Rally for Texas State Senate Candidate Carol Alvarado[/caption] State Representative Carol Alvarado announced her candidacy for Texas State Senate, Friday November 9th at the American Legion Union Hall amongst many supporters and family.

Alvarado started her press conference with prayer from Father Collins before any talks of politics or positions could be declared. But, just as powerful as the prayer was the endorsement that rang sincerely from the mouth of the widow of Mario Gallegos, Teresa.

“Mario was not shy when it came to telling all of us, myself and my family that he wanted Carol to succeed him. It was his dying wish. It was very important to him. It was an easy wish for my family to honor because we love Carol,” said Teresa Gallegos. “We know she (Alvarado) will continue Mario Gallego’s work in the Senate, she will not need on the job training, she will not need to get up to speed on the issues. She will not have to reacquaint herself with our neighborhoods, she’s been here all along, fighting side by side with my husband to ensure the people that District 6 will be well represented. I respectfully ask you all to support Carol Alvarado in her Senate race.”

The eruption of applause resembled a confirmation from the crowd that they too were in agreement that Alvarado was their woman for the job. Gallegos rallied that there was no one better qualified that will work hard to gain the communities support and trust.

A bittersweet Alvarado was thankful and grateful for her supporters especially from the Gallegos family. But she wasted no time launching into the her speech speaking of the works her and former State Senator Gallegos had already in the works, such as, funding for public schools, good jobs, access to quality insurance for Hispanics, education cost for higher education in Texas and bettering the state of Texas as a whole.

“My service in City Council and the last 4 years in the State Legislature have prepared me to hit the ground running on day one,” said Alvarado. “I will be fighting for the people of Harris County for healthier communities, affordable insurance, lower college tuition and lower utility rates. I’m ready to roll up my sleeves and to work on behalf of the Texas families. I’m Carol Alvarado, I’m a Democrat and I’m ready to be your next Texas State Senator.”

Chris Bell introduced Alvarado attributing her experience, knowledge and loyalty as her strongest suits as a life-long resident of District 6. A former aid to Congressman Gene Green she later became an Economic and Community Development consultant for Houston’s East side. Alvarado went on to become a top official in Mayor Lee Brown’s Administration before launching her political career. She served 6 years on Houston’s City Council for District I and the later ran and was elected to the State Legislature in 2008.

Due to the untimely death of a freshly re-elected and highly respected, State Senator Mario Gallegos, Alvarado’s press conference was extremely emotionally charged. The Hispanic community stood firm by her side as well as long list of politicians and city officials from near and afar. Chris Bell, was the Master of Ceremony, City Council Members James Rodrigues and Oliver Pennington, City Comptroller Ronald Green, Mayor of Pasadena Johnny Isbell, Constable May Walker and the Houston Firefighters of House341, were just a few out of a long list of supporters that showed up to rally for Carol Alvarado for Texas State Senate.
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Good music from a live band mixed with food, dancing and lots of photos, the air was thick with hope for the newly re-elected President Barack Obama. Consistently throughout the night politicians deflected the attention from themselves but onto the Democratic Party or President Obama solely.

When speaking to Congresswoman Lee, The Sun had to specifically ask her to speak on her re-election. “I am delighted to have the opportunity to go back to Congress to work on education and the see the healthcare bill serve more Americans, to bring our soldiers home from Afghanistan to create jobs,” said Lee. “I’m excited because tonight is a great night but we’re not finished, I hope President Obama is on his way to a 2nd term reaffirming that the American people want to take the country forward.”

Congresswoman Lee had a lot to celebrate that night as her daughter; Erica Lee was also on the democratic ticket for the County School Trustees, Position 6,Precinct 1 in which she won. Her sentiments echoed her mothers’ as she declared her pride in being able to share the Democratic ticket with the President.

Congressman Al Green was introduced by Congresswoman Lee showing a united front for Congressional representatives in Houston. With many international supporters Green was all smiles as he began his speech. With the same thoughts as his colleague, he too was focused on President Obama. While speaking to The Sun, Congressman Green also had to be asked to speak specifically about his re-election.

“I hope that my lead holds up and if it does, I will be honored to go back to Congress and work with the President; to make sure we protect Social Security and Medicare and Medicaid,” said Congressman Green. “We can’t let the minimum wage be eliminated by those who would simply push people out into the market place and they don’t have any floor of what their wages would be. We have to protect minimum wage laws for this country.”

Congressman Gene Green was endorsed and patronized at the event as well. The night came to an uproar when the news announced that Mr. Obama was re-elected for a second term as the President of the United States of America. All other races seemed to be forgotten as jubilee set out in the CWA Hall. “4-More Years” was chanted as singing and dancing filled the room. Praises to God was sent up as tears streamed down many faces of the older generations faces.

