Karen Derr for City Council

Many of you know educaiton is my passion and has been the focus of my work in my own neighborhood.  Whether it has been on my own as a good business neighbor or on committees with others, I’ve seen good things happen from just a little focus, a little money, and a little effort.  Just think of all good city government should be able to do to make sure parents can keep their kids in school.  My step-kids are grown and my grandkids live in Austin.  I don’t get to mother them much but I’ve always been very close to my only nephew who lives here in Houston.  You might say the poor thing is the focus of a lot of my attention - good at Christmas and Birthdays, maybe not so good at report card time.  I remember his mom and I were interrogating him one evening late when he was about 9 years old about grades or something and he got exasperated and cried to me,  “What are you doing here?  You’re not even suppose to be here!”  Maybe that’s how I want Houston children to feel when I’m in office.  I’m not a teacher.  I have no desire to run for school board.  But I know keeping youth in school is just as much a community issue as a school issue.  This past week I attended a LULAC gala at Brady’s Landing, saw my friend Irene Nava win a much deserved Marcella Perry prize in the Heights for her work in schools (she’s not a teacher,) helped friends raise over $3000 that night for classroom grants, gathered with friends at my office and planned a Youth Art Show with the HHA Education Committee and toured Helms Elementary with three wonderful ladies from Chicago and the National PTA who were interested in Helms’ dual language program.  I make schools and youth in my oommunity my business.  My nephew Jonathan goes to St. Ambrose Catholic School.  His grades are no better than they were in public school but they are o.k.  However, he loves his middle school.  You know why?  Friends and dances mainly.  I want kids all over Houston to love going to their schools.  If teachers can make sure learning is happening in the schools, the community should be able to make sure movies and dances are happening outside the schools, close to home, with neighborhood kids connected by safe sidewalks.  I believe our teachers cannot do it all and parents need community support too.  I guess I want to be a nosy aunt at city hall for Houston kids.  I’m asking you to vote for me in November.

Next Saturday, February 28, from 2 to 4, we’ll be having an old fashioned patriotic grand opening of our headquarters at my house in the Heights.  We’ll have a gourmet hot dog bar and chili pie, suds and soda AND apple pie, of course.  The campaign has it’s own space over the garage but I have to say my house has a revolving door these days with all the volunteers coming and going.  I actually love it. I encourage neighborhood guests to walk or ride bikes and we’ll have some give aways for everyone who attends.  (Do yard signs count as a giveaway?)   The whole campaign team will be on hand to tell you about volunteer opportunities and I will be there, of course, to visit and discuss city concerns.  Stop by if you can.  I’d love to see you and celebrate the campaign process with some old fashioned patiotic fun.  448 Columbia is the addres.  Time: 2pm to 4pm

I’m finding out in politics that the term block walking can accomplish many things.  Tomorrow we will block walk for the third weekend.  What a strange and wonderfully American course of action…walking door to door to remind voters that a special election is now officially called.  It is more fun than you’d think and I have not experienced anything but kind words to date while walking for votes.  It may seem like an inefficient way to communicate but really it is not.  With one door knock I can inform, compel, poll and just connect with a neighbor I may need to know in the future.  In my real estate business we had an ad which stated “People Love Porches.”  When you are knocking on doors for your cause or your canditate those porches are a good place to come together.  I invite you to try it with us one weekend.