03.19.07

Minutes, March 10

Posted in Meeting Minutes at 8:39 pm by M Beauregard

The meeting was called to order by Max Beauregard at 9 AM. He recognized some guests at our meeting. Gerry Birnberg, chair of the Harris County Democratic Party, was in attendance (www.hcdp.org). He announced various upcoming events, such as the Spring Home and Garden Tour on April 14, and 15, sponsored by the Houston Heights Association (www.houstonheights.org); and, a big impeachment event, entitled :"Impeachment: Our Right, Our Duty", at the Resurrection Metropolitan Community Church, 2025 West 11th Street (just west of TC Jester Boulevard), Houston, Texas 77008, at 7 PM on April 9, 2007, with keynote speaker Cindy Sheehan, Professor Bob Jensen, State Representative Lon Burnham, Debra Sweet, City Councilwoman Ada Edwards, Diane Wilson, and Sissy Farenthold. There will be petition signing, postcard writing, tabling, networking, music, videos, speeches, and food.

 

He announced upcoming speeches by Tim Flannery, author of Weather Makers: How Man is Changing the Climate and What it Means for Life on Earth, "widely acclaimed as the finest and clearest account on the science behind global warming", on March 19; and, political writer Joe Klein, on April 12. Bill White will introduce Tim Flannery’s speech with his own remarks on global warning.

 

He said that Jim Rine has volunteered to put together a scrapbook of GHDC club history. The Mosiers, Diane and Bruce, founded the club, and know a lot of the club’s history.

 

Gerry Birnberg said the big story this week is the conviction of Lewis "Scooter" Libby, the former Chief of Staff to the Vice President, on four counts of obstruction of justice and lying to a grand jury and federal officials.

 

He announced a rally and march of the Houston Coalition of Working People and the Poor, which will commence at Hermann Square at noon, and will conclude at Houston City Hall, on March 24, 2007. This is a new broad-based coalition of religious, political, community, and labor organizations that was formed this year in Houston. The Coalition will demand full funding for human needs, including restoration of funding for CHIPS and food stamps, and affordable housing.

 

Coalition members include James Dixon, Coalition Chair and Pastor of the Community of Faith Church; Richard Shaw, Secretary and Chair of the local chapter of the AFL-CIO; Dave Atwood of the Houston Peace and Justice Center; Jose Ballester, Minister of the First Unitarian Universalist Church; State Senator Rodney Ellis; City Councilwomen Ada Edwards and Carol Alvarado; Dr. S. J. Gilbert, Sr., Houston Metropolitan Ministers Alliance; Pancho Arguelles, Training Coordinator of Houston Interfaith Workers 4 Justice; and the Harris County Democratic Party (HCDP). For more information, call (713) 688-2900.

 

Max announced that GHDC will participate in the Saint Patrick’s Day Parade downtown on Saturday, March 17, at noon. The staging area will be on Hamilton Street near Minute Maid Park. He said the idea is not just for us to be Irish, but to be Democrats. He said,” If we just look Irish, we’ll blend in with everybody else". Mary Kay Green said we’ll have flyers to pass out to the crowd to show who we are. Vicki Bellow said,”The thing to do is wear our Heights Democrats t-shirts with green things, like hats". Max found some green and white hats that are perfect for the parade.

 

Melissa Noriega talked about her campaign for City Council At-Large Position 3. There will be a special election on May 12 to fill the unexpired term of Shelly Sekula-Gibbs. She is the wife of State Representative Rick Noriega. She said her political career started years ago when she first started working with Rick in their civic club. She said it’s always an honor to be invited to speak before Democratic groups. She predicted that, if people support her and turn out en masse, she will win without a run-off. Gerry Birnberg asked what is her strategy to get voters out to the polls. She said her "sign crew is awesome" and "they’re getting out there". She is looking for more volunteers to phone bank. She said early voting is going to be very important in this election, "turn-out is the key’; and, warned, "I tell you, the people who vote early in special elections aren’t always Democrats".

 

Max Beauregard reported that she has been endorsed by the Harris County AFL-CIO Council and the GLBT Political Caucus. Her campaign headquarters is located at 7401 Gulf Freeway. Gerry Birnberg pointed out that she is the only sustaining member of the Harris County Democratic Party who on the ballot, and said, "As far as I know, she is the only Democrat in the race".

 

Someone expressed concern about the current rules on term limits, and she said, "the current set-up handicaps people". She said, "if we’re going to do it, let’s do something that makes sense". She would be in favor of two (2) four year terms, rather than three (3) two year terms.

 

Gerry Birnberg asked whether she would support a local ordinance calling for verifiable paper ballots. She said she absolutely would be in favor of that. She thanked us for having given her the opportunity to speak before us. Vicki Bellow made a motion to endorse her campaign. The motion passed unanimously. Although City Council races are supposed to be non-partisan, the fact is that partisan affiliation is a definite factor. Martha Wong is Treasurer of Roy Morales’ campaign, and Talmadge Heflin is a backer. Another opponent, Noel Freeman, is a Log Cabin activist in the Republican Party. Melissa Noriega predicted that this is going to become very quickly a very partisan race. She said everything is going to depend ultimately on which side turns its voters out.

 

Vicki Bellow presented the Treasurer’s Report that we have $1,257.48 in the bank.

 

Max Beauregard adjourned the meeting at 10 AM.

Permalink