LA PRENSA, Austin’s oldest bilingual newspaper, has issued a strongly worded endorsement of Margaret Gomez.

Yes, we need a change in Precinct 4, but we don’t need to exchange Margaret Gomez, who has lived and worked her entire life in the precinct, with someone who has moved into positions of power and money by capitalizing on an unfair election system and an error in judgment.

No, Gomez doesn’t deserve to be replaced with Raul Alvarez, someone who moved here a dozen years or so ago to take advantage of an unfair system, i.e. at-large elections, defeat a candidate endorsed by the Hispanic community, and win the seat on the City Council set aside for an Hispanic through the gentlemen’s agreement. The at-large method of electing council members in Austin interacts with the current and past history of discrimination to perpetuate an ongoing lack of access to political empowerment by providing less opportunity to Hispanics than other members of the electorate to participate in the political process and to elect representatives of their choice.

It didn’t take Alvarez long to figure out that if he positioned himself with the enviro-liberal Democrats who vote as a bloc to control the outcome of any election that he could beat the local Hispanic candidate. There exists a white majority voting bloc in the central urban core West of I-35, that unites to vote for similar candidates and propositions. Their unity enables the group to elect environmental candidates, enact or defeat propositions, and choose minority representation. It is the usual predictability of their majority success that provokes low voter turnout and the defeat of preferred candidates in the Hispanic community, or for any other candidate or group in Austin.

Alvarez appealed to this group and owes his ascension in politics to them. For two council terms the Hispanic community had to endure a lackluster council member identified, chosen and elected for them under the at-large election system. Not accountable to the Hispanic community, his decisions, more pro-environmental than pro-Latino, reflected his lack of allegiance to and understanding of our community.

For the record, the Holly Power Plant was well on its way to being closed because of years of advocacy on the part of people like Susana Almanza, El Concilio, the late Robert Donley, Gus Garcia, Sabino Renteria and so many other individuals and community groups. But policy decisions during Alvarez’s tenure on council actually delayed its closing. As for East Austin representation, Alvarez ignored the pleadings of the neighborhood groups to rollback the old zoning laws from LI (Industrial) to a mix of neighborhood business zoning and more single family and multi-family zoning. Instead, he voted in favor of the Single-Family-Mixed Use (SF-MU) zoning which favors developers eager to develop lofts and upscale apartment buildings, which has produced the displacement of minority-owned businesses and homeowners. We can thank Alvarez for the gentrification of East Austin. We can thank Alvarez for the loss of community stores, restaurants and clubs replaced by a disproportionate amount of land speculation and development by outside investors to alter the cultural and historical landscape of East Austin and render it almost unrecognizable.

Austin is the only city in the United States of America with a population of over 500,000 that opposes single-member district voting, and allows voters in the central city disproportionate control of elections by virtue of their relatively high turnout. With this kind of resistance to fair representation, it’s essential that Hispanic voters elect a strong leader.
Yes, her leadership lapsed when a senior Latina employee came under fire last year and the Latino community is right for expecting a higher level of responsiveness and leadership from Gomez because she is elected from a single-member district. But voters should also remember Commissioner Gomez for her fifteen years of steadfast and constant representation of Precinct 4. She has worked for decades on voter education and registration. LA PRENSA is endorsing Gomez because we think she’s gotten a needed wake-up call and will be more accountable to the Latino community from which she was born and raised, than Alvarez, who is too easily influenced and swayed by one interest group or another.

Travis County Judge Sam Biscoe issued the following statement in support of Margaret Gomez today:

Commissioner Gómez and I continue to collaborate on county issues to maximize service delivery to county residents. We must comply with the laws that govern county government. For us to do otherwise would violate both the law and our oath of office. We are not above the law.

In spite of the limitations on county government, Commissioner Gómez and I have collaborated on the complex issues that face our growing urban county, and have produced outstanding results repeatedly.

It is easy for those without county government experience to ignore the law or not know it, but the facts are that Commissioner Gómez has been instrumental in making government relevant in the lives of Travis County residents. I have seen firsthand the compassion she has for her constituents, and the resolve she brings to the Commissioners Court to work to make their lives better. We cannot afford to lose her on the Commissioners Court.

Biscoe has been County Judge since 1999.

On Wednesday night, the Austin Women’s Political Caucus endorsed Margaret Gomez for re-election.

Gomez was the first Mexican-American woman elected in Travis County history. The AWPC joins South Austin Democrats, Black Austin Democrats, Stonewall Democrats, Austin Lesbian/Gay Political Caucus, and six public safety associations in supporting Gomez.

Thank you to the Austin Lesbian/Gay Political Caucus and the Stonewall Democrats for their endorsements last night.

“I am honored to have the endorsement of each club,” Gomez said. “I thank the members of both clubs for their support.”

Thank you for your interest in my re-election campaign.

Let me tell you a little about myself:

• I’m a lifelong resident of southeast Travis County. I was educated by Austin ISD. This is my home and I’ve worked hard to make it a better place.
• I am the first Mexican American woman to be elected to public office in Travis County history.
• On the Commissioners Court, I’ve been a leader on environmental sustainability, affordable housing, fiscal responsibility and working to maintain the county’s AAA bond rating.
• I have worked hard to elect Travis County Democrats for over three decades. I was a founding member of South Austin Democrats and am currently on the Travis County Democratic Party Finance Council.

