“This first group of candidates comprises a good cross-section of regions, ideologies, and ballot races,” said Anna Brosovic of Arlington, founder of the Alliance and author of Annatopia.com. “We have a statewide candidate, a congressional candidate, and a candidate for Texas House of Representatives which we believe are worthy of the intention of the Texas Netroots,” Brosovic continued.

“These particular candidates range from a career military officer trying to upset one of the state’s most entrenched, out-of-touch Republicans in the Texas Legislature to a conservative Democrat opposing the only Congressman in Texas to vote against Hurricane Katrina aide, to a former high school agriculture teacher opposing one of the Trans Texas Corridor’s greatest allies. It is really a diverse group,” said Karl-Thomas Musselman of Austin, another founding member of the Alliance and owner of BurntOrangeReport.com.

TexRoots came into being earlier this summer, when the Alliance’s member blogs launched a fund-raising drive to activate ActBlue in Texas. After raising $5,000 for this effort, the bloggers have worked behind the scenes for several weeks in anticipation of today’s announcement.

“We are pleased that we have been able to raise the funds necessary to activate this important fund-raising tool. Netroots money has made the difference between merely being competitive and winning in races all across the country, including here in Texas.  Through TexRoots, we can do our part to ensure online support and funding for many of Texas’ Democratic candidates,” said Charles Kuffner, a Houston blogger who writes OffTheKuff.com and is another founding member of the Alliance.

TexRoots follows a formula similar to the popular national Netroots Candidates fund raising solicitations launched earlier this year by blogs such as DailyKos and MyDD. However, TexRoots focuses only on Texas candidates.

Solicitations are made by individual bloggers at Alliance member blogs. Typically, member blogs will put up a post discussing the candidates and inviting readers to contribute to fund-raising efforts online. More than 20 Texas bloggers from the Rio Grande Valley and Austin to Dallas/Fort Worth and East Texas participated in Monday’s launch.

Texas Progressive Alliance

TexRoots Candidates Biographies

August 7, 2006 Launch

Juan M. Garcia, III (D-Corpus Christi)

Texas House of Representatives, District 32

[Opponent: Gene Seaman (R-Corpus Christi), incumbent] 
 
 

Juan M. Garcia III is a second generation naval aviator with multiple deployments to the Persian Gulf. He graduated with honors from UCLA, where he gave the 1988 commencement address. He earned his law degree from Harvard and his master's degree in public policy from Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government.

After completing his naval officer and flight training, Garcia received his "Wings of Gold" at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi. Lieutenant Commander Garcia flew 30 armed missions in the Persian Gulf, including an emergency landing in a sandstorm, served as a top aide to the deputy Commander in Chief of U.S. Naval Forces in Europe, and served in Operation Allied Force in Kosovo. He served on the aircraft carrier USS Constellation in support of the enforcement of the no-fly zone in Iraq. His military awards include the Joint Commendation Medal, the Naval Commendation Medal, and the Naval Achievement Medal.

In 1999, Garcia was one of 16 Americans selected to serve as a White House Fellow, the nation's premier leadership development program whose alumni include Henry Cisneros and Colin Powell, and worked as a special assistant to the U.S. Secretary of Education.

Garcia left active duty in 2004 and continues to serve as an instructor pilot at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi with the Naval Reserves.

A practicing lawyer, Garcia has chaired the Board of Citizens for Educational Excellence, and serves on the Board of Governors for Leadership Corpus Christi.

Garcia and his wife Denise, who met while classmates at Harvard Law, have four children, including twin seven-year-old sons, a five-year old daughter, and a two-year old son. They live in Corpus Christi. 

Shane Sklar, (D-Edna)

Fourteenth Congressional District of Texas

[Opponent: Ron Paul (R-Surfside), Incumbent]

Shane Reese Sklar is a fourth-generation rancher who grew up in the heart of the 14th Congressional District. He's an energetic, nationally known leader in agriculture who has fought hard for Texas cattlemen and traditional small town values. 
 
 

For the last four years, Sklar has served as the Executive Director of the Independent Cattlemen's Association of Texas (ICA) and has earned a reputation for innovation and hard work.

Under his leadership, ICA's membership doubled at a time when most agricultural groups saw their numbers shrink. Sklar also played a key role in making sure the 2002 federal Farm Bill required country-of-origin labeling for retail beef.

Recently, news reporters from across the country turned to Sklar for accurate information and knowledgeable opinions regarding the outbreak of mad cow disease in Texas.

Prior to joining ICA, Sklar was a key member of the staff of Congressman Chet Edwards, who represents a Central Texas district. As Edwards' Field Representative, Sklar traveled throughout the district updating constituents about important issues and representing the Congressman at district events. Sklar also served as the Field Director for Edwards' successful 2000 re-election campaign.

Sklar is a 1994 graduate of Edna High School, and earned a B.S. in Agriculture Business with a minor in Political Science from Sam Houston State University. He is a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity and a member of Saint Agnes Catholic Church in Edna. He is married to Jill Turner of Anahuac, Texas. 

Hank Gilbert (D-Whitehouse)

Agriculture Commissioner

[Opponent: Todd Staples, (R-Palestine), open seat] 
 
 

Hank Gilbert's agricultural career began on the family ranch—a 150 head commercial cow/calf operation in rural Smith County in northeast Texas. In high school and in college, he was active in Future Farmers of America as Area President. He was instrumental in forming the collegiate FFA chapter at Tyler Junior College, and was the FFA Representative to the Student Council at Texas A&M University.

After graduation, Hank taught high school agriculture for 13 years at LaPoyner Independent School District and in Pittsburg ISD, both in East Texas. After leaving the teaching profession, Hank has continued to work with agricultural youth both as a volunteer 4-H leader in his community, as well as a volunteer with the local FFA chapter. He believes that the future of Texas agriculture, as well as our country, depends upon the quality of today's youth.

Hank has served as a director of the Texas Simmental/Simbrah Association and currently serves as the President of Walnut Grove Water Supply, a member-owned cooperative. As the president, he has been able to cut operational expenses and reduce the member’s water rates by 35%, while still making the necessary improvements to the system.

Hank, his wife Karla, two sons, Peyton and Cody, own and operate Peyco's Land & Cattle. They raise and market registered Simbrah cattle on ranches around the Tyler area of northeast Texas. His sons exhibit their cattle at fairs and show throughout Texas and the southern U.S.

His affiliations include: Texas State Teacher's Associations, Texas State Simmental/Simbrah Association, Vocational Agriculture Teacher's of Texas, The Association of Former Students, Texas A&M University, Texas Farmers Union, Texas 4-H, American Simmental/Simbrah Association, Texas Young Farmers, Southern Baptist Convention, and East Texas Farm & Ranch Club. 

Texas Progressive Alliance

Participating Blogs

August 7, 2006 Launch

The Agonist

Annatopia

Bay Area Houston

Brains & Eggs

Burnt Orange Report

Capitol Annex

Casual Soap Box

Common Sense

Corked Bats

District Sixer

Dos Centavos

Eye on Williamson County

Greg's Opinion

In The Pink Texas

The Jeffersonian

HoustonDemocrats.com

Just Another Blog

Kuff's World

McBlogger

Marc's Miscellany

MindSpeak

Musings

North Texas Liberal

Off The Kuff

People's Republic of Seabrook

Pink Dome

The Red State

Refinish69

South Texas Chisme

Texas KAOS

Truth Serum Blog

Wyld Card

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