Headquarters: 701 East Ben White Blvd., Austin, Texas  Phone: 512-383-0318
 

State Director

Averell "Ace" Smith

Previously state director of Clinton's successful California primary campaign.  President of the political consulting firm SCN Public Relations.  Among his many campaigns, Smith managed the successful efforts of Jerry Brown for California Attorney General in 2006 and Antonio Villaraigosa for Mayor of Los Angeles in 2005.  He has also worked for California Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer and former Governor Gray Davis among many others.  Smith made his reputation as an opposition researcher; in the mid-1990's he headed up The Research Group.  Son of former San Francisco District Attorney Arlo Smith.  Resident of Kentfield.
 
 

Communications Director

Adrienne Elrod

Regional press secretary at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC). Worked in the press office of Rep. Mike Ross (D-AR).  Graduate of Texas Christian University.
 
 

Field Director

Michael Trujillo

Previously field director on Clinton's California primary campaign.  Described by the Daily News as "one of [L.A. Mayor] Villaraigosa's most-trusted political aides."
 

Abilene - 475 Pine Street, Abilene, TX 79604   ...Phone: 325.672.7010

Beaumont - 3350 Dowlen Road, Suite E, Beaumont, Texas 77706   ...Phone: 409.860.4418

Brownsville - 2449 Boca Chica Boulevard, Brownsville, Texas 78520   ...Phone: 956.544.4887

Bryan/College Station - 308 East William Joel Bryan Parkway, Bryan, Texas 77803

Corpus Christi - 4050 Weber Road, Corpus Christi, Texas 78411   ...Phone: 361.851.0514

Dallas - 807 Fletcher Street, Dallas, Texas 75226   ...Phone: 214-826-2008

El Paso - 800 North Mesa, El Paso, Texas 79902   ...Phone: 915.351.0812

Fort Worth - 7711 Clifford Street, Fort Worth, Texas 76108   ...Phone: 817.367.7444

Galveston - 527 21st Street, Galveston, Texas 77550   ...Phone: 409.750.9517

Houston - 201 Broadway Street, Houston, Texas 77012   ...Phone: 713.928.3187

Laredo - 1519 Washington Street, Suite 201, Laredo, TX 78040   ...Phone: 956.718.1936

Longview - 211 W Tyler Street, Longview, TX 75601

Lubbock - 4322 50th Street, Lubbock, Texas 79413   ...Phone: 806.795.9482

Pharr (close to McAllen) -1210 West Expressway 83, Pharr, Texas 78577  ... Phone: 956.787.8683

San Antonio - 925 San Pedro, San Antonio, Texas 78212   ...Phone: 210.271.2974

Texarkana - 317 State Line Avenue, Texarkana, TX 71854

Victoria - 2911-B N. Azalea, Victoria, Texas 77901

Waco - 401 Lake Air Dr., Waco, TX 76710-5838
 
 

Endorsements
El Paso Mayor John Cook and his wife Tram  (announced March 1, 2008)
and State Senator Eliot Shapleigh and El Paso County Commissioner Veronica Escobar.

former U.S. Congressman and 2006 Democratic gubernatorial nominee Chris Bell  (announced Feb. 21, 2008; previously backed John Edwards)

former U.S. Congressman and Texas Supreme Court Justice Bob Gammage  (announced Feb. 20, 2008)

(announced Feb. 18, 2008)
former U.S. Congressman and Texas Attorney General Jim Mattox
former U.S. Congressman Jim Chapman
State Senator Gonzalo Barrientos
 

Rio Grande Valley Elected Officials (announced Feb. 15, 2008)
U.S. Congressman Ruben Hinojosa
State Senator Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa
State Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr.
State Representative Juan Escobar
State Representative Veronica Gonzales
State Representative Ryan Guillen
State Representative Ismael "Kino" Flores
State Representative Armando Martinez
State Representative Rene Oliveira
State Representative Aaron Pena
more...
 

