Bexar County Democratic Women

tdw.org/BexarCounty

Bexar County Democratic Party (bexardemocrats.org)

Texas Democratic Party (txdemocrats.org)

Newsletter, January 2008

Next Meeting

Monday, February 4, 2007, 5:30-8PM

Candidates Forum

The Bexar County Democratic Women will host a forum for candidates in the Democratic primary. The Candidates Forum will be held at the Unitarian Universalist Church, Fellowship Hall, 7150 IH10 West in San Antonio (at the intersection of of IH10 West and IH 410West, on the Southeast corner of the intersection across IH10 from Crossroads Mall).

5:30PM – networking and light refreshments

6-8PM – presentations moderated by Judge Barbara Nellermoe

See inside for a list of questions sent to the candidates and for a description of the responsibilities of each office.

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Texas Democratic Women - Who We Are

Texas Democratic Women was organized in 1987 as one response to the growing political interest expressed by mainstream women from across the state. TDW promotes the increased political activity and influence of Democratic women in Texas politics and government. TDW provides statewide training conferences and workshops. In addition, the group serves as a communication network for existing Democratic women's organizations and promotes the formation of new groups.

There are many organized groups which represent certain segments of women Democrats in Texas. Some are tied to a particular city or county in the state; others reflect particular issue agendas or ethnic groups. Some groups attract women in a specific age category or occupation. Of course, there are professional and career women in our party, but there are also many women who work in the home or are retired. None of these organizations currently represent the broad range of women in our Party. Texas Democratic Women works to unite this wonderful diversity of devoted women behind one common goal - the support of our Party and the involvement of women in the political process.

TDW is a true grassroots organization run entirely by volunteers. There is no office and no paid staff, so administrative costs are extremely low. Officers may not serve more than two consecutive terms in the same office, ensuring the fresh ideas that come with turnover. Dues and donations pay for the website and for printing and mailing the quarterly newsletter. They also fund the TDW PAC, which contributes to women running for a state level office in Texas (Texas House and higher).

All membership levels include annual dues for the National Federation of Democratic Women (nfdw.com), the Texas Democratic Women, and your local TDW chapter plus quarterly issues of the TDW newsletter, The Connection. Finance Council ($120+) members also receive a gold TDW lapel pin, the membership directory, and recognition and reserved seating at the annual awards dinner. Finance Council members may be individuals, clubs, or organizations. Patron members ($50) receive a blue TDW lapel pin and the membership directory. Local chapters keep $10 from each TDW membership. TDW currently has two seats on the SDEC (State Democratic Executive Committee), both women.

Elected Office Responsibilities

United States Congress

‘The Congress shall have Power to lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States…”

Source: The Constitution of the United States, Article I Section 8, 1787

Texas Legislature

“The primary legislative power is that of enacting laws…to make public policy through the drafting, considering , and passing bills and resolutions.”

Source: Texas Legislative Council, Texas Legislative Handbook undated, pp 19-20

Railroad Commission

Stewardship of natural resources and the environment

Concern for personal and community safety

Support of enhanced development & economic vitality, for the benefit of Texans

Source: Railroad Commission of Texas web site

County Commissioner’s Court

The major responsibilities of the Commissioner’s Court are setting the tax rate, adopting the county budget, establishing voting precincts, calling county bond elections and building and maintaining roads.

Source: Bexar County Web Site

District Courts

The District Courts have original jurisdiction in civil actions over $200, divorce, title to land, contested elections and contested probate matters. It also has original jurisdiction in felony criminal matters and in juvenile matters.

Source: Judge Andrew Mireles Compilation of Judicial Jurisdictions, undated

County Courts

The jurisdiction of the County Courts at Law is limited to jurisdiction over civil matters, most under $100,000, limited jurisdiction over misdemeanor criminal matters and appeals de novo from lower courts or on the record from municipal courts of record.

Source: See above

Justice of the Peace

The jurisdiction of the Justices of the Peace is on civil actions of not more than $5,000, small claims, criminal misdemeanors punishable by fine-only (no confinement) and magistrate functions..

Source: See above

Sheriff

Enforce the law efficiently and impartially

Protect the lives, property and the rights of all people

Provide humane care, custody and security of inmates

Develop strong community partnerships to improve and enhance the quality of life for the citizens of Bexar County.