“I’m confident the President will be victorious,” said Green previously in the evening. “He has a great ground game and message. I believe the message of moving forward is one of the country wants.”

The party carried on as the faith of Congress members proved to be echoed by the American people. Yet Congressman Al Green and Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee still had a race to win in which they were victorious in as well. Green won his seat again in the United States House of Representatives District 9 with a 102,909 votes a 79.06% win and Lee won her seat again in with 145,893 votes a 75.01%.
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Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee hosted a press conference outside the Palm Center off Griggs Road, to kick off Houston’s first National Voter Registration Day on September 25, 2012.

Congresswoman Lee launched the event by letting the crowd know first and foremost voting is about winning. In the center of a sea of people, Lee showed much enthusiasm that could only be rivaled by the Houston Rocket cheerleaders whom stood to her left and right.

After a kick-off cheer by the cheerleaders, Lee, encouraged Houstonians to remember what to love about being American and how great it is to have the right to vote. Eight sites were set up around Houston to make registration easy for Houstonians who are busy working, going to school and taking care of their families.

As the press conference went on voting registration drives were taking place all over Houston. Right behind Congresswoman Lee, on the second floor of the Precinct 7 County Court Annex in Judge Zinetta Burney’s courtroom, voter registration was set up from 11am to 1pm for voters to come out and register. The process was made easier as voters could drop their registration off downstairs on their way out instead of mailing it in. Other locations were Mount Sinai Baptist Church, Fallbrook Church, Acres Home Multi-Service Center, St. John’s Church on Dowling, St. Peter Claver Catholic Church, Mount Hebron Baptist Church, and Pleasanthill Baptist Church.

“The right to vote is precious. The right to due process is a constitutional right. If you do not exercise your right to vote your right to due process is limited,” said Congresswoman Lee. “So today I come with a great deal of concern about the nation’s effort to do a systemic and possibly illegal voter purging around America and certainly in the state of Texas.”

Lee made an effort to reassure voters that the voter registration drives are non-partisan, non-racial and non-classism. She also went on to educate the crowd about changes that were being made in voting rights that could leave people wondering why they can’t vote come election time.

The Congresswoman reminded the crowd that 300,000 ballot voters were notified that they would be removed from voting between 2008 and 2010. But she also wanted noted that it was now 2012 and had those voters been re- registered. Lee went on to rally that all were present to fight to ensure that those voters know that there is a place to go to register.

“Approximately 2 percent of voting age citizens in the country and more than 20 million people do not have a voter id,” said Congresswoman Lee. “A voter id impacts everyone. One vote, one person.”

The issue of the death notices that went out in Harris County was addressed as well. After much protest and petitioning the Tax Assessor’s office held off the purging of those 9,000 persons. This decision is still under review by the Department of Justice, according to Lee. But this lay-over will still allow for the processing of legal and legitimate voter registration cards.

We challenge the tax assessors to keep doing their service and let voter registration be processed for early voting and for voting on November 6th,” said Congresswoman Lee. “Voters are very much alive and shouldn’t be turned away to vote.”

Following the Congresswoman’s rally speech, various organizational leaders were called up to speak such as Dr. Grant Malone, the Link Sisters President Carolyn Caldwell, Urban League President Judson Robinson, Carolyn Miller, representing Kashmere High School Alumni and many more. While Constable Mae Walker showed up in support, State Senator Rodney Ellis and County Commissioner El Franco Lee’s staff came out as well to help join in the efforts to get Houstonians registered to vote.
There was a strong presence of youth and young adult voters who shared the desire to register voters as Fana Vincent, the Community Project Facilitator for Texans Together, had his staffers handing out fliers for his voter’s rally that would be held later on in the evening.

“I’ve seen the complaints from AARP voters whom ballads have been thrown away and have been sent death notices. It’s important that we get organized so people know they have a place to go register and vote,” said Joy Jackson, an organizer from Texans Together. “I think it’s important that they called this press conference so we can let people know we are behind voter’s rights. We have to understand this is not the end all and we have to keep accountable to vote.”

With lots of cheers, singing and rally speeches by community leaders from all over Houston, Congresswoman Lee officially kicked off Houston’s National Voter Registration day. Every side and demographic of Houston was addressed and serviced that day by one of those eight locations.

In addition to Houston other states such as Kansas City, MO., Atlanta, GA., Dallas, TX, Alameda County, CA., Columbia, S.C., Cleveland, OH., Ft. Lauderdale, FL., and Chicago, IL. joined in for National Voter Registration Day.

The last day to register to vote is 0ctober 9, 2012. The first day to early vote is October 22, 2012 and ends November 2, 2012. Election Day is November 6, 2012. Exercise your right to vote, it is your constitutional right.
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