Juan Garcia in the News
If you are in Corpus this Memorial Day Weekend...
then you should swing by Juan Garcia's 40th Birthday Party.
Spend the Sunday evening of Memorial Day Weekend or May 28th in the shadow of the USS Lexington at the Blue Ghost Landing Beach Bar, and join Juan for his 40th Birthday Celebration.
Free admission. Join us between 6-10 PM for an evening of dancing, drinks, and a special live performance by Juan's rock band, with surprise special guests!
(And the much requested "Army of Juan" t-shirts will be available).
For more information please log on to Juan's web site:
www.electjuangarcia.com
Remember, Monday is Memorial Day so you don't have to go to work (hopefully)...
Posted by Eddie on 05/25/2006 at 11:24 AM in HD 32, Lt. Cdr. Juan Garcia, Sparkling City by the Sea Permalink Comments (0) TrackBack (0)
Gene Seaman already running scared
10-year incumbent Rep. Gene Seaman may publicly say he's not worried about the challenge from first time candidate Lt. Cmd Juan Garcia, but that's not what he's telling his inner circle.
In a March 27, 2006 letter to previous donors, Seaman wrote that he is "engaged in a major fight", and exhorted them to "consider doubling or tripling your annual donation." Click here (letter.pdf) to see actual letter.
Seaman has also been paying about $6,500 a month for three large commercial billboards bearing his likeness around the district, 10 months before the election. That is around $32,500 on freaking billboards.
Good thing he's not worried....
Continue reading "Gene Seaman already running scared" »
Posted by Eddie on 05/11/2006 at 10:38 PM in HD 32, Lt. Cdr. Juan Garcia, South Texas, Sparkling City by the Sea, The Lege - House Permalink Comments (0) TrackBack (1)
Juan Garcia ~ In the News
Juan Garcia has a been a busy man lately. Garcia, candidate for HD 32, was all over the newspapers this Sunday.
On Thursday, Juan Garcia introduced his Harvard classmate Sen. Barrack Obama (D-IL) at fundraiser in Austin. Present at the event was another Harvard Law classmate, Juan's wife Denise Garcia.
I attended this event and beside the impressive speeches by both Juan Garcia and Sen. Obama, I was shocked by how many young people was there. The packed room was filled by high school and college-aged supporters. I go to my share of these events and I am happy to see that there is a new generation of active participation in politics.
There was also great article written in the SA Express News in Carlos Guerra's column.
A second-generation naval aviator, he had risen to lieutenant commander when he left active duty in a career that included 30 armed missions over the Persian Gulf, one of which ended with an emergency landing during a sandstorm. In the process, he also was appointed White House fellow.
[....]
"A lot of the analysts said, 'That district is not going to elect someone whose name ends in a vowel,' and in the past, it is undeniable: They voted in droves against the Hispanic candidate," García says. "But I choose to believe that this campaign is emblematic in closing that chapter in our history.
"I think that the right person with the right qualifications and the right message and vision can close that chapter so we can get to the issues we all care about," he adds.
And such political divisiveness isn't limited to race issues.
"There are issues out there, education, property taxes, services, that also transcend party," he says. That's why he picked fellow pilot [Joe] Hall — a Republican — for his campaign treasurer. "I wanted to send a message."
This is guy is the real deal. It is nice to see a campaign trying to woo the entire district on real issues. I expect Seaman will probably try to create some false wedge issue to divide the district. I am glad Garcia is focused on what really matters in the district.
Garcia also spoke at annual earth day festival at Cole Park on Saturday. He talked about how Texas leads the nation in polluters but fails to adequately monitor the polluters. Apparently, polluters in Texas self report their emissions. Hmmm... kinda like putting Michael Jackson in charge of the day care. This kind of self-serving industry practice will not change until we see a real change in our elected officials.
Garcia has also been busy securing the restoration of the Dr. Hector P. Garcia (no relation) office builiding. He was the first Mexican American to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom. This is the highest award a civilian can receive. Dr. Garcia organized the American G.I. Forum (1948) initially to improve veteran benefits and enhance medical attention. But it soon expanded to address educational and vocational training, housing, public education, poll taxation, voter registration, hospitalization and employment. Today the American G. I. Forum has nearly 160,000 members in 502 chapters in 24 states.
Posted by Eddie on 04/23/2006 at 11:02 AM in HD 32, Lt. Cdr. Juan Garcia, South Texas, Sparkling City by the Sea, The Lege - House Permalink Comments (1) TrackBack (1)
Richard Morrison: Help Juan Garcia defeat Seaman and his dirty DeLay money
I just recieved an email from Richard Morrison supporting Lt. Cdr. Juan Garcia and his bid to unseat Gene Seaman in HD 32. It reads:
Former Congressman Tom DeLay. Has a nice ring to it, doesn't it?
When I ran against him two years ago, I talked about the sheer reach of his corrupt Texans for a Republican Majority political action committee (TRMPAC).
This year, my friend Juan Garcia is running against one of biggest beneficiaries of that corruption -- State Rep. Gene Seaman, the Republican real estate developer from Corpus Christi.
That's why I'm writing you today -- to ask you to join me in supporting Juan so that we can continue to clean up the House and rid Texas politics of DeLay's allies.
Juan is the new face of leadership in Texas -- dynamic, independent, rooted in his community. A veteran of Operation Allied Force in Kosovo, an instructional pilot in the Navy Reserve, and a former assistant to the U.S. Secretary of Education, he brings to this race a refreshing energy and integrity.
