Yates (Republican): What are the Republican Party Principles?

Posted on October 1, 2010 by admin

Jackie Yates, Nacogdoches Republican Chair:

What are the Republican Party Principles?

  1. We respect and cherish the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution and our Founders’ intent to restrict the power of the federal government over the states and the people.
  2. We believe that human life is sacred, created in the image of God. Life begins at the moment of fertilization and ends at the point of natural death. All innocent human life must be protected.
  3. We believe that good government is based on the individual, and each person’s ability, dignity, freedom, and responsibility must be honored and recognized.
  4. We Believe that government spending is out of control and needs to be reduced. We support fundamental, immediate tax reform that is simple, fair, and fully disclosed.
  5. We believe that a well-educated population is fundamental to the continued success of our Republic; and that parents have the right, as well as the duty, to direct their children’s education.
  6. We believe that the future of our county depends upon a strong and vibrant private sector unencumbered by excessive government regulation.
  7. We believe that a strong America ensures a free America.
  8. We believe in peace through strength. We take a principled stand to preemptively depend the citizens of the United States against all foes, foreign or domestic, whose goal is to destroy our American way of life. Freedom is never free, and we honor all those who have served our nation to protect our liberty, especially our men and woman in uniform, who unselfishly and courageously defend our county.
  9. We believe all Americans have the right to be safe in their homes, on their streets, and in their communities. We support enforcement of the laws through the Courts imposing swift and sure justice with stiff penalties, truth in sentencing and respecting the rights of law-abiding citizens.

    10. 2010 Republican Candidates

    Elton Milstead – Candidate For County Commissioner, Precinct 4

    Uncontested Candidates Declared Elected

    County Judge

    Joe English (Republican)

    Judge, County Court at Law

    Jack Sinz (Republican)

    District Clerk

    Loretta Cammack (Republican)

    County Treasurer

    Denise Baublet (Republican)

    County Surveyor

    Jeffrey D. Opperman (Republican)

    Justice of the Peace, Precinct No. 1

    Kerry Williamson (Republican)

    Justice of the Peace, Precinct No. 3

    LeAnn Goerner (Republican)

    Constable, Precinct No. 1, Unexpired Term

    William Sowell (Republican)

    Important upcoming events

    October

    1 – Crimestoppers fish fry, 5:00 PM to 8:00 Pm, downtown on the square.

    2 – The Nacogdoches County Republican Party’s annual “Citizens’ – Statesmen’s Dinner”, 6:00 PM at SFA University Twilight Ballroom, with guest speaker Texas Commissioner of Agriculture Todd Staples and honoring Lucy DeWitt. With a special tribute to Ronald Reagan.

    3 – Life Chain 2010 from 2-3pm on North Street.

    4 – Last Day to Register to Vote in November 2 General Election.

    4 – Concerned Women for America meet at 6:00 PM at the Jones House. For information call Sandy Yates at 936-553-2100.

    5 – Fundraiser for James White, candidate for State Rep. Dist. 12, at Nacogdoches County Republican Headquarters from 5pm to 7pm hosted by NCRW with guest speaker Wayne Christian.

    8 – Wayne Christian’s First Annual Gospel Singing, with a reunion of the 1979 Grammy Nominated “Mercy River Boys” at the Rio Theatre in Center, Texas at 7:00 PM. Because seating is very limited, call 936-598-9966 to reserve your seats. Priority seating is $25.

    9 – Faith, Freedom and Prosperity Rally in Lufkin at the Civic Center at 2:00 PM. Keynote speaker will be U. S. Congressman Louie Gohmert.

    11 – Nacogdoches County Republican Women – Noon – Hotel Fredonia – Judge Ed Klein.

    13 – Pineywoods Fair – 3:00 PM / 9:00 PM.

    14 – Pineywoods Fair – 4:00 PM / 9:00 PM.

    15 – Pineywoods Fair – 4:00 PM / 9:00 PM.

    16 – Pineywoods Fair – 11:30 AM / 9:00 PM.

    17 – Pineywoods Fair – Noon / 5:00 PM.

    18 – First Day of Early Voting – Courthouse Annex – 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

    19 – Early Voting – Courthouse Annex – 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

    19 – Heartbeat “Touching Precious Lives” banquet in the SFA Grand Ballroom at 7:00 PM.

