Democratic Women
P.O. Box 8396
Corpus Christi, Texas 78468
CORPUS CHRISTI
TEXAS 78469
PERMIT # 661
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
Join the rEVOLUTION
www.tdw.org/CoastalBend
Texas Democratic Women
Coastal Bend Chapter
MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION
H ear
t of t
he
Pa r t y
GENERAL MEMBERSHIP
AUXILIARY MEMBERSHIP
$20 Annual Dues
$20 + (Auxiliary Donation)
Name_______________________________________Address_____________________________________
City________________________________________State_______________________Zip______________
Phone_________________________Cell ________________________Work_________________________
Email_________________________________________ Fax _____________________________________
Employer____________________________________Occupation__________________________________
GENERAL MEMBERSHIP
$20 (Annual Dues include $10 State Membership)
AUXILIARY MEMBERSHIP $20 + Auxiliary Donation = $ CHECK TOTAL
Please make checks payable to Coastal Bend TDW · P O Box 8396 · Corpus Christi TX 78468.
Contributions for political purposes are not tax deductible. For more information call Esther Martinez at 991-6970.
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)_________________________________________________________________________
Page 8 - Coastal Bend Connection - The Newsletter of the Texas Democratic Women – May 2009