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Bush
Got Us Into an
Unnecessary War |
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He Failed to
Regulate the
Mortgage
Industry |
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Make January
20, 2009 the End
of an Error! |
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New Items: January General
Meeting.
Recent Items:
Our Candidates,
Report of Grayson County Jail Needs:
Parts A/B,
Part
C, and
Part D
Annual Freedom
Fund Banquet,
Join CORE,
Asphalt Plant,
Judge blocks
Coal Plant Order,
Judge Greg
Middents, ,Eleanor
Roosevelt -
Carol Shea, CORE GCC Forum,
CORE SOSU Forum,Contact Info for
State and
Federal Elected
Officials, Rally
and Lobby Day, WannaBeBlue
Local Blog, Local
Election Results,
Morality
and Public
Office, |
Meeting & Event Announcements
Democratic
Primary Run-off
Election
- When: Tuesday, April 9, 2008 7:00 am to 7:00 pm
- What: Primary Run-off Election for Railroad
Commissioner
- Where:
Seven locations within Grayson County
- Who: All Registered Grayson County Democrats
General Meeting
- Grayson County
Democratic Party
- When: Tuesday April 15, 2008 at 5:30 pm
- What: General Discussion, County
Convention, Run-off Results
- Where: El Pueblo, 1909 Texoma Pkwy, Sherman
- Who: All Democrats from Grayson County.
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O
u
r
S
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
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THE GRAYSON COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY
The
party's
primary
goal
is
to
identify,
recruit
and
elect
those
candidates
who
will
represent
and
advocate
policies
and
practices
that
are
in
the
best
interests
of
the
majority
of
Americans.
The
party
recognizes
that
our
country
is
great
because
of
it's
historic
commitment
to
inclusion,
opportunity
and
a
belief
that
all
people
are
truly
created
equal.
The
party
further
understands
and
resists
the
efforts
of
the
unpatriotic,
intolerant
and
self-centered,
who
would
sacrifice
the
needs
of
the
many,
in
order
to
promote
their
own
narrow
beliefs
and
selfish
desires.
The
Grayson
County
Democratic
Party
is
an
open
and
inclusive
organization
that
not
only
welcomes
everyone,
but
we
encourage
input
and
participation.
JOIN US AND HAVE YOUR VOICE HEARD!
Tony Beaverson
Chairman, GCDP
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GCDP News |
Local
Environmental
Action
Join
CORE
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We have seen in the news recently that Grayson
County's environment is threatened. Two recent
events have made this clear. TXU's action to build a
pulverized coal power plant near Savoy was one
threat. The Rushing asphalt plants in Sherman and
the proposed plant in Pottsboro are another threat.
Thank goodness that the first threat has subsided.
The threat from the asphalt plants has not! It is
hard for progressive Democrats in Grayson County to
sit still. We want to make our environment better;
not sit and watch it become more polluted resulting
in more illness. SO DON'T! TAKE ACTION! To work
together and take action, you need to JOIN a local
environmental group.
Joining a local group will keep you informed
about environmental conditions here in Grayson
County, in the North Texas region, across Texas, and
across America. Working together at the grassroots
level will make sure that our local needs are not
overlooked. It will also move us to greater action.
Grassroots organizations are also more difficult for
polluters to ignore.
While we should thank goodness for part of the
outcome with the TXU plants, we also have to thank
the local environmental group CORE, Citizens
Organizing for Resources and Environment. They took
effective action in the case of TXU's Savoy
pulverized coal power plant proposal. Please go to
their website
http://www.texomacore.org and join. While they
are a non-partisan group, there is no better way for
a progressive Grayson County Democrat to become
involved in local environmental action! |
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Judge
Greg
Middents
Recognized
for
Years
of
Service
to
Big
Brothers
and
Big
Sisters
of
Grayson
County
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One of our members, Greg Middents, Grayson County
Justice of the Peace, was recently honored and
recognized for ten years of service to Big Brothers
and Big Sisters of North Texas. Judge Middents was
instrumental in bringing Big Brothers and Big
Sisters to Grayson County.
