DEMOCRATS AIMING TO 'TAKE BACK EAST TEXAS'

Tyler Morning Telegraph ^ | January 08, 2005 | Roy Maynard

[SwinneySwitch]

Never-say-die Democrats are already looking ahead to 2006, and targeting what they believe is a vulnerable seat in East Texas: state Senate District 2, now held by Sen. Bob Deuell, R-Greenville.

"Many of us have begun to realize that 2004 was not as bad as we initially thought, before we had time to really look at the numbers," says Vince Leibowitz, chairman of the Van Zandt Democratic Party and coordinator of the Take Back East Texas SD2 Summit.

The summit meeting is slated for Jan. 29, at the Ranchero Restaurant in Canton.

"What we're hoping for is a workshop-type setting," explained Leibowitz. "We want to have the information we need to be able to run the best possible campaign - a winning campaign - for that seat in 2006."

"Take Back East Texas" lays out an attainable goal for the Democrats, Leibowitz contends.

"I feel like Democrats in most of the counties made some significant gains, either in the local elections or in the presidential elections," he said. "If you look at Smith County, for example, there were a tremendous number of new voters. Many of those new voters were in North Tyler, which is part of Senate District 2, and Democratic. I think we can capitalize on that."

The summit is part of a statewide push by Democrats, "Take Back Texas," which targets "races that will give us the best chance to become the majority party by 2010 and regain influence in the redistricting effort," according to the party's Web site.

Gains have already been made, Leibowitz said.

"We're talking about a sheriff's race here or a tax collector's race there," he said. "But those are significant. I think what we're seeing is that Republicans are reaching a limit in the votes they can attract. We can continue to reach out to independents, register more Democrats, and I think we're going to start winning more elections."

Senate District 2 is the next step, he added, and it's a goal that can be reached. The district encompasses all of Hunt, Delta, Rains, Fannin, Hopkins, Kaufman, Rockwall and Van Zandt counties, as well as parts of Smith and Dallas counties.

"I believe that we do have a shot at it," he said. "Dallas County, for example, is starting to lean Democratic. I would certainly like to help speed that up. I believe that if we start a genuine grass-roots effort, to really point out the differences between the two parties, the two agendas, we can give people a real choice. And I believe they'll choose the Democratic candidate."

Who might that candidate be?

"There are potential candidates," Leibowitz said. "A number of people have expressed an interest, and I would hope they will be in attendance at the summit. I won't divulge any names now, but I will say the majority of the names I've heard are political novices."

Leibowitz acknowledges that knocking off Deuell won't be easy; the Greenville physician serves on the powerful Senate Finance Committee and the Health and Human Services Committee. He won the seat in 2002, handily defeating Democratic incumbent Sen. David Cain, 53.94 percent to 44.56 percent.

That race costs more than $1 million.

"It's going to be an expensive campaign," said Leibowitz. "We're going to have to get a lot of people who haven't contributed in the past to donate."

But on this issue, the 2004 election offers some hope, he added.

"One thing about 2004 is that so many people gave like they never gave before," he said. "And it was not only to the presidential candidates, but also to things like Moveon.org and Take Back Texas PAC. Hopefully, we can make some of these things happen for us in Senate District 2."

The summit, which starts at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 29, is open to all interested Democrats, Leibowitz said.

Roy Maynard covers local government. He can be reached at 903.596.6291. e-mail: news@tylerpaper.com

[Casloy]

Many of us have begun to realize that 2004 was not as bad as we initially thought, before we had time to really look at the numbers," says Vince Leibowitz

YESSSSSSSS, still in total denial. It's right where we want them for 2008.

[Dog Gone]

The 1870 Act was nothing more than permitting Texas to resume Congressional representation. It wasn't an act for admission to the union. In fact, the whole Union argument was that states couldn't legally secede, so that argument is contradictory on its face.

The original annexation treaty is quite certainly still in effect.

[servantboy777]

I've had my first ping from my Texas honey. Honey--let's do a second honeymoon in Cut-n-shoot.

[Tempest]

""Many of us have begun to realize that 2004 was not as bad as we initially thought,"

Bwahahahahahaha!!! Oh dear Lord! I wish I could live in my own reality too.