Women for Good Government

Virtual Meetings

Beginning in May 2020, WGG has held virtual monthly meetings via Zoom because Covid-19 has paused in-person meetings. Following are speakers who have addressed up to 80-100 members each month:

·       Glen Maxey, Texas Democratic Party primary director

·       State Rep. Celia Israel

·       Chas Moore, founder and executive director of Austin Justice Coalition

·       Dr. Colette Pierce Burnette, president and CEO of Huston-Tillotson University

·       Chad Dunn – Texas Democratic Party general counsel

·       Katie Naranjo, Travis County Democratic Party chair, and Liz McLeod, TCDP Coordinated Campaign director

·       State Rep. Donna Howard and Texas Democratic Party Primary Chair Glen Maxey

·       State Reps. Sheryl Cole, Donna Howard, Gina Hinojosa and Celia Israel, and Dallas City Council members Jimmy Flannigan and Alison Alter spoke in December.

·       Val Benavidez, president and executive director of Texas Freedom Network, spoke in January 2021.

·       Andrew Allison with Austinites for Progressive Reform spoke at the February meeting.

·       Anne Dunkelberg, program director for Every Texan, spoke at the March meeting about efforts to get Medicaid Expansion passed in the 2021 legislative session.

·       Carl Jones, field director for Non-Urban Rural Outreach, spoke at the April meeting about the organization's efforts to persuade rural and suburban Texans to vote for Democrats.

·       Joe Jaworski, candidate for Texas attorney general, and Mike Collier, candidate for lieutenant governor, spoke at the May 3 meeting.

·       Former State Sen. Kirk Watson spoke at the June 7 meeting.

·       Julie Oliver, executive director of Register2Vote and head of Ground Game Texas, and Glen Maxey, retired legislative affairs director of the Texas Democratic Party, spoke at the July 12 meeting.

·       Former Democratic candidate Kim Olson spoke about WomenWin, a PAC supporting women, at the August 2 meeting. Also speaking were State Reps. Celia Israel and Gina Hinojosa.

·       State Rep. James Talarico and Cynthia Van Maanen, Travis County Democratic Party executive director, spoke at the September 13 meeting.

·       U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett and Texas Democratic Party co-executive directors Jamarr Brown and Hannah Roe Beck spoke at the October 4 meeting. Also speaking were Mark Littlefield and Jeremy Hendricks about Austin propositions on the November 2 ballot.

.        Ed Espinoza, executive director of Progress Texas; Marisa Bono, chief executive of Every Texan; and Matthew Dowd, candidate for Texas lieutenant governor, spoke at the November 1 meeting.

• State Reps. Donna Howard, Gina Hinojosa, Vikki Goodwin, Celia Israel and James Talarico spoke at the December 6 meeting.

• Democratic primary candidate forums were held on the January 10, 2022, meeting. Those were: State Board of Education, District 5: Member Rebecca Bell-Metereau, Juan Juarez, Kevin Guico; Travis County Clerk: Dyana Limon-Mercado, Kurt Lockhart; Travis County Commissioner Precinct 2: Commissioner Brigid Shea, Bob Libal; Travis County Commissioner Precinct 4: Commissioner Margaret Gomez, Susanna Ledesma-Woody; Texas House District 50: James Talarico, David Alcorta

• Two Democratic primary races were on the February 7 virtual meeting. Those running for U.S. House District 35: former Austin City Council member Greg Casar, former State Rep. Eddie Rodriguez, Carla Joy Sisco and Rebecca Viagran. Five of those running for state House District 51: Cody Arn, Claire Campos-O’Neal, Maria Luisa (Lulu) Flores, Cynthia Valadez-Mata and Matt Worthington.

• Julie Oliver and Mike Siegel, founders of Ground Game Texas, and Dr. Jim Henson, director of the Texas Politics Project, spokes at the March 7 virtual meeting.

• The April 4 meeting featured candidates in the Texas Democratic Party’s May 24 runoff: Lieutenant Governor: Mike Collier; Attorney General: Rochelle Garza (via video) and Joe Jaworski; Land Commissioner: Jay Kleberg and Sandragrace Martinez; and Comptroller: Janet Dudding

• The May 2 meeting featured public school issues facing Board of Education members. Speakers were Jasmin Wagner, Austin ISD vice president; Dr. Gloria Gonzales-Dholakia, Leander ISD vice president, and Tiffanie Harrison, Round Rock ISD vice president. The meeting also included Beto O'Rourke, Democratic candidate for governor.

• Speakers at the June 6, 2022, meeting were Dyana Limon-Mercado, executive director, Planned Parenthood Texas Votes, and Ana Maria Rea, associate vice president of Advocacy, RAICES. Ms. Limon-Mercado spoke on abortion issues and Ms. Rea on immigration.

• Speakers at the July 11 meeting were State Rep. Vikki Goodwin and Ed Scruggs, a founder and former board chairman of Texas Gun Sense.

• Speakers at the August 1, 2022, meeting were State Rep. Donna Howard, former Senator Wendy Davis, founder of Deeds Not Words, and Luke Warford, candidate for the Texas Railroad Commission.

• fThe October 3 meeting featured Austin mayor candidates Kirk Watson and Celia Israel. Watson is a former mayor of Austin and state Senator. Israel represents District 50 in the state House of Representatives. Also speaking was Stephanie  Gharakhanian, Austin Community College trustee, about ACC's bond proposal.

• State Rep. Celia Israel, recent candidate for Austin mayor, spoke at the January 9 meeting. Also speaking was Luis Figueroa, chief of legislative affairs for Every Texan (formerly Center for Public Policy Priorities).

• Speakers at the February 6, meeting were Dr. Jim Henson, who directs the Texas Politics Project at UT-Austin, and Robert Norris, retired Senior Analyst of the Texas Legislative Budget Board. udge

• Speakers at the March 6 meeting were Josh Houston, advocacy director of Texas Impact: People of Faith Working for Justice, and Emerald Belmarez, Texas Freedom Network’s  Organizing Strategist and Adri Perez, Organizing Director.

• U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett was speaker at the May 1, 2023 meeting

• Reps. Vikki Goodwin, Donna Howard and Lulu Flores Vikki Goodwin, Donna Howard and Lulu Flores spoke at the June 5, 2023, meeting.