Judge Middents is one of the most community
oriented elected officials in Grayson County; and
that was evident by the large turnout at the
municipal grounds for the child friendly event. Hot
dogs, popcorn, face painting, clowns and a dunking
booth were just some of the fun at this event.
Sherman Mayor Bill Magers and County Judge Drue
Bynum were two of the dunkees that took part in the
dunking booth; and they did get soaked.
Judge Middents, already deeply involved with
juvenile issues in the county, started talking with
Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Dallas about
expanding and creating a branch office in Grayson
County. With the idea in place, a very intensive
community assessment started to take place; and over
the next year and a half it became a reality. With
Judge Middents' leadership a branch office was
started in Grayson County.
Judge Middents was previously awarded Volunteer
of the Year in 1997 for his effects establishing the
Grayson County branch of Big Brothers and Big
Sisters.
Judge Middents continues to be involved
serving on the Eastern Regional Board of Directors
for Big Brothers and Big Sisters of North Texas. He
is also a Big Brother in the school based mentoring
program with a third grader at Jefferson Elementary
School in Sherman
CONGRATULATIONS Judge Middents!
Keep up the good work. |
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The 2006 election results for Congressional District
4, State Representative District 62, Grayson
District Clerk, and Grayson Commissioner's District
4 were not good.
To see various unofficial summaries of the data,
please follow the links below.
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Republican candidates like to talk about morality;
but they want to talk about it in the abstract. The
problem is that they do not want to practice
morality in their everyday lives. I do not need to
remind you of recent Repub lapses:
- Jack Abramoff stole from American Indian
organizations by saying that he was helping them
but not really helping them. He just took their
money. Abramoff also duped American conservative
Christians by telling them that he was working on
hot button "moral" issues while he was actually
using them as front organizations for his other
corrupt acts. These were not moral acts.
- Tom Delay also duped conservative Christians
by saying that he was helping with Christian
causes while using the "Christian" organizations
he set up to gather bribes and illegal campaign
contributions. He is under indictment for
laundering this illegal money through the Repub
National Committee and then using it to influence
the elections in Texas. These were not moral acts.
- Repub ex-Congressman Mark Foley made sexual
advances to male Congressional Pages. These
children were 16 year old minors. Now Foley is
saying that he was abused as a child as though
that is an excuse for his actions. The truth is
that Foley made these sexual advances to these
children while he was an adult. These were not
moral acts.
Even with these concrete examples of
immoral activity, Republicans continue to claim that
they are the party of "values". It is general
knowledge that several of the recently elected
Republican candidates have moral problems. These
range from sexual immorality, to misuse of public
funds, and even to taking money to Jack Abramoff.
Still Clyde Siebman, Chair of the Grayson County
Republican Party, talked about "values" several
times in his interview on KXII TV on 8 November
2006. Shame on Siebman and shame on the Republican
Party. |
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The Grayson County Democratic Women presented a
check for $2,025.00 to the Women's Auxiliary of the
VFW in Sherman Thursday evening to purchase and
distribute phone cards for the
troops. Verizon matched the amount by sending 200 -
60 minute prepaid phone card worth $10 each which
will also be distributed by the VFW. The Grayson
County Democratic Women raised the funds thru 3 bake
sales across the county. KXII channel 12 TV covered
the presentation. Christina Johnstone presented the
check and phone cards to Margaret Webber, president
of the Auxiliary.
Ms. Johnstone said that 100% of the money raised
will go toward purchasing phone cards for the troops
and with the Verizon cards the total proceeds
amounted to $4,025.00. She thanked Susan Meyer &
Lynn Duggan for their special contributions and all
the volunteers for donating their time, talents and
baked items in making these bake sales such a
success. Special thanks went to the people Grayson
County for purchasing baked goodies and making
generous contributions to this wonderful cause. She
said the bake sales will be a yearly event.
Ms. Johnstone said, "It's important to the troops to
know that we are behind them, and it's important the
community and each individual that participates in
this sort of thing because it's just a heartfelt
blessing that you receive."
