Fayette County TX Democratic Party Newsletter
January 2025
THINK ABOUT RUNNING IN A LOCAL ELECTION
From Mary Wolf, FCDP County Chair
For those of us who care about democracy, there’s no more important time than now to give thought to running for a local government office. “All politics is local” meaning we can effect the change we desire by serving on our school boards, city offices, and groundwater conservation districts, for example. Qualifications differ for each one, so learn what’s required by calling your local city hall or school board administration office. (FYI, Groundwater Conservation District officers are not up for re-election until 2026 at the earliest.)
Municipal elections will take place on May 3, 2025. The first day to file is Wednesday, Jan 15. The filing period runs through, Friday, Feb. 14.
IClick on info link below: https://www.co.fayette.tx.us/upload/page/1737/2023/lps_fayettecounty_062023.pdf
JANUARY EVENTS
Thursday, January 16th, 11:30 am - Democratic Neighbors Luncheon - (3rd Thursday of the month), La Marina Mexican Restaurant, 1502 Hwy 71, La Grange, Let’s kick off the new year with a return to fellowship and fun!
Saturday, January 18th, 11 am - 2 pm - MLK, Jr Day - “Unity in the Community Celebration”, This year’s celebration will begin with the 4th Annual La Grange MLK Jr March. Starts at the Fayette Public Library at 11:30 am and makes its way to the Square in La Grange for music and food.
Saturday, January 18th, 2-3 pm, N.W. Faison House, 822 S. Jefferson St., La Grange. EXHIBIT GRAND OPENING - Thriving Through God’s Grace - THE AFRICAN AMERICAN JOURNEY, 1816-1968
Women’s March in Austin - (click on link) Saturday, January 18, 10 AM-3 PM CT March Starts at Huston-Tillotson University 900 Chicon St Austin, TX March Ends at State Capitol
Friday, January 31st (Extended deadline) seeking nominations for the League of Women Voters of South Central Texas, Women Making History awards event. Here is your chance to recognize an extraordinary woman for special recognition during Women’s History Month. Want to find out more? For more information, click the link below. https://www.lwvsouthcentraltx.org/content.aspx?page_id=22&club_id=735665&module_id=691965
The Fayette County Democratic Party welcomes you to 2025. Happy New Year! We welcome our longtime members and also the new folks in Fayette County. We are stronger together!
Patty Reid shares these uplifting words: “Wherever you have friends, that’s your country. Wherever you receive love, that’s your home.” Tibetan saying from the Dalai Lama
A Remembrance
Contributed by Laura Logan
President Jimmy Carter passed away on December 29th, 2024 at the age of 100. He was the 39th President of the United States and will be laid to rest next to Rosalynn, his wife of 77 years, at his family peanut farm in Georgia following lying in state at the Capitol Rotunda. President Carter’s time in office will be remembered for many accomplishments, including the Camp David Accords, the Panama Canal Treaties and the establishment of both the Department of Energy and the Department of Education. It was, however, perhaps his life and work following leaving the presidency that has most endeared him to so many. In addition to his well-known work with Habitat for Humanity he also established the Carter Center to promote human rights and traveled the globe conducting peace negotiations, monitoring elections and working to rid the world of infectious diseases. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 in response to his work through the Carter Center. President Carter was perhaps best known for his down to earth decency. He was the kind of good man my daddy would refer to as being “the salt of the earth”, meaning he was someone who helped preserve the good and added flavor to the world. Our world today could use more like him. He will be
missed.
“When I graduated from law school in 1959, there wasn’t a single woman on any Federal bench. There wouldn’t be a realistic ambition for a woman to want to become a federal judge. It wasn’t possible until Jimmy Carter became our president.” - Ruth Bader Ginsgerg
Thank you, Karen Derr, for reminding us of this pivotal moment in the history of women's rights in the United States.
These Carter quotes beautifully capture a few of those values we hold dear...
Shared by Annette Holdeman
“America did not invent human rights. In a very real sense human rights invented America.”
“We become not a melting pot but a beautiful mosaic. Different people, different beliefs, different yearnings, different hopes, different dreams.”
