Austin Police Association

Today, Sergeant Wayne Vincent and Detective Chris Perkins, the president and secretary of the Austin Police Association respectively, kindly took time out of their busy schedules to speak with us. The APA strives to make public safety a priority in local politics, in addition to protecting the interests of the 1600 members of the Austin Police Department. The Campaign Academy would like to express thanks to the APA and the APD for keeping our community safe!

T.T.

Name: T. T.
Age: --
School and Year in School: --

Major (if applicable): --
Elevator Pitch: My name is T. T. and I am a university student.  This is my first time being involved on a political campaign. I first became interested in politics after taking a seminar focusing on the war on terror a few years back.

Favorite Political Figure: T. R.

Favorite Musician: Bach

Hobbies: N/A

Aditya K.

Name: Aditya K.

School: Westwood High School

Elevator Pitch: I was born in North Carolina but have lived in Texas for all but my first year of life. I have had a great interest in geography and the like since the second grade. I would always pick up an atlas and just read random facts from it. Logically, this interest in characteristics of our world expanded to include politics. I read the news every day to explore what goes on in our world. 2008 was the first time I actually followed a political campaign: that of Barack Obama. Although I did a little phonebanking for local Democrats like Representative Strama in 2008, Campaign Academy is my first full-fledged foray into the world of politics.

Favorite Political Figure: Barack Obama

Hobbies: Sing Indian Classical Music; Member of high school Symphony Orchestra; read news; UIL Academics;

Jaime Salazar

Name: Jaime Salazar
Age: 21
School and Year in School: Graduated from the University of Texas
Major (if applicable): Government
Elevator Pitch: I am a San Antonian. I am an Austinite. I am a Longhorn.
Favorite Political Figure: Lyndon B. Johnson
Favorite Musician: Jason Mraz
Hobbies: Hiking, swimming, and other outdoor events.

Aylin Saribudak

Name: Aylin Saribudak
Age: 21
School and Year: University of Texas, Senior
Major (if applicable): English
Elevator Pitch: I first became interested in politics at 10 years old after being exposed to the Bush-Gore presidential election in 2000. Perhaps under the influence of my father, I was sure that Gore was the better candidate, and ever since then I've considered myself a Democrat! Starting in high school, I knew I wanted to work to spread progressive values and ideas, although I didn't know exactly how I wanted to do that. I'm excited to learn how to campaign through this program, so that I can help elect/ re-elect candidates who share similar Democratic principles with me.
Favorite Political Figures: Barack H. Obama! Some historical politicians I admire are Ataturk and FDR.
Favorite Musicians: Andrew Bird, Joanna Newsom
Interests: human and animal rights, film, folk music

State Farm Meet the Candidates Forum

Today the Campaign Academy visited the State Farm Insurance Company's cafeteria for a meet and greet for all the potential candidates in the upcoming elections to meet with the workers of State Farm Insurance. The Campaign Academy students helped Rep. Mark Strama campaign in the event by meeting the voters and acclimating them to Mark's policies and stances on key issues. We also met Valinda Bolton, Diana Maldonado, and Donna Howard at the event and chatted with them about how their campaigns were doing. All in all it was a great opportunity for us to meet the candidates as well as become more aware of what the voters care about in.

Nikhil Kumar

Name: Nikhil Kumar
Age: 17
School and Year: Westwood High School- Senior
Elevator Pitch: My Name is Nikhil Kumar, before the Campaign Academy I really had no experience in the political arena, but after a week in the Academy I have realized that I would indeed like to run for office, maybe state senator or even governor one day.
Favorite Political Figure: Barack Obama and Kirk Watson
Favorite Musician: Eminem
Hobbies: Debate, DECA (business club),  Trading Stocks, and collecting shot glasses

Students Meet Bill White After His Keynote Speech

Campaign Academy student Sohin Gautam (funny hat) waits in line to shake hands with Bill White at the Democratic State Convention.

Texas Democratic Party State Convention Trip!

This past weekend, about half of the Campaign Academy ventured to the Texas Democratic Party State Convention in Corpus Christi. We were looking forward to funny hats, inspiring speeches and awkward dancing, and the convention did not disappoint!

