Volume 10, Number 3
2006
Upcoming Events
Sat., March 25 State
Senate District Conventions
Thurs., March 30
Al Gore’s Birthday
In this issue:
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importance of good health care.
She is a passionate supporter of restoring children’s health insurance in a state that ranks
50th in providing health insurance coverage for the working poor. As the mother of two children who are products of
Houston’s public schools, Ellen is vitally concerned with bringing the public schools in the state up to a level we can be proud of by providing better pay for teachers.
ROADwomen contributes to Texas
House incumbents and candidates
At the February meeting,
ROADwomen voted to contribute $5,000 of the club’s funds to the campaigns of each of the following: Ellen Cohen,
Scott Hochberg, and
Hubert Vo. Members also
February’s speaker Ellen Cohen
February 21, 2006, Houston ,
TX. Ellen Cohen (pronounced
Ellen pointed out that cleaning up air pollution in Texas is inteauthorized the Executive
Committee to award cone) Democratic candidate for
Texas House District 134, made gral to better health and to bet-
$1,000 each to seven other it very clear why ROADwomen ter schools in the state because bad air leads to a bad climate
Democratic candidates, subject to Executive Comshould support her and why she for bringing new business revewill help change the face of the nues to Texas.
Texas Legislature if she is elected in November. After an
Cohen’s opponent, incumbent introduction by Muffie Mo-
Martha Wong, known as one of roney, Ellen began her talk with the “Toxic 20” in the legislaa few remarks about her perture, has consistently voted sonal history and some of the against requiring businesses to events in her life that motivate clean up pollution. She’s voted her enthusiasm for running for for cutting healthcare funds for public office against an incumchildren and against teacher bent who is out of step with pay raises. mittee approval of their replies to our 2006 candidate questionnaire. The
Executive Committee has contacted the 7 candidates and will evaluate their responses.
District 134. The talk was punctuated with bursts of applause from a friendly audience.
Cohen ended her talk by suggesting some of the ways
A long-time breast cancer survivor and the widow of a husband who enjoyed an extended lifespan after a cancer diagnosis because of excellent medical care, Ellen knows first-hand the
ROADwomen can help with Incumbent State Represenher campaign. Donations are tatives Scott Hochberg and important, but so is help with
Hubert Vo, along with chalgetting her name and message lenger Ellen Cohen, reout with bumper magnets, yard signs, block walks, and telephone banks. ceived $5,000 each for their
2006 campaign war chests.

2 The ROADwomen Register March 2006 ~ Houston, Texas
Peggy Hall and Sabina Magid
Karen Kaufman shows off the results of her winning bid at the auction.
Blake Weisser was the high bidder for elephant roadkill.
Muriel Stubbs and Melissa Taylor
Old friends from the UH Honors College,
Tanya Lunstroth and Bill Kelly. Melissa Taylor
Young Democrats Will Sheive, Caryn Small, and
Cynthia Chan visit ROADwomen.
ROADwomen listening to Ellen Cohen Ellen Cohen and Dana Hurt
Charlotte Coffelt and
Charlcye Sells
Linda Johnson with Blake and Gordon Weisser
Charlene Tanner, Jacque Fuller, Alia Najjar
River Oaks Area Democratic Women

The ROADwomen Register March 2006 ~ Houston, Texas 3
Do you have something to sound off about? You wouldn’t be a Democrat if you didn’t. SOUND OFF is our op ed section to allow members and others to express a personal opinion about something political.
by Elsie Cook
I’m sure that most of us thought that Nick Lampson is the
Democratic candidate running against the indicted Tom
DeLay to represent Texas’s 22nd Congressional District in the November election. If you’ve seen any of the De-
Lay’s political ads on television lately, you know that this is not true. The ads running before the primary elections clearly show that DeLay’s opponent is a frighteninglooking, scar-faced evil presence known as George Soros.
It’s true that these ads are being run by a group that is not a part of DeLay’s campaign committee, but they are speaking for him the same way the Swiftboat bunch was speaking up for Bush in the 2004 election. Tom DeLay’s rosy-cheeked, sweetly smiling face is at the end of every ad that promises that he will keep cutting our taxes and fighting for the people living in his district. If there’s anything Mr. DeLay hates it’s billionaires who use their money to influence elections. No, wait—he only hates billionaires use their money to influence elections in favor of someone who’s not a Republican .
I have yet to see a TV ad that mentions or even acknowledges that DeLay had opponents in the Republican Primary, much less a Democratic opponent in the general election in
November. In a second ad, there are pictures of evil liberals from all walks of life—Ted Kennedy, Hillary Clinton,
Nancy Pelosi, and Harry Reid along with Soros, Michael
Moore, and someone else—Al Franken, maybe? Talk about putting up a few straw men to knock down
by Alia Najjar
Saturday February 25, 2006 marked the beginning of a new era in American politics. The
Harris County Democratic Party’s campaign kick-off held at Drexler’s World Famous BBQ and Grill on Pierce Avenue from 5pm to 8:30 pm brought over 400 Houston and area Democrats out to show support for their favorite candidates. Booths from many candidates surrounded the general seating area and were abound with shirts, buttons, bumper stickers, and many other items to show support.
ROADwomen present Martha Cottingham with a certificate of appreciation at Harris County Democratic Party’s Campaign Kickoff on February 25th at Drexler’s BBQ and Grill.
Kellen Wilson, President of the Meyerland Democrats started the festivities by introducing
Gerry Birnberg, Harris County Democratic
Party Chairman, as a long line queued around the tables cheered him while he recognized
Braeswood Democrats and Precinct 222 De-
(Continued on page 4)
River Oaks Area Democratic Women

