Governor Abbott owes Lupe Valdez a public apology. Let's make it happen!

By Faith Chatham - August 22, 2018

Governor Abbott blasted Sheriff Valdez, accusing her of "not securing her firearm." His campaign tweeted and produced an accusatory video when they learned that the Dallas Sheriff's Department had misplaced a firearm which was issued to her.

The gun was in the Dallas Sheriff Department Property Room. Common sense should have alerted the Governor and his campaign staff, but they barreled ahead full-steam in their attempts to distort the incident and smear a highly respected law enforcement officer. When an employee retires, they turn in the items issued by the department. Then it is the department's responsibility, not the retiree's, to property store and track those items. Instead of using reasonable forbearance, the Governor issued unsubstantiated accusatory tweets and PR releases attempting to smear former Sheriff Lupe Valdez.

Governor Abbott owes Lupe Valdez a public apology. Let's make it happen.
I contacted him on the official Governor's contact link today.

I wrote:

Dear Gov. Abbott,
You should apologize to former Dallas Sheriff Lupe Valdez for the video and tweets your campaign put out in your name accusing her of not securing the gun she had returned to the Dallas County Sheriff's Department. Your comments are beneath the office you hold. As a citizen of Texas, I am disappointed in you for this unmerited attack  on the very highly regarded former Sheriff of Dallas, Texas.
 Your apology should be as public and as widely disseminated as were your inappropriate comments accusing her of not securing the gun which was in the Dallas Sheriff Department Property Room.
 Sincerely,
Faith Chatham

Please join me. Contact him and demand that he apologize to Lupe Valdez for accusing her of not securing her firearm.  The Contact Link is: https://gov.texas.gov/contact

When tweeting about this please include #ValdezGun

https://www.dallasnews.com/news/2018-elections/2018/08/21/lupe-valdezs-missing-gun-found-dallas-county-sheriffs-department-property-room

https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/politics/Former-Sheriff-Lupe-Valdezs-Gun-Found-in-Sheriffs-Department-Property-Room-491370061.html

Valdez was born in San Antonio, Texas. She worked two and three jobs to pay her own way through college, earning her Bachelor Degree in Business. She entered the US Army and rose to the rank of Captain serving over a tank battalion. In Federal Service for almost two decades, Valdez served as an Investigator with the General Service Administration. When she left Federal Service she was a Senior Agent, having worked fraud and money laundering cases in the USA and undercover in Central America on drug interdiction cases.  Valdez was the first woman and the first person of color to be elected Sheriff in Dallas, Texas. Her performance, and diligence in bringing the department into compliance, and implementation of community law enforcement, giving pathways to promotion to women and minorities led to her being re-elected twice. Valdez retired from the Dallas County Sheriff Department in December 2017. She won the Democratic Party's nomination for Governor and will face incumbent Republican Greg Abbott in the November 2018 General Election.

For more information visit:  https://lupevaldez.com

To donate to her campaign: https://bit.ly/helpLupe

We are DONE.

By Faith Chatham - August 20, 2018

When I was a young college girl it appeared that we would get the ERA passed and ratified. I am no longer young. I am not a college girl with most of my life ahead of me. We are fighting the same battles. We cannot continue doing the same things in the same old way. We have been there. Already done that.

I saw Hillary Clinton get more votes in Texas than any Democratic Presidential Nominee in Texas History and to see more American vote for her than for her opponent(s) yet pundits refer to her as "one of the most unpopular candidates in history!" Unpopular with whom? The minority/ Not the Majority.

I sat in the gallery of the Texas Capitol watching the Electoral College (90% comprised of Republican Women) cast all of our electoral votes for Trump. There is nothing in the Constitutions about Winner Take All but most Americans are oblivious.

.It is easier to rail against the Electoral College than to understand the Constitution and refuse to have it hijacked!

I have heard folks say that Women's current activism is all because of Donald Trump. They are WRONG. We were pissed before Trump. Rape kits sat untested in store rooms across America. Women suffered sexual harassment or were siloed or fired when we objected. We worked for 50 cent or 60 cents or if we were fortunate, 70 cents to our male co-workers dollar. We survived by working harder, being smarter, and helping less deserving male co-workers pull in bonuses and get promotions.

We are in the streets. We are no longer silent. Trump is merely the ribbon. The package is much greater than he could ever be. It is institutional systematic misogyistic oppression. We are no longer patient. We will not be silent. We are DONE.

2016 PAC Advertisement. The numbers are EXACTLY THE SAME IN 2018! There were strong, qualified women running for Congress in 2016 too. The quality of the candidate does not determine the outcome of elections - - especially when the most qualified candidate is a woman!