Representative Strama introduced us to many legendary figures in Texas politics, such as Bill White, Linda Chavez-Thompson, Boyd Richie, Senfronia Thompson, Glen Maxey, and Molly Beth Malcolm, who kindly shared their experiences and words of wisdom with us.

We had the opportunity of attending various caucuses, including ones representing Mexican- Americans, LGBT interests, and the Asian-American community, which shed light on the diversity and inclusiveness of the Democratic Party.

We also were lucky enough to attend events such as the Texas Democratic Party Kickoff Event, the Bloggers’ Bash Party, and the Young Democrats Party, during which we participated in the lighter-hearted side of politics-- including, but not limited to, networking, snacking on hors d’oeuvres, and swaying to the music of cover bands.

The convention energized us for the months ahead, during which we will be working hard to turn Texas blue! We would like to sincerely thank everyone who made it possible for us to attend this convention. We learned so much and had a great time too!

Sam Brothers

Name: Sam Brothers
Age: 18
School and Year in School: I will be a Freshman at Georgetown University next year.
Major: I expect to be a government major.
Elevator Pitch: Ever since I was young, I've been an avid reader, and this reading inevitably drew me to Democratic politics from an early age. The last decade has been a fairly alarming one to become politically conscious in, with two wars, an economic downturn, and widespread environmental degradation. George Bush gave me a clear example of the kind of political leadership I was against, and now new, inspiring politicians such as Barack Obama, Patrick Rose, and Mark Strama are giving me examples of kinds of political leadership I can wholeheartedly support, and along with that leadership, hope for the future of the United States and Texas.
Favorite Political Figure: Josiah Bartlet- even though he is fictional, his integrity, charisma and courage have never ceased to impress me.
Favorite Musician: There's no way I can pick just one!
Hobbies: Rock climbing, Model United Nations, martial arts, reading.

Video from State Convention

Sam Hull

Name: Sam Hull
Age: 17
School and Year in School: Westlake High School, Junior
Elevator Pitch: I'm just getting started in politics and this is my first campaign experience
Favorite Political Figure: Mark Strama 
Favorite Musician: Tool
Hobbies: Tennis

Elise LeGros

Name: Elise LeGros
Age: 22
School and Year in School: Senior at St. Edward's University
Major: Global Studies
Elevator Pitch: Hi! Mark Strama Campaign Academy is my first venture into politics. I decided to get involved in the political scene after studying abroad, once in France, and more recently in Croatia and Serbia. It took going across the world to understand how powerful it is to be an American, how many freedoms we have at home, and how much I take this for granted. When abroad, I have been embarrassed by our government and former president too many times and I want to play some role (no matter how minuscule) in changing that. 
Favorite Political Figure: Mark Strama
Favorite Musician: Wayne Coyne (Flaming Lips)
Favorite Hobbies: Scuba diving and baking desserts

Andrew Gomez

Name: Andrew Gomez
Age: 22
School and Year in School: Texas A&M '10
Major (if applicable):Political Science
Elevator Pitch: I have put in the time and research to learn all about the social science of politics and the Campaign Academy is my first opportunity to work in my related field. I graduate in December and hope to work in federal law enforcement and eventually study law.
Favorite Political Figure: Bill Clinton
Favorite Musician: George Strait
Hobbies:Fishing and working out

Kathleen Hoang

Name: Kathleen Hoang
Age: 17
School and Year in School: Westwood High School Class of 2011
Major (if applicable): Would like to double major in Political Science and Business
Elevator Pitch: Hi, my name is Kathleen Hoang and I'm an incoming senior at Westwood High School. The Campaign Academy has really opened my eyes because I've never done anything political before.
Favorite Political Figure: Bill Clinton and of course Mark Strama
Favorite Musician: Rolling Stones (band)
Hobbies: Reading, running, dancing, piano, violin, and of course campaigning (ish)

Rick Perry's Life of Luxury

Here's a great ad from Back to Basics PAC:

Great lunch with Reps. Bolton, Maldonado, and Howard!

Today we were visited by the Big Three: Diana Maldonado, Valinda Bolton, and Donna Howard. These women carry on the ideal of the Democratic Party, representing the minority population in politics: women. They are an inspiration to all of us at the Campaign Academy because they embody the virtue that even the unlikely can win office. This can especially be said for Diana Maldonado, who was a Democratic candidate and won in one of the most Republican districts.

