 "Photo: Michael Baldon/The Daily Texan")
As election season draws near, many political groups in Austin are playing host to candidates hoping to win constituent endorsement.
The North by Northwest Democrat Political Action Committee hosted U.S. 10th congressional district candidate Jack McDonald on Monday night as he spoke about his candidacy and what he said pundits are calling “the No. 1 challenger race in the country to watch.”
McDonald has raised more money than any other congressional challenger in the county with $934,000, about $200,000 more than incumbent Michael McCaul, McDonald said. The 10th district runs from Austin to Houston.
“The bluest district in Texas is not held by a Democrat, but with your help, we’re going to change that,” McDonald said.
Other candidates for such positions as Justice of the Peace and various district courts in Travis County also came and briefly spoke at the beginning of the meeting. Jack Sigman, president of the North by Northwest organization, reminded members that the endorsement meeting would be held in February.
McDonald is a businessman whose high-tech company grew from eight to 1,200 employees in 10 years, and now generates more than $2 million in annual revenue. He said that he was a businessman before he became a politician, and hopes to bring solutions to the problems and issues that lie before the country.
“Our problems in this country are too big to leave to career politicians,” McDonald said. “We need folks in Washington with real world experience and real people who have experience creating jobs and balancing budgets.”
McDonald answered questions from the audience that included global poverty, trade, health care, immigration reform and taxes.
McDonald said that he is passionately committed to public education and believes in both reproductive and civil rights, and he refuses to be a “blank check” to the party bosses.
“I am a fiscal conservative, and I am very worried that we are spending ourselves in the poorhouse,” McDonald said. “We’re Democrats here, but we need to get our arms around spending.”
Dave and Linda Davis are actively involved in Organizers for America among other liberal organizations, and attended the North by Northwest meeting for the first time last night.
“I just think it’s good for everyone to hear what candidates have to say,” Linda Davis said. “Otherwise, how would you know? And how can you vote?”
The organization is one of many partisan groups in Austin such as Stonewall Democrats and University Democrats, among others. North by Northwest President Sigman said that the 50 or so attendees of each meeting are knowledgeable about topics and concerned about many issues — such as health care — that relate to them.
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