For more information please contact Tony Beaverson
at (903) 892-9065 or tbejag@verizon.net.
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Grayson County Democratic Women presented the first
Eleanor Roosevelt Award to local activist Carol Shea
at a gala event held in the Wright Center on Oct. 2,
2006.
The event, dubbed the Eleanor Roosevelt Award
Dinner, by a revitalized Grayson Democratic Women’s
organization, included the keynote address by
Barbara Radnofsky, who campaigned valiantly for the
United States Senate seat now in the hands of
Republicans.
Shea was honored for her long time service to
Sherman and to Grayson County in a variety of
capacities. A partial list of her activities
includes:
- 2000 – 2008 Crisis Center Board of Directors
Capital Campaign Chair, 2003 – 2004
- 1993 – 2004 Grayson County Commissioner, Precinct 3
First woman elected Grayson County Commissioner
- 1983 – 1993 Grayson County College Board of Trustees
First woman elected to Board of Trustees
President of Board of Trustees, 1990
- 1981 – 1988 United Way of Grayson County Board of
Directors
First woman elected president of board, 1987
First woman to chair annual fundraising campaign,
1986
- 1979 – 1986 Girls Clubs of America (now Girls, Inc.)
Board of Directors
Secretary of board, 1982 – 1986
- 1974 – 1980 SISD Board of Trustees
President of board, 1979
- 1970 – 1976 Girls Club of Sherman (now Girls, Inc.)
Board of Directors
Founding board member
Most recently, she served as campaign manger for
Mike Brady, who campaigned for Grayson County
Commissioner, Precinct Four.
Grayson County Democratic Women plan to make the
Eleanor Roosevelt Award Dinner a biennial event that
will honor Democratic women who have made
significant contributions to the community.
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Sherman
Interdenominational
Ministerial
Alliance
Scholarship
Banquet
and
NAACP
Annual
Freedom
Banquet
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Many Democrats attended the joint Sherman
Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance Scholarship
Banquet and NAACP Annual Freedom
Banquet on August 12th. There were 24 attendees at tables sponsored
by the Democratic Party and there were of course
more Democrats at other tables as well.
Mr. Shawn Cocker, a Vice President at Tyson
Foods, Inc. was the principal speaker. He
spoke about "Making a Difference", the theme of this
year's banquet. His comments featured Abraham
Lincoln's remark at the Illinois Republican State
Convention in 1858 that "A house divided against
itself can not stand, ... I do not expect the Union
to be dissolved -- I do not expect the house to
fall; but I do expect it will cease to be divided".
Mr. Cocker emphasized that by taking small, yet
courageous steps to improve the situation of others,
large effects that affect many people will result.
He spoke about poverty and hunger among children;
and how this can lead to permanent learning
disability and a reduced ability to earn income as
an adult. The small step of fighting poverty and
hunger can result in generations of people with
expanded potential.
He illustrated this by telling about a struggling
black man, father of eight, who was mistakenly
offered a job as a civilian employee on a military
base in 1948. After a small courageous decision was
made by the base commander to employ both the black
man and the white man who was the intended recipient
of the job offer, this black man was the first in
his family to own a home. Near the end of his talk,
Mr. Cocker revealed that the black man was his
grandfather.
The two groups gave scholarships and service
awards. In addition an award was given to the
Hispanic student at Piner Middle School in Sherman,
TX who during the past school year lead a peaceful
demonstration in support of immigrants. It is
refreshing to see the Constitutional right to
protest celebrated in this way.
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Justice of the Peace Greg Middents, Democratic
Candidate for the Texas 4th Congressional
District Glenn Melançon,
and Grayson County Democratic Party Chairman Tony
Beaverson along with other Democratic Party activist
attended the National Night Out block party
organized by Mrs. Ramona Moreno-Aguirre
on Ross Street. Officer
Freddie Guedea, who grew up on Ross St., of the
Sherman Police Department was also a prominent
participant in the event. This Night Out was
primarily for families and children. There were
door prizes of basketballs and backpacks for some of
the children. Cold drinks, hot dogs, and school
supplies were also provided by event sponsors.
