Michael Davis

03/08/06 A New Day in the Southern Sector

Barbara Mallory Caraway defeated incumbent Jesse Jones in the race for Texas State Representative District 110. We received several congratulatory calls last night. People all over this city realize what this win means for Dallas.

When you win against a machine that raised over $100,000 in the past couple of months and your campaign is working with small change, you know a new day is coming.

Barbara's race was won with a handful of volunteers. Our phone bank and office was in the same room. We beat the machine using one crowded 10x12 space.

I appreciate Barbara?s courage for running against such a machine. Radio ads that were cut to endorse the incumbent were a virtual who?s who of the political establishment. Yet and still, WE WON!

When I saw Barbara on the campaign trail with her contagious spirit and passionate message that resonated with voters, I knew something special was taking place.

I sincerely appreciate all of the volunteers who made this win possible. YOU saw through the shenanigans and a machine that fights to keep the same people in office despite our neighborhoods being in a deplorable state. YOU saw through the absurdity of having a State Rep who ?doesn?t have an office in the District because it?s not safe.? YOU know yard signs placed on vacant lots and in front of abandoned houses don?t equal support. YOU will be the beneficiaries of your courage!

I appreciate all of the voters who came out and supported Barbara. I appreciate the seniors who removed our opponent's signs that were placed in their yards without their consent. I appreciate EVERYONE who saw past the smokescreen and realized that change must occur.

I think about citizens like Denise Fowler (aka Queen Joppa) who fights for the Joppa area, a neighborhood bordered by a highway and railroad tracks and has been long ignored. I think about the 55-year old woman who voted for the first time in years because she saw a State candidate who truly cares about the community. They deserve better, and so does the rest of District 110.

I appreciate people like Dwaine Caraway, who fights for the community on a daily basis and sacrifices his own time and resources to do so.

Yes, it was a close race. I won?t address the voting tricks that were used to attempt to keep the status quo ? anybody who knows about Southern Sector politics know exactly what they are. Despite that, we still won.

Thank you, to the Sheriffs and other law officers who made sure signs were placed properly in front of the precincts. Sometimes, the people who can only afford 2-3 signs per precinct can beat the people who can afford to place 10-15 signs per precinct.

My hope is that in the Southern Sector, there are people who will consider challenging those politicians who appear to be entrenched. People without money, who don?t have a machine and who don?t have all of the so-called endorsements can feel like they can win against all odds.

You CAN win! Barbara Mallory Caraway is living proof.

Grab your seat belts, southern sector politics will never be the same.