Battleground Texas comes to Maverick County

When first contacted about “Battleground Texas,” Maverick County Democratic Party members were curious, “What will this entail, what are the costs?” As Oscar Silva, District Coordinator for Battleground Texas laid out the plan, it involves time and effort.

Like previous efforts such as Bringing out the Barrios and “Get out the Vote” campaigns, Battleground Texas will require legwork, knocking on doors and meeting the voters. Going out and meeting the constituents, asking them for their concerns and changing the county from the ground up, grassroots politics is what Battleground Texas is all about.

A personal invitation was made by Battleground Texas workers, trainers, organizers, donors, elected officials, and keynote speaker Paul Begala, “Former Chief Strategist for the Bill Clinton and Al Gore campaigns” to local volunteer Luis Alfonso Ruiz to attend a training of Battleground Texas at the W Hotel in Austin Texas on Monday May 13, 2013.

According to various speakers at the Battleground Texas luncheon, Texas has never had a political infrastructure to help the Democrats get out the vote. Literally it was like the ‘Wild West of Politics’ the one with the most money and better control of the people won the elections.
“Texas is at a crossroads, we are at the point where we can turn it into a Battleground State. This means that people, politicians and money starts coming into the state at a greater pace,” said Luis A. Ruiz.

“We heard from one volunteer who came from Nuevo Laredo, who his mother crossed him over when he was still an infant fearing for her life due to danger from the cartels. The mother told him that she wanted a better life, a good education and a job. Now he is a Webb County Deputy Sheriff, an Iraq War Veteran and working on his college degree. This is the true American dream,” Ruiz added.

Ruiz stated that the Webb County Sheriff’s Deputy and Veteran brought the room to tears and then to its feet after his emotional speech. “We cheered him for nearly five minutes. It was so heartfelt to hear someone that had a story that seems so close to what so many families in our communities are going through,” said Ruiz.

Paul Begala’s speech centered on the American Dream, “…the fact that everyone including a migrant worker, yard worker, or the kid at a McDonald’s can be the most powerful person in America. All it takes is a good education and the willingness to work hard,” said Begala.
Battleground Texas is based on this and will work hard to promote its core fundamental principal, the voter. This will help empower the voter to stand up and say that they’re tired of not being heard, tired of not being represented, locally, Austin and in Washington, DC, and tired of the same playbook which is failing our communities and ignoring the needs of countless Texans.

Grassroots voices are changing this country on a scale that was unheard of just a few years ago.

Over the next several years, Battleground Texas will focus on expanding the electorate by registering many more voters – and, as importantly, mobilizing those Texans who are already registered but who have not been engaged in the democratic process. And will use the data-driven, people-focused approach that has helped win grassroots campaigns around the country.

From top to bottom of the ballot – it can change the face of Texas politics all together.

Battleground Texas will be a people based, metrics driven organization that is dedicated to the idea that volunteers, in their neighborhoods, can and do significantly impact local, state and national elections.

As a people based organization, Battleground Texas is focused on leadership development, training and empowerment. It works with volunteer leaders to ensure they have all the skills they need to successfully recruit new volunteers and register, persuade and turnout voters.

As a metrics driven organization, Battleground Texas understands the importance of accountability. They regularly measure their progress and hold themselves to the goals they set. They also use data extensively to ensure their programs are having an impact.

“I definitely learned a lot and look forward to implemeating Battleground Texas in Maverick County,” said Luis Alfonso Ruiz.