The elections are over and of course no one is 100% happy with the results. Some of the ones I personally was involved with went both ways. Thanks to all riders no matter how few for their involvement in the campaigns.
The hardest losses to take were the loss of Warriors Dan Ellis and John Mabry. Dan was the one we called off the Floor when we learned our Funds dedicated to Rider Training had been taken to help balance the budget. Thanks to Dan and his staff along with Da'Lady and her staff the Funds were rededicated. We now have about $5 million in that Fund.
I am shamed to say we could get only 2 riders from the entire Houston area to take a 30 minute ride to support Dan after all he has done for us. Thanks to Dana Young and his son-in-law who had broken ribs and one arm in a full cast for giving their best at a time when needed.
We won some good races also. Thanks to all the riders and non-riders alike who worked so hard for the Chet Edwards campaign. Many of you were not in that district which makes your help even more satisfying. Chet defeated Arlene Wohlgemuth who had become even more powerful in the House than the Speaker. She was being called Congresswoman Wohlgemuth even before the redistricting Bill was signed. Now they can just call her Mrs. Wohlgemuth.
Another powerful Representative Talmadge Heflin, Chair of the Appropriation Committee was unseated by freshman Hubert Vo of Houston
Congressman Lloyd Doggett was another sweet victory winning his new district. Tom DeLay chose three Congressmen as prime targets for removal from office. These two weathered the storm. I call that a victory. Unfortunately Tom DeLay managed to keep his seat with President Bush and both our US Senators in his corner. It will now be up to the courts to decide whether he keeps that seat for the full two years.
Finally we managed to keep Warrior Patrick Rose in his seat though he was an underdog in the press. He ran one of the cleanest campaigns I have seen in my lifetime and I am proud we were able to help his campaign. Hopefully many of you worked the campaigns of your choice and had mixed success as did we all.
We are having our Advisor meeting at the office on Saturday November 13th at 1:00pm. It will be a very interesting meeting as one of the things we will be discussing will be Legislative Day. We shall also discuss our Bills to be authored and the upcoming election for TMRA 2 officers in May. Hope some of you can find time to attend.
Prefiling of Bills begins Monday the 8th. Check them out at
www.capitol.state.tx.us each night. Your chair will keep you updated as much as possible,
Have I done that which I can do to the best of my ability?
HELL NO !! - but I'm trying.
Sputnik
