The Bandera County Democratic Club convened at the Silver Sage Dining Room on June 15, where members reviewed recent statewide convention outcomes and introduced new initiatives, including support for Beto O’Rourke’s voter registration drive and a nuclear power solution for the Texas water crisis.
The club began the meeting with a review of the minutes from the May 11 meeting which passed unanimously.
The Treasurers’ Report was also passed unanimously. The group used the karaoke machine purchased by President Essie Stewart as a sound system for the meeting.
Stewart recognized four new members and reminded the group that individual dues were $20 per person and $25 per family.
Stewart also asked for help from the group with the calling tree. She indicated that the time commitment to call would be less than an hour as the membership list would be divided among several volunteers.
Bandera County Democratic Chair Lynn Oliver gave a report on the statewide convention held in El Paso.
Bandera County delegates and alternates that attended the convention were Lynn Oliver, Joshua Greene, Fred Mabry, Linda Moore, Patti Pyle, Jackson Smith, Rachael Schwartz, David Black, Trudy Mabry, Anne Samuel and Essie Stewart.
A party platform was accepted by the delegates, and all the resolutions were passed on the Consent Agenda. A majority of the rules changes were also passed.
The rules that were not voted on were: rank choice voting for party chair, remote delegate voting, no preference voting in the primary, disciplinary committee enhancement and how to remove a precinct chair from office.
These proposed rules changes will be brought forward to the SDEC (State Democratic Executive Committee) September meeting for a vote.
The following individuals were elected to a twoyear term on the SDEC. Linda Alaniz and Cole Bowles will represent Congressional District 20. Congressional District 20 covers most of the San Antonio metro area.
Congressional District 21 covers part of the San Antonio area, the border and far Western Texas. Gabriel Garcia and Claudia Zapata will serve a twoyear term representing District 21.
Nicollette Ardiente and Wesley Lawrence will serve Congressional District 23. Joshua Garcia and Gabriela Morales-Richards will serve Congressional District 28. Jen Ramos and Kolby Duhon will serve Congressional District 35.
On the national level, Becca Moyer De Felice from Bexar County will serve on the Democratic National Committee AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander) Caucus. Leonard Aguilar from Hays County will serve on the DNC, Labor Caucus.
Daniel Ayala was elected to serve as President of the Texas Environmental Democrats and Meri Gomez will serve as the Vice President.
In new business, Tom Denyer made a motion that the club donate to Beto O’Rourke’s Power to the People Voter Registration Drive. Billy Sinclair seconded the motion. The motion was amended, however.
A question about long term planning and creating an organization budget arose during the discussion. Parliamentarian Jackson Smith called into question some procedural concerns about the motion and further amendments.
President Essie Stewart brought to discussion the use of handwritten cards to encourage Democratic voters to get to the polls.
Several members of the club asked for more information on how this initiative would support more Democratic turnout in Bandera County. A suggestion was made to send postcards, as postage was considerably cheaper than postage for a greeting card.
Member Josh Greene gave a talk on how to use nuclear power to solve the Texas water crisis. Greene was a former teacher and holds a master’s degree in science.
Greene referenced the French nuclear energy project and outlined the chemical processes in American nuclear energy production.
Greene answered many questions from the group about nuclear energy and had several enlightening demonstrations.
The group adjourned at 1:40 PM.
The Bandera County Democratic Club will meet at the Silver Sage Dining Room on July 13 at 11:00 a.m. for a potluck and 12 p.m. for the club meeting.
