West Texas Coalition of Democrats Update

I know, I know, it's been a while since I've blogged. (Is this really a verb?) But things change and things happen and I want you to know what's going on. So . . .

New Officers Were Elected at the Caucus at the Convention in June 2008.

Your new president is Johnnie Jones, former County Chair of Lubbock County now residing in Odessa. She has great organizational experience and skills, a marketing and pr background, and great passion for the Democratic Party.

Jim Perkins of Amarillo has agreed to serve as Vice President. Jim has worn many hats in the service of the Potter-Randall Democrats and we are fortunate to have his many skills now at the service of our Coalition.

Our new Secretary is Kinsey Croslin from Lubbock. She is super-organized and totally committed to our Coalition goals of making West Texas and West Texas issues a vital part of
the political dialogue in Texas.

Robert Ricketts, former candidate for the 19th Congressional District, is our new treasurer. It's kind of nice to have a 5-Star Accounting Professor help us find our way as we become a Federal Pac as well as a State Pac.

The Laney Camps
A major project for the next biennium is to conduct trainings for volunteers in the various campaigns. We will work with candidates and their campaign committees to develop an efficient and effective ground game. Our inspiration for this project is the Honorable Pete Laney who will also provide much of our leadership---and the name of our project, the Laney Camps. Let us know if you know or are part of a campaign committee that wants to hit the ground running after Labor Day. Our Laney Camps will be kicking off in August.

Our Go-To Guy, The Honorable Joe Heflin, (D) HD 85.

The Coalition's Go-To Guy to kick off the Fall Campaign season is The Honorable Joe Heflin.
Oue mission is to bring together funds, volunteers, and support from all over West Texas for a candidate who sincerely represents West Texas values and issues. We hope West Texans will contribute to his campaign, whether or not he will be on your ballot. He technically represents HD 85, but any West Texan from any district can expect an attentive and intelligent hearing from Joe Heflin. Like Pete Laney before him, he understands the economics and culture of our region and that's why he is our Go-T0 Guy.
Furthermore, he was a legislative star in his first term in the State Legislature. He was selected:
Legislator of the Year by the County Judges and Commissioners
Freshman Legislator of the Year by the Democratic Caucus
Friend of County Government by the Texas Association of Counties
Distingusihed Legislative Service Award for 2007 by the Texas Municipal League
Honorary Legislative Star by the Texas Classroom Teachers
Legislator of the Month (March) by the Texas Municipal League
Clearly, it behooves us to keep this Star of West Texas working for us all in Austin.
So send your contributions to
Joe Heflin
PO Box 426
Crosbyton, TX 79322

Let us hear from you. Nominate your own Star of West Texas! We need to know much more about each other. We are people spread thin over an area as large as Vermont or New Hampshire or something. We need to make a noise. A joyful noise about West Texas Stars!

Mary V