Greetings CODA friends,
Join us at our Second Annual CODA FUNraiser at Watterson Hall on March 28, 2024. Texas State Rep. James Talarico is our featured speaker. Music by Phil Hurley Trio, a silent auction, and catered BBQ will round out the evening. Proceeds benefit our fall 2024 billboard plans. We’ve already raised the funds for one billboard, but our goal is to have two up before we head into election season. Tickets start at $25.
One of our 2024 elections is in the rear view. Congrats to all the candidates we endorsed who won their primary and are headed into the November election. We look forward to continuing to support your efforts.
Speaking of effort (or lack thereof), we are disappointed but not surprised to report March 5 was another lackluster turnout in the Texas election cycle. Of the nearly 23 million residents over 18 in our state, about 18 million are registered to vote. More than 15 million of them couldn’t be bothered. Turnout percentage in Texas was 18%.
One in seven.
That’s roughly the same ratio as the number of check-out lines actually staffed by a human being at Wal-Mart, on any day that ends in a Y.
Turnout was slightly better in our home base of Bastrop County. We can strut around with our chests puffed out because we exceeded the statewide number. But do we really feel like strutting when our local turnout was a measly one in four?
Lest you think we were sitting around on our thumbs, a gentle reminder that as per usual, CODA was pretty busy the last couple of months. Our amazing volunteers busted their buns in GOTV (Get Out The Vote) efforts prior to March 5 doing block walks, emails, candidate events, distributing flyers, making phone calls, and sending texts. Lots and lots of texts (33,702 to be exact, and no that is not a typo) thanks to our pals at Contest Every Race. That grant we received from them last year includes free texting, for which we are exceedingly thankful.
Even after all that hard work, lousy turnout results.
So what’s a Dem voter to do? Besides vote every time the opportunity arises, obviously.
Quitting is not an option.
We hunker down, and try to do better next time. ‘Next time’ is not a hypothetical. In fact, it’s just around the corner. The election for local positions (city council; school board) is May 4. It may seem like it’s a long way off, but the deadline for registering to vote on May 4 is April 4, and early voting begins April 22.
We’ll make even more calls, hold even more events, send even more texts. We are looking for volunteers to help with:
GOTV
fundraising
voter registration
event planning/staffing
sending thank-you notes
Reply to this email or in the comments if you are interested and we will smother you with hugs and kisses.
Just kidding.
But we will be very grateful for your help. Our goal: making the polling place lines as long as the one for the lone human cashier at Wal-Mart.
In other news:
Our March Mobilization Meeting is Thursday March 21, 6:30 p.m. at the Bastrop Library. Bastrop City Council candidate Kerry Fossler will be joining us.
Reminder you still have time to read this month’s CODA Book Club pick. Book club meets via Zoom the last Tuesday of each month.
This month we are supporting the Family Crisis Center by collecting the following items for them:
In addition to the local elections on May 4, Maggie Ellis is in a runoff election for 3rd Court of Appeals Place 2 on May 28.
Thanks to everyone who attended this month’s First Friday at Carne Lenta in Smithville. City Council candidate Cathy Meek joined us. Thanks to Theresa Murphy for lining up our guest. Our next First Friday will be April 5 at 1 p.m. in Bastrop at Las Cocinas.
Thanks for reading. Remember to like, comment, subscribe, and share. Until next time!
You’ve all been busy over there doing an amazing amount of GOTV. Way to go!