NO Elections: Progressive candidate Christopher Daigle

[JaneDoughnut]

From the LouisianaDemocrat mailing list (Originally dated 12/22/04):

EQUALITY LOUISIANA DIRECTOR QUALIFIES FOR LA HOUSE DISTRICT 96 ELECTION

New Orleans, LA - This afternoon, Christopher Daigle, Equality Louisiana's Director of Government and Community Affairs, filed qualifying papers to run in the special election for House District 96.

Prior to serving as the organization's political director, he served as Chairman of the Board for 10 years. During this time, he was also employed by Tulane University as the Director for the Office of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Life. In 2002, he was honored by the University with the Tulane Excellence Award for Humanitarianism. The past spring he was presented the Equality Award by the Human Rights Campaign. Prior to his work in human rights, he was employed by a Northeast bank as Asst. Vice-President of Residential Lending and the bank's Preferred Customer Program.

After qualifying, Daigle issued the following statement: "I am extremely excited and proud to run as Equality Louisiana's candidate. I look forward to representing the needs and concerns of the full diversity of citizens in District 96. My election would provide an opportunity for progressive voters to have a voice in the legislative process. Progressive citizens want "a seat at the table" where their concerns and issues will be truly addressed rather than relegated to the sidelines."

Daigle's legislative priorities include increased education reform and investment. "A poor educational system is one of New Orleans' biggest problems - it contributes to poverty, crime, broken homes and an unskilled workforce. We cannot attract new business without a properly trained and dedicated workforce." He will also work for passage of the Safe Schools Act, providing an environment free of discrimination and harassment and one that fosters the learning process rather than increasing drop-out rates.

Other legislative priorities include health care and health insurance reform, contraceptive equity, increased HIV prevention education and services, enhanced French Quarter and Historic District Preservation, advances in human rights protections for all Louisiana citizens, coastal restoration and hurricane preparedness, a clean environment for the generations that follow, and Louisiana's fair share of oil revenue.

[itzamirakul]

1. Sounds good!

His positions seem right on track

[funkybutt]

2. when is this election?

[JaneDoughnut]

3. I THINK Jan 15

But the Secretary of State website never gets this stuff up until a couple of weeks before the election.

Did find a great set of links for NOLA politics, though:
http://www.nola4change.net/?q=node/view/388

[Kipepeo]

6. Janurary 29th

They are doing well, but are in need of donations. Please, pass on his website: http://www.chrisdaigleforhouse.com/

[JaneDoughnut]

4. JAN 29 - email from Bobby Darrow

FYI:

Dear Friends:

Many of you met Chris Daigle at Equality Louisiana's "Community First" event at Smith's Cross Lake Inn this past summer, where our community honored Jerry & Sherry Kirkes of P-Flag-Shreveport. Chris is the untiring executive director of Louisiana's oldest GLBT organization and is running for an open LA House Seat in New Orleans. (Read on to find out why this election affects you.)

This special election will be on Jan. 29, 2005, so time is of the essence. With a predicted 5-10% vote turnout expected (it is during the middle of Mardi Gras season) this is a winnable race. There are six candidates, five of whom will likely split the African-American vote. If Chris can pick up the white and progressive Black votes he wins. It really is that simple.

Chris is a patient, thoughtful, caring and deeply committed individual and would make all of us in the GLBT world proud but more importantly he would serve his constituents with dignity, passion and respect.

So I write to you all today to ask that you contribute to his campaign (no amount too small). Chris would be the first openly gay or lesbian state legislator and the first openly HIV positive individual in the LA legislature.

All checks can be mailed to:

Committee to Elect Christopher Daigle, 1222 Esplanade Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70116.

I thank all of you for considering this solicitation--an investment in our own interest!