I am proud to be endorsed by the following:

South Austin Democrats
Black Austin Democrats

Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas (CLEAT)
Austin-Travis County EMS Employees Association
Austin Police Association
Travis County Sheriffs’ Law Enforcement Association

Travis County Sheriff’s Officers Association

Travis County Firefighters Association
Travis County Judge Sam Biscoe
Austin City Council Member Bill Spelman
Travis County Constable Richard McCain
Travis County Constable Adan Ballesteros
Travis County Constable Danny Thomas

To connect with my on social networks, click one of the buttons at the top of this page. Thank you again for your interest in my campaign. I hope I will be able to earn your vote. Early Voting runs February 16 to February 26 and Election Day is March 2.

Sincerely,
Margaret Gómez

Imagine Austin is seeking input from Austinites on a Vision for the future of the City. This is the first step in creating a new Comprehensive Plan for the city, which will direct city policies on long-term growth and development. Residents, property owners, and workers can participate in this phase of the process in two ways:

First, anyone can take the Issues and Aspirations survey, at any Austin library or online at .
www.imagineaustin.net/survey.htm.

Second, Austinites can host their own planning party–ask for a “Meeting in a box,” and invite a few people over to participate. The Imagine Austin Meeting-in-a-Box has everything you need to host your own meeting. Find it online at www.imagineaustin.net/getmeeting.htm or call Kathleen Fox at 974-7877.

Imagine Austin is a two-year process to create a new plan for the future of Austin, dealing with land use, transportation, environment, health and human services, parks, and many other topics. Other surveys and input opportunities will continue through 2011 and invite the public to weigh in on substantive issues and priorities facing Austin. For more information about the project, visit www.ImagineAustin.net.

Learn more about Meeting In a Box, to help you hold a small meeting to discuss these issues.

Finally, please take the Kick Off Survey before March 1. It is important that Austinites from all over the city have a voice in this process. Let’s make sure our voice is heard.

Travis County Commissioner Margaret Gómez has filed campaign finance reports that show her campaign has $42,103.48 on hand. Finance reports show that Commissioner Gómez has nearly a 4 to 1 cash on hand advantage over her opponent, who has reported $10,936 cash on hand.

“We are pleased with our financial advantage and recent endorsements, and will continue to speak with voters across Precinct 4 about Margaret’s record on the commissioners court,” said Estella French, campaign manager. “We plan to make more than 20,000 calls and knock on 8,000 doors before early voting begins.”

Travis County Commissioner Margaret Gómez received the endorsement of the South Austin Democrats last night, the first Democratic club endorsement of the primary season.

“I am honored to receive the support of a committed and progressive group like the South Austin Democrats,” Gómez said. “As a founding member of SAD and lifelong resident of southeast Austin, I am especially proud. I look forward to working with the club’s members as we move forward, not only for the Democratic primary, but also for this fall when we will have a great opportunity to elect more Democrats.”

Margaret Gomez had previously received early endorsements from six public safety associations, along with the support of elected officials such as Travis County Judge Sam Biscoe, Austin City Council member Bill Spelman, and Constable Richard McCain. She has also been endorsed by three Democratic former statewide elected officials: Jim Hightower, Garry Mauro, and John Sharp.

The Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas (CLEAT), the state’s largest police officers’ union, has endorsed Travis County Commissioner Margaret Gómez for re-election.

“Because of Margaret’s long history of commitment to the law enforcement community the Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas are proud to join our local rank and file officers in endorsing her candidacy for Travis County Commissioner,” said Charley Wilkison, the association’s director of public affairs.

“Margaret has been a true leader in the fight against crime and criminals, insisting that Travis County Deputies and Corrections Officers have the tools they need to arrest the criminals and keep them in jail where they belong,” Wilkison continued. “Her friendship with Travis County’s finest is built upon her hard work to take care of those who risk their lives daily to protect and serve.”

CLEAT, with over 15,000 members statewide, is headquartered in Austin.

The endorsement marks Commissioner Gómez’s sixth from a public safety association. CLEAT joins the Austin Police Association, Austin-Travis County EMS Employees Association, Travis County Sheriffs Law Enforcement Association Travis County Sheriffs Officers Association, and the Travis County Firefighters Association in supporting Commissioner Gómez’s re-election.

Thank you to CLEAT and the thousands of police officers the association represents for their support.

Citing her commitment to the community, and leadership on issues such as affordable housing and environmental sustainability, Austin City Councilman Bill Spelman has endorsed Travis County Commissioner Margaret Gómez for re-election.

“When I ran for Austin City Council last year, Margaret Gómez was one of the first to endorse me. I’m very happy to return the favor,” Spelman said. “Margaret provides Travis County with practical leadership on bread-and-butter issues like taxes, infrastructure, affordable housing, and public safety. She’s also been a joy to work with for 16 years, and I look forward to working with her for another term.”

“Bill Spelman has been a great progressive voice on the Austin City Council and I am proud to have his support,” Gómez said. “He has also been an advocate for my constituents in southeast Travis County and I look forward to continuing to collaborate with him.”

Spelman becomes the third current elected official, after Travis County Judge Sam Biscoe and Constable Richard McCain, to endorse Gómez’s re-election. They are the only three current elected officials to have endorsed in the Travis County Commissioner Precinct 4 primary.

Thank you to Councilman Spelman for his support!