by Michael Handley
The 2014 Collin County Senate District 8 Convention elected 142 delegates to advance to the Democratic State Convention. Everyone nominated as an Alternate Delegate at their Precinct Convention was elevated to full Delegate status by the Nominations Committee. Additional At-Large Delegate forms have been submitted to me, the Convention Chair, after the convention adjourned at 1:29 p.m. on March 22nd. Two At-Large State Delegate and all 153 Alternate Delegate slots remain available, should additional people wish to submit an At-Large Delegate form by CLICKING HERE.
This is Collin SD8's best state delegate showing since the 2008 presidential election year. We sent a full slate of delegates and alternates to the state convention that year.
Collin only filled 120 of its allocated SD8 delegate slots in 2012, and only about 100 of those delegates actually attended the state convention. The '12 number even had a boost from people wanting to go to the Democratic National Convention. For a mid-term election year, filling all our 2014 delegate allocation is worth taking note!
SD8 Dallas County fill their entire slate of 40 state delegates, plus 22 of their alternate slots. So, we will have a sizable SD8 delegation of 215, or more, delegates and alternates going to the state convention, June 26-28. I was elected to chair the Collin Co. contingent of SD8 and Rebecca Arredondo was elected by the Dallas SD8 Convention to chair their contingent of delegates. Becky and I will work together to prepare our SD8 delegation for the state convention.
The Friday, June 27th, state convention SD8 caucus should be fun. I look forward to seeing you there!
Committee Reports Approved by the Collin County SD8 Convention
Sunday, March 30, 2014
State Democratic Party Convention June 26 – 28th
State Democratic Party Convention Delegates and Alternates elected from every Senatorial District (SD) and County Convention held across Texas on Saturday, March 22, 2014 will meet at the State Convention on June 26 – 28th at the Dallas Convention Center.
http://www.texasdemocraticconvention.com/
The State Convention begins on Thursday evening, June 26th, with a Welcome Fundraising Event. Convention caucuses of Senatorial District Delegates and Alternates begin at 3 p.m. on Friday afternoon. The main Convention speeches are on Friday evening. Saturday morning Convention committees meet. During that time, there will be workshops and trainings for the attendees to attend. Final convention actions on elections officers and debating resolutions and adopting the platform occur on Saturday afternoon.
The State Convention begins on Thursday evening, June 26th, with a Welcome Fundraising Event. Convention caucuses of Senatorial District Delegates and Alternates begin at 3 p.m. on Friday afternoon. The main Convention speeches are on Friday evening. Saturday morning Convention committees meet. During that time, there will be workshops and trainings for the attendees to attend. Final convention actions on elections officers and debating resolutions and adopting the platform occur on Saturday afternoon.
Saturday, March 29, 2014
Clubs, Organizations and the Democratic Party
Political clubs and organizations and their members have an impact on connecting with grassroots voters to build the base of voters our candidates need to win election.
It is during election time that local clubs and organizations, working together with the party organization, become most important, when political interest is at its height. This is the time when club activists help register and qualify new voters, and assist in various candidates’ election campaigns.
Motivated individual grassroots activists, who make up local clubs and organizations, must help Get Out The Vote to elect our candidates to office. They must make phone calls, stuff envelopes, knock on doors, organize their friends and relatives, e-mail everybody on their lists, message their FaceBook friends, march in the streets, attend rallies, volunteer for leadership, write letters to editors, lobby legislators, distribute petitions, donate money, and in countless other ways make great personal sacrifice for what they believe in. They— you—must make the difference!
GET ACTIVE — STAY ACTIVE!
Whether you are more comfortable as an individual activist, or being active within the county and state levels of the Texas Democratic Party or as a member of a local political club or organization, I hope your participation in the political process doesn’t end this year with just attending this or the State Democratic Party Convention.
PLEASE, get active and stay active in our democratic process. That is the only way our American “by the people, for the people, and of the people” form of democratic government can successfully function, or even survive.
Each of you are not just representatives of the Democratic Party, you are representatives for our local, state and national policy interests. Please, talk to your friends, your family, and your neighbors about the issues you believe are important to Texas and America. Explain to them why you believe our Democratic candidates best serve the interests of Collin County, Texas, and America.
Michael D. Handley
2014 State Convention Senate District 8 Delegation Chair
It is during election time that local clubs and organizations, working together with the party organization, become most important, when political interest is at its height. This is the time when club activists help register and qualify new voters, and assist in various candidates’ election campaigns.
