Molly Cook's Extensive Use Of Volunteer Labor Establishes Debt To Community

​Molly Cook is the new Senator for Texas Senate District 15. I live in 15. Senator Cook is currently serving out the remainder of the term of now-Mayor John Whitmire. 

Senator Cook won the Democratic Primary runoff election to be the nominee for the upcoming full term in a May 28th primary. Senator Cook had 9506 votes and State Rep. Jarvis Johnson had 9444 votes. Texas Senate District 15 has nearly one million people.

As residents of Houston and Harris County Facing an authoritarian threat, we should not place great confidence in systems that generate such poor turnout for such an important office as Texas State Senator. The ecosystem of low turnout, gerrymandering & special interest and out-of-town funding that sustains elected officials, does not sustain democracy.        

Above you see a graphic put out by the Cook campaign. It details volunteer labor the Cook campaign made use of to win. 

​Campaigns are extractive industries. They take resources of donations and volunteer work from the community. These resources need to be returned in the form or brave and effective representation. 

I know Senator Cook. She is an honest and hard-working. She's also now an elected employee at a time when our freedom is at risk. Republicans promise violence if they lose and authoritarianism if they win. I take the threats at face value. We all should. 

​In the recent HCAD runoff elections, Senator Cook was active in helping the two Democrats on the ballot. I took part in one of her phone banks. I'm appreciative of those efforts.  (Other helpful elected officials on the HCAD race included State Rep. Christina Morales, State Rep. Jon Rosenthal, County Commissioner Leslie Briones & State Rep. Democratic nominee Lauren Ashley Simmons. Apologies to anybody I left out. I did not see any Democratic member of Houston City Council say a word.)    

But this is just a start. Senator Cook signed up for elected office at a time of great trouble and risk. Her obligations are extensive. This is so for all elected officials. We need help getting out the vote, we need Democracy Town Halls where officials detail the anti-democratic threats ahead, and we need elected officials willing to take political, career and if need be physical risks, to fight for democracy.

Elected officials come and go. Our need to be free is permanent and everyday. Be relentless in your expectations of the people you vote for.  Be mindful of the community resources they make use of to win elections. Whatever they are doing, ask for more. The stakes could not be higher.                      

Please sign the Houston Democracy Project petition to make the pledge to show up for freedom in 2024 no matter what.

The Houston Democracy Project works daily to inspire, organize and strengthen pro-democracy coalitions in Houston and Harris County.  

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]​

---

Please CONTRIBUTE