Glen Maxey is an educator, politician, and longtime activist with over fifty years of leadership in social justice. Known for his fearless advocacy, he has been called the “Wise One” at the Texas Democratic Party, the “Brave One” in the Texas House, and the “Hell Raiser” at the Texas Capitol.
In 1986, Maxey gained national attention for successfully defeating a proposed HIV/AIDS quarantine in Texas and later founded the Lesbian/Gay Rights Lobby of Texas (now Equality Texas). In 1991, he made history as the first openly LGBTQ+ person elected to the Texas House of Representatives, serving six terms and playing a key role in passing and blocking legislation.
Maxey’s contributions have earned him numerous awards, including the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award and a City of Austin proclamation declaring May 27 as “Glen Maxey Day.” After years as a DNC member, lobbyist, and public affairs adviser, he is now retired and writing his memoir.
Vikki Goodwin is serving her third term representing Texas House District 47 in western Travis County, which includes the outskirts of Austin, Bee Cave and parts of Lake Travis.
In the 88th Session, she was successful in passing a number of bills that serve her district and the state. To address safety issues, she passed Cati’s Act which is a drowning prevention law, and the Natalia Cox Act which is a violence prevention law. To address mental health needs, she passed a law that expands AcuDetox. And to ensure food security, she passed a law creating the Texas Food Security and Resiliency Council. Goodwin was a co-author of numerous other bills, and a sponsor of a Cottage Food Act which ran out of time and didn’t get passed.
Rep. Goodwin filed a set of bills to address public school funding, gun safety, environmental protection and more. She was a co-author on a bill to increase state employee salaries and to provide a cost-of-living increase to retired teachers.
In the next session, Rep. Goodwin will file the Affordable Rent Act, and will continue to advocate for the people of her district, the environment, a strong economy, and a sound budget.
Representative Goodwin is a small business owner, a real estate broker, and a community leader. After graduating from the University of Texas with a BBA—and the LBJ School of Public Affairs with a master’s degree—Vikki remains in Austin where she raised her children who are now grown.
A long-time resident of Shady Hollow, Vikki has been very active in her community, serving on various boards and commissions. Her volunteer work gave her insight into the need for various services in the community and strengthened her determination to help those who slip through the cracks, so often as a result of medical issues, student loans, or low paying jobs. Through her professional and philanthropic endeavors, Vikki knows which issues matter most to the residents of District 47 and was inspired to become an advocate for her community.
We’ve experienced a tough election. But what happened locally? Are there some bright spots? Is there a reason for hope? How do we cope going forward?
Join us as Kerry Stevens shares his reflection on the election and our path forward. Kerry is the Chair of the Far Northwest Progressives Super Precinct, and a Vice Chair of the Travis Democratic Party.
Folks begin to congregate around 6:00pm to order food and drinks before the meeting starts. See you there!
Bill McCamley is the Executive Director of Transit Forward, an Austin 501c3 with a mission to educate and engage our friends and neighbors about transit with a focus on Project Connect.
We hope you'll join to shake off those election-eve jitters together!
Round Rock ISD Board
Theresa Boisseau, candidate for US House District 10,
https://www.theresa4texas.com/
Dr. Merrie Fox, candidate for Texas State Senate District 25,
https://drmerriefox.org/
Dwain Handley, candidate for Texas House District 19,
https://handley4texas.com/
Krista Laine, candidate for Austin City Council District 6,
https://www.kristalaine.com/
Ashika Ganguly, candidate for Austin City Council District 10,
https://www.ashikaforaustin.com/
Currently serves as the Regional Organizing Director for the Texas Democratic Party as part of the 2024 Coordinated Campaign. Her organizing career began as a super volunteer for the Beto for Texas Senate campaign in 2018. Two years later, during the peak of the pandemic, she left teaching special education full-time and jumped into the political arena.
Katy has had the opportunity to fight for Supreme Court expansion at Demand Justice, build voter registration programs at Deeds Not Words, and managed various Texas campaigns – most recently, Luke Warford’s race for Texas Railroad Commissioner in 2022. She's spent the last year as Organizing Director at the Travis County Democratic Party.
Katy lives in Austin, TX, with her husband Andrew and cat Savvy. When she isn’t organizing, you’ll find her curled up with a book and a cup of coffee.