    19 – George W. Bush, the 43rd President of the United States will provide a special event lecture at 7:30 PM at The UT Tyler Cowan Center in Tyler. For information visit www.CowanCenter.org.

    20 – Early Voting – Courthouse Annex – 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

    21 – Early Voting – Courthouse Annex – 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

    22 – Early Voting – Courthouse Annex – 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

    25 – Early Voting – Courthouse Annex – 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

    26 – Early Voting – Courthouse Annex – 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

    26 – NCRP

    27 – Early Voting – Courthouse Annex – 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

    28 – Early Voting – Courthouse Annex – 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

    29 – Last Day of Early Voting – Courthouse Annex – 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

    30 – SFA Homecoming – parade at 10:00 AM

    30 – Scare on the Square – 5:00 PM / 9:00 PM.

    November

    1 – Concerned Women for America meet at 6:00 PM at the Jones House. For information call Sandy Yates at 936-553-2100.

    2 – Election Day

    8 – NCRW

    10 – The 11th annual “Texas Conference for Women” will be held at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, hosted by Governor Rick Perry and First Lady Anita Perry. To register or for further information, visit www.TXConferenceForWomen.org.

    23 – NCRP

    Visit the Nacogdoches Republican Party website, http://www.nac-gop.com/

    Read more local political news.

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Wright (Democratic): What do democrats believe?

Posted on October 1, 2010 by admin

Stephen Wright, Nacogdoches Democratic Chair:

What do Democrats
believe in?

  • Democrats believe in equal opportunity for all citizens.
  • Democrats believe in rewarding, honest, hard work with a living wage in a tax system that is fair.
  • Democrats believe in family values that are more than a political slogan.
  • Democrats believe in quality, free public education that gives all citizens the opportunity to reach their potential.
  • Democrats believe in freedom from government interference in our private lives and personal decisions.
  • Democrats believe in the benefits of individual strengths in our diverse population.
  • Democrats believe in security in our homes and safety on our streets. Criminals should face swift and certain
    punishment.
  • Democrats believe in separation of Church and State to preserve the freedom to pursue our beliefs.
  • Democrats believe in a strong United States—morally, economically and militarily.
  • Democrats believe in support of laws that protect our environment, including common-sense reforms that give us cleaner and safer air and water.

2010 Democratic Candidates

STATEWIDE

Governor – Bill White

Lt. Governor – Linda Chavez-Thompson

Attorney General – Barbara Radnofsky

Agricultural Commissioner – Hank Gilbert

Land Commissioner – Hector Uribe

Railroad Commissioner – Jeff Weems

Supreme Court – Jim Sharp (Place 3)

Supreme Court – Bill Moody (Place 5)

Supreme Court – Blake Bailey (Place 9)

Court of Criminal Appeals – Keith Hampton

LOCAL

State Representative, Dist. 9 – Kenneth Franks

County Commissioner, Pct. 2 – Reggie Cotton (incumbent)

County Commissioner, Pct. 4 – Lane Bradshaw

Justice of the Peace, Pct. 2 – Dorothy Tigner-Thompson (no opponent)

Justice of the Peace, Pct. 4 – David Perkins (no opponent)

County Clerk – Carol Wilson (no opponent)

City Council (SW Ward) — Non-partisan election. We encourage you to take a close look at all candidates, including Mr. Walter McCrimmon, one of our delegates to last June’s Texas Democratic Convention.

Important upcoming events

October
10/04 — Last day to register to vote in November election.

10/13-10/17 – Pineywoods Fair At Nacogdoches Expo Center (Times vary).

10/16 — Fall Election Picnic @ Pecan Park, 3-6. Potluck food, music, and candidates!

10/18 – First day of early voting – Courthouse Annex – 8-5.

10/19 — Governor Debate Watching Party(Bill White has confirmed while the current Republican Governor has not). At Mr. Will’s (1306 Center Hwy) at 7!

10/19-10/22 – Early Voting – Courthouse Annex – 8-5.

10/22 – Bill White and Robert Earl Keen at Banita Creek Hall, 3-5.

10/25-10/27– Early Voting — Courthouse Annex 7-7.

