Bell draws huge crowd at Northeast meeting

By the Democrat
a.k.a. Steve Walker

Like busy little bees buzzing around a beehive, Democrats for Chris Bell swarmed the Luby’s Cafeteria on Loop 410 near Broadway, Saturday morning, July 1st.

The largest turnout for a Northeast Democrats monthly meeting in years, Bell captivated the standing-room-only crowd estimated to be over one hundred-fifty Democrats who vied for seats in the crowded area at Luby’s to hear what Bell had to say.

The highly animated Bell cajoled, challenged and solicited the support of those in attendance.

"Rick Perry is a miserable failure and now is the time that we want-no demand, change,” the nominee for Governor quipped to an excited audience. Bell received two standing ovations and frequent applause during his speech, from the highly charged crowd.

“Our vision of the future is not what we currently see. We are number one in teenage pregnancies, dropout rates and lack of health insurance for our children. We can do better than that,” he said.

Like a minister preaching the salvation message, Bell accused his independent opponent Kinky Friedman of coming across like a vaudeville act, and Carol Strayhorn as a bigger flip flopper than the Olympic gymnast and gold medal winner Mary Lou Retton.

He continued his jibes at Strayhorn by saying, “Her flip flopping is like trying to put lipstick on a pig.”

According to the former Congressman, “Rick Perry claims credit for rolling back property tax. When I was on the Houston City Council, I did that and didn’t need a court order to do it!”

Bell briefly addressed the issue of stem cell research which he actively supports. He accused Governor Perry who is against stem cell research of being a hypocrite by saying, “Jesus healed people and didn’t consult the Pharisees.”

On the controversy on the TAKS test for high school seniors, he said, “The TAKS test is wagging the dog. One test result is absolutely absurd.” He went on to say that he would “end the tyranny of the TAKS test,” and leave the accountability to the teachers, not the test.

He pointed out that he was vehemently opposed to private vouchers as well. “Vouchers are nothing but a cop out. We need to properly fund public schools,” he added.

He concluded his rousing speech by saying “We really need to learn how to win again.”

Numerous elected officials attended the meeting to include: Judges Andy Mireles and Karen Pozza, Commissioner Tommy Adkisson, San Antonio Councilman Chip Haas, Balcones Heights Councilman Steve Walker, DemVets Chairman Larry Romo, DLC Chair Connie De Luna, Northeast Democrats Chair Ian Srauss and SDEC25 committee woman Zada True-Courage.

Judicial candidates Milton Fagin, Larry Noll, Dan Pozza, Barbie Scharf-Zeldes, and Eddie deLa Garza attended the meeting.

Other candidates for office included: County Clerk candidate; Tim Ybarra, State Rep. District 122; Larry Stallings and District Attorney candidate; Eddie Bravnec,