We would like to thank these women for taking time out of their busy schedule to come and share their experiences with us.

Campaign Academy Highlighted on News 8 Austin

Karina King of News 8 Austin came yesterday to do a story on Campaign Academy. While we can't embed the video that aired, we have linked to it via the picture below. The transcript of the video is also included.


From News 8 Austin:

One summer program isn’t exactly typical. Rather, it's a chance to learn how to campaign, taught by those who do it best.

"You only have 30 seconds in a television ad to tell your story," Rep. Mark Strama, D-Austin, told a group of about 20 students at his campaign academy.

It's a story some of the students hope to craft themselves one day as they learn campaign tricks of the trade. Strama has conducted the class every summer before the midterm election, since 2004.

Nikhil Kumar came to campaign academy with what he said was no knowledge of how politics work.

"This campaign academy has really opened up my eyes, gotten my feet wet in the whole political process," Kumar said.

Now, the young student aspires to serve his state someday.

"The whole rush of running for state office — maybe being a state senator one day, or running for it. Or governor one day, I think I might do that," he said.

Over a six-week period, students learn from elected officials, get the nuts and bolts of modern politics and practice a campaign pitch on each other, before hitting the streets to campaign for real.

"I've never canvassed before. I didn't really know how that worked, pretty much everything I'm learning is new to me," St. Edward's University senior Elise LeGros said.

It's a new process their teacher is hopeful produces a product of future politicians.

"I don't know if I'll ever do anything big in politics, but I know that of the 100 kids who have come through this program over the last four election cycles, many of them are going to make a big impact on the state of Texas, and that may be what I'm most proud of in my political career," Strama said.

Both high school and college students can participate in the campaign academy. Students are required to submit an essay about why they're interested in politics.

The Huffington Post features Rick 'Chicken' Perry story

A national news publication picked up our protest response to Rick Perry's attempt to have a media event outside Bill White's headquarters.

Nick Wing of the Huffington Post writes:

Don't worry chicken fans, your avian friends are back on the political scene. Just when you thought the birds had gone the way of Nevada Senate candidate Sue Lowden, protesters -- including one in a chicken suit -- appeared at a Rick Perry press conference this week to call the Texas Governor a "chicken" for continually refusing to debate Democratic challenger Bill White.

GOP strategist Royal Masset told the Houston Chronicle over the weekend that he thought a debate between Perry and White was unlikely.

"There's a real probability we won't have a debate. I just don't think Rick sees it in his interest to have one," Masset said. "All he'd be doing is giving name ID to an opponent."

Perry's campaign was holding out on a proposed debate until White released his income tax returns for the years he served as mayor of Houston. White made these records publicearlier this month, however, and again called for a gubernatorial debate. Perry's camp has responded with new demands for additional financial records, but has refused to address the issue of a meeting between the two candidates in a public forum.

Campaign Academy Helps Crash Rick Perry Press Event

Perry spokesperson Mark Miner came to the Bill White headquarters with the intent of holding a press conference. It did not turn out the way he expected.

From Tim Eaton at the Austin-American Statesman:

If there was a political lesson to be learned today, it was this: Don’t hold a press availability at your opponent’s headquarters.

While Gov. Rick Perry was in China, his campaign spokesman called a curbside press event in front of the office of Travis County Democrats’ coordinated campaign, which serves as the local campaign office for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Bill White and all other Democrats running for office in Travis County.

Mark Miner, Perry’s mouthpiece, stood in the early afternoon’s sweltering heat - in a dark suit nonetheless - to try to talk to members of the Capitol press corps.

But unless you were standing inches from the sweaty Miner, you couldn’t hear anything but the chants of Democratic campaign workers, one of whom donned a chicken outfit.

“Rick Chicken Perry,” they squawked. “Debate Bill now.”

As Miner tried to address the handful of reporters in attendance, the Democratic campaign workers waved Bill White signs and tried to bait Perry into a debate.

Presumably Miner was speaking about the same topic that was on a press release handed out by his campaign companion. It said that White continues to refuse to release tax returns from his days as the deputy secretary of energy and chairman of the Texas Democratic Party.

Last week, White provided tax returns from his time as Houston mayor after much haranguing from the Perry campaign.

Watch a video of the brouhaha.