Bobby Darrow
Shreveport

http://www.equalityla.org/Community/Our+History/default.aspx

[funkybutt]

5. AN URGENT APPEAL TO YOU, OUR PROGRESSIVE FRIENDS

"It's not the will to win, but the will to prepare to win
that makes the difference."
Paul "Bear" Bryant



AN URGENT APPEAL TO YOU, OUR PROGRESSIVE FRIENDS


We've known small victories and large disappointments during the last two years as the national and state elections took their toll on our best intentions. There were hundreds of miles walked through neighborhoods, thousands of voters registered. And can we even begin to talk about the number of political E-mails?

If you were like me, you were ready to take a break from all that.

Justifiably, after the Presidential elections those E-mails started hopping again. Between reviewing the lessons learned and the calls for retribution a lot of us began building an arsenal of grassroots tactics and arguments for the next go-round.

That next time has come, my friends. And this time it's on a local level.

With some help -- your help -- the victory is ours.

Please join us as we act on a rare and exciting opportunity to send a true progressive to the Louisiana Legislature! A special election will be held on Saturday, January 29 to fill a seat in the Louisiana House of Representatives, District 96.

Chris Daigle, a long-time New Orleans resident, has an impressive record of service and of fighting for the rights of Louisiana’s diverse citizenry. His many years of community work and political strategizing along with his education and experience in finance, make Chris Daigle well equipped to represent the residents of District 96.

Chris has stood up, time and again, for fairness and equality, families and children, healthcare and education...we hope you will help him become a strong, progressive voice in Baton Rouge.

We have only a few short weeks until this election. We must act fast. And we can't do this without your energy, your hands, your hearts.

It would be trite to say "We need you." But you know the truth: We need each other if we're going to make any difference whatsoever. It's the strength of the team that turns "trying" into "getting it done."

We have to act now! If you believe in progress and change, if you want to make a difference, please join us for two special events this weekend:

District 96 Canvassing (Walking through the neighborhoods)
Saturday, January 8
The Barn
2240 St Claude Avenue (entrance on Marigny)
10 a.m. Training
10:30 a.m. Hit the Streets
(Note: You won't be alone in this effort. We have some experienced
canvassers who will show you the ropes and walk you through the steps (literally) of neighborhood outreach.
Signs? We got 'em!
Literature? Fresh off the presses!
Walk lists with names and addresses? Your clipboard is waiting!)


Organizing the Organizers Meeting
Sunday, January 9
3:00 pm
Cowpokes
2240 St Claude Avenue
Find out how you can play a role in this election. Bring your ideas, bring your spirit and energy! We want to hear from you!

Volunteers are needed for this amazing grassroots campaign!! If you can't make the meeting, contact [e-mail] about your willingness to participate.

Don't have the time or energy to offer but have some extra progressive cash?
Simply to to www.chrisdaigleforhouse.com and visit our Contribute Now page. This race is short and sweet, but it isn't cheap and we can use every penny we can find!

For more information, please visit our website, www.chrisdaigleforhouse.com, (currently a static page but should be complete Jan 7 or 8th)

With your help, we can win this seat and begin to change the face of
politics in our state.

If you've been waiting for your voice to be heard, we're asking you to make two decisions:
1.) Vote on January 29 for our progressive candidate Christopher Daigle (#2 on the ballot)
2.) Join our campaign team by registering on the website or attending one or both events this weekend.



“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.”
Helen Keller

[Kipepeo]

7. Please Donate or Pass on to Friends

Chris Daigle is a true progressive candidate who has a chance of winning in red state Louisina. Please check out his site and pass it on to others. They are in need of funds & the election is on the 29th: http://www.chrisdaigleforhouse.com/

I am not even from Louisiana, so I'm sorry for posting in your forum, but I've heard of Daigle's recent courageous comments against the state anti-gay amendment and want to help in any way possible. He ROCKS.

[funkybutt]

8. Thank you so much!

For your enthusiasm and support from outside the state. I have met Chris on several occasions and have actively voluntered for him. Although he didn't get some of the endorsements that I feel he deserved, I still believe that he has a STRONG chance to win this thing on Saturday!

In my following post, I will forward the latest call for action from his volunteer organizers.