Seaman, on the other, seems to be the man for whom the term "furniture" to describe inept lawmakers was coined. He pocketed $35,000 from DeLay's TRMPAC and its parent organization ARMPAC in his 2002 race. He took an additional $80,000 from other DeLay-linked sources, including Houston megadonor Bob Perry, the indicted Texas Association of Business, and Texans for Lawsuit Reform.
And then he voted in lock step for every extremist idea to come down the pike. Redistricting? Why not! Cut half-a-million kids off CHIP? You bet! Double college tuition rates? Of course! The single biggest tax hike in Texas history? Who cares!
Let's take a stand for Juan Garcia against DeLay's rubber stamp. Click here to send him a generous donation so he can keep fighting to provide Corpus Christi with the kind of independent voice it deserves.
Fight On!
Richard Morrison
Pretty cool, huh? We win the Texas House back one seat at a time. This is the race we can and need to win. Go help and contribute to Juan's campaign.
Posted by Eddie on 04/11/2006 at 04:14 PM in HD 32, Lt. Cdr. Juan Garcia, Sparkling City by the Sea, The Tomstown Scandal, Tom Delay Permalink Comments (0) TrackBack (2)
Seaman asked to get rid of dirty Delay money
Lt. Cmdr. Juan Garcia, candidate for HD 32, asked for Republican Gene Seaman to return all the dirty Delay money he has received (see full press release here). Garcia suggests that this money should be to donate a local children's health clinic. Seaman's vote on CHIP removed hundreds of thousand of working family's children off the heatlh insurance program in 2003.
State representative candidate Juan Garcia today called on his opponent to give nearly $50,000 he took from Tom DeLay and others linked to the ongoing corruption scandals surrounding the disgraced congressman to a local children's health clinic.
"This campaign should be about our community's future, not my opponent's past," Garcia said. "I encourage him to put this behind him so that we can spend the rest of this campaign talking about how to fix our public schools, keep our kids healthy, and make our neighborhoods stronger."
Incumbent Gene Seaman reported accepting $48,710 in 2002 from two discredited political action committees founded by DeLay, Texans for a Republican Majority (TRMPAC) and its parent organization, Americans for a Republican Majority (ARMPAC), as well as from the Texas Association of Business (TAB). TRMPAC and TAB have since been indicted as part of a continuing criminal grand jury investigation in Travis County.
DeLay announced this week that he will resign his office as the biggest political corruption scandal in a generation continues to embroil the leadership in Washington, D.C. and Austin.
Delay resignation effects all of Texas because his corrupting influence permeated all of Texas. Will Seaman donate the dirty money? Probably not. He probably thinks he did nothing wrong money by taking tainted money. We shall see.
Posted by Eddie on 04/07/2006 at 07:39 AM in Cronyism, HD 32, Lt. Cdr. Juan Garcia, South Texas, Sparkling City by the Sea, The Tomstown Scandal, Tom Delay Permalink Comments (2) TrackBack (0)
Sunday News Roundup
Ciro has raised over $136,000 from the "The Kiss." Cuellar starts to get desperate.
Chris Bell leads Gammage in a new DMN poll.
San Antonio Express New Editorial Board endorses Joe Farias for HD 118 primary.
Madla still hasn't let the Democrats out of his trunk.
San Antonio social conservative James Leininger trys to kill off moderate Republican by dropping almost $1 million of his own money to support right-wing extremists.
The Corpus Christi chapter of the American Federation of Teachers and Corpus Christi Fire Fighters Association endorse Juan Garcia (HD 32). The New York Times reports on the veterans running for Congress. There are 57 Dems running (map).
Dick Cheney's Freedom Peppering is still a mess.
Law enforcement officials in San Antonio and Alamo Heights are more likely to ask black motorists to submit to voluntary searches than they are to ask white drivers, according to a study (.pdf) released by an Texas Criminal Justice Coalition.
Posted by Eddie on 02/19/2006 at 10:31 AM in Back on the Ranch, CD 28, Cheneyquiddick, Download This!, Human Rights, Lt. Cdr. Juan Garcia, Race for Texas Governor 2006, SD 19, San Antonio, South Texas, Sparkling City by the Sea, The Lege - House, The Lege - Senate Permalink Comments (0) TrackBack (0)
Sometimes technical difficulties turn out to be a good thing.
Many of TRS’s reader were expecting a play by play of Juan Garcia’s Campaign Kick-Off Rally with Gen. Wesley Clark. We were intending of broadcasting the event with the help of Corpus Christi’s citywide WiFi network. Much to my chagrin, the signal was sporadic at best so I decided to post later and walk the crowd to get a sense of the energy.
It was the best thing that could of happened. I met a friend of the campaign who was filming and needed some help transporting video equipment throughout the night. He asked me to help “produce” and of course I agree to help.
Walking through a crowd of 200+, I felt something I hadn’t felt in a lot time: optimistic hope. I really believe it came from the presence of Clark and Garcia. I saw people who are natural skeptics smile and nod their head in agreement because they knew that they had in front of them a rebirth of Democrats. Candidates like Garcia and Clark is how Democrats earn back the trust of the voters.
Continue reading "Sometimes technical difficulties turn out to be a good thing. " »
Posted by Eddie on 01/29/2006 at 05:22 PM in Foreign Policy, HD 32, Lt. Cdr. Juan Garcia, Race for U.S. President 2008, Sparkling City by the Sea, The Lege - House Permalink Comments (10) TrackBack (0)
Juan Garcia's Rally Photos
Here are the photos of the Juan Garcia Campaign Rally with Gen. Wes Clark. I have also included some additional photos from tagging along with Wes and Juan. For the complete story, check the Sunday Edition of The Red State.
