Friday March 3, 2006

Politics, Texas: Glen Maxy Announces Run for State Democratic Chair

It’s official. Glen Maxey has announced his run for Texas State Democratic Chair.

You may remember, earlier last month, that I announced my support for Glen Maxey as State Democratic Chair. Officially announced, yesterday, Maxey wrote a long letter to his fellow democrats:

Dear Fellow Democrats,

I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about you and about what collectively makes each of us say, “I’m a Democrat.” For my entire life I’ve lived each day “being a Democrat.”

A 20-year-old University of Texas Democrat recently said, “Glen, you’ve done a lot of amazing stuff. How did you do it all?” As I thought about that question, posed mostly as a compliment, I realized that almost everything I’ve ever done that was truly important happened when I stepped beyond my comfort zone. It happened when I took a risk. It occurred when I least could imagine that I would succeed in doing it.

My work has been an amazing journey over these years: teaching migrant workers’ children; founding an AIDS organization before HIV had a name; running for the Legislature when told a person like me couldn’t win (and would never be effective once there); successfully standing up to then-Gov. George W. Bush as a state representative while creating the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

I recently celebrated my 54th birthday. It’s a fitting time for me to look back, but instead many of you have urged me to look forward. So, after hearing from hundreds of you, once again I’m stepping beyond my comfort zone. I’m taking another personal risk. And I want you to stand with me in doing so.

Today I am proud to announce that I will be a candidate for Chair of the Texas Democratic Party at the State Convention this June in Fort Worth.

This is most definately a good thing for Texan democrats. The party has needed a leader like Maxey for quite some time. Please join me in supporting Glen Maxey for Texas Democratic Chair.

Maxey’s letter went on to give several reasons why he is running, and why he would be the positive choice. On the permalink page (click, below), you’ll be able to read the remainder of the letter. Alternatively, you can visit Maxey’s website, www.MaxeyForChair.com, and read it there, along with a English and Spanish versions via podcast.

I wanted to let you know of my decision now for several reasons. Although candidates can throw their hats into the ring as late as when they arrive at the convention in June, the delegates from across Texas have to begin the process NOW to participate in Fort Worth. There will be lots of discussion and rhetoric about “qualifications for State Chair,” “direction of the Party,” and so on over the coming months. I’m hopeful that you will take part in that discussion. To do so, you have to begin the process by attending your precinct convention at 7:15 p.m. Tuesday, March 7, right after the polls close for the Democratic Primary. To learn about this process and how you can be part of it, please go to our online caucus guide.

But what you really want to know is why Glen Maxey would be effective as State Party Chair.

First, I must say that this is not an easy position to take on. The challenges are enormous. The Party today is at a crucial crossroads. The problems of organizing this diverse, gigantic state are daunting.

You might not even think I’m the best person for the job. I know I have limitations and some characteristics that will not please everyone. I’m sure my detractors will add more to this list, but here’s a start: I’m an openly gay man. I’m not rich. I’m not good looking. And I hate cocktail parties. I’m more comfortable organizing behind the scenes than being out front. I’m often unintentionally rude because I’m not especially good at small talk or chit-chat. I’m a workaholic who often says, “I’m going home” when I really mean I’m going to my office.

On the positive side, here are some reasons I want to lead the Texas Democratic Party and why I’m confident I can do it well:

I know how to organize.

I know how to organize a coordinated campaign where all our candidates support each other and the Party. I’ve done it.

I know it is a fact that the State Democratic Party is strong only when county parties are strong. County parties are strong only when precinct-level persons are empowered to do the hard work of organizing Democrats.

I have a wealth of experience to share. I have a good grasp on both the positive and negative aspects of our Party’s position in Texas today as I’ve participated in and experienced just about all facets of the Party over the last 35 years. (Read more about what I’ve done at the end of this letter.)

I will use my knowledge and institutional memory about how we got where we are to chart new directions and inspire new people.

I will empower our young people to lead this Party. It’s awesome to watch what this energetic generation can do and make happen when you train them, encourage them, and then get out of their damn way.

I want to create a Party that values everyone’s input, opinions, and ideas regardless of race, ethnicity, creed, color, or sexual orientation in the DECISIONS of the Party. We cannot exclude from the decision-making levels those communities and their leaders who support this Party overwhelmingly with their votes on Election Day.

I trust the grassroots. I believe deeply in the empowerment of individuals to do amazing things. Give folks hope that they can make a difference, and you won’t be surprised when they do make a difference.

I know you don’t have to pay thousands of dollars to consultants to do what people will do for free if you ask them to do it, give them the tools to do it, and say “thank you” when they do it.

We should empower ANY Democrat to do whatever the hell he or she wants to do if it registers voters, educates voters, and turns out voters.