Source: Bexar County Web Site

Constable

As for sheriff, above, except limited to jurisdiction of a Justice of the Peace, not county wide, and do not maintain a jail as noted in #3 under sheriff above

Source: Sgt Aragon, Bexar County Constable Department

County Chair and County Executive Committee

The duties are to administer the primary election in the county, turn out Democratic voters, recruit volunteers, raise funds, plan campaign activities within the county and recruit candidates

Source: Texas Democratic Web Site

Candidate Questions

For Response at the Democratic Primary Candidate Forum

February 4, 2008

United States Senate

Will you support the National Democratic Platform & Democratic Caucus positions?

How do you propose that the gulf war be concluded?

How can the federal deficit be controlled?

Do you think universal health care should be assured?

What is your priority in serving in the senate?

Railroad Commission

Will you support the Texas Democratic Platform?

How will you balance enhanced development and stewardship of natural resources & the environment?

Commissioners Court

Will you support the Texas Democratic Platform?

How can property taxes be maintained adequately and equitably?

Do you believe the county and city can merge functions?

What is your commissioner court priority?

Judicial & Justice of the Peace

What is your judicial philosophy?

What is your judicial priority?

Sheriff & Constable

How will you best enforce the law efficiently and impartially?

How will you develop strong community partnerships to improve the quality of life for residents?

County Chair

How will you plan to turn out Democratic voters, recruit volunteers, raise funds and recruit candidates?

What campaign activities would promote Democratic election wins?

We will be electing new chapter officers at the April meeting. Please contact the chair of the Nominating Committee, Darlene Clements Murnin (dcmurnin@msn.com or call 341-7361), if you are interested in running for a chapter office.

Due are paid on a calendar year basis and are due by January 1st. Please check your mail label to see if your dues are current or if you need to renew. There is a form on the back page of this newsletter that should be filled out and mailed in with your renewal check. Please consider renewing now for 2008. Also, please consider making an extra donation to BCDW to help with printing and mailing the newsletter.

2008 Primary Candidates
Office Sought	Candidate	Office Sought	Candidate
President	Barack Obama	Constable, Pct. 1	Daniel V. Pineda
	Hillary Clinton		Ruben C. Tejeda
	John Edwards		Henry Avila
US Senate	Richard J. (Rick) Noriega	Constable, Pct. 2	Jimmy Willborn
	Rhett R. Smith		Val Flores
	Gene Kelly	Constable, Pct. 3	Edward (Ed) Coleman
	Ray McMurray		David A. Cleveland
U.S. Congress, District 20	Charles A. Gonzalez	Constable, Pct. 4	Robert “Mike” Blount
Railroad Commissioner	Dale Henry		Stan Ramos
	Art Hall	BCDP County Chair	Carla Vela
	Mark Thompson		Brent de la Paz
TX Supreme Court, Place 7	Sam Houston
	Baltasar D. Cruz
TX Supreme Court, Place 8	Linda Reyna Yanez
	Susan Criss
Texas Senate, 21^st District	Judith Zaffirini
Texas Senate, 26th District	Leticia Van de Putte
Texas House, 116th District	Trey Martinez Fischer
Texas House, 117th District	David McQuade Leibowitz
Texas House, 118th District	Joe Farias
Texas House, 119th District	Roland Gutierrez
Texas House, 120th District	Ruth Jones McClendon
Texas House, 122nd District	Frances Carnot
Texas House, 123rd District	Mike Villarreal
Texas House, 124th District	José Menendez
Texas House, 125th District	Joaquin Castro
District Judge, 37th District	Amber Liddell
District Judge, 57th District	Lauro A. Bustamante, Jr.
District Judge, 73rd District	Andy Mireles
District Judge, 131st District	John Gabriel
District Judge, 166th District	Martha Tanner
District Judge, 175th District	Anthony Zamora
	Mary Ramon
District Judge, 379th District	Ron Rangel
	Scott Simpson
District Judge, 407th District	Karen Pozza
District Judge, 408th District	Larry Noll
Sheriff	Amadeo Ortiz
	Carl Barrella
	Andy Lopez
	Larry Ricketts
Tax Assessor-Collector	Sylvia S. Romo
County Commissioner, Pct. 1	Sergio “Chico” Rodriguez
	Robert (Bobby) Tejeda
County Commissioner, Pct. 3	Chip Haass
Justice of the Peace, Pct. 1	Casimiro "Cass" Espinoza
	Tomas Uresti
	Monica Lisa Caballero
Justice of the Peace, Pct. 2	Steve Walker

Bexar County Democratic Party 2008 Primary Precinct Chair Candidates
Pct	First	Middle	Last	Pct	First	Middle	Last
1001	Olivia		DeLaZerda	2029*	Grace	Ybarra