I’m not one for anticipation. I like to live in the moment. Enjoy today. But I have to say I’m looking forward to the new year ahead of us. It will bring much change both personally and hopefully for our country. And the City of Houston has some changes to look forward to also. If things go as planned I’ll be able to officially designate my campaign treasurer early in January and start doing all the things we need to do to reach as many voters as possible in a very short time. I love a challenge and well planned hard work. No, I”m not a glutton for punishment but winning in November’s special election will be just the beginning of the achievements we’ll accomplish on City Council. I’m getting more excited by the moment, not about the election but about the job I’ll be able to do for the neighborhoods I’ll serve when elected.
Why am I running? I’ve worked very hard and have had a great 15 year career. I own the home of my dreams, adore my husband, have diverse interests and although I don’t have kids of my own, I enjoy my small but loving family and close friends. My only sister in Houston works at Karen Derr and Associates Realty and is devoted to her job as operations manager there. We have lunch together at least a couple times a week and go for power dog walks on Saturday and Sunday mornings to catch up. I don’t have many worries. So why am I running? Two reasons really. First I got the bug for public service early on. I come from a family of policemen. My father worked for the City of Houston most of his life and involved me and my two sisters in various local campaigns. My mother retired from the phone company and was a CWA member. My father, who worked at everything from police officer to Assistant Airport Manager, would drop me off as a kid at polls at elementary schools to push cards for his favorite candidates. I was raised to believe the process and the offices are important. In other words, serving in public office has been a lifelong dream, postponed until now due to work and family obligations. I’ve worked diligently in a family business which is in the top 25 residential real estate firms in the Houston area, with lots of responsibilities until precisely this point in 2008. Now, with the help of my family and friends, I’m ready to pursue my unfulfilled dream to serve in public office. The second reason I decided to run is that despite a busy job in my own business which promotes neighborhoods and their best qualities, I have found time to work in neighborhoods on various committees and quality of life improvement projects. I’ve tasted success in neighborhood committees and seen what consistent hard work can achieve for neighborhoods. I’ve actually been part of solutions and innovations in our community and there’s no bigger rush for me. I want to do this full time.
Just because it is the Holidays doesn’t mean I’m not our in force with supporters, meeting and greeting voters. Here’s a rundown of where myself or volunteers have be spreading the news about my candidacy for City Council…. block walking for Chris Bell, the Harris County Democrats Brown Bag Lunch to hear John Whitmire, the Brookswoods Estates Civic club monthly meeting, the Stonewall Democrats general meeting, Impact Houston mixer and strategic planning meeting, Lights in the Heights and the Tejano Democrats Holiday Party, fund raiser for Judge Steve Kirkland, Loren Jackson, Judge Kathy Stone, congratulated Adrian Garcia at the Artful Corner in the Heights, the Old Sixth Ward Holiday Party and the Lindale Park Holiday Party…whew! I think you know why I’m going to neighborhood meetings to meet you and hear your concerns but meeting and congratulating our elected officials is important too. I’m eager to network and build support for my candidacy and I want those in the political know to realize we’re running to win and out in force.
All done up for Dickens in front of our beautiful Galveston 1900 storm survivor home.
My assistant Lance Marshall, Diane Mosier and myself have been out and about making sure as many people as possible know about my campaign. And it is a great time to visit clubs and associations since it is also time for Holiday parties. Tonight Diane and I visited the Brook Woods Estates civic association and had a great time. While we were there Lance was covering for me at the Stonewall Democrats holiday party at Salud in the Montrose. He said it was absolutely a charming venue and he was met with lots of encouragement for my campaign. Over the weekend we caroled in the Heights for Mistletoe Madness among the shops and pedestrians on 19th. Karen Derr and Associates sponsors each year a caroling contest during this event in which shoppers “tip” the caroling groups with Mistletoe Mad Money. The group to collect the most wins a real cash prize. There’s nothing like live music to make an event special. I was so sorry to have to miss the Greater Heights Democrats Christmas party on Saturday but Diane Mosier, one of the clubs founders, said it was very nice in a beautiful home on Tulane in the Heights. On Sunday I volunteered to work at Dickens on the Strand and took the opportunity to get a beautiful costume from Frankel’s. I’m happy to report that Dickens was a huge success this year for Galveston. What a recovery and I’ve never been to a street festival with such fantastic food. Shrimp and chunks of onion skewered, battered and deep fried —unbelievable. I’m sure the residents who have experienced a shortage of restaurants to reopen thus far were happy to have so much good food back in the historic downtown area. Don’t worry, it will all be back before you know it.
In 2005 I had the pleasure of going to Kenya with a local charity called Starfish Kenya. The experience changed my life and my perspective. The home and school that I went to work on with Houston architect Ken Newberry and his father and step-mom and about 20 others offers a home and care to orphans with HIV or AIDS. If you have a special place in your heart, as I do for Africa, you should research this wonderful charity but did you know that Houston has many children who are orphans or who need foster care who are HIV positive? These children are served by a wonderful organization called Casa de Esperanza. This evening my friend and associate Richard Buentello invited me to sit at his sister, Esther Flores’ table at Casa’s Season of Hope Gala. It really was a pleasure to hear one couple’s story of adopting a child and the other work that is done for needy Houston children. People were certainly touched and the auction reflected it. You’d never know from the bidding that we were in a recession in Houston.
Delivering toys to LULAC
Today I attended a press conference at city hall which was arranged by City Council Member Sue Lovell for State Senator Rodney Ellis. At the end of this post I will attach the press release. Many familiar faces stepped up to the podium, including Council Members Sue Lovell, Wanda Adams, former Council Member Ada Edwards and our Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee. The statistics that were presented were shocking, especially as they related to women in Houston. In some zip codes as many as 1 in 3 are HIV positive. The point that I don’t believe was driven home hard enough is that mandatory offering of testing is important in that it prevents HIV infection and Aids. How does it prevent HIV you might ask? Because once tested positive, a patient can take precautions to not infect their sexual partners. Please read the press release about the proposed bill attached. Senator Ellis is enlisting the help at all levels of government to fight this pandemic and he assured me after his presentation that if I am elected city council, he will be looking to me for support.
PRESS RELEASE
At a press conference at City Hall, State Senator Rodney Ellis announced plans to file a bill in the upcoming session that will implement the Center for Disease Control’s 2006 recommendations for HIV testing. He was joined by Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, Councilmembers Wanda Adams and Sue Lovell, former Councilmember Ada Edwards, Stephen L. Williams - Director of the Houston Dept. of Health and Human Services, Pastor Robert Jefferson - Cullen Baptist Church, Dena Gray and Amber David- Bread of Life, Inc., and Jeffrey Campbell - St. Hope Foundation.
The bill will require health care providers to offer HIV tests for a blood samples taken in the course of routine medical screening. The patient will maintain the option to decline. The bill also provides for reimbursement from Medicaid and private insurance plans.
The announcement comes on the 20th anniversary of World AIDS Day. This year’s theme is “leadership,” and the slogan from 2005-2010 is “Stop AIDS. Keep the Promise.”
“Two years ago the CDC gave us their recommendations on how to reduce the rate of infection for a destructive and costly disease. Last year alone there were 1,700 new HIV infections in Houston. How many of those could have been prevented if we had listened to the CDC two years ago? We need to listen now. We have to keep our promise,” said Senator Ellis.
It costs approximately $303,000 to treat each new HIV infection. If treated, 1,700 infections will take more than $500 million. An HIV test costs about $35.