I will create a State Party operation that has infrastructure that endures. Let’s stop the craziness of re-inventing the wheel every two or four years.

I believe that technology can revolutionize political activity. I’m not an expert at it, but I can and will get the experts in the room to make it happen. I have already worked with folks who have created new tools and overseen the implementation of those tools that have helped us win unprecedented victories in Travis County.

I understand the power of data management and voter files. I have more first-hand experience with voter file management than almost anyone in this state.

I believe we can build a stronger State Democratic Party by creating the tools for good people to run for local offices like Constable, Justice of the Peace, and County Commissioner. We have to focus on winning local races at the county level if we ever want to win races statewide. To do so, these folks need two-way access to good data.

I know fundraising. I understand the inner workings of what should be our Party’s efforts at raising money for infrastructure, for tools for organizers, and for winning campaigns on the Democratic ticket. We have to do it all: large-dollar fundraising, small-donor programs, and grassroots events. The Party must be proactive in using direct mail and internet fundraising tools.

I will demand fiscal responsibility. Donors will support a Party that has an effective message, competent candidates, and active and operational electoral programs. We must have a sound fiscal management system with oversight by all Party officers and the SDEC. Donors and supporters must be able to know that the Party is spending their money as efficiently and effectively as they would in their own business or home.

I will lead the way in reforming the Party’s rules and procedures. We need to bring folks to the table to re-organize our Party processes to reflect how people live, organize, and communicate today. Our current procedures and rules were fine in the 1950s, but they are archaic, non-democratic, and irrelevant to the current times.

I will support our Democratic elected officials and candidates. Our Party should build grassroots support for our House and Senate Democrats to lead on the issues that matter. We should mentor, teach, encourage, and inspire candidates that look like the diversity of this Party to seek office at all levels.

I know how to bring new people into the party and to the polls. We can create the most comprehensive voter registration and voter education program in the history of the Party, fueled, funded, and executed by the grassroots Democrats of this state. (We registered 85,000 new voters in Travis County in 7 months and swept the offices countywide in 2004 - and we did it with volunteers.)

I will help build consensus within the Party on the big issues. We can allow healthy disagreements over strategy and issues to occur in respectful and open discussions. Communicate, communicate, communicate. I don’t like backroom deals. I have a thick skin, and I don’t take much political stuff personally. I’ll strive to listen more than I talk.

I - and the spokespersons I recruit for our Party - will speak up for Democratic values at every opportunity. We must say who we are and what we believe loudly, clearly, and often. I will never let a news cycle go by without responding to the daily acts of corruption, deceit, and malfeasance of the current Republican leadership in this state. I want people to understand again that the Democratic Party’s ideals matter.

At this point in my announcement, I should be saying, “In conclusion . . . .” But I’d rather say, “It’s just the beginning.” It’s time to begin a revolution in how this Party is run and in what we do, precinct by precinct, county by county, to build the Party we all yearn for. I’m ready. Are you?

Sincerely,
Glen Maxey

P.S. Here are some things I’ve done over the course of my 35 years in Texas Democratic politics:

Volunteered as a teenager at the right hand of the legendary Billie Carr.

Served as Precinct Chair in small and mid-sized counties in Texas: Walker County and Brazos County.

Attended 17 consecutive Precinct, County, and State Democratic Conventions and 8 Democratic National Conventions.

Personally registered well over 10,000 people to vote.

Worked in several hundred campaigns: Democratic primary and general elections, school boards, city councils, issues, junior college boards, and more. I have been a leader in my community for the Democratic ticket in every election cycle.

Ran or worked in more than a hundred statewide, district, and local campaigns.

Trained and mentored thousands of folks to become involved in the electoral process.

Served as the lead lobbyist and spokesperson for gay/lesbian issues at the State Capitol at the height of the HIV crisis, helping bring about the first proactive HIV legislation and funding.

Ran for public office in rural, conservative Bryan/College Station and in liberal, urban Austin. I know first-hand the inherent differences between those kinds of campaigns.

Served six terms in the Texas House of Representatives, passing hundreds of progressive legislative proposals, including landmark disability rights legislation; was a champion for environmental and civil rights; and led the fight to create CHIP.

Worked on the first statewide coordinated campaign in 1982, which elected Ann Richards, Garry Mauro, Jim Hightower, and Jim Mattox. I’ve played some role in each coordinated campaign since that time.

Was involved in most (and co-founded many) of the Party Caucuses: GLBT (now Stonewall), Coalition of Black Democrats, Environmental, Choice, and more.

Chaired the State Resolutions Committee at the State Democratic Convention on numerous occasions and know the diversity of ideas we hold dear.