Grayson County Democrats believe that
family-oriented events like this put the emphasis
back on the well being of Texas families.
Events like this help develop wholesome,
supportive neighborhoods where children can grow to
be involved, productive citizens. Support for
education, healthcare for everyone, a living wage,
reasonable energy cost, and keeping jobs in America
are also crucial to supporting Texas families and
wholesome neighborhoods in Grayson County. |
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  Members
of
the
Grayson
County
Democratic
Party
participated
in
the
Great
Days
of
Service
in
Sherman
and
Denison.
In
Sherman
we
participated
in
the
Walk,
contributed
a
van
full
of
non-perishable
food
to
the
food
drive,
and
painted
a
bridge
at
Baker
Park.
In
Denison
we
contributed
toiletries
to
nursing
homes.
Everyone
had
a
great
participating
in
these
activities
that
will
make
a
difference
to
real
Texoma
families.
Look at more
pictures |
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Democratic
candidates
Glenn
Melançon,
for
U.S.
Congress
(Texas
District
4)
and
Mike
Brady,
for
Grayson
County
Commissioner
(Precinct
4)
participated
in
Denison's
Memorial
Day
Parade
honoring
the
service
and
sacrifices
of
our
veterans.
The
candidates
received
a
warm
reception
from
the
parade
watchers
indicating
that
voters
have
had
enough
and
are
ready
for
a
change.
The
Democrats
had
three
trucks
in
the
parade.
The
first
was
Veterans
for
Melançon;
the
second
was
Democrats
for
Brady;
and
the
third
was
Democrats
for
Melançon.
It
was
pleasant
to
see
a
thumbs
up
from
parade
watchers
as
the
trucks
passed
by.
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The
Grayson
County
Democratic
Party
fundraising
Bar
BQ
dinner
which
featured
native
son
speaker
Jim
Hightower
was
a
huge
success.
Jim
spoke
about
“A
New
Way
for
America”.
The
Veterans
of
Foreign
Wars
Hall
in
Sherman
was
filled
with
more
than
300
GCDP
supporters.
This
event
was
closer
to a
rally
than
a
formal
dinner.
For
more
details
about
Jim’s
talk
please
see
the
front-page
article
in
the
Herald
Democrat.
County
Chair
Tony
Beaverson
served
as
master
of
ceremonies.
Local
Democratic
candidates
Glenn
Melancon
(Congressional
District
4),
Pete
Veck
(Texas
House
District
62),
Virginia
Hughes
(County
Treasurer),
Cyndi
Spencer
(District
Clerk),
and
Mike
Brady
(JP
Precinct
4)
spoke
at
the
dinner.
We
owe
thanks
to
Events
Committee
Chair
Marie
Allen,
her
husband
Mickey,
LJ
Smith,
and
Christina
Johnstone
for
sending
the
invitations,
arranging
the
VIP
reception
and
the
dinner,
and
preparing
the
marvelous
decorations
with
the
yellow
strip
down
the
middle
of
the
tables,
and
the
high
quality
traffic
sign
decorations.
We
especially
need
to
thank
Shannon
Reynolds
for
coming
up
with
the
theme
for
the
decorations. Among
the
best
of
the
decorations was
the
“DIP”
warning
sign
with
the
National
Lampoon
like
caricature
of
George
Bush.
It
is a
gas.
You
can
see
these
decorations
if
you
visit
the
Campaign
Headquarters
at
328
W
Lamar
in
Sherman.
We
also
need
to
thank
Tom
Nuckels
arranging
Jim’s
visit
and
introducing
him.
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The
State-of-the-Union
Watch
Party
was
fun.
We
had
a
nice
crowd
and
a
pleasant
time.
Congressional
Candidate
Glenn Melancon
was
there
and
we
enjoyed
sharing
ideas
with
him.
