Some First Houston/Harris County Observations From The Election

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Here are some first local observations from yesterday's election:

1. It's good Sean Teare held on to be elected District Attorney. With Ken Paxton as Texas AG and a Trump Justice Department, at least there will somebody with the authority to charge people for crimes who is not a right wing extremist.  

2. I've lived in Houston for 26 years. Right from when I got here I was told demographic shifts would be bringing statewide Democratic wins soon. This theory seems flawed.

3. Here is my post from two days ago about which Harris County Democratic candidates and elected officials were helpful in the recently completed campaign. Thank them should you see them and ask incumbents who didn't help where they were.

​4. With mass deportations and attacks on basic freedoms likely on the way, local law enforcement officers in Houston/ Harris County should be seen as extensions of Ken Paxton, Great Abbott & Donald Trump.     

5. John Whitmire is the wrong leader for Houston under Trump. I know that's not a genius observation. I don't think he is happy with Trump's election,-he is not that far to the right whatever I think of him-but he'll offer no inspiration or hope in what are going to be some very dark days. Trump's election makes a depressing Mayoral term even more depressing.

6. Members of Houston City Council have an obligation to show leadership in the days ahead. The Democrats at least. The six Republicans--WillIe Davis, Twila Carter, Julian Ramirez, Amy Peck, Mary Nan Huffman, Fred Flickinger--never said a word in opposition to Trump or objected to prospect of mass deportations. Carter, Ramirez and Flickinger took part in Republican campaign events. These six should be pressed as we go along as to what extremism they are on board with. 

The ten Democrats--Letitia Plummer, Sallie Alcorn, Abbie Kamin, Tarsha Jackson, Tiffany Thomas, Ed Pollard, Mario Castillo, Joaquin Martinez, Carolyn Evans-Shabazz & Martha Castex-Tatum--need to be present with so much trouble on the way. They signed up for positions of leadership and leadership is now very much required.    

Here is how you can speak at Council and here is how to contact your council member.
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7. The photo above is from this evening's Houston LGTQIA+ Political Caucus monthly meeting. The speaker was County Commissioner Leslie Briones. As you can imagine, there was discussion of the election. Nothing big to report. Some reassurance and acknowledgment of the severity of the circumstances.         

Here is a fundraising pitch for Houston Democracy Project. I'm doing the work and showing up in many different ways.  Please help the effort. 
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The Houston Democracy Project works daily to inspire, organize and strengthen pro-democracy coalitions in Houston and Harris County.

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