Travis County Democratic Party Chair Andy Brown filed for re-election earlier today. Brown, who was elected chairman in March 2008, announced an impressive list of supporters that includes practically every Democratic elected official within the county.
Brown's supporters include:
Congressman Lloyd Doggett; State Senator Kirk Watson; State Representatives Elliott Naishtat, Dawnna Dukes, Eddie Rodriguez, Donna Howard, Valinda Bolton, and Mark Strama; Travis County Judge Sam Biscoe; Travis County Commissioners Margaret Gomez, Sarah Eckhardt and Karen Huber; Austin Mayor Lee Leffingwell; Austin Mayor Pro Tem Mike Martinez; and Austin City Council members Randi Shade, Sheryl Cole, Laura Morrison, Chris Riley and Bill Spelman.
In his nearly two years as chairman, Brown has made major progress for the county party. In 2008, he raised a record-breaking $560,000 for the TCDP's coordinated campaign that helped deliver the greatest Democratic margins Travis County had ever seen.
If Democrats expect to win statewide in 2010, they will need huge margins out of Travis County. Re-electing Andy Brown as chair would ensure the TCDP has the leadership it needs not only to help our statewide candidates, but also to protect the seats of Democratic State Reps. Valinda Bolton and Donna Howard and defeat the last remaining Republican elected official in Travis County.
Austin Attorney Releases Initial List Of Re-Election Endorsers
Austin, Texas - Travis County Democratic Party Chair Andy Brown announced today that he will seek re-election for a second 2-year term. Brown, 37, is an attorney at the law firm Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr, P.C. He was elected County Chair in March 2008 with 56% of the vote.
As Chair, Brown led the 2008 Democratic Coordinated Campaign in Travis County, the largest and most sophisticated campaign in county history. The campaign contacted an unprecedented number of voters and helped elect Democrats to every non-federal office on the 2008 ballot in Travis County. Brown raised a record-breaking $560,000 in donations to fund the effort.
"The 2008 campaign was a very successful one for Travis County Democrats, by every measure," said Brown. "Now our big challenge is to sustain and build on that momentum going into 2010. Our ability to increase turnout and win votes next year depends on raising adequate resources, deploying a well-organized campaign, and making the most of our volunteer base."
Brown said if re-elected he would focus on increasing voter registration, expanding voter outreach in East Austin and on Austin's college campuses, and growing the Party's online organizing efforts. Brown said the Travis County Democratic Party raised more money online last year than ever before, and ended the 2008 campaign with more than 80,000 email addresses.
Brown also announced today that his re-election effort has been endorsed by local Democratic leaders including Congressman Lloyd Doggett; State Senator Kirk Watson; State Representatives Elliott Naishtat, Dawnna Dukes, Eddie Rodriguez, Donna Howard, Valinda Bolton, and Mark Strama; County Judge Sam Biscoe; County Commissioners Margaret Gomez, Sarah Eckhardt and Karen Huber; Mayor Lee Leffingwell; Mayor Pro Tem Mike Martinez; and Austin City Council members Randi Shade, Sheryl Cole, Laura Morrison, Chris Riley and Bill Spelman.
The 2010 Democratic primary is on Tuesday, March 2nd.
ABOUT ANDY BROWN
Travis County Democratic Party Chair Andy Brown, 37, is an attorney at the law firm Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr, P.C., practicing commercial litigation. Brown is a former Aide to Pete Laney and campaign manager for Congressman Lloyd Doggett; a former Executive Director of 21st Century Democrats; and a former candidate for State Representative in District 48.
Please join Senator Kirk Watson, Ian Davis, Sylvia Camarillo, elected officials, the rest of the Travis County Democratic Party staff and me tonight for our Headquarters Grand Opening. The headquarters is at 1107 North I-35, next to the CVS Pharmacy (in the old Safeway building at 12th and I-35). The Opening is from 5-7pm tonight (Tuesday June 17).