Heather Jefts was re-elected to Place 6 of the Cedar Park City Council after being elected to serve in Place 6 in November 2020. She previously served on Place 5, after being elected to a two-year term from May 2017 to May 2019. A resident of Cedar Park since 2005, she volunteers with Vista Ridge PTA, Education Connection, Reveal Baby Blessings, and Hill Country Community Ministries, and she sits on the Board of Williamson County Children's Advocacy Center. Heather can often be found in a swimming pool, teaching swim lessons and coaching. In fact, Heather's love of swimming has taken her full circle in her career - from being a collegiate team swimmer for Johns Hopkins University to founding and owning Tempo Swimming.
An avid sports and outdoors person, Heather's favorite things about Cedar Park are the friendly people and the many hike-and-bike trails. She enjoys running, cycling, woodworking, gardening, and reading.
Heather was born at Fort Bragg and grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She and who she lovingly describes as her "awesome husband" Richard live in the Forest Oaks subdivision with their two sons, 21-year-old David, currently in college, and 17-year-old Will, a senior at VRHS, and the family's two big dogs.
Dwain Handley is running for election to the Texas House of Representatives for District 19.
He is on the ballot in the Democratic primary on March 5, 2024 along with Zach Vance and 3 Republican candidates including Ellen Troxclair, Kyle Biedermann and Manny Campos.
He is currently Chair for Precinct 19 in Burnet County and began his political activism after the Sandy Hook massacre. He became a Neighborhood Team Leader in Richardson with Battleground Texas and eventually Precinct Chair. His efforts contributed to flipping his House District in North Texas which remained Democratic until the 2020 legislative redistricting.
He is a native Texan from Houston and has two degrees in Finance from Texas A&M University.
Monique Alcala is the Executive Director of the Texas Democratic Party. Prior to this, she served as the Southwest Regional Director for State and Local Campaigns at EMILY's List, the nation's largest resource for pro-choice Democratic women in politics. She has over a decade of experience on campaigns, including competitive Democratic primaries, and in Democratic and Republican strongholds. In 2020, she served as the Coalitions Director for the Biden-Harris campaign in the Commonwealth of Virginia. During this historic election, her team organized hundreds of voter contact, messaging, and GOTV events, which prioritized engaging communities that have been historically excluded in democratic elections.
Monique is a Political Partner at Truman National Security Project. Her area of expertise is on race/ethnicity, inequality, and political participation. She is a national parks enthusiast and a runner.
Rocío Fierro-Pérez is a Mexican, American, immigrant, queer, woman, first generation college graduate and proud fronteriza from El Paso. Currently, Rocío works in Austin, Texas as the Senior Political Coordinator for the Texas Freedom Network, a statewide progressive grassroots nonprofit. She helps develop and implement the legislative lobbying, policy, and electoral strategy across multiple issues such as– LGBTQ+ equality, voting, immigration, criminal legal reform, climate justice, education, and reproductive rights, at the statewide and local level.
Roland Gutierrez was first elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 2008. While serving in the House, Gutierrez chaired the House Committee on Defense and Veterans' Affairs on appointment from Republican House Speaker Joe Straus, also of San Antonio.
In 2020, Gutierrez ran to represent District 19 Texas Senate against incumbent Republican Pete Flores. On November 3, 2020, Gutierrez defeated Flores, winning with 50% of the vote to 47% for Flores. Gutierrez won re-election in 2022.
As part of the Texas Senate, Gutierrez serves on the Local Government, Veteran Affairs, and the Water, Agriculture & Rural Affairs committees.
Gutierrez, whose district encompasses Uvalde, Texas, introduced four gun safety bills following the 2022 Robb Elementary School shooting.
Roland is running for the U.S. Senate in 2024 to defeat incumbent Ted Cruz.
Our September 11th meeting was cancelled when we Joined the Western Wilco Dems Club to hear Lloyd Doggett.
Senator Eckhardt has deep roots in Central Texas and deep commitment to improving opportunity for all Texans. After receiving an LBJ School Master of Public Affairs and law degree from the University of Texas at Austin in 1998, Eckhardt worked for eight years as an Assistant Travis County Attorney. From 2006-2013 she served as Travis County Commissioner representing 300,000 people. From 2015-2020 she served as the Travis County Judge presiding over the Commissioners Court and representing 1.3 million people.
Far Northwest Progressives