This year (2018) more women are the nominees than ever in our nation's history. Some will win. Will it make enough of a difference? No. Not nearly. But we are DONE with patience. We are DONE with silence. We are DONE with making men look good and get promotions and bonuses. 

There is no way that any piss ant like Donald Trump could scratch the surface of our anger. It has been simmering from the beginning of Time. It is 100 years since Women in Texas got the right to vote in the Democratic Primary. Then some judge dared to call their votes unconstitutional and demand a recount using only the votes of men. The US Constitution was written 242 years ago. Women were not included except as chattel. My first American ancestress landed on these shore in 1630. That is 388 years and we live in a nation where 100 years after women first voted the US Congress is only 20% female and from Texas less than 8% of the state's federal delegation is female.

Too Little. Too Slow. Too Patient.  Too accommodating.

We must stop doing the same ole thing in the the same old ways. The price is too high to just "get along."

Donate: Lupe Valdez for Texas Governor  https://bit.ly/helpLupe

Read about Gov. Race: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2018/8/8/1786892/-TX-GOV-Abbott-utilizes-the-state-s-Faith-Based-Partnership-to-peel-off-Black-Democratic-voters

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2018/8/9/1787070/-TX-GOV-How-you-can-help-flip-the-Texas-Governor-s-seat

Read about Texas Democratic Women Congressional Challengers: 

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2018/8/7/1786290/-Texas-Women-dominate-Congressional-landscape-in-General-Election

Donate to Texas Women Dem. Nominees challenging for GOP controlled seats:

https://secure.actblue.com/donate/txwomentopr2b

Valdez and Abbott differ on importance of Health Care

By Faith Chatham  - Aug. 13, 2018

Former Dallas Sheriff Lupe Valdez, the Democratic Nominee for Governor challenging GOP incumbent Gregg Abbott is determined to change that!. She sees affordable health care as a necessity for all Texans. Unlike Abbott, and the majority of the Texas Legislature, Valdez says that uninsured Texans is not  cost-saving measure but a cruel, inhumane economic blight on the state's economy.

Debt from mounting health care cost buries families under debt. Sick people cannot work. Absenteeism from work and default on debt hurts the uninsured and the business community. There is no win  win to Texas having the highest percent of uninsured adults in the nation.

There are a lot of issues in this campaign. One clear-cut black and white point of delineation between the positions of the GOP incumbent and Valdez, who served four terms as Sheriff of Dallas County is the necessity for Texans to have access to affordable health care.

Valdez has a reputation for facing the tough questions and finding solutions to challenges which defied her predecessors. She is noted for making decisions based on the necessity for positive outcomes for the people served by the office she headed. Unlike Abbott who is noted for creating photo ops which create the appearance of addressing important issues while not actually acting on those issues, Valdez rarely "played to the camera's" for sound bites.

Another issue that the former Sheriff and current Governor disagree on is how to address Gun Violence. Abbott receives the highest rating by the NRA and their PACs campaign donations. After mounting public outcry following the school shooting in Santa Fe, Texas, Abbott convened  session with parents teachers to discuss school shooting. Sheriff Valdez, also someone who favors licensed concealed carry, favors legislation to strengthen gun background checks and to remove firearms from those who are charged with domestic violence and other violent crimes. Abbott opposes the legislation. He proposes arming teachers with rifles and says that these arms should not be kept in lock cases but handy in the classroom. Valdez and most teachers strongly oppose having unlocked firearms around children except in the hands of licensed law enforcement /trained security personnel.

More children and teachers have been killed in school shootings in the USA in the past year than in military service at home or in combat zones around the world. The health of children and teachers is at risk and Greg Abbott is not willing to examine any proposed solution which may displease the NRA. He has used anti-health care rhetoric for several election cycles and now the state, under his administration has the highest percentage of uninsured adults in the nation.

Teacher in Texas pay very high premiums for health insurance which requires each covered member of their family to meet a $1500 a year deduction before the insurance pays one cent of their health care cost. These teachers are now in a high risk profession where they have a greater risk of being shot or killed than most active duty military personnel. Greg Abbott fails at leading the state in finding solutions which work for all Texans.

To donate to the Lupe Valdez for Governor campaign:  https://bit.ly/helpLupe

TX Democratic Women Fight to Claim Congressional Seats

By Faith Chatham - August 9, 2018

These women are challenging GOP incumbents or are fighting to claim seats vacant Congressional seats. It is down to the final stretch and they need money for their gas tanks and for literature and advertising. No contribution is too small.

You can give one gift and have it splt evenly between these heroic women Challengers. If you prefer, you can click the link above the dollar amounts and distribute your gift differently. You may give all to one or select two or more from the list and select a few candidates from the list to support.

