Charlie Urbina-Jones' Answers to the South Texas Chisme Questionnaire

Charlie Urbina-Jones Answers

South Texas Chisme Questionaire

1. What is your vision for the Democratic Party of Texas?

Having a vision is great but having a plan is better. After talking with numerous people all over Texas the consensus seems to be that the Party does not listen. Somewhere along the way we've stopped listening and this has led to a disconnect with the everyday Democrat. The Texas Agenda is not just my vision but the vision of Democrats from all over Texas. Our vision is to bring Democrats from all over the state to the table and have an open honest discussion about the issues that effect all of us and how the Party is run.

This means the Party needs to be run from the bottom up, not the top down; we must update our procedural process & structure to run an effective, efficient and communicative Party. We must be unafraid to tackle not just the simple issues but also the most controversial and reach a consensus amongst all Democrats. It is only when the grassroots is activated and empowered that the Party can come together and work as it should.

2. As state party chair, how do you plan to implement your vision?

The entire Party process must be revolutionized and to start we need open up communication from the grassroots to the county apparatus, to the SDEC and finally to the TDP Staff and Chair. There are certain procedural limitations that have hindered effective communication and accessibility to the People, these must we revamped. I believe that since the Party belongs to the People the People should help run the Party.

We must ensure all areas, especially the neglected Frontera and rural areas, be represented properly. I've always felt that the centralizing of business, philosophies and economies leads to a death in the other sectors that are supposedly represented. With the decentralizing of the Democratic Party we will allow for the free-flow of creative ideas and creative energy to revitalize the Party. We need to also decentralize our field directors, which means the field directors should be from and live in the area they are supposed to be organizing to provide accurate and up to date information in all areas of the state.

3. How will you use technology to implement your vision?

Technology is great and we intend to use it to empower the grassroots with the tools and information they need to do their job. The Party through the use of technology can generate walk lists, phone lists, voter files, mail lists to empower the grassroots; it is through this technological revolution that we can educate and guarantee success through the state. BUT there is still a large number who do not have access to these resources, we still have an older generation, that is extremely active, that does not use these resources because they are uncomfortable with it. As the State Party Chair it will be a priority for me to accommodate and ensure that all Democrats receive the informational resources they need whether is is via the net, mail, fax or hand delivery.

4. List your campaign experience and describe how you would apply your experience as state party chair?

In 1985 I was recruited by the late Willie Velasquez, founder of the Southwest Voter Project, to run a city council campaign in San Antonio. It was through Willie and the staff that I received my grassroots training. Since then I have managed campaigns on the county, state, judicial and federal levels. Along with management experience I have participated in 3 recent presidential campaigns and worked at the grassroots level for Ann Richards' historic gubernatorial run. I am a founder of the Texas Democratic Veterans Association and was a coordinator for Veterans for Kerry. In the past 9 months I have help coordinate a mayoral and judicial race in San Antonio.

My grassroots training gives me a unique prospective on campaigning in Texas. Slick commercials, mailers and media are not enough, we must capture the thoughts and ideas of our grassroots; it is only then that we can touch the heart, mind and souls of our voters. Through the use of technology linked with the ideas of our grassroots activists we recapture our once Democratic state.

5. The state party structure is a top-down organization with SDEC representatives elected in an expensive, time-consuming, formal way. Many, if not most, self-identified Democratic activists do not know or are not involved with their SDEC representative. How do you plan to involve the grassroots in your vision of the party? That is, how do you make the most of bottoms-up ideas and energy and how do you foster ownership of the state Democratic Party amongst the grassroots activists?

After reading questions 1-4, you get the idea I am one of the self-identified activists but I do keep in contact with my SDEC members. From my travels I find that this is not the norm. I've recently begun working with a few SDEC members and activists on creating a modern Party structure that allows for more efficient communication through the Party. We're still working on it and expect to have a more detailed proposal in the next 2 months but it calls for a complete bottom up makeover. The emphasis is on honest, open communication and accessibility at all levels...everyone is accountable. If the Party belongs to the People and we are supposed to have equal ownership, shouldn't we all be held accountable?