Posted by Eddie on 01/27/2006 at 08:57 PM in HD 32, Lt. Cdr. Juan Garcia, Race for U.S. President 2008, Sparkling City by the Sea, The Lege - House Permalink Comments (0) TrackBack (0)
~LIVE BLOG~ Juan Garcia & Gen. Welsey Clark
Greetings everyone. I am down here in Corpus Christi, the Sparkling City by the Sea. I will be providing live-coverage of the Juan Garcia's Kick Off Rally with Gen. Wesley Clark. Juan is running for State Representative in District 32. The rally is set to start at 4:30pm at the Selena Auditorium but if you are coming you should probably be here by 4:00pm.
It is late morning and I am blogging from the 2nd floor of the flagship Whataburger by the Bay store.
11:30am ~ Juan asked me to tag along this morning. First, he spoke to at the local meeting of the GI Forum. For those who do not know, the GI Forum was founded in Corpus Christi and one the first and most effective organizations to protect the rights of Mexican-American veterans and their families. The widow and daughter of founder, Dr. Hector P. Garcia, was at the breakfast and is expected to be in attendance at tonight's rally. Dr. Hector, as he is fondly called, was the recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Being from Corpus Christi, I have heard many of stories about Dr. Hector. Every single story I heard was about how Dr. Hector helped them when they most needed help.
After the breakfast, we then ran over to the local talk radio show for a quick interview. Juan talked about tonight's rally with Gen. Wesley Clark. The radio show host was real nice and helped point out that we were going to have a presidential candidate speaking tonight. This may be common place in bigger cities but in Corpus it is a special treat for everyone here.
More live coverage and photos after the jump. Comments are open
Continue reading "~LIVE BLOG~ Juan Garcia & Gen. Welsey Clark" »
Posted by Eddie on 01/26/2006 at 12:29 PM in HD 32, Lt. Cdr. Juan Garcia, Race for U.S. President 2008, South Texas, Sparkling City by the Sea, The Lege - House Permalink Comments (5) TrackBack (2)
TRS to live-blog Juan Garcia's kick off rally with Gen. Clark
As noted on the Rio Grande Guardian and Democratic Underground, The Red State will be live-blogging Juan Garcia's kick off rally for his race for Texas House District 32 with honored guest Gen. Wesley Clark. I encourage everyone who can go to Corpus Christi this Thursday to attend the rally. These are the first steps of a great new candidate and the next step for a true contender for the White House. I expect great things from these two very accomplished men.
For those who cannot make it but want to ask Wes Clark or Juan Garcia a question, send it to TRS via email and we will do our best to get it asked.
UPDATE: Burnt Orange Report has an interview with Juan Garcia.
Posted by Eddie on 01/24/2006 at 06:01 AM in HD 32, Lt. Cdr. Juan Garcia, Race for U.S. President 2008, Sparkling City by the Sea, The Lege - House Permalink Comments (3) TrackBack (2)
Wesley Clark kicks off Juan Garcia's campaign
Gen. Wesley Clark, former presidential candidate and NATO's Supreme Allied Commander, Europe, will be in Corpus Christi, TX on January 26, 2006 to announce his support for Juan Garcia's race (campaign website) for Texas House District 32.
I cannot remember the last time a Presidential candidate visited our Sparkling City By The Sea. This is huge!
General Wesley Clark will join fellow veteran and state representative candidate Juan Garcia for a formal campaign kick-off rally on January 26 at the Selena Auditorium.
"I am honored to have General Clark's endorsement and strong support in my campaign to set a new direction for the families and small businesses of House District 32," Garcia said. "His biography and his record of commitment to our country speaks for itself."
During 34 years of service in the U.S. Army, Clark rose to the rank of four-star general as NATO's Supreme Allied Commander, and led the effort to end ethnic cleansing in Kosovo. He graduated first in his class at West Point, and was awarded the Silver Star for his gallantry in Vietnam. A Rhodes Scholar, he serves as a frequent commentator on FOX News. Clark won the 2004 Presidential primary in Oklahoma, and is viewed by many analysts as a strong contender for the White House in 2008. Garcia served under Clark's command during Kosovo, and the two men later became friends when Garcia was selected to serve as a White House Fellow, the nation's premiere leadership development program, whose alumni include Clark, Colin Powell and Henry Cisneros.
The rally is scheduled to be held from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 26 in the Selena Auditorium. The event will be followed by a fundraising reception from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Full Press Release (.doc)
If you can attend the rally, GO! Corpus Christi is beautiful this time of year. If you can't go but want to help, then you can volunteer or contribute to his campaign. His new website (www.electjuangarcia.com) should have all the info.
I met Gen. Clark in 2003 and found him to no nonsense kind of guy. I have a pretty good BS meter with politicians and found him to be honest and forthright with his answers to questions. Given Clark's and Garcia's background, I think they are a great match. Clark's announcement will help bring out the important military vote in that district. This is a candidate you can be excited about...
UPDATE: WesPac has the event up on its calender.
Posted by Eddie on 01/17/2006 at 03:05 PM in Did he just say that?!?, HD 32, Lt. Cdr. Juan Garcia, Sparkling City by the Sea, The Lege - House Permalink Comments (0) TrackBack (2)
Juan Garcia want all the votes not just Dems
In order for Juan Garcia to win House District 32, he must appeal not only to Democrats but moderate Republicans and Independents. This is a swing Republican district with a heavy military presence. I don't think you will ever win over the extreme right wing who are actively trying take out the moderate Republicans who vote their district like Carter Casteel. I think his impressive military background definitely will win over some conservative voters to his side. His latest press release announces his new campaign treasurer:
"Joe is a trusted friend who has served this community well and who understands the need to restore balance and independence at the State Capitol," Garcia said.
