As I Signed Ballot Access Petitions, I Asked Candidates How They Would Show Up For Us

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​I recently signed ballot access petitions of Justice Frances Burliot of the 14th Court of Appeals and attorney Allison Mathis, who is running for the 338th Criminal District Court. Justice Burliot is running for re-election.

The Court of Appeals is a ten-county court with judges elected to six-year terms. 

​(Here is the link to the Court if you'd like to know more about what it does. I did not know what it did before I looked at the website.)

(Above is Justice Burliot on the left and Ms. Mathis on the right as a citizen of Harris County signs a ballot access petition.)   

When I signed the petitions I asked both candidates if they would participate in the Harris County Democratic Party coordinated campaign to help boost the full Democratic ticket & if they would be knocking on doors during their campaigns as a way to boost overall turnout. Both said they would do these things.  

A goal of the Houston Democracy Project for 2024 is to encourage and insist that Democrats running for office in Harris County to be part of more than just their own campaigns. Democracy is on the line. Many good people run for office. But there are also often motives of self-interest. Somebody or other is going to be the Democratic nominee for all the various offices on the November ballot. Let's have it be someone willing to fight for us. We show up for our candidates. They can show up for us.

An active party base among Democrats that demanded more of our candidates and electeds would not shift the party to the left, so much as it would demand that our officials act more aggressively to confront the anti-democratic challenge of the Republican Party and the right.      

If you meet a candidate or an elected official on the 2024 campaign trail, ask them how they will help the full Democratic ticket and what career risks they are willing to take to protect democracy. These candidates are here for us. Not the other way around.          

The Houston Democracy Project works daily to inspire, organize and strengthen pro-democracy coalitions in Houston and Harris County. The Project will continue through 2024 at the least. 

Please share word of the Houston Democracy Project and support the effort with your contribution. If you have a question about the Project or a suggestion, please send an e-mail to [email protected].​
     

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