Electing Democrats

From 2002 through 2008, the Democratic Party in Collin County showed a slow, steady improvement. The 2008 Presidential primary between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton made it a watershed year in Texas. Over 70,000 Collin County Democrats were identified and turned out to vote. However, the Democratic Party of Collin County (DPCC) has done precious little since then to engage them or reap any local political gains. For instance:

  • There was no improvement in voter turnout from 2008 to 2012.
  • In 2008 the party raised and spent around $100,000 on its general election. In 2012 we raised barely a fifth of that.
  •  Due to population growth, we now have more precincts but far fewer precinct chairs.

We need to change the status quo.

As your County Chair, I will work with our Democratic precinct chairs to build and grow the party with the following initiatives:

  • Base Expansion – Currently, at most two-thirds of the registered voters in our county vote. Census data shows there are a large number of eligible voters who aren’t even registered. We need to aggressively register and engage these non-voters on a daily basis and not just during election years.
  • Fundraising – The DPCC has struggled to cover minimal routine expenses necessary to keep an office open and have a visible presence. We will use proven techniques to tap into the huge potential donor base identified in the 2008 primaries.
  • Energize and empower volunteers – We have far too many vacant precinct chair positions and those who are active do not have the incentive to aggressively work their precincts due to lack of support. I will restore the County Executive Committee to its proper role in governing the party and encourage grassroots initiatives to retain and attract the volunteers needed to elect Democrats and turn Collin County blue.
  • Candidate Recruitment – We need Democrats on the ballot. Once we expand the base, build a war chest, and recruit a large army of volunteers we can attract credible and competitive candidates as well as grow and nurture candidates for future elections

It will take time, but with success in these initiatives we can start peeling off enough swing voters from Republicans to win. Please help me get us there!