Mobile post sent by ShellyBrisbin using Utterz.  Replies.  mp3

Mobile post sent by ShellyBrisbin using Utterz.  Replies.  mp3

Mobile post sent by ShellyBrisbin using Utterz.  Replies.  mp3

Mobile post sent by ShellyBrisbin using Utterz.  Replies.  mp3

Today’s show is a last-minute update. We’re on the home stretch of the campaign for national delegate. The state convention starts tomorrow, and that’s when my fellow delegates will choose their national representatives.

On this show we discuss:

• Last weekend’s pre-caucus for Obama delegates
• Campaigning via audio
• Senate caucus elections
• Choosing at-large delegates
• Interest group caucuses on Friday
• Getting disability representation on the Executive Committee
• Covering the state convention with my cell phone

Things are getting pretty exciting around here, as we prepare for the Texas Democratic convention. Lots of people are running for delegate, and many of them have compelling personal stories, and a lot of great experience working for the Obama campaign. It has been a lot of fun learning about my fellow candidates. The competition is tough, but the people are great.

I’ve produced a 3-minute audio file asking SD14 Obama delegates for their votes. If you are an SD14 delegate, please give it a listen, and consider supporting my candidacy. I won’t let you down, and I’ll report back from Denver, so you won’t feel “disconnected” as you watch from home.

Hi, I’m Shelly Brisbin, and I want to be your delegate to the Democratic National Convention in Denver. Senator Obama’s campaign is about change and inclusion, and that’s the philosophy I’ve tried to bring to community service in Austin for the past 20 years. Most recently, I chaired the committee that advises the CapMetro board on issues related to disability and transit. I’ve also taken leadership roles in telecommunications, downtown planning, and broader transportation issues, on city boards and commissions. I’m a native Austinite, and in my day job, I’m a tech journalist. and author of 12 technology books.

I’d like to tell you a quick story. A couple of weeks ago, when a federal court ruled that paper currency was inaccessible to blind users, a lot of people said to me, “Wow, I’d never thought of that.” In the case of accessibility, out of sight really is out of mind. And that’s one important reason why I’m running for delegate. It’s not enough to help disabled people, or understand their concerns. Disabled people must participate, advocate on their own behalf, and LEAD. We need seats at the table and on the convention floor, so that “I’d never thought of that” doesn’t won’t a substitute for public policy.

As an activist and committed Democrat, I care about the same issues you do; bringing the war to a conclusion, solving the current economic mess, stamping out corruption in government, and ending the erosion of our civil liberties. That’s why I enthusiastically support Senator Obama. Because I believe that his vision, and his strategies for solving our nation’s problems are the best hope we have to move beyond the nightmare that is the Bush Administration. We need to punch the Reset button on the executive branch of government.

I’d like to bring my unique perspective and my passion to Denver on your behalf. If you send me to Denver, I’ll use my skills as a journalist to produce daily podcast and blog posts to keep you updated about what I, and the rest of the Texas delegation are doing to make sure that Barack Obama is elected president of the United States.

If you want to know more about me, check out my Web site. Follow the links to the page where I describe my qualification,s and reasons for wanting to be your delegate. You can also listen to my podcast called Road to Denver, where I describe my journey from precinct, to county, to state convention, and hopefully, on to Denver. You can also drop me an email at shelly [at] brisbin dotnet.

Thanks so much for taking the time to listen. I hope to see lots of you at the state convention. I’ll be easy to spot. I’ll be wearing the red hat. Stop me and say hello, and let me tell you more about how I can represent you in Denver.

With one week to go before the Texas State Democratic Convention in Austin, everyone who hopes to be a delegate to Denver is campaigning for support. And it looks as if there are a whole lot of us.

In this episode, I start with some catching up on events from the county convention, and the current flurry of campaigning for national delegate positions. I also talk a bit about finding my own niche as a candidate, and how I’m using podcasting to get my message out to my fellow delegates.

I realize I still owe you a podcast about the county convention, where I was honored to be chosen as a state delegate. I’m still working on that. But for now, I thought I’d show you the first draft of a page I built to promote my candidacy for national delegate.

Check it out.

In short, the way to get to the national convention in Denver is to campaign for one of the available slots from my senatorial district. As a delegate to state, I can vote to confirm Obama’s share of the delegates we send to national, and I can serve on committees that impact the national platform. But my ticket to Denver will be punched by fellow delegates from my senatorial district, SD14. My job is to convince these fine fine folks that I would be an outstanding representative for barrack Obama in Denver, and that I am likely to work hard to get him elected president. The page linked above is kind of like a cover letter, a chance for me to introduce myself to my fellow delegates in terms of my personal, professional, community, and political involvement.

Tonight I’m going to an event for SD14 delegates: it’s a chance to meet like-minded folks, and for those of us seeking committee positions or national delegate status to schmooze with one another.

More later.

Thanks to all my Twitter pals for their kind words today, and to my fellow delegates for choosing me to represent the one four five.

The state convention happens here in Austin, the first weekend in June.