Hall is a former Marine, Desert Storm pilot, and registered Republican with an MBA degree from Texas A&M and a successful small Coastal Bend business. Hall and his wife, a public school teacher from Pearland, are respected community leaders.
“Juan is running to be part of the solution, not part of the problem,” Hall said. “He will be the kind of independent voice we need in Austin, not just another rubber stamp.” [Emphasis added]
I am glad that he going after all the votes not just some of them. The job of State Representative represents all the people in a district. Unfortunately, there are Reps out there who rather vote for the interest of the small group of fringe and radical Republicans instead of their district. I won't ever fault someone for voting their district 'cause that is their job (and most folks are in the happy middle).
Posted by Eddie on 01/06/2006 at 08:56 PM in HD 32, Lt. Cdr. Juan Garcia, South Texas, Sparkling City by the Sea Permalink Comments (0) TrackBack (0)
My Day with Juan Garcia
Today is the one-year anniversary of the first real post on the The Red State. I tackled the cronyism I saw happening while I worked in the 2003 Texas Legislature. It's funny what a year can bring.
I was invited by Lt. Cmdr. Juan Garcia to join him in Austin today for his filing at the Democratic Party Headquarters. Since I have never been to a filing, I agreed to go.
I am so glad I did.
The HQ buzzed with activity with everyone moving with a purpose. It seemed a bit chaotic until you stopped and and watched it move. There were many folks from around the state bringing their paperwork to be filed. There were people with the means to do so comfortably. There were people who obvious first time candidates. It was a treat to see so many folks anxious to get their filings entered and made official.
Juan was quite comfortable meeting the party officials and staff. He has a very natural way with people. When they found out who he was, their faces lit up. They were happy he was there and that he was running. This was sincere since they had already heard that he had decided to run for HD 32.
I forget sometimes about the folks who dedicate their lives to help Democrats get elected. Many of the staff were in their mid to late 20s and obviously very bright. Most could be doing whatever they wanted to in life but have chosen to serve.
I pulled Juan aside to ask him about what he thought about all this and why he was running because he doesn't need to do this. He has a great education, a good job and a responsibility to his young family. This race will take him away from his family. He has already served his country in a way only a few among us can. His job as a navy pilot is probably one of the most dangerous jobs a person can do. And yet he still throws his hat in the ring.... He told me that it is all worth it if he can make Texas a better place for his family and Texas families' future. The sacrifice he makes will be far outweighed by the good he can achieve for them.
Juan Garcia's race is far bigger than HD 32. His run is a testament that Democrats can run supremely qualified candidates. His run sets the stage for what the future will hold for Texas Democrats. His run can inspire people to get involved and help create the new Democratic Party. His run will inspire others to run (in fact it has already). To some, this may seem like pie in the sky but once you meet him you will know what I am talking about.
At some point you have to stop gawking and complaining and do something about it. I was quite surprised when I was moved to do something about it myself. Somewhere amidst the the hustle and bustle of day, I decided to run. I said my goodbyes to all the good people at the Party, personally thanked Juan Garcia for running and went back home to San Antonio.
I called my good friend and asked him to run with me for Precinct Chair in our respective precincts. Neither of us had ever done anything like this before. He agreed to run. It is not as large of job as Juan will have but I believe it's important. We cannot wait for others make the change we would want. We have be that change ourselves.
Starting 1/2/06, I am officially running for Precinct Chair 4001 in Bexar County.
Posted by Eddie on 01/02/2006 at 11:28 PM in Austin, HD 32, Lt. Cdr. Juan Garcia, San Antonio, Sparkling City by the Sea, The Lege - House Permalink Comments (0) TrackBack (1)
Lt. Cdr. Juan Garcia to run for House District 32
THE RED STATE EXCLUSIVE
Putting rumors and speculation to rest, TRS has confirmed that Lt. Cmdr. Juan Garcia will run for Texas House District 32.
I first met Juan Garcia at the DNC Hispanic Leadership Summit in San Antonio earlier this year and I have spent quite a bit of time with him in last few months. Let me tell you about what I have learned.
Raised in South Texas, Juan has impressive credentials. U.C.L.A undergrad. J.D. from Harvard Law School (where he met his wife). Master's in Public Policy from Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government. White House Fellow. 13 years Navy fighter pilot with missions in Kosovo and the Persian Gulf.
Currently, he is a practicing attorney in Corpus Christi all while still training young Navy pilots. He was a Special Assistant to the U.S. Secretary of Education from 1999-2000, chaired the Board of Directors of "Citizens for Educational Excellence," and was a member of the CCISD district-wide Planning and Decision-Making Team. He also serves on the Board of Governors for Leadership Corpus Christi, the Dr. Hector P. Garcia Memorial Foundation, and the Boy Scouts.
If you ever get a chance to meet him in person, he is even more impressive than his resume. Now, this is going to be a tough race against the incumbent, the tragically named, Gene Seaman (R). Some may know him for being furniture in the Capitol but most remember him for his nasty little tirade (wmv clip) on the floor of the Texas House of Representatives during session in 2003.
Much more on this announcement once I land on the ground....
Posted by Eddie on 12/31/2005 at 04:09 PM in HD 32, Lt. Cdr. Juan Garcia, South Texas, Sparkling City by the Sea, The Lege - House Permalink Comments (0) TrackBack (1)
Recent Posts
then you should swing by Juan Garcia's 40th Birthday Party.
