BLOWIN’ IN THE BREEZE
For regular visitors here to CEWDEM’s World, what I am going to write will come as no earth shattering surprise, but just to set the record straight and so nobody gets the wrong ideas, I’m going to do this anyway……a couple of endorsements……now everyone will still get the same treatment here with their announcements, but be aware that I have my personal choices, you may see them ooze thru in some postings and if you do, know why.
Yep, you know these two and now you know that I will be whole heartedly supporting my good friend, Mayor Annise Parker, for re-election – as a matter of fact, I have already put in a request to have a mail ballot sent to me, so the first day I am eligible, just like every time she has been on the ballot – my friend will receive my vote – now that is just in case something unforeseen might happen to me between now and election day!
Now the young guy seated next the Mayor is one of her and my good friends of many years standing. For those of you who don’t recognize him, that’s the guy who I have referred to many times as my younger brother and a guy who is offering himself to the voters as a candidate to be the next Chair of the Harris County Democratic Party, none other than current Senate 15 Chair, Lane Lewis.
You might think these endorsements come solely because these folks are my friends – and part of my support system – but the fact is, I have been around the block far too many times in the last 42 years – since my first door to door in 1969 as a senior at Bellaire High School for a young State Representative named Curtis Graves, the first serious Black candidate for Mayor of Houston and a
progressive, pro integrationist school board slate for HISD known as Citizens for Good Schools (CGS) that included Eleanor Tinsley and George Oser – to support folks simply because they are friends. No, after all these years, watching folk and seeing how they perform on the campaign trail and then once in office, has taught me that sometimes folks I don’t even like, are really the best candidates and make the best office holders. I want someone who is smart, tells you like it is, is humble, gets the job done because its the right thing to do, not just to make them popular and most of all, is innovative and creative, can inspire folk to be better and do better for themselves and have fire in their gut for their job. Sound like Superman or Superwoman? Hardly, but I know that Mayor Parker and Lane Lewis possess those qualities and that is why I support them and urge every one else to, also. Being my friend is a plus in my book, but its not the determining factor.
One of the things that has impressed me about Mayor Parker is that she has not been tied to the old ways of doing things and the same old tired folk to try and solve our problems. These have not been fun or easy two years for her or any of us, but we have managed to get thru them relatively unscathed in comparison to other large metropolitan areas with her as our Mayor.
And here is something everyone should know about the Deer Park native. No one will work harder, no one will include more folk and seek out more resources and no one has a flame of desire burning brighter for success for himself, us and the Democratic Party than Lane Lewis. And you can take this one thing to the bank, with Lane Lewis as Chair of the Democratic Party, decisions will be made from around a table where they is a place for all and never from a single individual from behind a desk. Whatever it takes, trust me when I tell you Lane will try and do it.
Let me relate a little personal story here. Many years ago, (1974 to be exact) another young Chair of the Harris County Democratic Party, Steve Oaks, picked me to be Executive Director. I was the right hand man at the table of the chair and saw and experienced things and met people many only dare dream of. I also got to play the role of hatchet man for the chair when it was needed….and trust me, sometimes it is needed. I saw the strain that the job placed on the chair – any man or woman who has held it will tell you its a lot more than anyone would expect and so much of what happens is beyond the control of the best laid plans. You get credit for things you shouldn’t and you get blamed a hell of a lot more than you should and the funny thing is, most of the people doing the patting on the back and knifing in the back don’t know the difference. I digress here to say that whoever holds the job of Chair, which is strictly voluntary but which takes much $$$$ out of an individual, grows weary after a certain amount of time and watching themselves grow older, so with that knowledge in hand, I have to say to you that I was hesitant when I was told Lane was interested in being Chair because I didn’t know if I wanted to see a friend endure what the Chair must. But over the past months, as I have watched him perform as Chair of Senate District 15 and I listened to his hopes, plans and dreams for the Party as a whole, I began to realize that if this was what he truly wanted, no one would give it more, no one would treat everyone fairly and equally like Lane and by God, Lane Lewis, with all his youthful enthusiasm and even keeled temperament might just be the man to take the Harris County Democratic Party to the heights we all hope to see. One thing I will assure you, with him in charge, it will be one hell of a ride, so I am here to give my blessings and my endorsement to my younger brother (and if I had one, I truly would wish for one like Lane) in his quest for this job – Chair of the Harris County Democratic Party and I urge each of you to join with him and support him and enjoy this grand new adventure he is setting out on. Of this you can be sure, when the ride is over, you will be looking around saying What was that and wanting to sign up for another one.
And now, not wanting to step on anyone’s campaign or press, but unable to keep a not so well held secret, I am pleased to join with my friend, the Mayor of the City of Houston, Annise D. Parker, in endorsing and encouraging a vote for our friend, Lane Lewis for Chair of the Harris County Democratic Party.
I HAVE BEEN TOLD TO WATCH FOR SOME EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENTS IN THE COMING DAYS OF ENDORSEMENTS OF LANE’S CANDIDACY. btw…I am not directly involved in anyone’s campaign, no one is "my" candidate, and while I offer my opinion, suggestion or admonitions, I’m not sure anyone listens to me more than they do anyone else….and for that we should all be thankful.
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