4 The ROADwomen Register March 2006 ~ Houston, Texas
(Continued from page 3) KICKOFF
River Oaks Area Democratic Women mocrats for their generous contributions to the party.
Executive Committee:
River Oaks Area Democratic Women were well represented at this event as well. Our own Executive Committee ROADwoman, Charlene Tanner, was introduced and followed to the stage by some of her fellow Roadwomen and eloquently presented Martha Cottingham with a certificate of appreciation for all of her hard work and dedication to the Democratic Party.
Charlotte Coffelt Elsie Cook Jacque Fuller
Muffie Moroney Alia Najjar Charlcye Sells Charlene Tanner
The ROADwomen Register
Volume 10, Issue 3 ~ March 2006
Next, Master of Ceremonies, John Cobarruvias, President of the Bay Area New Democrats, was brought to the stage to give fiery introductions to candidates. Candidate speakers included David Van Os, Candidate for Texas
Attorney General, Barbara Radnofsky, Candidate for U.S.
Senate, Bob Gammage and Chris Bell, candidates for
Texas Governor, and one of the favorites of the night,
U.S. Congressional District 22 Candidate and Tom Delay’s opponent, Nick Lampson. He has recently had media attention for his receipt of a large amount of support, including from celebrity entertainer and fellow Democrat
Barbra Streisand. Nick Lampson’s introduction began with his campaign video, followed by an empowering speech invoking a roaring cheer from the crowd.
Editor: Elsie Cook
Photographers: Elsie Cook, Don Seributra
The Register welcomes your contributions. Please submit any material before the 25th of the month.
The ROADwomen Register is the official publication of ROADwomen. All rights reserved, 2006.
Elsie’s Phone and Fax: 713-747-7260
Pol. Ad. Paid by River Oaks Area Democratic Women PAC.
Jacque Fuller, Treasurer, P. O. Box 22678, Houston, TX 77227
The state, county and local candidates were then announced, and brought to the front, where group pictures were taken. This was followed by acknowledgement of all clubs, including ROADwomen, candidates and elected officials who sponsored the event by Melissa Taylor, Director of Party Administration. Towards the close of the event the Honorable Sheila Jackson Lee, U.S. Congresswoman Congressional District 18, gave a heartening speech for Democrats concerning the exciting future for our party.
With the excitement and energy, we can continue to work toward our goal of electing many Democrats to office.
Remember to vote and vote Democratic, and do not forget those Democratic neighbors and friends who might need a ride. For information concerning the election and where to vote, visit www.hcdp.org
.
The wheels are coming off the Republican revolution, and pro-choice Democratic women candidates backed by EMILY's List are playing a big role in fighting to take back our country. Please join us to learn from founder and Presdent Ellen
Malcolm how we can get America moving in the right direction with principled, pro-choice leadership!
Join us on Tuesday, April 18th, in Houston,
Texas, at the home of Melanie Gray and Mark L.
D. Wawro for the Majority Council reception from 5:30-7:30 PM for donors contributing
$1000, followed by a dinner at 7:30 PM hosted by
Patricia and Andrew Kant at their home for donors contributing $5000 and above.
Please contact Sherry Merfish at 713-660-9971 or smerfish@aol.com
for further information. You may also register online at www.emilyslist.org
.
River Oaks Area Democratic Women