Spend the Sunday evening of Memorial Day Weekend or May 28th in the shadow of the USS Lexington at the Blue Ghost Landing Beach Bar, and join Juan for his 40th Birthday Celebration.
Free admission. Join us between 6-10 PM for an evening of dancing, drinks, and a special live performance by Juan's rock band, with surprise special guests!
(And the much requested "Army of Juan" t-shirts will be available).
For more information please log on to Juan's web site:
www.electjuangarcia.com
Remember, Monday is Memorial Day so you don't have to go to work (hopefully)...
Posted by Eddie on 05/25/2006 at 11:24 AM in HD 32, Lt. Cdr. Juan Garcia, Sparkling City by the Sea Permalink Comments (0) TrackBack (0)
Gene Seaman already running scared
10-year incumbent Rep. Gene Seaman may publicly say he's not worried about the challenge from first time candidate Lt. Cmd Juan Garcia, but that's not what he's telling his inner circle.
In a March 27, 2006 letter to previous donors, Seaman wrote that he is "engaged in a major fight", and exhorted them to "consider doubling or tripling your annual donation." Click here (letter.pdf) to see actual letter.
Seaman has also been paying about $6,500 a month for three large commercial billboards bearing his likeness around the district, 10 months before the election. That is around $32,500 on freaking billboards.
Good thing he's not worried....
Continue reading "Gene Seaman already running scared" »
Posted by Eddie on 05/11/2006 at 10:38 PM in HD 32, Lt. Cdr. Juan Garcia, South Texas, Sparkling City by the Sea, The Lege - House Permalink Comments (0) TrackBack (1)
Juan Garcia ~ In the News
Juan Garcia has a been a busy man lately. Garcia, candidate for HD 32, was all over the newspapers this Sunday.
On Thursday, Juan Garcia introduced his Harvard classmate Sen. Barrack Obama (D-IL) at fundraiser in Austin. Present at the event was another Harvard Law classmate, Juan's wife Denise Garcia.
I attended this event and beside the impressive speeches by both Juan Garcia and Sen. Obama, I was shocked by how many young people was there. The packed room was filled by high school and college-aged supporters. I go to my share of these events and I am happy to see that there is a new generation of active participation in politics.
There was also great article written in the SA Express News in Carlos Guerra's column.
A second-generation naval aviator, he had risen to lieutenant commander when he left active duty in a career that included 30 armed missions over the Persian Gulf, one of which ended with an emergency landing during a sandstorm. In the process, he also was appointed White House fellow.
[....]
"A lot of the analysts said, 'That district is not going to elect someone whose name ends in a vowel,' and in the past, it is undeniable: They voted in droves against the Hispanic candidate," García says. "But I choose to believe that this campaign is emblematic in closing that chapter in our history.
"I think that the right person with the right qualifications and the right message and vision can close that chapter so we can get to the issues we all care about," he adds.
And such political divisiveness isn't limited to race issues.
"There are issues out there, education, property taxes, services, that also transcend party," he says. That's why he picked fellow pilot [Joe] Hall — a Republican — for his campaign treasurer. "I wanted to send a message."
This is guy is the real deal. It is nice to see a campaign trying to woo the entire district on real issues. I expect Seaman will probably try to create some false wedge issue to divide the district. I am glad Garcia is focused on what really matters in the district.
Garcia also spoke at annual earth day festival at Cole Park on Saturday. He talked about how Texas leads the nation in polluters but fails to adequately monitor the polluters. Apparently, polluters in Texas self report their emissions. Hmmm... kinda like putting Michael Jackson in charge of the day care. This kind of self-serving industry practice will not change until we see a real change in our elected officials.
Garcia has also been busy securing the restoration of the Dr. Hector P. Garcia (no relation) office builiding. He was the first Mexican American to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom. This is the highest award a civilian can receive. Dr. Garcia organized the American G.I. Forum (1948) initially to improve veteran benefits and enhance medical attention. But it soon expanded to address educational and vocational training, housing, public education, poll taxation, voter registration, hospitalization and employment. Today the American G. I. Forum has nearly 160,000 members in 502 chapters in 24 states.
Posted by Eddie on 04/23/2006 at 11:02 AM in HD 32, Lt. Cdr. Juan Garcia, South Texas, Sparkling City by the Sea, The Lege - House Permalink Comments (1) TrackBack (1)
Richard Morrison: Help Juan Garcia defeat Seaman and his dirty DeLay money
I just recieved an email from Richard Morrison supporting Lt. Cdr. Juan Garcia and his bid to unseat Gene Seaman in HD 32. It reads:
Former Congressman Tom DeLay. Has a nice ring to it, doesn't it?
When I ran against him two years ago, I talked about the sheer reach of his corrupt Texans for a Republican Majority political action committee (TRMPAC).
This year, my friend Juan Garcia is running against one of biggest beneficiaries of that corruption -- State Rep. Gene Seaman, the Republican real estate developer from Corpus Christi.
That's why I'm writing you today -- to ask you to join me in supporting Juan so that we can continue to clean up the House and rid Texas politics of DeLay's allies.
Juan is the new face of leadership in Texas -- dynamic, independent, rooted in his community. A veteran of Operation Allied Force in Kosovo, an instructional pilot in the Navy Reserve, and a former assistant to the U.S. Secretary of Education, he brings to this race a refreshing energy and integrity.