Motivated individual grassroots activists, who make up local clubs and organizations, must help Get Out The Vote to elect our candidates to office. They must make phone calls, stuff envelopes, knock on doors, organize their friends and relatives, e-mail everybody on their lists, message their FaceBook friends, march in the streets, attend rallies, volunteer for leadership, write letters to editors, lobby legislators, distribute petitions, donate money, and in countless other ways make great personal sacrifice for what they believe in. They— you—must make the difference!
GET ACTIVE — STAY ACTIVE!
Whether you are more comfortable as an individual activist, or being active within the county and state levels of the Texas Democratic Party or as a member of a local political club or organization, I hope your participation in the political process doesn’t end this year with just attending this or the State Democratic Party Convention.
PLEASE, get active and stay active in our democratic process. That is the only way our American “by the people, for the people, and of the people” form of democratic government can successfully function, or even survive.
Each of you are not just representatives of the Democratic Party, you are representatives for our local, state and national policy interests. Please, talk to your friends, your family, and your neighbors about the issues you believe are important to Texas and America. Explain to them why you believe our Democratic candidates best serve the interests of Collin County, Texas, and America.
Michael D. Handley
2014 State Convention Senate District 8 Delegation Chair
Become A Democratic Party of Collin County Precinct Chair
Democratic Party Precinct Chairs are the grassroots lifeblood of the Democratic Party.
Collectively, they make up most of the local Democratic Party County Executive Committee (CEC), that conducts important party business, and -- most importantly -- they play a critical role in organizing Democratic party activists and reaching out to voters in their respective election precincts, with the goal of turning out as many votes for Democratic candidates as possible.
There is no more important job in the Democratic Party than serving as a Precinct Chair. County party precinct chairs are publicly elected party officials elected by voters in their precinct to represent them on the County Executive Committee.
Precinct Chairs are elected in the primary election, along with the County Chairperson, and serve a two year term office from June to June of even numbered years beginning on the 20th day following the party's Primary runoff election. Or, if a precinct chair vacancy exists between primary elections, the vacancy is filled by appointment by a majority vote of the members of the County Executive Committee.
If there is no Precinct Chair in office in your precinct, you should learn more about becoming a Precinct Chair, by contacting the Democratic Party of Collin County Office. http://www.collindems.us/
Collectively, they make up most of the local Democratic Party County Executive Committee (CEC), that conducts important party business, and -- most importantly -- they play a critical role in organizing Democratic party activists and reaching out to voters in their respective election precincts, with the goal of turning out as many votes for Democratic candidates as possible.
There is no more important job in the Democratic Party than serving as a Precinct Chair. County party precinct chairs are publicly elected party officials elected by voters in their precinct to represent them on the County Executive Committee.
Precinct Chairs are elected in the primary election, along with the County Chairperson, and serve a two year term office from June to June of even numbered years beginning on the 20th day following the party's Primary runoff election. Or, if a precinct chair vacancy exists between primary elections, the vacancy is filled by appointment by a majority vote of the members of the County Executive Committee.
If there is no Precinct Chair in office in your precinct, you should learn more about becoming a Precinct Chair, by contacting the Democratic Party of Collin County Office. http://www.collindems.us/
Texas isn't a Red State, It's A Non-Voting State
~ Paul Begala @ BattlegroundTX (#BGTX) fundraiser, Austin, Texas - Jun 22, 2013
Help Get Out The VOTE!
GOTV
Democratic Clubs and Organizations
Collin County Young Democrats (CCYD) is a grassroots group of Democrats aged 14-40 in Collin County. CCYD’s goal is to build a permanent bloc of young Democratic voters in Collin County.
Women Organizing Women Democrats (WOW Dems) is a North Texas-based organization dedicated to advancing Democratic women in politics.
The Democratic Network (DemNet) educates Democratic activists about current events and political issues that impact our communities with a topical forum event each month. We also encourage and aid the formation of groups that will allow Democrats to expand their personal networks and influence.
The Democratic Club at Heritage Ranch represents residents of Heritage Ranch community who share a common interest in the principles of the Democratic Party.
- President: Michael Messer
- Vice President: Kevin Numerick
- Public Relations: Jihaan Karjeker
- https://www.facebook.com/CollinYDs
Women Organizing Women Democrats (WOW Dems) is a North Texas-based organization dedicated to advancing Democratic women in politics.
- President: Sharon Hirsch
- Secretary: Sharon O’Toole
- https://www.facebook.com/WOWDemocrats
The Democratic Network (DemNet) educates Democratic activists about current events and political issues that impact our communities with a topical forum event each month. We also encourage and aid the formation of groups that will allow Democrats to expand their personal networks and influence.
