Early Voting Through Nov 2... Remember Melissa Noriega!

Melissa Noriega's City Hall Accomplishments

After being sworn into City Council on June 27th, Mayor Bill White assigned Melissa Noriega to the following committees. Melissa moved swiftly to make a positive impact on issues that affect Houstonians.

Some recent actions and current committee work by Noriega:

QUALITY OF LIFE COMMITTEE:

Issues affecting parks, greenspace, graffiti, billboards, signage, and litter

• Refurbishment of Hermann Park mini-train
• Gus Wortham Golf Course remodeling
• Old Sixth Ward Historical District

FLOODING AND DRAINAGE COMMITTEE:

Regulation and permitting functions affecting flooding and drainage, communication with affected stakeholders, coordination with other governmental entities, long-range planning for flooding and drainage, emergency preparedness as it relates to flooding

• Chapter 19 (construction in floodways and floodplains)

PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY COMMITTEE

Public safety, law enforcement, and the Houston Emergency Center

• Oversized truck ordinance
• Mid-rise ordinance

ENVIRONMENTAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE

Public health, environmental laws, regional compliance with the Clean Air Act, coordination with HGAC and other bodies on environmental and health issues

• Fats, oil and grease ordinance
• Pay or Play policy
• Nuisance ordinance
• Registration of polluting companies
• Mobile food unit ordinance

Dear friends,

Early voting is going on now through November 2nd. You can find early voting locations and schedules on my website at melissanoriega.com and at harrisvotes.com. It's also not too late to get a vote by mail ballot.

Thank you for your support and for your vote,
Melissa

Melissa Explains Perry Contributions

In post last week from Hugh at Brazos Democrat, he talks about meeting Rick:

I asked him what, if anything , he planned to do about the problem with the Bob Perry money. “What problem?” he said with a feigned look of surprise on his face, as if I were asking him about a five dollar donation from the little old lady down the street. I have little patience for this kind of passive aggressive indirectness. He wanted to pretend that there was no reason for anyone to question him about this money...

Melissa on the other hand spent much more time speaking to me. She listened and explained how they came about getting money from Perry.

In a letter, Melissa elaborates:

Dear Hugh,

May I clarify just a little? The donation from Perry I was referring to was in Fall 2004, which was not my Council race. Rick was in Afghanistan and didn't know about any donations.

I was alone, running back and forth between Austin and Houston, going into Rick's district office after a full day at work, and trying to raise money.

Rick had left for A-stan fairly abruptly, and our campaign dollars had been exhausted in a ugly fight over Alma Allen's seat--Rick had been involved in that race quite heavily, and we had no money. Normally a rep would recharge his campaign funds with a few fundraisers and move on, but I was left alone with this as just one of several challenges.

I did several fundraisers in Houston and in Austin, with the help of some of the state senators. During that time, a check came from Mr. Perry.

I asked the senators what I should do with it--I was surprised, because he did not normally give to D's, best I knew. I might also remind you that the Kerry/Perry swiftboat relationship was not particularly clear at this point. Mr. Perry is a businessman in Houston, and most electeds probably have a relationship of some kind with him.

I don't think I even asked Rick about it. I was truly petrified that if he got distracted by anything, he would die. That sounds melodramatic, but I don't know how to say it any other way. Folks applaud my performance in Austin, and my time there did give me the courage to run for city council, but my motivation was pretty basic--if Rick was worried about his House seat, he could make a mistake in some split second and die.

I have been astounded by all the Perry stuff--if we had a check from him any earlier than 2004, I don't remember it--because it was a time folks were really trying to help us; the Ausin lobby, both R and D were rousting money up, both R and D reps were calling and offering help.

We were in the news a lot; it was a tough time, and it was different than any other political experience I have ever had. It showed me what Texans are made of.

Bless you, Hugh, you got up in my husband's face, whether you meant to or not. Would he say to you (or to the bloggers as a group?) that his wife made the decision to keep whatever contributions were sent to us at a difficult, difficult time? I think not...

It is a shame ya'll had a tough interaction. Rick is a rock, and honorable warrior. I know him when he is sick, cranky, sad or any other way, and I would trust him with my life. He is strong and tough and in the fight of his life, and you are asking him about something that went on while he was gone. Something I am responsible for, not him.

My first personal interaction with Mr. Perry was at the GRB during Katrina: he kissed my hand and told me and my son that "Daddy was a hero" and he admired him. He refused to support at least one R that I know of against me, and he contributed to my campaign. City Council in Houston is a nonpartisan race, and I was in a special election that NO one thought a Democrat could win at Christmas, and I won.