Seaman, on the other, seems to be the man for whom the term "furniture" to describe inept lawmakers was coined. He pocketed $35,000 from DeLay's TRMPAC and its parent organization ARMPAC in his 2002 race. He took an additional $80,000 from other DeLay-linked sources, including Houston megadonor Bob Perry, the indicted Texas Association of Business, and Texans for Lawsuit Reform.
And then he voted in lock step for every extremist idea to come down the pike. Redistricting? Why not! Cut half-a-million kids off CHIP? You bet! Double college tuition rates? Of course! The single biggest tax hike in Texas history? Who cares!
Let's take a stand for Juan Garcia against DeLay's rubber stamp. Click here to send him a generous donation so he can keep fighting to provide Corpus Christi with the kind of independent voice it deserves.
Fight On!
Richard Morrison
Pretty cool, huh? We win the Texas House back one seat at a time. This is the race we can and need to win. Go help and contribute to Juan's campaign.
Posted by Eddie on 04/11/2006 at 04:14 PM in HD 32, Lt. Cdr. Juan Garcia, Sparkling City by the Sea, The Tomstown Scandal, Tom Delay Permalink Comments (0) TrackBack (2)
Seaman asked to get rid of dirty Delay money
Lt. Cmdr. Juan Garcia, candidate for HD 32, asked for Republican Gene Seaman to return all the dirty Delay money he has received (see full press release here). Garcia suggests that this money should be to donate a local children's health clinic. Seaman's vote on CHIP removed hundreds of thousand of working family's children off the heatlh insurance program in 2003.
State representative candidate Juan Garcia today called on his opponent to give nearly $50,000 he took from Tom DeLay and others linked to the ongoing corruption scandals surrounding the disgraced congressman to a local children's health clinic.
"This campaign should be about our community's future, not my opponent's past," Garcia said. "I encourage him to put this behind him so that we can spend the rest of this campaign talking about how to fix our public schools, keep our kids healthy, and make our neighborhoods stronger."
Incumbent Gene Seaman reported accepting $48,710 in 2002 from two discredited political action committees founded by DeLay, Texans for a Republican Majority (TRMPAC) and its parent organization, Americans for a Republican Majority (ARMPAC), as well as from the Texas Association of Business (TAB). TRMPAC and TAB have since been indicted as part of a continuing criminal grand jury investigation in Travis County.
DeLay announced this week that he will resign his office as the biggest political corruption scandal in a generation continues to embroil the leadership in Washington, D.C. and Austin.
Delay resignation effects all of Texas because his corrupting influence permeated all of Texas. Will Seaman donate the dirty money? Probably not. He probably thinks he did nothing wrong money by taking tainted money. We shall see.
Posted by Eddie on 04/07/2006 at 07:39 AM in Cronyism, HD 32, Lt. Cdr. Juan Garcia, South Texas, Sparkling City by the Sea, The Tomstown Scandal, Tom Delay Permalink Comments (2) TrackBack (0)
Sunday News Roundup
Ciro has raised over $136,000 from the "The Kiss." Cuellar starts to get desperate.
Chris Bell leads Gammage in a new DMN poll.
San Antonio Express New Editorial Board endorses Joe Farias for HD 118 primary.
Madla still hasn't let the Democrats out of his trunk.
San Antonio social conservative James Leininger trys to kill off moderate Republican by dropping almost $1 million of his own money to support right-wing extremists.
The Corpus Christi chapter of the American Federation of Teachers and Corpus Christi Fire Fighters Association endorse Juan Garcia (HD 32). The New York Times reports on the veterans running for Congress. There are 57 Dems running (map).
Dick Cheney's Freedom Peppering is still a mess.
Law enforcement officials in San Antonio and Alamo Heights are more likely to ask black motorists to submit to voluntary searches than they are to ask white drivers, according to a study (.pdf) released by an Texas Criminal Justice Coalition.
Posted by Eddie on 02/19/2006 at 10:31 AM in Back on the Ranch, CD 28, Cheneyquiddick, Download This!, Human Rights, Lt. Cdr. Juan Garcia, Race for Texas Governor 2006, SD 19, San Antonio, South Texas, Sparkling City by the Sea, The Lege - House, The Lege - Senate Permalink Comments (0) TrackBack (0)
Sometimes technical difficulties turn out to be a good thing.
Many of TRS’s reader were expecting a play by play of Juan Garcia’s Campaign Kick-Off Rally with Gen. Wesley Clark. We were intending of broadcasting the event with the help of Corpus Christi’s citywide WiFi network. Much to my chagrin, the signal was sporadic at best so I decided to post later and walk the crowd to get a sense of the energy.
It was the best thing that could of happened. I met a friend of the campaign who was filming and needed some help transporting video equipment throughout the night. He asked me to help “produce” and of course I agree to help.
Walking through a crowd of 200+, I felt something I hadn’t felt in a lot time: optimistic hope. I really believe it came from the presence of Clark and Garcia. I saw people who are natural skeptics smile and nod their head in agreement because they knew that they had in front of them a rebirth of Democrats. Candidates like Garcia and Clark is how Democrats earn back the trust of the voters.
Continue reading "Sometimes technical difficulties turn out to be a good thing. " »
Posted by Eddie on 01/29/2006 at 05:22 PM in Foreign Policy, HD 32, Lt. Cdr. Juan Garcia, Race for U.S. President 2008, Sparkling City by the Sea, The Lege - House Permalink Comments (10) TrackBack (0)
Juan Garcia's Rally Photos
Here are the photos of the Juan Garcia Campaign Rally with Gen. Wes Clark. I have also included some additional photos from tagging along with Wes and Juan. For the complete story, check the Sunday Edition of The Red State.