10/28–10/29 — Early Voting – Courthouse Annex – 7-7.

10/30 – Scare on the Square – Main Street, 5-9.

November
11/02 – Election Day! 7-7 (see “Precinct Maps and Voting Locations” on our website, www.nacdemocrats.org

Read more local political news.

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Chris Herrington’s Reality: Common Sense 2.0

Posted on October 1, 2010 by admin

Chris Herrington decided years ago that his reality was much more fun…

and he’s ready to tell you why.

Sit back and relax.
It’s going to be a bumpy ride.

Common Sense 2.0

     We all laugh that statistics can be made to say or support any ideology; both sides of an argument can use the same data for proof. What we also know that no matter how we slice it, education must improve, and that’s no joke.

     We can blame and shame and game, but the long and the short of it is that our children are depending on us to make better decisions about how they are going to be given the wind up and the pitch if they are going to learn how to hit the ball out of the park. It’s one smart metaphor after another, isn’t it?

     Ultimately, what are we to do?

     It’s the teachers’ unions. It’s the FED. It’s NCLB. It’s conservatives, who want “X.” It’s liberals, who want “Y not.” Everybody has a little one liner, a sound bite, a tidbit for the media to kick around, but hardly anyone has a word to say about what to do. Say something inflammatory, get on national TV. Say something that actually fixes the problem, and it gets an award, a grant, or a sound bite, but then it is back to the salt mines. The overnight success, after ten years, who has been so successful in the area of turning around a school is Geoffrey Canada, the CEO of the Harlem Children’s Zone, 97 blocks of tough neighborhood streets.

     He had a vision that if he could get the community working behind him, he could create a school system where students could focus on academics and dream of a future where studying now would pay off later with college advancement, and he has been successful. The climb has not been easy (The Harlem-Project), but he seems to be among the rising stars who have come up with the better mouse traps. If the students and their families, and their neighborhoods are doing better, the students will have a better chance at getting an advanced education. The single thing that seems to be the common denominator with the Ron Clarks, the Ruby Paines, and the Geoffrey Canadas of education is personal dedication to a vision of excellence. They have to go above and beyond, in time, money, and hours spent making transformation happen.

     As they have demonstrated, a difference can be made, but in order for the difference to stick, the work has to be ongoing. If the price of liberty is vigilance, then the price of a continuously successful education system is our constantly paying attention to the real costs of not doing it right. Once it gets out of whack, we have to work like the Dickens to keep our children from becoming the tired and huddled masses who are looking overseas for the opportunity they were promised at home. Once we lose sight of the asset we have as a natural resource in having an educated work force, we become bogged down in the liability we have in an untrainable population that thinks of public welfare as their job. If the worst of socialism is the lack of incentive to get an education and work on self-interest in order to dream of ownership and become a businessman, then the problem with capitalism is that it fulfills the needs of only a few and concentrates power in the hands of those who see no real value in the rest of the population as people, who have lost any incentive to better themselves or who have lost the dream of what it might have been like to be judged on their character alone. The documentation of our national spiral into poverty rests on the extent of the welfare state itself.

     We have created a nation that does not seem to understand its own potentially fatal flaw. Instead of giving away fish, we should have been teaching our people to fish. It is not too late. We must, as Canada seems to see so well, incentivize the system, uncork the genie, put our patriotism where our mouths are and our wallets where our hearts are. He had his best luck with getting the families involved and getting the neighborhoods on track thereby opening the way for children to dream of going out into the world free to leave or return. That’s empowerment. It is less about money than it is about focus. That’s good business. Canada changes what he can, but it is time to let families deal with their own internal problems and for us to pay attention to that which we can change, like overhauling the entire welfare system to point everyone towards accountability. Everyone should help, but especially the one being helped, right? Teachers, parents, and students all need to want it for our students. When we all work towards the common goal of making sure that our children are prepared to meet the challenges they will face in life, that’s common sense.

     Having completed 32 years of public school service, Chris Herrington lives, with his wife, in Appleby, Texas, and his writing consists of blogging and essay writing concerning an array of topics including education, mediation, self-development, and human interests. He teaches at the Martin School of Choice, plays racquetball, and enjoys his job.

Chris Herrington can be reached at herrington@everythingnac.com

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