GOTV SATURDAYS

Just 47 days until the next elections and it is time to GOTV (Get Out The Vote)

Every Saturday from now through Nov 4th will be "GOTV SATURDAYS" at the downtown HQ. We start at 8:00am with Pancakes and Coffee and continue with GOTV activities the entire day. Come as long as you have time to.

There will be many activities that you can participate in every Saturday. We will be registering new voters until the deadline expires in our Precincts and public places.

We are also working on putting a "ride to the polls" program together that will be effective during early voting to take people to the polls to vote.

Block walking within our Precincts to get signs into yards and push cards to voters will also be done. Precinct chairs and coordinators are particularly encouraged to do this. Call your neighbors and solicite their help.

Candidates can come and get volunteers to help with their election efforts.

There will be plenty to do, at the HQ and all over town. Come join the fun and help get Democrats elected.

Steve Richardson - Gregg Co Dem Chair

Grillin’ & Chillin’ in Gregg County

What a terrific time we all had Saturday. It was a great turnout. Congrats to Juneau Embry, Texas Democratic Women of Gregg County President, for winning the Blue Donkey Homemade Ice Cream contest.

We were so happy to see our friends from Smith and Rusk Counties plus many new faces from here in Gregg County. Great things are happening.

Steve Richardson – Gregg County Chair

David Van Os

David Van Os visited Longview Thursday and from the courthouse steps gave us his message of hope and courage. Hope, for better times without the current crooked regime we now have running our state, and the Courage to make this November the beginning of real change for Texas.

We had a great time afterwards at the headquarters chatting with David and enjoying the company of fellow democrats at his pot luck dinner and fundraiser. Please support David Van Os and make him our next Attorney General of Texas.

Steve Richardson – Gregg County Chair

Fourth of July in Bowie Co and Chris Bell in Longview

This has been a great week for democrats in Gregg County. On July 4th we visited the Bowie County Democrats at their celebration in the park in Texarkana. It was a great event featuring Hank Gilbert, VaLinda Hathcox, Dale Henry and Glen Melancon.

Glen Melancon is running for US Congress district 4. He gave an outstanding speech on how we as democrats must take the high ground on family values and stand up for the working poor and those in need of health care. We had a great time and I thank John Delk, the Bowie County Chair for putting on this great event and making us feel so welcome.

Two days later, on Thursday, I believe I witnessed the true turning of the tide for us democrats here in Gregg County. All I can say is "How 'bout those TDWGC". The tremendous job the Texas Democratic Women of Gregg County did in getting Chris Bell to come should not be underestimated.

Start with the fact that Congressman Bell had to cancel at the last minute in June due to airplane mechanical issues. Then, just hours before he was due in Longview, instead of "Tyler" the pilot took him by mistake to "Taylor", a small town near Austin. Congressman Bell was forced to do his interview with KTBB by phone and then fly directly to Gregg County Airport and be whisked to "Case's Seafood" with moments to spare.

All that aside, future Governor, Chris Bell gave a rousing speech on how and why he will be our next Governor of Texas. He talked at length on how we need to change our education, our healthcare and taxes.

After lunch I took him to meet with the NAACP president Reverand Rockmore and other pastors from the community. Congressman Bell listened to what these leaders had to say about education and jobs. A great deal of time was spent talking about how to keep our young people off drugs and out of prison.

We then went to the IBEW (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers) and met with Union leaders including TJ Burrows. Once again Congressman Bell listened to the concerns and needs of those representing the workers here in East Texas. Their concerns were high energy costs, lost retirement benefits and health care.

I only got a short amount of time to get to know Chris Bell but I see in him great hope for the future of Texas. I see a man that cares about his fellow Texans and a man who will stand up for the rights of everyone. Chris Bell is a great candidate for Governor and in November, with our help, will become the next Governor of Texas.

Steve Richardson
Gregg County Democratic Chair

Blog Re-Activated

Hello Democrats,

I have re-activated the Gregg County Democrats Blog. In it's new format I will be blogging often about anything that happens to be current. It may an opinion, an event coming up, a report from a recent event, or some need the party has. A copy and a link to the blog will appear on the home page of GreggDemocrats.com.

I welcome and encourage your comments and participation.

I will be attending the July 4 celebration in Bowie County. It should be fun and everyone that can should come. I will be promoting "Project TXSD1". It is too early to give details but we are looking ahead to the future needs of Texas Senate District 1 and Gregg County plans to lead the way.