Posted by Eddie on 01/27/2006 at 08:57 PM in HD 32, Lt. Cdr. Juan Garcia, Race for U.S. President 2008, Sparkling City by the Sea, The Lege - House Permalink Comments (0) TrackBack (0)
~LIVE BLOG~ Juan Garcia & Gen. Welsey Clark
Greetings everyone. I am down here in Corpus Christi, the Sparkling City by the Sea. I will be providing live-coverage of the Juan Garcia's Kick Off Rally with Gen. Wesley Clark. Juan is running for State Representative in District 32. The rally is set to start at 4:30pm at the Selena Auditorium but if you are coming you should probably be here by 4:00pm.
It is late morning and I am blogging from the 2nd floor of the flagship Whataburger by the Bay store.
11:30am ~ Juan asked me to tag along this morning. First, he spoke to at the local meeting of the GI Forum. For those who do not know, the GI Forum was founded in Corpus Christi and one the first and most effective organizations to protect the rights of Mexican-American veterans and their families. The widow and daughter of founder, Dr. Hector P. Garcia, was at the breakfast and is expected to be in attendance at tonight's rally. Dr. Hector, as he is fondly called, was the recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Being from Corpus Christi, I have heard many of stories about Dr. Hector. Every single story I heard was about how Dr. Hector helped them when they most needed help.
After the breakfast, we then ran over to the local talk radio show for a quick interview. Juan talked about tonight's rally with Gen. Wesley Clark. The radio show host was real nice and helped point out that we were going to have a presidential candidate speaking tonight. This may be common place in bigger cities but in Corpus it is a special treat for everyone here.
More live coverage and photos after the jump. Comments are open
Continue reading "~LIVE BLOG~ Juan Garcia & Gen. Welsey Clark" »
Posted by Eddie on 01/26/2006 at 12:29 PM in HD 32, Lt. Cdr. Juan Garcia, Race for U.S. President 2008, South Texas, Sparkling City by the Sea, The Lege - House Permalink Comments (5) TrackBack (2)
TRS to live-blog Juan Garcia's kick off rally with Gen. Clark
As noted on the Rio Grande Guardian and Democratic Underground, The Red State will be live-blogging Juan Garcia's kick off rally for his race for Texas House District 32 with honored guest Gen. Wesley Clark. I encourage everyone who can go to Corpus Christi this Thursday to attend the rally. These are the first steps of a great new candidate and the next step for a true contender for the White House. I expect great things from these two very accomplished men.
For those who cannot make it but want to ask Wes Clark or Juan Garcia a question, send it to TRS via email and we will do our best to get it asked.
UPDATE: Burnt Orange Report has an interview with Juan Garcia.
Posted by Eddie on 01/24/2006 at 06:01 AM in HD 32, Lt. Cdr. Juan Garcia, Race for U.S. President 2008, Sparkling City by the Sea, The Lege - House Permalink Comments (3) TrackBack (2)
Wesley Clark kicks off Juan Garcia's campaign
Gen. Wesley Clark, former presidential candidate and NATO's Supreme Allied Commander, Europe, will be in Corpus Christi, TX on January 26, 2006 to announce his support for Juan Garcia's race (campaign website) for Texas House District 32.
I cannot remember the last time a Presidential candidate visited our Sparkling City By The Sea. This is huge!
General Wesley Clark will join fellow veteran and state representative candidate Juan Garcia for a formal campaign kick-off rally on January 26 at the Selena Auditorium.
"I am honored to have General Clark's endorsement and strong support in my campaign to set a new direction for the families and small businesses of House District 32," Garcia said. "His biography and his record of commitment to our country speaks for itself."
During 34 years of service in the U.S. Army, Clark rose to the rank of four-star general as NATO's Supreme Allied Commander, and led the effort to end ethnic cleansing in Kosovo. He graduated first in his class at West Point, and was awarded the Silver Star for his gallantry in Vietnam. A Rhodes Scholar, he serves as a frequent commentator on FOX News. Clark won the 2004 Presidential primary in Oklahoma, and is viewed by many analysts as a strong contender for the White House in 2008. Garcia served under Clark's command during Kosovo, and the two men later became friends when Garcia was selected to serve as a White House Fellow, the nation's premiere leadership development program, whose alumni include Clark, Colin Powell and Henry Cisneros.
The rally is scheduled to be held from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 26 in the Selena Auditorium. The event will be followed by a fundraising reception from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Full Press Release (.doc)
If you can attend the rally, GO! Corpus Christi is beautiful this time of year. If you can't go but want to help, then you can volunteer or contribute to his campaign. His new website (www.electjuangarcia.com) should have all the info.
I met Gen. Clark in 2003 and found him to no nonsense kind of guy. I have a pretty good BS meter with politicians and found him to be honest and forthright with his answers to questions. Given Clark's and Garcia's background, I think they are a great match. Clark's announcement will help bring out the important military vote in that district. This is a candidate you can be excited about...
UPDATE: WesPac has the event up on its calender.
Posted by Eddie on 01/17/2006 at 03:05 PM in Did he just say that?!?, HD 32, Lt. Cdr. Juan Garcia, Sparkling City by the Sea, The Lege - House Permalink Comments (0) TrackBack (2)
Juan Garcia want all the votes not just Dems
In order for Juan Garcia to win House District 32, he must appeal not only to Democrats but moderate Republicans and Independents. This is a swing Republican district with a heavy military presence. I don't think you will ever win over the extreme right wing who are actively trying take out the moderate Republicans who vote their district like Carter Casteel. I think his impressive military background definitely will win over some conservative voters to his side. His latest press release announces his new campaign treasurer:
"Joe is a trusted friend who has served this community well and who understands the need to restore balance and independence at the State Capitol," Garcia said.