To
keep
things
light,
while
Dubya
said
the
most
incredible
things,
we
played
watch
party
bingo.
When
the
President
said
words
from
a
list,
like
"fear",
"terrorist",
or
"security"
you
got
to
put
a
mark
on
your
bingo
card.
It
was
great.
We
all
attentively
watched
the
Democratic
Response.
We
also
watched
the
interview
of
Democratic
Party
Chairman
Howard
Dean
on
NBC
and
participated
in a
teleconference
with
Howard
in
which
he
directly
expressed
his
views
of
Dubya's
Address.
This
was
a
great
idea.
"A
little
bit
of
sugar
helps
the
medicine
go
down".
We
all
need
to
know
what
the
President
said
so
we
can
rebut
when
his
zealots
talk
about
the
speech.
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The Town Hall Forum sponsored by the Grayson County
Democratic Party August 25th was a huge success. Estimated attendance was a crowd breaking 500 participants, making it the larest meeting of it's kind in
recent memory.
While the Forum was planned as a non-partisan event,
State Representative Larry Phillips surprised those on the program by
beginning
his Legislative Report with heavily partisan comments via a power point
presentation that led with a slide stating "Republicans are not the problem."
He proceeded to lay the funding crisis at the feet of local
school superintendents, repeatedly noting the difference between
superintendent's and teacher's salaries and pressing this as a reason for
schools being inadequately funded.
Veteran political observers in the crowd noted Phillips use
of the classic GOP strategy of attempting to divide people. Clearly, his
efforts to anger teachers about the administrators salaries backfired.
Teachers are aware that the problem is not that superintendents make too much
money, the problem is that teachers aren't paid enough. The old ploy of trying
to equalize salaries by bringing those at higher levels down, does nothing for
those who are underpaid and the audience wasn't taken in by Phillips tactics.
The four Superintendents, who in keeping with the
non-political format of the Forum, had planned on commenting about the impact
of the $3.7 Billion cut to public schools by the Republican controlled
Legislature, last session. However, after begging seriously chastised by Rep.
Phillips for state average Superintendent salaries, followed his lead by
adding political observations of their own.
Dr. Henry Scott, Denison ISD Superintendent began by
reminding Phillips that the Legislature has "continually cut teacher benefits,
but had just raised Judges salaries 23 % because they were "below" average
Judges salaries. He reminded Phillips that teachers in Texas are over $6,000
below the national average, but that argument seems to only work for Judges.
Scott also noted that by raising the Judges salaries by 23% he in turn raised
his own retirement benefits dramatically." Legislators have tied their
Retirement plan to the average salary of Judges, so each time the judges get a
raise, the legislators retirement benefits increase. Scott also cited a recent
Phi Delta Kappa Gallup Poll that clearly showed by a substantial majority,
people nationwide said the the lack of financial support is the number one
problem with public education. This to counter the unsupported comments by
Phillips that people believe the schools are failing.
For years, polls have shown that parents and community's
rate their schools highly, giving them A's and B's in the main.
Rick Cohagen, long time Gunter Superintendent disputed
Phillips observation that "there was no crisis in funding education, only an
opportunity." Cohagen told of the very real problems he has in attracting and
retaining highly qualified teachers when neighboring districts with richer tax
bases can pay so much more than he can in Gunter.
Dr. Kyle Collier, Superintendent at Pottsboro, pointed out
that since 1982 Texas schools have had no discretionary money. It has been
eaten up by new mandates placed on schools by the state and federal
governments. These "unfunded mandates" have also had the impact of causing
schools to take 25 days a year away from learning to conduct the high-stakes
testing programs mandated by the state and federal governments.
Cohagen explained the inequities in
the current taxing system, noting that a district like Highland Park can raise
enough money to build a new school by only adding a penny to their tax rate,
while to do so in Gunter, they'd have to raise taxes by 50 cents.
Rick Lea Superintendent of Whitesboro, summed it up by
saying, "the kids in Grayson County deserve the same quality of education as
the students in Highland Park."
The final speaker was Dr. Glenn Melan | | | |
