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GCDA Monthly Meeting Update
Come to the monthly meetings of the Gillespie County Democratic Association (GCDA)! There are engaging speakers, good conversations, and lots of positive energy. We also handle business matters at the meetings.
Our next GCDA meeting is Wednesday, March 18, at 6:30pm at Gillespie County Democratic Party Headquarters at 209 N. Crockett, Suite 1. Guest speaker is Randy Briley, candidate for Fredericksburg Mayor in May. He is a former city council member.
Also, please note that the GCDA now has a new phone number! It is 830-992-3144.
The Gillespie County Democratic Party has joined with a number of Hill Country/Central Texas Democratic County Parties to help sponsor a series of videos produced by the Bexar County Democratic Party. Take a look….
Shutting down the government. (09/24/25)
https://www.facebook.com/reel/871868852669321
Terrifying. Now happening in the USA. (10/20/25)
https://www.facebook.com/reel/719468713737147
And here we are…. (11/03/25)
https://www.facebook.com/reel/805946118901650
Time to bring about the change. (11/17/25)
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1547340866509063
50th….yes, 50th. (02/06/25)
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1143618837758044
Texas…#1…in Hunger. 30 years of Republican control. (01/04/26)
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1919316295324978
Trump, ICE, Abbott. 01/13/26
https://www.facebook.com/reel/4834630053430165
…and the Epstein Files are still hidden. Shame.
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1230155115881408
We believe in constitutional rights, accountability, and institutions that actually work CALL. SPEAK UP. VOTE DEM ALL THE WAY DOWN THE BALLOT. (01/25/26)
What you need to know about school vouchers.
A viewpoint by Caroline Eidson.
Don't know anything about the school vouchers that our governor is pushing for? Think you know enough and have decided to support vouchers?
Please take the time to get informed. The voucher program will literally take money away from public schools (that have precious little here in TX already...we rank 44th for individual student spending) and give that money (at least $8000 per student) to privates schools, charter schools, and homeschooling families.
This is all couched under the term "school choice," which sounds great, but here's what's important to understand about private schools in particular:
* They are not held accountable to state standards, and they do not have to employ trained educators.
*They are not required to accept and educate students with special needs. Public schools are, and they DO.
And here's something else: Our rural Texas communities don't have access to a range of private schools. Where will students go? And will the private schools in our rural communities even accept them if they have special needs?
A couple of facts:
*5.4 MILLION children attend public schools in TX.
*290,000 children attend private schools in TX.
AGAIN, where are all these millions of children going to go if their families choose the voucher route?
And did you know...research does NOT demonstrate that vouchers result in academic gains as measured by tests. In fact, recent research shows that low-income students actually fare WORSE under vouchers.
Here's how the voucher approach is working out in AZ since its adoption in 2022: Almost half of voucher recipients live in the state's wealthiest areas, and families are opting to spend voucher money on activities ranging from martial arts to skiing and kayaking.
Important question: Do you want your taxpayer money to go to paying tuitions at non-public schools? Do you want it to go to wealthy families who can use it for just about anything deemed "educational"?
Want to get better informed?
Listen to The Voucher Scam podcast.
Read The Privateers by Josh Cowen.
Talk to FISD trustees and administrators who've been pushing back against vouchers.
Research political candidates and what they stand for.
And finally, VOTE like the future of public education depends on it. Because it does.
Why I Am a Democrat
Excerpt from a speech by Graham Nessler given at the 9/11 event (2024)
I am a Democrat because I believe that Kamala Harris and Tim Walz offer a fairer, juster, freer, and more equal America. By contrast, Trump and the Republicans have laid out a starkly different vision for America in Project 2025. This is a document outlining a regressive and reactionary plan for an America which would leave us poorer, less free, and even more unequal. Google “Project 2025” yourself and see for yourself how harmful its proposals would be for America.
I am a Democrat because I believe our system of democratic government and basic rights is worth fighting for.
I am a Democrat because I want to see my five nieces grow up to actually have equal rights!
I am a Democrat because I want people to be free to love whom they love and to live the gender identity that makes sense for them. Nobody else can dictate that for them.
I am a Democrat because I want people to be free to choose which religion to follow, or to choose no religion if that is what their preference is. I don’t want to live in a Christian nationalist theocracy where others impose their own rigid ideologies onto me.
I am a Democrat because I want to remove discriminatory and financial barriers that prevent some from being able to reach their full potential. I believe that when the economy works for everyone, not just those at the top, our nation as a whole benefits. Most of the past forty years have seen the steady redistribution of wealth from ordinary people to CEOs and the 1%. Biden and Harris have done an admirable job of helping to level the playing field, and as President, Kamala Harris will continue to fight for ordinary people.
I am a Democrat because I believe that every American, regardless of where they live, their political preference, or their race, ought to be able to vote. I reject the efforts of Republican state governments such as ours to restrict access to the ballot and I applaud the policies of some other states that mail a ballot to every registered voter before each election. And I reject the hypocrisy of Republicans who oppose restoring voting rights to convicted felons yet slavishly support their own convicted felon, Donald Trump.
I am a Democrat because I believe that, as Tim Walz has said, I may not make the same personal choices as my neighbor, but what they do in their own lives is none of my damn business. I want religious fundamentalists out of the bedroom, politicians out of the doctor’s office, and theocrats out of our public schools!
Helping a Good Cause
Members of GCDA deliver a $1400 donation from the GCDA Memorial Fund to help with construction of the new Little Hearts Child Development Center.
Pictured are Charlotte Freeborn, GCDA President, Barbara Elmore, GCDA Vice President, Cindy Heifner, Executive Director Needs Council, Laurie Jenschke, President of Little Hearts Board of Directors, Brenda Cole, GCDA Treasurer
As a part of his 49-stop Drive Across Texas tour, Beto O’Rourke was in Fredericksburg for a town hall that drew just under 800 people.
Comptroller candidate Janet Dudding accompanied Beto at the Aug. 17 event
Enthusiastic Beto fans both young and old lined up after the town hall for a photo with the candidate
Fredericksburg German heritage and communities support Beto "Wir Lieben Beto" | We Love Beto |
GCDA July 4th Parade & Picnic
Gillespie County Democrats helped to support and staff the first Celebration of Books held at Münch Park on May 14. Over 200 people visited throughout the day to hear music from Los Texmaniacs, readings by local authors, and a variety of speakers, including Suzette Baker, the librarian fired in Llano because she refused to remove books from the shelves. Free books for children and adults were available along with face painting and reading circles.
Carol Wichman staffed the free book booth and enjoyed sharing her love of books with children and adults who attended.
Local author R. Joseph Rodriguez head from the classic children’s book “Cordouroy”.
Tony Diaz, of El Librotraficante, broadcasted live from the event and talked about his fight to keep Hispanic heritage studies in schools. He presented the local party with Hispanic heritage books for both children and adults.
Thank you for your donations!
Our cookie project raised $1,900 on the second Saturday for a total of $2,700 headed to the Direct Relief organization providing medical supplies in Ukraine.
A huge thanks to Dawn Neilon of Dawn Makes Cakes who supplied the dozens and dozens of cookies for the project and to everyone who supported this effort by purchasing cookies!