Rachel Barrios-Van Os: her activist background and personal profile

Rachel on her background:

One of my favorite Democratic Party moments was when I was an active volunteer who helped in 1990 to bring Ann Richards to victory.

I joined the Union on my first day on the job in 1980, I was a job steward in my CWA Local Union (Local 6143) in San Antonio, Texas for nearly 17 years, and after switching careers I have stayed active in the labor movement. Today I still pay full dues to CWA out of solidarity, even though I am retired from the company.

I was campaign manager and treasurer for David Van Os, twice for Texas Supreme Court (1998 and 2004), and for Attorney General (2006).

In November 2000 when I saw how Bush and Cheney were stealing the election I traveled to Palm Beach County, Florida and served as a volunteer Democratic recount observer. Watching that malicious election theft made me rededicate myself to democracy.

In 2003 I traveled to Iowa twice to knock on doors for Howard Dean because his message of Democrats fighting back and a 50-state campaign inspired me. I got involved and served as Regional Latino Coordinator for the Dean campaign.

During my husband’s 2006 Attorney General run, I recommended to David in the spirit of Howard Dean's 50-state vision that we go to each and every county courthouse (all 254 of them) in the state of Texas and speak from the courthouse steps directly to the people, and we did it. We took the campaign to the people and I believe that 's how we should start doing things again, like Texas Democrats used to do in their winning days. Too many Democrats do not feel connected to the Democratic Party anymore and so they choose to stay home and do not participate in the voting process. Well it's time to change that and I'm here to offer my leadership.

Currently, I am the firm administrator, bookkeeper and litigation assistant for my husband's law firm representing labor unions and civil rights. I wear many hats but at the end of the day, I always make sure that the job gets done. When I'm elected to be your next State Party Chair, I will make myself available to work full-time in the office of the Texas Democratic Party. When elected on June 9, 2012, I will be ready to go to work immediately.

I'm the mother of four beautiful children, Jay (28), Kay Cee (27), Maya (15) and Leya (14).

I currently reside in Austin, so if I'm elected there will be no added expense to pay for an Austin apartment for the Chair. I’m ready to start the job and work until we get it right. The Party needs a full-time Chair—not a part-time Chair. I’m ready to work full-time, plus nights and weekends. No job is too big for me.

Regarding the state of the party, I believe that something is very wrong when we have not won a single statewide office since 1994. Let's not wait another 18 years to start winning again, let's make it happen now. I'm ready to take on that challenge. I want a party of inclusiveness, I want a party that has its doors open to the public and to any citizen who wants to help fight for the good cause of democracy. I want a party that says, yes we can win and yes, we will win.

I believe that anything is possible once you put your mind to it but most especially, even more so if you put your heart and soul into the things that you believe in and care about. I care about people from all walks of life and I care from my heart about the ideals of a true Democracy for all the People.

If you believe as I do, please join me in helping to fight this battle. I need your vote and support to make this happen, I know that together we can do this.

I look forward to seeing you all at the 2012 State Convention. The convention runs from June 7, 2012 through June 9, 2012. The convention starts its official business on Friday morning. On Saturday, June 9, 2012 the election of state party officers will take place, so make sure to be there so that your vote will count. I hope you'll join me on this day to help make it a new day for all Democrats and a new day for a real democracy.

I’ll see you all at the convention in Houston. Don’t forget to wear comfortable shoes.

In Democratic Unity,
Rachel Barrios-Van Os

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