Party leadership may come and go but the agenda must continue to evolve and to be representative of the People of Texas.

I heard Charlie speak Saturday at our PPC meeting that followed the SDEC meeting in San Marcos. I was very impressed with his sincerity and passion. I was also impressed with his daughters too.

I especially like that he trained with Willie Velasquez at the SWVP. Charlie has some very good contacts and experience reaching out to the Latino voters which are an important constituency in our party in Texas. And he has also has experience and contacts reaching out to Veterans as well.

I like his basic theme which is to empower the people, equal access to tools from the roots on up to the candidates. More open and transparent state party government, accountable to the people. Outreach to everyone, even those that are not tech savvy. Let's not overwhelm our active seniors with technology they may not want to use. Decentralization of the field directors.

All very good ideas.

Plus something that isn't in the message above - the party needs more women. At the grassroots, in the party administration structure and running for office. He said that at our meeting. Made big points with me on that one.

Sonia

He is the grassroots candidate in the contest.

In Charlie's speech to the PPC Saturday, he even thanked Glen for getting in the race. I know Charlie knows that Glen's message is a good one too. Both he and Glen are getting a lot more attention now for calling for a new bottom up approach to the State Party. I like them both. If we could have a ticket for co-chairs the
Maxey/Urbina-Jones ticket would be the winner. Or Urbina-Jones/Maxey ticket you prefer.

Both very good men.

Sonia

Charles "Charlie" Urbina-Jones was born September 13th, 1947 in San Antonio Texas to Virginia Urbina-Jones and Rudolph Oliver Jones, both of his parents were longtime activists in the community helping at-risk kids, immigrants and those in need. He is also the Great-great grandson of Griff Jones, one of first legendary Texas Rangers & one of the founders of Eagle Pass, TX and the grandson of Manuel Anaya Urbina who immigrated from Mexico to go to Baylor University and later became a Baptist minister.

Charlie graduated from Jefferson High School and went on to St. Mary’s University where he received a B.S. in geology. He was commissioned upon his graduation from St. Mary’s as a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army and was stationed at Ft. Sill, OK and Ft. Hood, TX (1st Cavalry) before being stationed with the 101st Airborne Division, as a forward observer, in Phu Bai Vietnam. He received the Bronze Star, Vietnamese Cross, Air Medal and Army Commendation Medal during his service. Upon his return Charlie served in the National Guard until 1978 and later enrolled in Texas Southern University’s Thurgood Marshall School of Law where he graduated with his Juris Doctorate in 1979.

He has worked as a geologist, a caseworker for AFDC helping low-income families and taught at Rhodes middle school, Lanier High School and Brackenridge High School in San Antonio, TX. Charlie has been practicing law in San Antonio and throughout Texas for 20 years; he specializes in family and criminal law. His law practice is based in the Westside home where he grew up.

Charlie has been an activist since he became involved with the late Willie Velasquez, founder of Southwest Voter Registration. He also helped Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient, the late Richard Louis Rocco organize Veterans Against Drugs and Violence (VIVAD). With VIVAD he along with other veterans and active duty military worked in local schools talking to children and teenagers about staying away from drugs and about leadership skills. For over two decades Charlie Urbina-Jones has championed Veterans issues, at-risk children, small business, immigrants, the environment and civil rights throughout Texas.

Charlie is married to Linda Noltemeier-Jones; they have two daughters (Stephanie Urbina-Jones & Melanie D. Cervantes) and a Wu.

He is a Founder and Member of the Texas Democratic Veterans Association: Current Legal Counsel and Chairman of the Bexar County Tejano Democrats.

<http://www.burntorangereport.com/archives/intraparty/index.html>

Wow. An activist, ex-school teacher, boomer Vet with ties to South Texas -- and I bet he speaks Spanish too!

Here is a link to Charlie's answers on STC.

Here is a link to Glen Maxey's answers.

There is discussion on both posts.

I understand that Boyd Richie will be responding soon. So check back with STC. The deadline for responses is Wednesday.