![]() Here are Houston Democracy Project Blog Notes & Observations for October 7th. Election Day is in 29 days on November 5th & Early Voting begins in 14 days on October 21st. * Above you see a recent Tweet from Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo. She was in Arizona for the Vice Presidential debate. That's fine. Arizona is an important state. At the same time, looking at the Harris County Democratic Party list of doors knocked and who has taken part in the Victory coordinated campaign, Judge Hildalgo is not on this list. I've seen many pictures of various local Democratic club blockwalks and I've not seen her included in the pictures. Maybe I've missed them. Active Harris County Democrats came out strong for Judge Hidalgo in 2022 as she faced an aggressive Republican effort to unseat her. Judge Hidalgo has announced plans to run again in 2026 in what will be another tough race. It's important to understand what local efforts Judge Hidalgo is making with so much on the line in 2024. She certainly will be asking much of us in 2026. There are elected officials not on the ballot in 2024 who are on the trail in this cycle. Three who are showing up are Judges Erika Ramirez and Hillary Unger as well as Justice of the Peace Steve Duble. * The Harris County Clerk's Office will be having an Election Worker Job Fair on Wednesday, October 10 from 6 PM-8 PM. It is a big deal that Harris County have enough people to staff the polls for the upcoming election. County Clerk Teneshia Hudspeth is working hard to make sure it goes well. If you can't attend the job fair, here is the link on becoming an election worker. * The virtual Tax Rate Town Hall held yesterday by Houston Councilmembers Alcorn, Castillo, Martinez & Plummer was well done & a public policy win in and of itself. The tax rate change being proposed by the four councilmembers is to make up for revenue lost dealing with the two big storms this year. I tuned in and made a comment in yesterday's meeting. It's important we raise the tax money needed as we face the prospect of Project 2025 & the reality of a State of Texas government that opposes everything we do. The public policy win was the use of the virtual town hall forum. The tax rate change is a proposal introduced to Council by use of Proposition A. Proposition A was approved overwhelmingly by Houston voters last year to allow any three councilmembers to introduce an agenda item to the council calendar. Using a virtual town hall to help explain and to take testimony on a Prop A matter, expanded the democratic reach of Prop A in a way consistent with what voters intended. This was a very different approach to a Prop A proposal than the recent use of the initiative to enable Mayor Whitmire to gut the sidewalk ordinance simply by writing a memo. Town Halls--virtual or in-person--could be used by elected officials at any point between now and Election Day to advise people of the importance of the upcoming election. * The John Cornyn Houston Office Protest will mark Week 400 at the corner of Memorial & Detering tomorrow Tuesday, October 8, 11:30 AM-1 PM, 5300 Memorial Dr. It's important that people see others like themselves willing to stand openly and confidently for democracy. Please join us. (And thanks to top local political blog Off The Kuff for posting on the Cornyn Protest yesterday.) 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. 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.
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AuthorI'm Neil Aquino. Archives
February 2025
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