Hall is a former Marine, Desert Storm pilot, and registered Republican with an MBA degree from Texas A&M and a successful small Coastal Bend business. Hall and his wife, a public school teacher from Pearland, are respected community leaders.
“Juan is running to be part of the solution, not part of the problem,” Hall said. “He will be the kind of independent voice we need in Austin, not just another rubber stamp.” [Emphasis added]
I am glad that he going after all the votes not just some of them. The job of State Representative represents all the people in a district. Unfortunately, there are Reps out there who rather vote for the interest of the small group of fringe and radical Republicans instead of their district. I won't ever fault someone for voting their district 'cause that is their job (and most folks are in the happy middle).
Posted by Eddie on 01/06/2006 at 08:56 PM in HD 32, Lt. Cdr. Juan Garcia, South Texas, Sparkling City by the Sea Permalink Comments (0) TrackBack (0)
My Day with Juan Garcia
Today is the one-year anniversary of the first real post on the The Red State. I tackled the cronyism I saw happening while I worked in the 2003 Texas Legislature. It's funny what a year can bring.
I was invited by Lt. Cmdr. Juan Garcia to join him in Austin today for his filing at the Democratic Party Headquarters. Since I have never been to a filing, I agreed to go.
I am so glad I did.
The HQ buzzed with activity with everyone moving with a purpose. It seemed a bit chaotic until you stopped and and watched it move. There were many folks from around the state bringing their paperwork to be filed. There were people with the means to do so comfortably. There were people who obvious first time candidates. It was a treat to see so many folks anxious to get their filings entered and made official.
Juan was quite comfortable meeting the party officials and staff. He has a very natural way with people. When they found out who he was, their faces lit up. They were happy he was there and that he was running. This was sincere since they had already heard that he had decided to run for HD 32.
I forget sometimes about the folks who dedicate their lives to help Democrats get elected. Many of the staff were in their mid to late 20s and obviously very bright. Most could be doing whatever they wanted to in life but have chosen to serve.
I pulled Juan aside to ask him about what he thought about all this and why he was running because he doesn't need to do this. He has a great education, a good job and a responsibility to his young family. This race will take him away from his family. He has already served his country in a way only a few among us can. His job as a navy pilot is probably one of the most dangerous jobs a person can do. And yet he still throws his hat in the ring.... He told me that it is all worth it if he can make Texas a better place for his family and Texas families' future. The sacrifice he makes will be far outweighed by the good he can achieve for them.
Juan Garcia's race is far bigger than HD 32. His run is a testament that Democrats can run supremely qualified candidates. His run sets the stage for what the future will hold for Texas Democrats. His run can inspire people to get involved and help create the new Democratic Party. His run will inspire others to run (in fact it has already). To some, this may seem like pie in the sky but once you meet him you will know what I am talking about.
At some point you have to stop gawking and complaining and do something about it. I was quite surprised when I was moved to do something about it myself. Somewhere amidst the the hustle and bustle of day, I decided to run. I said my goodbyes to all the good people at the Party, personally thanked Juan Garcia for running and went back home to San Antonio.
I called my good friend and asked him to run with me for Precinct Chair in our respective precincts. Neither of us had ever done anything like this before. He agreed to run. It is not as large of job as Juan will have but I believe it's important. We cannot wait for others make the change we would want. We have be that change ourselves.
Starting 1/2/06, I am officially running for Precinct Chair 4001 in Bexar County.
Posted by Eddie on 01/02/2006 at 11:28 PM in Austin, HD 32, Lt. Cdr. Juan Garcia, San Antonio, Sparkling City by the Sea, The Lege - House Permalink Comments (0) TrackBack (1)
Lt. Cdr. Juan Garcia to run for House District 32
THE RED STATE EXCLUSIVE
Putting rumors and speculation to rest, TRS has confirmed that Lt. Cmdr. Juan Garcia will run for Texas House District 32.
I first met Juan Garcia at the DNC Hispanic Leadership Summit in San Antonio earlier this year and I have spent quite a bit of time with him in last few months. Let me tell you about what I have learned.
Raised in South Texas, Juan has impressive credentials. U.C.L.A undergrad. J.D. from Harvard Law School (where he met his wife). Master's in Public Policy from Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government. White House Fellow. 13 years Navy fighter pilot with missions in Kosovo and the Persian Gulf.
Currently, he is a practicing attorney in Corpus Christi all while still training young Navy pilots. He was a Special Assistant to the U.S. Secretary of Education from 1999-2000, chaired the Board of Directors of "Citizens for Educational Excellence," and was a member of the CCISD district-wide Planning and Decision-Making Team. He also serves on the Board of Governors for Leadership Corpus Christi, the Dr. Hector P. Garcia Memorial Foundation, and the Boy Scouts.
If you ever get a chance to meet him in person, he is even more impressive than his resume. Now, this is going to be a tough race against the incumbent, the tragically named, Gene Seaman (R). Some may know him for being furniture in the Capitol but most remember him for his nasty little tirade (wmv clip) on the floor of the Texas House of Representatives during session in 2003.
Much more on this announcement once I land on the ground....
Posted by Eddie on 12/31/2005 at 04:09 PM in HD 32, Lt. Cdr. Juan Garcia, South Texas, Sparkling City by the Sea, The Lege - House Permalink Comments (0) TrackBack (1)
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