Soechting says He's Intrigued by the Idea of Texas Democrats Staging Presidential Caucus
Rio Grande Guardian
by Steve Taylor
AUSTIN - State Democratic Party Chair Charles Soechting says he is intrigued by the possibility of Texas playing as a big a role as Iowa and New Hampshire when it comes to picking the president of the United States.
Soechting said he wanted to learn more about plans to stage presidential election caucus in late January or early February 2008. The idea has been floated by two leading Hispanics in the party, state Rep. Roberto Alonzo, D-Dallas, national spokesman for the Mexican American Democrats, and state Rep. Aaron Peña, D-Edinburg, a former chair of the Tejano Democrats.
"I'm all for anything that makes Texas more relevant in the presidential elections," Soechting told the Guardian Friday. "I'd certainly like to see the Texas primary moved up to a point where we lead the nation."
Following complaints from U.S. Sen. Carl Levin, D-Michigan, and others that Iowa caucus and New Hampshire primary voters were not representative of Democratic voters generally, and minority voters in particular, the Democratic National Committee set up the 40-member Commission on Presidential Timing and Scheduling.
The commission is due to give recommendations to Democratic Party Chairman Howard Dean in December.
Two members of the commission, U.S. Rep. Hilda Solis, D-Ca., and Cuauhtemoc "Temo" Figueroa, assistant political director of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, have said they would get behind the Texas caucus plan if the state party were united.
Under the plan being floated by Alonzo and Peña, first revealed by the Guardian Thursday, the State Democratic Party would sandwich a presidential caucus in between the Iowa presidential caucus in late January 2008 and the New Hampshire presidential primary in early February 2008.
Moving the primary from its traditional slot in March would require legislation, something Republican leaders may be loath to do. No taxpayer dollars would be used in administering the caucus, however, which would be run solely by the state party. Texas' primary election would continue to be run by the Secretary of State's office in March. While the cost to the Democratic Party would rise appreciably, so would national attention.
Alonzo and Peña believe that holding a caucus at the beginning of the presidential election campaign would force candidates to address issues important to Hispanic voters. Soechting said he agreed.
"Iowa and New Hampshire do not provide a terribly good indication of who's going to be elected president," Soechting said. "Texas is far more representative of the nation as a whole."
Soechting said he was convinced that under the leadership of Dean, the DNC would pay much more attention to the needs of Texas Democrats. Dean has promised to fund a four full-time organizers in the state, three of which will be Hispanic.
Soechting said he planned to meet with Alonzo next week to learn more about the caucus plan. He said he wanted to do the same with Peña.
"I have great admiration for Aaron and Roberto. I'm looking forward to sitting down and learning a whole lot more about their plan," Soechting said.
by Steve Taylor
AUSTIN - State Democratic Party Chair Charles Soechting says he is intrigued by the possibility of Texas playing as a big a role as Iowa and New Hampshire when it comes to picking the president of the United States.
Soechting said he wanted to learn more about plans to stage presidential election caucus in late January or early February 2008. The idea has been floated by two leading Hispanics in the party, state Rep. Roberto Alonzo, D-Dallas, national spokesman for the Mexican American Democrats, and state Rep. Aaron Peña, D-Edinburg, a former chair of the Tejano Democrats.
"I'm all for anything that makes Texas more relevant in the presidential elections," Soechting told the Guardian Friday. "I'd certainly like to see the Texas primary moved up to a point where we lead the nation."
Following complaints from U.S. Sen. Carl Levin, D-Michigan, and others that Iowa caucus and New Hampshire primary voters were not representative of Democratic voters generally, and minority voters in particular, the Democratic National Committee set up the 40-member Commission on Presidential Timing and Scheduling.
The commission is due to give recommendations to Democratic Party Chairman Howard Dean in December.
Two members of the commission, U.S. Rep. Hilda Solis, D-Ca., and Cuauhtemoc "Temo" Figueroa, assistant political director of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, have said they would get behind the Texas caucus plan if the state party were united.
Under the plan being floated by Alonzo and Peña, first revealed by the Guardian Thursday, the State Democratic Party would sandwich a presidential caucus in between the Iowa presidential caucus in late January 2008 and the New Hampshire presidential primary in early February 2008.
Moving the primary from its traditional slot in March would require legislation, something Republican leaders may be loath to do. No taxpayer dollars would be used in administering the caucus, however, which would be run solely by the state party. Texas' primary election would continue to be run by the Secretary of State's office in March. While the cost to the Democratic Party would rise appreciably, so would national attention.
Alonzo and Peña believe that holding a caucus at the beginning of the presidential election campaign would force candidates to address issues important to Hispanic voters. Soechting said he agreed.
"Iowa and New Hampshire do not provide a terribly good indication of who's going to be elected president," Soechting said. "Texas is far more representative of the nation as a whole."
Soechting said he was convinced that under the leadership of Dean, the DNC would pay much more attention to the needs of Texas Democrats. Dean has promised to fund a four full-time organizers in the state, three of which will be Hispanic.
Soechting said he planned to meet with Alonzo next week to learn more about the caucus plan. He said he wanted to do the same with Peña.
"I have great admiration for Aaron and Roberto. I'm looking forward to sitting down and learning a whole lot more about their plan," Soechting said.
posted by Tejano Insider at 1:36 PM
<< Home