We Democrats may have ourselves a real candidate for Lite Guv.
Linda Chavez-Thompson, a former executive vice president of the AFL-CIO, is leaning toward running for lieutenant governor as a Democrat, according to multiple sources familiar with her plans.
The San Antonio resident, born and raised in the Lubbock area, is now executive vice president emerita of the labor organization and is also a vice chair of the Democratic National Committee. She was also a super-delegate during the 2008 presidential primary.
From her bio on the national Democratic Party Web site: “A native of Lubbock, Texas, Chavez-Thompson is a second-generation American of Mexican descent. Upon her retirement, she celebrated 40 years of experience in the labor movement, beginning in 1967 with her first work for the Laborers’ local union in Lubbock. She went on to serve in a variety of posts with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) in San Antonio, Texas, and became an international vice president in 1988, a post she held until 1996. She also served from 1986 to 1996 as a national vice president of the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement, AFL-CIO. In 1993, Chavez-Thompson was elected and served a two-year term as one of 31 vice presidents on the Executive Council of the national AFL-CIO.”
Among Democrats who know about her plans, there is already considerable excitement about a Chavez-Thompson bid. The thinking goes that her personal story — she quit school in the ninth grade so she could start working and earn money for her family — creates a contrast with Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, the wealthy Republican incumbent. (Of course, it’s worth pointing out that Dewhurst wasn’t born into wealth). And as someone who has risen to the top of the national labor movement and the top of the national Democratic Party, Chavez-Thompson has a myriad of contacts within the party from whom she can raise money. Plus, she is well-known in the San Antonio area.
Sounds great to me. The question, as always, is whether or not she can raise some money. You can be sure David Dewhurst will be on the air, where he’ll be busy misleading about the solution to the budget woes, so it will be vital for anyone who opposes him, especially a first time candidate, to get her message out. From what I hear and from what others are saying, she should have the capability of getting the resources she needs. And clearly, she’s a hard worker, so if given the chance she should be able to run with it. But first we need her to run, so for whatever my opinion is worth here, I say Run, Linda, Run!
Kuff
just looking at her bio, did she graduate from college? Does not appear so and I would have to think given how terrible our education system is don’t you think someone without a college degree would be facing a massive uphill battle. Like I said if I am wrong and she did go to college then ignore this
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John, I don’t think a lack of a college degree would be a handicap. She’s proven herself professionally. And, she would be able to speak authentically about how much harder than was to do than it would have been for someone who did get a degree, which is why we need to make it easier to go to college.
but I think not having a college degree 20 yrs ago vs today is much different. Given how abysmal our education numbers are vs other states I think that just sends the wrong message for the Dems to trot her out. On a personal level I am just not really impressed with someone that is just a lifelong employee of a union and government related work. I would like someone with real private sector skills. I guess I disagree I just think it would send the wrong msg if a non-degreed person were the party’s candidate
but since Earle has filed this discussion is moot since he is 20x stronger than her.
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