Shirley McKellar (TX US 1) challenging Louie Gohmert (R-I)

Jan McDowell (TX US 24) challenging Kenny Marchant (R-I)

Lorie Burch (TX US 3) Running for open seat vacated by Republican Sam Johnson (R-I)

Lizzie Fletcher (TX US 7) challenging John Culberson (R-I)

Jennie Lou Leeder (TX US 11) challenging Michael Conway (R-I)

Vanessa Adia (TX US 12) challenging Kay Granger (R-I)

Adrienne Bell (TX US 14) challenging Randy Weber (R-I)

Veronica Escobar (TX US 16) running to keep seat vacated by Beto O’Rourke blue

Gina Ortiz Jones (TX US 23) – challenging Will Hurd (R-i)

Julie Oliver (TX US 25) -- challenging for seat of Republican Roger Williams (R-I)

Sylvia Garcia (TX US 27) Running to keep seat vacated by Gene Green blue

Mary J (MJ) Hegar (TX US 31) – challenging John Carter (R-I)

Dayna Steele (TX US 36)– challenging Brian Babin (R-I)

TO DONATE: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/txwomen18congress

How You Can Help Flip the Texas Governor's Seat

By Faith Chatham - August 9, 2018

Help Texas Voters Know Lupe

We are in the final stretch before Election Day.

Abbott has millions of dollars and Lupe has a few hundred thousand to run a statewide race in the

second largest state in the nation.

The more people know her, the higher the percentage of voters who say they will vote her. A significant number of Texans say they do not know enough about Lupe to decide whether to vote for her. We have to change that!

The mission is to get more Texans to know her, to recognize her name, to tell their friends and neighbors about her, and to go vote for her.

NO DONATION IS TOO SMALL

To Donate:
https://bit.ly/helpLupe

Please share this message with friends you think might help!

Abbott utilizes the state's Faith Based Partnership to peel off Black Democratic voters

Gov. Greg Abbott met with East Texas community leaders Wednesday afternoon Aug. 8, 2018 in Tyler to discuss how the state of Texas can help the churches and faith based organizations. This occurred 90 days before the General Election and the audience was predominately leaders among the ethnic group polls show are the least likely to vote for him in November.

By Faith Chatham - August 9, 2018
Certain women leaders were not welcome at Abbott's East Texas Black Pastor's meeting in Tyler today. Hosted at New Days Community Church in Tyler, Texas and organized by former Dallas ISD Board member Ron Price, many attendees were neither pastors nor black. Pastor Reginald Garrett was quoted in event promotional materials saying:

"I'm honored to host this historic meeting for Governor Greg Abbott and the Honorable Ron Price as they send the message that we are all God's children, regardless of race or political party."

Rev. Garrett did not live up to his statement. Tyler community leader/educator and former US Army officer Dr. Shirley J. McKellar got her name on the list Tuesday to be in the audience. This morning she was notified that she would not be welcome at the meeting because "It was only for pastors and you are a politician." The problem must be that Dr. McKellar is not of the "right" political party. Dr. McKellar is the Democratic Nominee for US Congress challenging Freedom Caucus Louie Gohmert. Dr. McKellar is also a pastor's wife. She is African American. She is a native daughter of Tyler. She was not admitted to sit in the audience and hear what Governor Abbott discussed with what was advertised to be about 300 area pastors, school board members, business owners, and local elected officials. She showed up anyway. She noted many people who were not members of the clergy being seated in the audience but she was turned away and not admitted.

Why is Abbott having semi-private meetings with Black Pastors within three months of the election? That it IS within three months of the election is probably the answer.

Why would a gracious, highly respected, decorated retired military officer, an anchor in the community be prohibited from sitting in the audience at this meeting when numerous other educators and non pastors were admitted? There is no prohibition against Congressional Nominees attending meetings as members of the audience, that is unless it is Greg Abbott's and Ron Price's meeting and the nominee is not a Republican. There were plenty of politicians in the room. Shirley McKellar was kept outside. Democrats who are community leaders are not welcome in Greg Abbott's "Breaking the Glass Ceiling" meeting for Black Leaders. Smart, articulate, female Democratic Nominees for Congress especially are not welcome. The Governor, is, after all, a friend of Louie Gohmert and an ally and defender of Donald Trump.