Rick has a voting record, and I do, too. We have done our best to serve honorably and feel priviliged to have done so. We have worked hard and supported things we believe in, sacrificed family time and been terrified for weeks on end that we would never see each other again.

Mikal Watts has sued people.

Repectfully submitted,

Melissa Noriega

3 Events, 2 Noriegas, 1 Amazing Evening

Rick was in Austin, first at an event with Democracy for Texas, where over 100 supporters turned out to see the state representative. It was a "huge success, [and] great speech," from a comment by Deputy Campaign Manager Rick Cofer. Both Ricks then made it out to a University Democrats meeting at The University of Texas. "Tons of people, [Rick had a] great response," said Cofer. Video is expected later.

Personally, I was able to head out to see the other Noriega, Melissa Noriega, who I'm proud to call one of my city council members. She held an event at Irma's where about 150 folks turned out to support Melissa's campaign for the At Large Position 3 (election on November 6).

About two dozen candidates and probably about a dozen currently serving officials attended to support Melissa. Pictured here are Max Cardenas, President of Harris County Young Dems and new campaign manager for Manisha Mehta, candidate for City Council District E.

I was able to share a table with several friends of the Noriegas. One young lady described remembering block walking for Rick as a child, and another gentleman knew Rick from high school. I was even able to meet Melissa's father, and Rick's father - all very lovely people.

It just turns out that the table we were sitting at had some literature from Rick's first campaign. If you're unfamiliar, Irma's is full of old political memorabilia, from old newspapers to buttons and stickers, and even Rick's old information. I took the liberty to add my own piece to the history.

But some of my favorite people that I met tonight were my fellow bloggers. Charles Kuffner from "Off the Kuff" introduced himself as he was leaving, but I was happy to have met him. I sat at a table with Lyn Wall from "Feet to the Fire" and John Coby from "Bay Area Houston."

All in all, several hundred supporters showed up at multiple events across two different cities, and this is just the beginning.

Melissa Noriega Fall Campaign Kick-Off Event TOMORROW!

Golly Gee-Willikers, Batman!

In all the hub-bub, we've nearly forgotten that Melissa Noriega is still running a campaign (Houston City Council At-Large Position 3: Remember to vote November 6th!) To remind us of this fact, and to get a bunch of us supporters together, they're having a fall kickoff event (if you're lucky, you might grab a peek at yours truly, NoriegaBlogger himself!) :

5:30-7:30 PM
September 5, 2007
Irma's Restaurant
22 N. Chenevert


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Please consider sponsoring the campaign as well. Check out the invitation for available sponsorship levels.

The Lovely Mrs. Melissa Noriega Appears at Houston's 171st Birthday Party

Melissa Noriega (pictured here with Texas State Senator Mario Gallegos) attended Houston's 171st Birthday Party at the George R. Brown Convention Center last night. Although she was unable to attend the Harris County Young Democrats meeting, she was still able to win the endorsement of the organization.

Mayor Bill White and Former mayor Bob Lanier were in attendance, as well as many of our local representatives. James Rodriguez (candidate for City Council District I), and wife Wendy Montoya also made an appearance after stopping by the Young Dems Meeting. Astros Star Jeff Bagwell there, and ABC-13's Shara Fryer served as Mistress of ceremonies.

(h/t to The Insite)

Harris County Young Democrats Endorse Melissa Noriega for City Council, At-Large 3

After a bit of a rocky start to tonight's Harris County Young Democrats Meeting, Melissa Noriega once again received the endorsement of the organization. Here's how the rest of the races broke down from the Screening Committee:

District D:
Wanda Adams - Endorsement with GOTV
Lawrence Allen - Qualified
Michael P. Williams - Qualified

District E: Manisha Mehta - Qualified

District I:
John Marron - Qualified
James Rodriguez - Qualified

At-Large 5:
Zaf Tahir - Endorsement
Jolanda Jones - Qualified
Marlon Barabin - Principled

HISD School Board District 4:
Paula Harris - Endorsement

The following were unopposed City Council Races. All were Endorsed:
District B: Jarvis Johnson
District H: Adrian Garcia
At-Large 1: Peter Brown
At-Large 2: Sue Lovell
At-Large 3: Melissa Noriega
At-Large 4: Ron Green

Melissa Noriega READS THIS BLOG!

That's right! I met the Houston Councilwoman, and wife of Lt. Col. Rick Noriega tonight. I introduced myself, and she says, "Oh, I know you, you do the blog!"

I'm still smiling..!