- President: Deborah Angell Smith
- Treasurer: David Smith
- https://www.facebook.com/DemNetForum
The Democratic Club at Heritage Ranch represents residents of Heritage Ranch community who share a common interest in the principles of the Democratic Party.
- President: Juley Welch
- Andy Lepine: Treasurer
- Cathy Mangarelli: Political Activities Chair
- http://demclubathr.com/
Monday, January 27, 2014
Collin County Senatorial District 8 Convention
by Michael Handley, Senatorial District 8 Convention ChairPlease attend the Collin County Senatorial District 8 Convention on Saturday, March 22, 2014 at the Community Unitarian Universalist Church, 2875 E Parker Rd, Plano, TX 75074 - map. Collin County Senate District 8 includes the southwestern areas of Collin County, including all or portions of the following cities within the territory of Collin County: Plano, Frisco, Allen, parts of McKinney, Fairview, Lucas, Parker, Murphy, Dallas, Richardson, Sachse, and more.
In past years, the Democratic Party of Collin County convened a joint Senatorial District 8 and Senatorial District 30 "County Convention," within District 8 territory.
This year, on Saturday, March 22nd, each Senatorial District (SD) within Collin County will convene their own SD Convention within their own District's territory.
Senate District 8 Convention registration and check-in begins at 8:15 a.m. - YOU MUST CHECK-IN even if you Pre-Register today!
Senate District 8 Convention proceedings begin at 9:00 a.m. as Democrats from each precinct assemble in their assigned convention precinct seating areas to conduct precinct level convention business. Precinct Chairs will provide information about electing delegates to the State Convention.
Senatorial District 8 Convention proceedings continue at 10:00 a.m.
(What to Expect at the SD8 Convention ~ Serve on a Convention Committee)
Texas Democratic Party Convention System
by Michael HandleyThe party convention system in Texas was created to do several things: elect party officers at all levels, set party message and platform, and develop campaign volunteers and activists.
Historically, Precinct Conventions convened in each election precinct immediately after precinct polling places closed on Primary Election Day. A main purpose of those Precinct Conventions was to elect delegates who would advance to their Senatorial District (SD) or County Convention.
Under the newly revised Texas Democratic Party rules, that Precinct Convention step is moved from Primary Election Day to the top of the SD or County Convention agenda as an organizing step in Convention Day proceedings. Senatorial District and County Conventions will convene across Texas on Saturday, March 22, 2014. (see What To Expect At The SD8 Convention.)
Texas Political Party Structure
Although neither the U.S. Constitution nor the Texas Constitution mentions political parties, these organizations are an integral part of the American governmental process. A political party can be defined as a combination of people and interests whose primary purpose is to gain control of government by winning elections. Political parties (often aligned with political clubs, political action committees, etc) are chiefly concerned with the recruitment, nomination, and election of individuals to governmental office. As mandated by the Texas Election Code, the political parties are the foundation of the state's governmental and judicial systems.
Sunday, January 26, 2014
What To Expect At The SD8 Convention
by Michael Handley, Senatorial District 8 Convention ChairThe party convention system in Texas was created to do several things: elect party officers at all levels, set party message and platform, and develop campaign volunteers and activists. All of these objectives are accomplished by grassroots Democrats who first become delegates to their Senatorial District and County Conventions, and then advance to serve as delegates at the Texas Democratic Party State Convention.
This year Senatorial District 8 is allocated a total of 193 state convention delegates - 153 from the Collin County portion of SD8 and 40 from the Dallas portion. Each precinct is allowed to elect one delegate and one alternate for each full 300 votes cast in the precinct for the 2010 Democratic gubernatorial candidate, Bill White. (About Delegate Allocations for Collin County SD8)
A person becomes a delegate to the State Convention by being elected at their county convention, or in larger counties one of multiple senate district conventions within the county. Each county and senate district convention in 2014 starts with a meeting of attendees from each precinct within the senate district to elect one or more delegate(s) and alternate delegate(s) to attend the state convention. Alternate delegates act as backup to corresponding delegates. In case an elected delegate can not attend the state convention and vacates their delegate position, the alternate delegate becomes the voting delegate to the state convention.
Here is the step-by-step summary of what to expect at your local convention:
Saturday, January 25, 2014
Delegate Allocations For SD8 Collin Co. Precincts
A person becomes a delegate to the State Convention by being elected at their county convention, or in larger counties one of multiple senate district conventions within the county. Each county and senate district convention in 2014 starts with a meeting of attendees from each precinct within the senate district to elect one or more delegate(s) to attend the state convention.