“Like music and art, love of nature is a common language that can transcend political or social boundaries.”
For more of President Carter's insightful words, click the link below. They are sure to inspire you, both now and in the future. My deepest hope is that they are never forgotten.
https://www.brainyquote.com/authors/jimmy-carter-quotes
By the way, you may also want to contrast the above Carter quotes with the current President-Elect’s, found along with quotes from recent past Presidents at the link above. Quite a shocking difference!
We Are Worth Fighting For
Contributed by Kirk Pate
No matter who we are, most Americans want to do what is best for our families and to leave things better for those to come. Time and analysis will reveal many truths about what happened in this election, but what’s clear is that voters around the world are rejecting the status quo. They see that the current systems serve billionaires instead of working families and want something different.
This leaves them vulnerable to the twin lures of authoritarianism and cynicism. It’s okay to feel any number of things right now, and we must all do what we can to take care of ourselves. But fascism feeds on and requires despair, and our families and our futures require our committed, connected, continuous engagement and our boots-on-the-ground resistance. Fascism never solves anything. Instead, it only creates and thrives on chaos.
Our struggle for liberty and justice for all goes beyond any single week, year, or election. Our ancestors have faced and fought oppression before, and now it is our turn to pick up the baton and show up – marching, striking, and protecting each other– for our freedoms, families, and futures.
A heartfelt “thank you” to the contributors for this month’s newsletter.
We invite you to share your comments and written pieces for publication by reaching out to FCDP via the email or phone number below. Submissions for the newsletter are typically due by the second Friday of each month. Help us keep the spirit of collaboration alive—we welcome your ideas and input.
HOUSEKEEPING ITEMS- FCDP NEEDS YOU!
SECRETARY NEEDED - takes notes for reporting the FCDP CEC Meeting Agendas and Minutes.
TREASURER NEEDED - Using Quicken, tracks income & expenses, pays bills, reports to the County Executive Committee and Texas Democratic Party.
PRECINCT CHAIRS NEEDED - for the following precincts: Plum, Cistern, Flatonia, Schulenburg, and Ammannsville. If you live in these precincts and would like to serve, we would like to talk with you.
Contact Mary Wolf at FCDP 979-484-7925 or fayettetxdemocrats@gmail.com
CONTACT YOUR GOVT REPS & 89th TEXAS LEGISLATIVE SESSION INFO
Reach out to your government representatives, let them know your are paying attention! Click their website links to find their email addresses.
Congressman Michael T. McCaul, U.S. Congressional District 10
https://mccaul.house.gov/contact (512) 770-8929 or (979) 431-5180Representative Stan Kitzman, Texas House District 85 https://house.texas.gov/members/4280 (512) 463-0604 or (979) 865-4560
Senator Lois W. Kolkhorst, Texas Senate District 18
https://senate.texas.gov/member.php?d (512) 463-0118 or (979) 251-7888
Mr. Tom Maynard, State Board of Education District 10
(512) 763-2801
Senator John Cornyn, U.S. Senate
https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/ 512-469-6034
Senator Ted Cruz. U.S. Senate
89th TX LEGE SHEDULE - 2025
The 89th Texas Legislature's regular session will take place from January 14, 2025 to June 2, 2025:
November 5, 2024: General election for state, federal, and county officers
November 11, 2024: Bill pre-filing begins for legislators and legislators-elect
January 14, 2025: The 89th Legislature convenes at noon
March 14, 2025: The deadline for filing bills is 60 days
June 2, 2025: Adjournment sine die
The Texas Legislature meets every other odd-numbered year. A regular session is 140 days long and begins on the second Tuesday in January. The governor can call special sessions that last up to 30 days. More on this next month.
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Call and leave a message for FCDP at: 979-484-7925
Visit our website at:
https://www.fayettetxdemocrats.org/
Email us at: fayettetxdemocrats@gmail.com
Great leading off with the call to action for local candidates. No race uncontested!
Thoroughly enjoyed this month's newsletter, especially the part about President Carter. I had forgotten he appointed RBG. Thank you for your efforts to keep Democrats informed and encouraged.