For once, in Texas, our votes are meaningful

The big day approaches rapidly in Texas Congressional District 23. Tomorrow voters from San Antonio to El Paso will decide if Henry Bonilla will get another term to continue furthering the failed Bush/DeLay agenda, or whether Ciro Rodriguez will join the new Democratic congressional majority to pursue a new course in the interests of the people of this country.

Anyone in the Bexar County portion of the district who doesn't know where to vote tomorrow, go to the web site of the Bexar County Elections Deparment and you can find out where to vote based on your address.

Mike Thomas, fellow northwest San Antonio blogger, relates that his wife has nearly reached the point of exasperation due to the numerous automated phone calls they are receiving from both campaigns in recent days -- even threatening not to vote!

For some reason, our household hasn't been subject to this deluge of phone calls (perhaps because we voted over a week ago?). Still, I understand the nuisance of a phone repeatedly ringing, especially without any human beings to talk to. Yet this is a small price to pay to finally have the chance to cast a meaningful vote.

So many elections here recently have been essentially pre-determined, whether due to excessive gerrymandering or financial mismatch. Even the gubernatorial race where the winner got less than 40% was not particularly close. This congressional race, however, is a rare opportunity in Texas in recent years.

Let's make the most of it and get out to the polls to vote for Ciro Rodriguez, taking as many friends and family with us as we can. As President Clinton bluntly said yesterday, it's all up to us whether we in southwest Texas join the 29 districts that ousted Bush/DeLay-supporting Republicans or with the 10 that came up just short.

Meanwhile, if you want to hear and see more of yesterday's rally with Clinton and Ciro Rodriguez, here is another first-hand description from a campaign volunteer. Also, another local blogger I've recently discovered, Walker Report, has many photos of the event.