This year, Senatorial District 8, which includes portions of Collin and Dallas Counties, is allocated a total of 193 state convention delegates - 153 from the Collin County portion of SD8, and 40 from the Dallas portion.
This year, Senatorial District 8, which includes portions of Collin and Dallas Counties, is allocated a total of 193 state convention delegates - 153 from the Collin County portion of SD8, and 40 from the Dallas portion.
Friday, January 24, 2014
Convention Committees
There are four standing committees for every SD / County Convention: Credentials, Nominations, Platform and Resolutions, and Rules and Procedures. These committees can include from 5 to 15 members at the discretion of the Convention Chair. One additional non-statutory committee is the Planning and Organizing Committee.
Statutory committee members may be appointed from among pre-registered attendees at any time before convention day. This allows the committees, if necessary and desired, to meet prior to the convening of the convention to organize or do any preliminary work.
Statutory committee appointees will be ratified by the Senate District Committee at the meeting to canvass primary votes after the March 4th primary election day. That vote canvass meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 13, 2014, one week before Convention Day.
Statutory committee members may be appointed from among pre-registered attendees at any time before convention day. This allows the committees, if necessary and desired, to meet prior to the convening of the convention to organize or do any preliminary work.
Statutory committee appointees will be ratified by the Senate District Committee at the meeting to canvass primary votes after the March 4th primary election day. That vote canvass meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 13, 2014, one week before Convention Day.
How To Write A Resolution
A Guide to Introducing and Passing Resolutions in any Texas Democratic Party Convention
Resolutions may be submitted to the Resolution Committee after the CEC and Senate District Committee meets to canvass primary votes after the March 4th primary election day. That primary canvass meeting occurred on Thursday, March 13, 2014. CLICK HERE to jump to the Resolution submission form at the bottom of this article. Mobile browser users, scroll down.
Democrats attending a County / SD Convention may present Resolutions at the convention for the purpose of sending instructions and comments about issues to the next higher level of convention, e.g. the state convention. Resolutions submitted to a County / SD Convention are open for debate, amendment and adoption or rejection.
Before getting to the floor of County / SD Convention, a Resolutions Committee will review all of the resolutions submitted from within the county or the district and then make a Committee report recommending the resolutions to be presented to the full body of the county or the senatorial district convention. Resolutions adopted at a County / SD Convention are then forwarded to the state convention for debate, amendment and adoption or rejection.
There will be a Temporary Platform/Resolutions Committee at the state convention that will review the thousands of resolutions adopted by counties and senatorial districts throughout the State of Texas. The Committee will report to the Permanent Platform/Resolutions Committee that is elected at the state convention. The Permanent Platform/Resolutions Committee will then offer its report containing many of those resolutions to the full body of the state convention for debate, amendment, and adoption or rejection. Because the state convention is so large, you should attend and testify before the Temporary and/or Permanent Platform/Resolutions Committee if you want to have specific input on a subject of special interest to you.
The County or Senatorial District Committee for Resolutions may meet prior to the Call to Order of the County or Senatorial District Convention to organize their work and make preliminary recommendations of submitted resolutions. Any attendee to the SD Convention may submit to the Chair, or a designee, a proposed resolution for consideration by the Convention.
Resolutions may be submitted to the SD Convention Resolution Committee after the Senate District Committee meets in CEC meeting to canvass primary votes after the March 4th primary election day. That vote canvass meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 13, 2014, one week before Convention Day. Instructions for submitting resolutions will be posted on this blog on Friday, March 14, 2014.
The Chair shall announce at the beginning of the SD Convention where and with whom resolutions shall be filed. The period for filing resolutions shall be open for at least one hour from the time of said announcement. The Convention may waive this one hour period if there is no objection from any attendee.
Writing Your Resolution
Resolutions may be submitted to the Resolution Committee after the CEC and Senate District Committee meets to canvass primary votes after the March 4th primary election day. That primary canvass meeting occurred on Thursday, March 13, 2014. CLICK HERE to jump to the Resolution submission form at the bottom of this article. Mobile browser users, scroll down.
Democrats attending a County / SD Convention may present Resolutions at the convention for the purpose of sending instructions and comments about issues to the next higher level of convention, e.g. the state convention. Resolutions submitted to a County / SD Convention are open for debate, amendment and adoption or rejection.
Before getting to the floor of County / SD Convention, a Resolutions Committee will review all of the resolutions submitted from within the county or the district and then make a Committee report recommending the resolutions to be presented to the full body of the county or the senatorial district convention. Resolutions adopted at a County / SD Convention are then forwarded to the state convention for debate, amendment and adoption or rejection.