[funkybutt]

9. Come On and Join Our Kick-Ass Election Day Team!

Three things that never come back:
the spent arrow; the spoken word;
the lost opportunity.
- W.G.P.



Remember the disappointment of losing the Presidential Election
to what's-his-name?



Remember seeing one of Louisiana's Senate seats lost to
that other what's-his name?



Piss Ya Off?



On Saturday, January 29 there is one election in the entire state of Louisiana. And ours is going to be the winning candidate because of a terrific team of hardworking, organized, kick-ass progressives who have learned our lessons and are applying our best people and the most effective grassroots tools. (And we have the best damned candidate for the job, but more about him later!)



1. We know the things to be done.
2. We've worked hard to reach the voters.
3. We've raised money, walked til our feet were sore, and talked til we were hoarse.
And Saturday is show time.




Chris Daigle, with years of legislative experience as Equality Louisiana's political director and his advocacy of equal rights for women, minorities, and children, is the right person for the Louisiana House of Representatives, District 96. As progressives, we know how many friends we have in the State Capitol; it's not nearly enough.

For weeks now, dozens of volunteers have walked the streets of the Marigny and French Quarter, spreading the word about our amazing candidate. And we've received very positive reinforcement from voters -- they want Chris Daigle to win this race.

But this is a special election. Having ten percent of registered voters show up at the polls would be a high turnout. It's close to Mardi Gras. It's winter time. It might rain. And some may think that their vote doesn't matter. In fact, a vote in this election would be like a hundred votes in a general election.

That's why we need you.



We're never gonna survive unless we go a little crazy.
- Seal



On Saturday, dozens of activists, liberals, progressives, Democrats, Greens, Independents, environmentalists, gays, and straights will be walking with us in a coordinated effort to Get Out the Vote. We have a real field plan that includes the research and canvassing we've worked hard to obtain in the last few weeks.

This election is so important that the Human Rights Campaign has sent three field experts to help. This election is so important that contributions are streaming in from California, Rhode Island, New York, and Illinois. How can those of us in Louisiana, who have been thrown to the street over and over again in our progressive efforts, not make an attempt to help ourselves and our state this Saturday?

This election is so important that I'm directly asking you to join me on Saturday to walk a few blocks, make a few phone calls, and get in on the action. And if you can't do that, I'm going to directly ask you to go to the campaign website and make a contribution.

1. Your help this Saturday will make a real difference in Louisiana politics.

2. Your help this Saturday will make a real difference for women, minorities, children, and all those who have no or little voice in Louisiana government.

3. Your help is the first step toward making the Louisiana Legislature open to the possibility of accepting a true progressive in its ranks.

Now, enough of my blabbing.

Here's how you can help right now: Reply to this E-mail if you can help us on Saturday. If you can only help a few hours, that's great. If you can give us the entire 11 hours, I'll personally rub your feet at the end of the day. (You might want to settle for a drink instead, but hey, I offered!)

Not available on Saturday? Then please forward this E-mail to your friends and consider going to www.chrisdaigleforhouse.com to make a contribution. Every volunteer, every dollar, every good deed is one more step toward victory.


Raise your voice for change! Chris Daigle is running for Louisiana House of Representatives, District 96 (New Orleans). If you'd like to volunteer for or contribute to this important, historic election to be held on Saturday, January 29, please visit http://www.chrisdaigleforhouse.com/

[funkybutt]

10. oh so close...but no cigar

I don't know if you saw this but Chris Daigle came within 52 votes of a run off in that race on Saturday. It was an incredible grass roots effort that had no endorsements from political insiders, no machine organization and very little funds and only 26 days. Despite this, Chris waged a wonderful campaign that had him battling with two candidates with much more money, all the endorsements and all of the machines. Stratigically, this was a success. We had 10 targetted precincts, taken as a group, Chris in a six candidate field, received over 60% of the vote in our 10 targets.

Kind of a bummer to come so close. We'll keep on trying.