A few "Joyce" words on countywide campaign

Joyce Dorrycott (photo)

by Joyce Dorrycott
Leader of the PAC

For the past month, Carrie, Jacob, Don and I have been participating in the Bexar County Democratic Party’s Campaign Committee helping to put together a countywide campaign to assist our Democratic candidates.

We have worked together with Democrats from the Northeast, the Southside and from all over our community designing a campaign plan and coordinating our efforts so that we can cover as much of the county as possible.

It is important that we all put aside anger, hurt feelings, and previous disagreements in order to focus on the task at hand - electing Democrats on November 7th. We simply can no longer afford to allow our different opinions to divide us but concentrate instead on those things that unite us. Unity must be more than a word; it must be a reality. And, we have been finding that as we work together in the campaign committee.

We must also put aside the climate of defeatism we often hear about the chances Chris Bell for governor. We can win the governor’s race if we stay at home and vote Democratic in November.

Chris doesn’t need to win a majority of the votes - just the most votes. Surely Democrats aren’t so weak in Texas they can’t do that. But if Democrats go flirting with one of the three Republicans - Friedman, Perry, or Strayhorn - they can cost us our chances to retake the governorship.

Some disaffected voters are saying they will vote for Friedman because he isn’t a politician or he is amusing or whatever. They forget (if they ever knew) that he is also a Republican. The governorship of Texas is too important to have someone with so little serious to say as a major player in this race.

Then, there are those who say they are voting for Carol Strayhorn because she isn’t Rick Perry. I have a real problem with candidates who can’t decide what party they belong to by the time they decide to run for office.

First, she was a Democrat because she had the best chance to win office as a Democrat. Then, when Republicans began winning statewide offices she became a Republican. And, she followed that up by running as an Independent this year because she was afraid she couldn’t beat Perry in the Republican Primary.

As for Rick Perry - we all know what a poor Governor he has been for the majority of Texans. Sure, the hard core Republicans will probably support him. So, the real question is - which Republican will satisfy these disafffected voters?

We Democrats have a real chance to win this race with Chris Bell. Many of us heard him when he visited Northwest Democrats in December. We know he has a platform - and he is getting better at presenting it. So - stay with our party in November - vote Democratic.

Don’t fry with Friedman, stray with Strayhorn, or perish with Perry. Get busy!! Support and vote for Chris Bell. And, begin talking to your friends, neighbors and relatives today about joining you!!

This is the time we have been preparing for over the past twenty months. It is time once again to dedicate ourselves, our time and our energy to helping our Democratic candidates to win their elections. They are depending on us to deliver as many votes from our area as is possible.

When we look at our county, each area votes differently. The northwest area votes about 40% Democratic and 60% Republican. Some precincts are more Democratic than others. In our fall general election effort, we will work with targeted voters in targeted precincts.

We will not be trying to convert Republicans. We will be working to educate Democrats and independents in Democratic leaning precincts to vote Democratic. Unlike other areas, we will not have to work to turn out the vote. We will need to educate those who will vote - and to educate them on the importance of voting Democratic this year.

This is a year of opportunity for Democrats. Republicans have proven they cannot govern. Two years of failed state legislative sessions, a “do-nothing” Congress and a president whose poll numbers continue to show a general lack of confidence in his leadership have produced a year when our slogan, “Had Enough? Vote Democrat!” resonates across our community, our state, and our nation.

Not only must we work hard, we must work early. Forty to fifty per cent of the votes in the northwest are cast early. This year early voting does not begin until October 23rd, so that means we must get a major share of our work done prior to that time. To do this, we need each of you to volunteer to do all that you can for as much time as you can.