There will be a Temporary Platform/Resolutions Committee at the state convention that will review the thousands of resolutions adopted by counties and senatorial districts throughout the State of Texas. The Committee will report to the Permanent Platform/Resolutions Committee that is elected at the state convention. The Permanent Platform/Resolutions Committee will then offer its report containing many of those resolutions to the full body of the state convention for debate, amendment, and adoption or rejection. Because the state convention is so large, you should attend and testify before the Temporary and/or Permanent Platform/Resolutions Committee if you want to have specific input on a subject of special interest to you.
The County or Senatorial District Committee for Resolutions may meet prior to the Call to Order of the County or Senatorial District Convention to organize their work and make preliminary recommendations of submitted resolutions. Any attendee to the SD Convention may submit to the Chair, or a designee, a proposed resolution for consideration by the Convention.
Resolutions may be submitted to the SD Convention Resolution Committee after the Senate District Committee meets in CEC meeting to canvass primary votes after the March 4th primary election day. That vote canvass meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 13, 2014, one week before Convention Day. Instructions for submitting resolutions will be posted on this blog on Friday, March 14, 2014.
The Chair shall announce at the beginning of the SD Convention where and with whom resolutions shall be filed. The period for filing resolutions shall be open for at least one hour from the time of said announcement. The Convention may waive this one hour period if there is no objection from any attendee.
Writing Your Resolution
Revisions To Texas Democratic Party Rules
Democrats attending a County / SD Convention may present a proposed amendment to the Texas Democratic Party Rules at the convention for the purpose of sending revisions to the rules to the next higher level of convention, e.g. the state convention. Rule amendments submitted to a County / SD Convention are open for debate, amendment and adoption or rejection. Any attendee to the Convention may submit to the Chair or a
designee a proposed amendment to the Texas Democratic Party Rules for consideration by the Convention. CLICK HERE to jump to the rule amendment submission form at the bottom of this article. Mobile browser users, scroll down. (TDP-Rules.pdf)
Thursday, January 23, 2014
About Senate Districts
The Texas Senate is the upper house of the Texas State Legislature. There are 31 single-member Senatorial (Senate) districts across the State of Texas, with populations of approximately 806,000 per district, based on the 2010 U.S. Census.
In What Senate District Do I Reside?
by Michael Handley
Collin County Senate District 8 includes the southwestern areas of
Collin County, including all or portions of the following cities within
the territory of Collin County: Plano, Frisco, Allen, parts of McKinney,
Fairview, Lucas, Parker, Murphy, Dallas, Richardson, Sachse, and more.
On the right hand portion of your Voter Registration Card (VRC) there are ten boxes denoting the various state, county, school, and city districts mapped to your election precinct. The box titled "STATE SEN" tells you your senatorial district number.
The box titled "Prec. No" on the left portion of your VRC tells you your election precinct. (Click on the images to enlarge)
Can't find your orange VRC? Go to the Collin County Elections web page to get an image of your registration card. - click here.
Every registered Texas voter should have received their new 2014-15 orange Voter Registration Card (VRC) in the postal mail during the first part of January 2014.
Collin County Senate District 8 includes the southwestern areas of
Collin County, including all or portions of the following cities within
the territory of Collin County: Plano, Frisco, Allen, parts of McKinney,
Fairview, Lucas, Parker, Murphy, Dallas, Richardson, Sachse, and more.On the right hand portion of your Voter Registration Card (VRC) there are ten boxes denoting the various state, county, school, and city districts mapped to your election precinct. The box titled "STATE SEN" tells you your senatorial district number.
The box titled "Prec. No" on the left portion of your VRC tells you your election precinct. (Click on the images to enlarge)
Can't find your orange VRC? Go to the Collin County Elections web page to get an image of your registration card. - click here.
Every registered Texas voter should have received their new 2014-15 orange Voter Registration Card (VRC) in the postal mail during the first part of January 2014.
If you have not already received a new VRC, you are likely NOT registered to vote. You should immediately check your registration status and take action to properly register, if you find you are not registered to vote in the county where you reside.Senate District 8 occupies 154 precincts in the southwestern portion of Collin County, and it also extends into northern precincts of Dallas County. Senate District 30 occupies 55 precincts in the northern and eastern portions of Collin County, plus whole and partial areas of 17 other counties. (About Senate Districts)
You must be registered or have mailed voter registration application by February 3rd to be eligible to vote in the March 4, 2014 primary election.
You must be registered to become a delegate to your party's convention.
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
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