Under George W. Bush, the Faith Based private public partnerships were launched. Under Bush, it was mainly the large mega churches (White and Black) congregations who received financial backing or state contracts. The initiative was designed to demonstrate how friendly the GOP was to the Christians mainstream congregations.Separation of Church and State was secondary to endearing folks in the pews to the man whose name would be on the top of the ballot for Governor. Perhaps Abbott is targeting Black Pastors just before the election because African Americans, especially Black Women, are the least likely to vote for him. Polling shows that the African Americana community is the most faithful Democratic voting bloc in the state. African American women are polling as being the most likely voters for Lupe Valdez. So perhaps that is what these regional black pastors meetings that Ron Price is organizing for the GOP -- oops that was a slip -- featuring GOP elected officials are truly about. They don't say they are for the GOP. However, when you look at the VIP speakers or moderators at these events, there is an absence of Black Democratic elected officials. A similar meeting was organized by Price recently and held in Mesquite. Dallas is a Democratic majority city, but the feature speaker at that meeting was the black Republican District Attorney. In Tyler, they featured Greg Abbott. 

The Governor and Price seem to be really selective about which black women are admitted. Just being a pastor's wife (Dr. McKellar is a pastor's wife) or a leader in the Black Community, (Dr. McKellar is definitely a leader in the Black Community) is not sufficient to get you seated. Well, it probably would have been had she been a Republican Nominee or office holder. But she's a Democrat. Can't be trusted. She might let something slip about the Governor using the Faith Based Public Private Partnerships as campaign tools to peel off probable Democratic Voters in the General Election.

That's fine. She doesn't have to say it. I will. Governor Abbott went to East Texas on a campaign speaking tour. He closed the meeting and excluded citizens who had every right to be in the room. He is dangling potential state contracts and grants out to entice impressionable Black Men into leading their congregations into ignoring Abbott's deplorable record on Civil Rights, Criminal Justice, voting discrimination and racial profiling. Some of them will fall under his spell. The Governor has paid attention to them. Some (such as Ron Price) think hanging out with Abbott makes them important. So sad. The only person who is truly important to Greg Abbott is Greg Abbott himself.

This Tyler trip should be classified as a campaign junket. That is precisely why he went to Tyler. He wants to peel off African American voters from the Democratic Party. He knows that most Black Women are too smart to fall for his line. Black men, especially, Black Preachers, that just might be a different story. Pastor Garrett said that the meeting was non partisan yet they barred Dr. Shirley McKellar from entering their church today at the direction of the Governor's staff. They might as well put up a sign: "Smart black female community leaders not welcome."

To donate to Shirley McKellar’s Campaign for US Congress: secure.actblue.com/...

Lupe Endorsed by Elizabeth Warren and Gabby Giffords

By Faith Chatham August 8, 2018
Lupe received two high profile endorsements this week:

Lupe was endorsed by Sen. Elizabeth Warren this week. Sen. Warren wrote: 

In a fundraising letter for Valdez, Warren called the former Dallas County sheriff 

"a new leader emerging who can put Texas back on track.""The daughter of migrant farmworkers, Lupe is ready to fight for all Texans, not just the wealthy few," Warren stated in her message, underscoring the Average Texan theme that Valdez has emphasized in recent weeks.Noting that Valdez won four terms as sheriff in Dallas, where Republicans held most local offices for years, Warren insisted that "with our support, Lupe can make history again and be the first Latina and LGBTQ governor of Texas."

Sen. Warren mentions that Lupe will be the first Latina governor. She will also be the first minority elected Governor in Texas.

Gabby Giffords also endorsed Lupe this week In a letter she stated  

“Lupe Valdez believes the most important duty of Texas' Governor is to ensure the safety of all Texans -- and that’s why I’m proud to endorse her campaign.
As Sheriff, Lupe worked tirelessly to protect Dallas residents, and I know that as Governor, she will work hard, day in and day out, to fight for strong laws that will protect Texas families from senseless gun violence.But this race won’t be easy. Lupe’s opponent, Greg Abbott, is more tied to the gun lobby than almost any other Governor. He’s backed the gun lobby for decades, and in return, they’ve donated thousands of dollars to his campaigns and given him an “A” rating.We desperately need to elect Lupe to fight for Texans’ safety and common-sense gun safety reform. Lupe is a veteran and a seasoned law enforcement officer. She knows we can keep our communities safe from gun violence by keeping guns out of the hands of dangerous people while still protecting our Second Amendment rights.She supports common sense gun laws, like universal background checks and closing loopholes that allow convicted domestic abusers and other dangerous individuals to legally purchase firearms.Lupe Valdez is a gun safety champion and the best candidate for the job.”

To donate to Lupe Valdez for Governor of Texas: bit.ly/LupeTXGov

Donate to Lupe

By Faith Chatham Aug. 5, 2018
The best way for a Texan to help ourself is to get Greg Abbott and Dan Patrick out of the Gov. and Lt. Gov.'s seats.
Donate to @LupeValdez http://bit.ly/LupeTXGov