The ROADwomen Register March 2006 ~ Houston, Texas 5
Mississippi Volunteerism by Sara Jean Jackson
Having just returned from a week working in a volunteer camp on the Mississippi Gulf Coast near Biloxi, I want to report to my
ROADwomen friends on the awesome devastation, from Biloxi on the east end of the beach to Bay St. Louis on the west. Mile after mile of beach-front property has been destroyed and tens of thousands of people will be forever affected by the damage to their homes, businesses, and emotions. I also want to emphasize the appreciation of the Gulf Coast residents, the gratitude expressed without exception by everyone with whom I came in contact, from people who have been living in homes without roofs, without flush toilets, sharing food, mattresses, and transportation and also friendship, sympathy, and understanding.
Did you know that faith-based camps are providing as much as
80% of the daily assistance needed by Katrina storm victims?
Did you also know that assistance in Mississippi could be needed for the next three to five years! And, as one resident commented, “ The next hurricane season is almost upon us….”
What can interested persons do? My experience was coordinated through the disaster program of the Presbyterian church. It appeared to me that all faith groups have programs operating, and those national offices are a good source of volunteer information.
I encourage anyone interested to contact faith-based and other agencies, explore the needs, and contribute in any way that seems appropriate.
ROADwoman Sara Jean Jackson spent last week living in a tent and working to help residents rebuild homes lost when Katrina decimated the Mississippi Gulf Coast. This picture was taken near Gulf Port, Mississippi.
River Oaks Area Democratic Women

6 The ROADwomen Register March 2006 ~ Houston, Texas
Cindy Sheehan comes to Houston to ask the president’s mother to urge her son to stop the killing of our sons and daughters in Iraq.
About 200 plus protesters and the Gold Star Veterans for Peace
(with Diane Wilson and Cindy Sheehan) decided to have a Tea
Party on President’s Day, February 20th. Members from the
Progressive Action Alliance and other Democratic groups —
Harris County Young Democrats, Oil Patch Democrats, Democratic Veterans for Peace— along with Houston Peace and Justice
Center, San Jacinto Veterans Brigade, Green Party, Code Pink, and World Can’t Wait (www.worldcantwait.org) staged a peaceful demonstration and rally outside Barbara Bush’s Church.
This pin was popular with the protesters, but Barbara Bush can’t waste her beautiful mind worrying about dead American soldiers. Although ROADwomen did not officially participate as an organization, several of our members were there with their signs and banners, some representing other organizations they belong to.
John Preston and Cindy Sheehan hold the Oilpatch
Democrats’ sign .
Muffie Moroney John Preston
Cindy Sheehan and Brandon Wolf
River Oaks Area Democratic Women

The ROADwomen Register March 2006 ~ Houston, Texas 7
ROADwomen/men for Life: janet caldwell * debra danburg * roberta diddel * julie martin dokell * carolyn garcia * louise glenn * melanie gray * eva hern * pam higgins * sissy kempner * elizabeth kidd * mary laminack * phyllis segal * barbara winston
ROADcouples for Life: nancy mcgregor & neal manne * audrey & marvin peterson * lou & buddy rosenfeld * bobbie bayless & dalia stokes
Sustaining ROADwomen/men: paula arnold * maida asofsky * kathryn buford * ginny camfield * charlotte coffelt * bill connolly * elsie cook * kim ferrarie * marian fleming * sydney floyd * betsy chadderdon frantz * reba freedman * sally garwood * karen ostrum george * rhonda gerson * dolores goble * nancy harris * susan hays * gloria herman * josephine hinds * diana hobby * martha huebel * linda johnson * sheila loewenstern * randi martin * yvonne meyer * suzan miles * daryl moore * muffie moroney * tari nicolas * deedee ostfeld * jane dale owen * carol peterson * kathryn priest * mallory robinson * vince ryan * don seributra * sally shipman * carey stuart * barbara sklar * alice smith * joy stewart * kathrine stokes * kathleen stone * diana strassmann * thomas sullivan * charlene tanner * dolores tarlton * eleanor tinsley * elleanor tyng * kristine wallace * mike westergren * barbara woolhandler Sustaining ROADcouples: susan and don bankston * sarah burnett & ralph frates * ronnie & al harrison * john & virginia joiner * sherry & gerald merfish * ginni & richard mithoff * kevin dubose & glenda owen * john & nancy preston * james & charlcye sells * tony carroll & bruce smith * blake & gordon weisser
River Oaks Area Democratic Women

Dana Hurt and Leonard Parent
Sherry Merfish, Elsie Cook, Bill Kelly
Cindy Sheehan and Stan Merriman protest the war.
Ellen Cohen with campaign manager
Bill Kelly
Auctioneer Charlcye Sells
Protester holds pictures of his son who died in Iraq.
Muffie Moroney and Don Seributra protest with Cindy Sheehan.
River Oaks Area Democratic Women
P. O. Box 22678
Houston, TX 77227
ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED
Next Meeting:
March 21, 2006