This is a great opportunity to bring any chairs, computers, power strips, dividers, desks, office supplies and other items that would be useful for this year's Democratic Coordinated Campaign effort--please contact Ian Davis at ian@traviscountydemocrats.org to arrange a drop off of anything large.
In order to kick off the campaign earlier than ever before, Senator Watson has generously agreed to match any contribution made by June 19, up to $20,000. To double your donation and help this year's Democratic Coordinated Campaign, please donate by clicking here: www.traviscountydemocrats.org.
If you are interested in helping with the campaign this fall, please send me an email or sign up as a volunteer on the website by clicking here: www.traviscountydemocrats.org. We are starting things early this year to keep up with the great momentum that the Texas primary has given us.
For those of you who are unfamiliar with the Democratic Party's Coordinated Campaign--Travis County Democratic candidates and office holders get together and pool resources and talent to run a county-wide effort to increase the vote for Democrats and make sure that Travis county stays blue for years to come. It's something we do well in Travis County, but there is always room for improvement. This fall's election presents the best opportunity in years to increase the turnout in precincts that traditionally have low turnout. We need to increase our Travis County turnout to record levels so that we do our part to elect great judges, state representatives, win a US Senate seat this year, and take back the Governor's mansion by 2010. The primary is over, we are all Democrats, so let's work together as a team for the November election. I hope you will join us tonight!
Thank you Travis County Democrats! I'm honored and excited to be the next Travis County Democratic Party Chair! Get your checkbooks and volunteer time ready for the fall campaign!
It was an exciting election night in Travis county. Record vote totals for Democrats mean one thing--Victory in November! Click here for the results of Travis County Democratic Primary races:
Thanks for visiting my campaign blog - I appreciate your interest in my campaign to serve as Chair of the Travis County Democratic Party. I believe that effective Internet organizing is a critical component of building support for local Democrats and winning elections, so I hope you'll check back with my blog frequently. I look forward to helping the Democratic party recruit new, young and diverse voters and candidates for public office. I'm proud of the endorsements I've received over the course of this campaign--please click on the "Supporters" tab above to see who has joined Congressman Doggett, The Honorable Wilhelmina Delco, Mayor Gus Garcia and others in supporting my campaign.
Most importantly, please vote on Tuesday March 4 from 7am to 7pm at your polling location in your precinct. If you don't know your precinct number you can search for it using your name here.
Thanks!
Here's the video of Clayton Christopher (founder and owner of Sweet Leaf Tea) introducing me at the rally at Victory Grill, and my short, nonboring speech.
Early Voting starts this Tuesday February 19, and election day is March 4. For a list of Early Voting and Election Day locations, please click here or call 238-8683.
Don't forget to "Scroll Down, Vote for Andy Brown" because I am the very last person on most ballots.
We had a huge event last night--so huge that we had to shut off access because we had an overflow crowd at Victory Grill. Thanks to everyone who came, especially the Host Committee and the staff at Victory Grill, for such an amazing event. We raised thousands of dollars, had over 350 people attend, and enjoyed great live music by Colin Gilmore and Black Joe Lewis. I'll post the official photos taken by photographer Randy Ho as they become available. For now, we've got a picture with a blogger named MeanRachel and some pictures Doug put on Facebook.
This past weekend, the Central Austin Democrats and the University Democrats endorsed my campaign for County Chair. This means that the combined groups, known as the Austin Progressive Coalition, will print and distribute via blockwalking, almost 15,000 doorhangers supporting my campaign. This is a huge development, and I look forward to blockwalking with them. Thanks! Here's the rest of the results from that day: http://www.burntorangereport.c...
Austin's Central Labor Council this weekend voted to endorse my campaign for Travis County Chair. I'm proud to have their support, and I support them.
In other news, with about 95% of the vote, the influential West Austin Democrats, one of the oldest and most respected Democratic clubs in Travis County, endorsed my campaign last Wednesday. www.westaustindemocrats.org
Other groups to endorse my campaign include the South Austin Democrats, Capital Area Progressive Democrats, Latinos for Texas, Capital Area Asian American Democrats and the Texas Environmental Democrats. Thanks!