Steve Richardson
Gregg County Democratic Chair

Gregg County Democrats

A Message from Duane Shaw to You - March 11, 2006

When I started this campaign, I did so with the full knowledge that the road to victory for the People of East Texas would be a long and arduous one, fraught with pitfalls and disappointments along the way. Like our ancestors of old, I went forward into an unknown territory. I never ran for public office before but honestly spoke of the issues that concern all of us with solutions for those issues. Although my opponent spoke of his dislike for gays, women, special interests groups, lobbyists and attorneys of which I am one, I chose to keep my campaign clean, sticking to the issues. If I were to run the campaign over again, I would run it the same way. During our campaign I received a total of $750.00 from contributions, used my own money and borrowed money from friends and family. Contrary to my opponent's claims, I had no special interests money upon whom to rely. On March 7, the People of East Texas made their decision at the polls. The race was close but we lost by a little over 1,000 votes.I want to take this opportunity, to thank all of my supporters during these troubling times our nation is facing. It is people like you that will help keep our nation strong and our Constitution a living document that will continue to amaze the world with its ability to expand and contract with the changes of society and the demands of the world. We are not finished by this defeat but are made stronger by it and our dedication to a cause bigger than ourselves will never die as long as people like you continue the good fight. Let me remind all that one defeat does not mean the war is lost. We have only to look to our State and National histories to know this is so. We will return with a vigor unmatched before and we will learn from the mistakes that we made. As I now decide upon my future, I will remember fondly the friends that I have made along the way, the support I received, and the lessons I have learned.I also want to thank my family for their support during this trying time. Elections have a way of keeping one from those that they love for what they perceive as the good of the country. Recognizing that you love me for putting the People's needs first, your sacrifice is closer to my heart than you will ever realize. So thank you for being my family, thank you for your love and thank you for your support. And finally thank you for being there when victory was so close. I could never achieve anything without Providence and your love and I'm a very lucky man to have it.Now, I have been asked many times now about a delicate matter concerning supporting my opponent in the general election now that he has won the primary. What I have to say, may be considered "sour grapes" by some but since I strive for honesty in all my endeavors, I would fail my Maker, my Family, myself and the voters for not mentioning it regardless of what others might think. My opponent, Roger L. Owen, who has not been in Texas very long, now wants my vote and support. Since the election, there have certain things said about this man's past in Florida, which have now been verified by others, and which he purposely kept from the voters during the primary to gain support. If he had nothing to hide, why didn't he inform the public of his past? Instead he perpetrated a fraud on the people by his silence. Unfortunately, the election laws which would prevent him for running for a Texas office do not prevent him from running for federal office. Luckily he is currently under investigation. Therefore, while I am certain that some party members and others will attack me for not openly supporting this man and showing Party unity, I cannot, in good conscience, support a man who, in my opinion, is not fit to run for the office he seeks. I have worked in the Democratic Party since before I was old enough to vote. I love this Party and the ideals for which it stands. Please understand that for the love of the People and the Party I can not support someone if it would not be in their mutual best interest. I urge each of you to seek the truth in this man before supporting him and to let your conscience be your guide.Once again, I thank all of you for your support and may God bless and keep you and the United States of America

Gregg County Democrats

State of the County Address

March 2006

Steve Richardson – Gregg County Democratic Chair

Every two years the Democratic Party holds a county convention after each primary election. This year is no exception. Since my appointment in 2005 and my election in 2006 I have served as the Chair of the Democratic Party in Gregg County.

I begin my first full term as chair with great optimism. When the convention was last held in 2004 I was new to the political process. Making the decision to attend the state convention in Houston was a major step politically for me. It was a real eye opener to discover that only 12 out of the over 30 delegates allowed would actually attend.

The absence at the time of our own County Chair and the apathy for the Party in general was my motivation for change. I put all my effort into the 2004 East Texas Democratic Rally and then into the Max Sandlin campaign. Only one of these projects turned out successful.

The crushing defeat of Max Sandlin plunged the local party into even more apathy. We had reached rock bottom. Yet from the depths of despair came new hope. There was a fundamental change in the way we were doing business. Until then, past parties were built on the narrow shoulders of the County Chair. The new Democratic Party was being built on the shoulders of many, the members of the County Executive Committee, a combination of the Precinct Chairs and the County Chair. It was the way the Party rules were written, and for good reasons.

As we moved into the Primary season in 2005 we have seen a steady growth. We have gone from one North side club to four diverse clubs and a central office downtown. We have seen the actual number of Precinct Chairs increase three fold. With this new broader base of support and a sharp drop in the popularity of bankrupt Republican ideas the move back to the Democratic Party is on. We can see victory from here if we all work together for a better Gregg County.

Steve Richardson – GCDP Chair

Bush and Hurricane Katrina

From Steve Richardson

Could President Bush do a worst job than he has so far handling the current disaster. After days there are still people without food and water. I am very saddened by the US Government response. People are dying and Bush is doing nothing. This is very, very sad.

The Republicans and Voter Suppression

On May 25, 2005, Ken Mehlman, chairman of the Republican National Committee spoke on behalf of Jerry Kilgore, Virginia GOP candidate for governor.

Mehlman promised to "do whatever we can to help make sure Jerry Kilgore becomes the next governor of the state" including, according to the AP "having poll workers on hand to challenge voter eligibility".

This statement says a lot about the Republicans attitude towards voters. As Florida in 2000 and Ohio in 2004 have proven, the Republican party is all about preventing hard-working Americans from voting, particularly African-Americans.

The Gregg County Democratic Party is all about protecting voters.
We will make sure that all residents of the county are protected when they exercise their constitutional right to vote.

Can you say the same about the Republicans? Ken Mehlman's words show that they can't be trusted to protect voters.