State Senator Leticia Van de Putte (announced Feb. 15, 2008)
 

former U.S. Rep. Charlie Stenholm (announced Feb. 12, 2008)
Stenholm was elected to represent the 17th CD (Abilene) in 1978 and served 13 terms until his seat was redistricted and he lost in 2004.
 

U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (TX-18, Houston) (announced May 14, 2007 as a national co-chair and Gulf States Regional Co-Chair)
Sheila Jackson Lee represents the Texas 18th CD, centered in Houston; first elected in 1994.  Two terms as an at-large member of the Houston City Council, 1990-94.  Associate Municipal Court Judge in Houston, 1987-89.  Attorney in private practice.  J.D. from the University of Virginia Law School, 1975; B.A. in political science from Yale University, 1972.
 

On June 15, 2007 the exploratory committee announced endorsements of more than 50 Texas officials and community leaders including U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar (TX-28, Laredo/San Antonio) and U.S. Rep. Rubén Hinojosa (TX-15, Rio Grande Valley).

Dallas/Ft. Worth/Waco:

     Fort Worth City Councilwoman Wendy Davis
     Tarrant Constable Sergio De Leon, Fort Worth
     Tarrant County Justice of the Peace Sidney Thompson, Ft. Worth
     Former Officer Texas Trial Lawyers Dwain Dent, Ft. Worth
     Former U.S. Ambassador to Austria Katherine Hall, Dallas
     Former President Texas Trial Lawyers Association Debbie Branson, Dallas
     Former VP American Association of Justice Frank Branson, Dallas
     Former DNC Treasurer Jess Hay, Dallas
     State Democratic Executive Committee Member John Pouland, Ft. Worth
     Former Chairman of University of Texas Board of Regents Bernard Rapoport, Waco
     State Democratic Executive Committeeman Johnny Weaver, Texarkana
     Business Leader Craig Hall, Dallas
 

Houston:

     Houston City Councilwoman and President of the Texas Municipal League Carol Alvarado
     Former Houston Mayor Lee Brown
     Former U.S. Ambassador to the Bahamas Arthur Schechter, Houston
     State Senator Mario V. Gallegos Jr., Galena Park
     State Representative Hubert Vo, Houston
     State Representative Senfronia Thompson, Houston
     DNC Member Denise Johnson, Houston
     State Democratic Executive Committeewoman Rose A. Salas, Houston
     Former Houston City Councilman Gordon Quan and Sylvia Quan
     Texas Young Democrats Co-Chair Shondra Wygal, Houston
     State Democratic Executive Committeeman Lloyd Criss, Galveston
     Chairman of the Texas Democratic County Chair Association Sharon Teal, Livingston
 

San Antonio:

     Congressman Henry Cuellar, Laredo/San Antonio
     Former Governor Dolph Briscoe, Uvalde
     State Senator Carlos Uresti, San Antonio
     Former U.S. Senator and Congressman Bob Krueger, New Braunfels
     State Democratic Executive Committee Co-Parliamentarian Corinne Sabo, San Antonio
     National Hispanic Institute Board Member Michael Soto, San Antonio
     Business Leader Kate Marmion, Uvalde
     Healthcare advocate Celina Peña, San Antonio
     Former Marion Mayor Felix Arambula
     Former DNC Director of the Base Vote Project Andy Hernandez, San Antonio
 

Laredo/Corpus Christi:

    El Cenizo Mayor Raul Reyes
     State Senator Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa, Corpus Christi
     State Representative Abel Herrero, Corpus Christi
     State Representative Juan Manuel Escobar, Kingsville
     State Representative Richard Peña Raymond, Laredo
     El Cenizo Commissioner Lesley Gonzalez
     El Cenizo Commissioner Noe Hernandez
 

Austin:

