Texas State Democratic Convention

I am recently back from the Austin, Texas where history was made. We saw the largest crowd of delegates and alternates ever assembled. I was under the impression it was the most since the 1960's but was later told that it was the largest ever. When Chairman Boyd Richie asked how many were making their first convention more than half of the room raised their hand. It was really and impressive sight.
We saw Hillary Clinton, the first viable woman candidate concede her bid and put her support behind the first viable African-American candidate in our history. It was an inspiring moment because through the struggles of this country in recent and past history we were on the the threshold of making America the real "land of opportunity". We saw people of all ilks come together to elect not only delegates to the Democratic National Convention but elect party officers that will lead the Texas Democratic Party into the end of the 2008 election cycle and into the 2010 election cycle.
You may not realize the history of electing party officers but there is true history. With the current and recently past party administration Texas may finally be back in play in down ballot races for the first time since Ann Richards was elected Governor. The state may actually be in play, to a point, in the national election for President for the first time since Lyndon Johnson.
Now, you might be asking what this has to do with Labor and the answer is simple. If we can elect a Democratic President and he has coat tails we can elect more Democratic Members to congress and the first Democratic Senator from Texas since Lloyd Benson. If this happens the efforts of the Employee Free Choice Act and a real health care solution are only a pen stroke away. Here in Texas we could have a Democratic majority in the State House of Representatives for the first time since the late 1990's. That means we could actually get some real employer reform and true Workman's compensation for injured workers. It could also mean we might start putting balance in the two high courts of Texas; the Texas Supreme Court which handles all civil litigation and the Court of Criminal Appeals which handles all Criminal Appeals.
Things are looking up for the working man and woman in Texas with this turn of events. The newly re-elected Chairman of the Texas Democratic Party, Boyd Richie, is a friend of labor and is seeking individuals to run for office that are of the same mind. He realized long ago the power labor has and what it stands for to the working man and woman. He wants the State Party and those who run under its' brand to know labor, feel our struggle and fight to the bitter end for labor. We congratulate Chairman Richie on his re-election and look forward to our strong friendship to continue.