     Austin City Councilwoman Jennifer Kim
     Former Land Commissioner Garry Mauro, Austin
     Business Leader Roy Spence, Austin
     Dolph Briscoe IV, Austin
 

McAllen/Brownsville:

     Congressman Ruben Hinojosa, Rio Grande Valley
     Brownsville Commissioner and Mayor Pro Tem Sally Arroyo
     State Representative Rene Oliveira, Brownsville
     State Representative Veronica Gonzales, McAllen
     State Representative Armando Martinez, Weslaco
     State Representative Aaron Peña, Edinburg
     Hidalgo County District Clerk Laura Hinojosa, Edinburg
     Former Hidalgo County Judge Ramon Garcia, McAllen
     State Democratic Executive Committeewoman Rosalie Weisfeld, McAllen
     South Texas Tejano Democrats Chair Victor Garza, Edinburg
     Businessman Alonzo Cantu, McAllen
     Former Hidalgo County Democratic Chair R.D. "Bobby" Guerra, McAllen
 

El Paso:

     State Representative Vicente "Chente" Quintanilla, El Paso
 
 

On June 30, 2007 the exploratory committee announced its Hispanic Leadership Council, including numerous Texas members:

State Representative Armando Martinez, Weslaco
State Representative Richard Raymond, Laredo
Former Mayor Felix Arambula, Marion
Tarrant County Constable Sergio De Leon, Ft. Worth
City Commissioner Leslie Gonzalez, El Cenizo
City Commissioner Noe Hernandez, El Cenizo
Mayor Raul Reyes, El Cenizo
State Senator Carlos Uresti, San Antonio
Former DNC Base Vote Director Andy Hernandez, San Antonio
State Senator Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa, Corpus Christi
City Commissioner Sally Arroyo, Brownsville
Business Leader Alonzo Cantu, McAllen
Chair of Tejano Democrats, Victor Garza, Edinburg
State Representative Veronica Gonzales, McAllen
State Representative Rene Oliveira, Brownsville
State Representative Aaron Peña, Edinburg
State Representative "Chente" Quintanilla, El Paso
State Representative Juan Manuel Escobar, Kingsville
Justice of the Peace Sylvia Johnson, Premont
County Attorney Alfred Isassi, Kingsville
County Tax Assessor/Collector Lucilla Reynolds Alice
County Clerk Frutoso Garza, Falfurrias
County Commissioner Ysidro Gutierrez, Lubbock
County Treasurer Manuel Reyes, Jr., Eagle Pass
District Clerk Amalia Rodriguez-Mendoza Austin
Councilmember Lecho Quiroga, Uvalde
Councilmember Celestino Ramirez, Mission
Mayor Pro-Tem Charlie Rodgers, Jr., Eden
District Attorney Fred Hernandez, Del Rio
Justice of the Peace Lorraine Lopez, Refugio
County Sheriff Oscar Lopez Alice
Former Texas State Senator Joe Bernal, San Antonio
District Clerk David Guerrero, Alice
Attorney Regina Montoya, Dallas
JoAnn Ramon, Democratic Party Activist, San Antonio
Precinct Chair Heather Ramon-Ayala, San Antonio
City Councilwoman Lourdes Galvan, San Antonio
Gabriel Rosales, National Representative for National Association of Public Employees, San Antonio
Former County Judge Ramon Garcia, Edinburg
State Democratic Executive Committee Member, Rose Salas, Houston
Community Leader Rosa Rosales, San Antonio
State Representative Abel Herrero, Corpus Christi
Former Hidalgo County Democratic Party Chair R.D. "Bobby" Guerra, MacAllen
National Hispanic Institute Michael Soto, San Antonio
Hidalgo County District Clerk Laura Hinojosa, Edinburg
Larry Romo, San Antonio Democratic Veterans
 

and
The Daily Texan (student newspaper for the University of Texas at Austin)  02/22/08
 

Copyright © 2007, 2008  Eric M. Appleman/Democracy in Action