My intended speech at the Texas Democratic Convention 2010

The Texas Democratic Convention 2010 in Corpus Christi was pivotal in my motivation for running for Texas House, District 84.

I had a long speech prepared, but ended up giving bits and pieces of this speech in 24 different gatherings on Friday and Saturday. I loved speaking to people at the convention because one of my intentions for running for office is to inspire people to do things in their own way and with their own talents to make their community kinder, happier, unified, compassionate places.

Here is a copy of that speech:

My name is Carol Morgan and I’m your candidate for the Texas House, District 84. I’m proud to be from Lubbock, Texas. Home of Buddy Holly, Land of the flat open plain, we have more sky, where we can see clearly every sunrise and every sunset—a metaphor for all the possibilities—an uncluttered vision available for anyone with a dream. It’s incomprehensible beauty that is matched ONLY by the beauty of its people.

 In a time of such derisiveness and cynicism, I’m constantly asked why I would want to run for political office?

The reasons are so clear to me, just five words: I WANT TO BELIEVE AGAIN. 

 I want to believe again—to regain the visions and dreams of our ancestors who came from the political chaos of Europe, the famines of Ireland and the interiors of Mexico. They had GRIT and they had GANAS—“el fuego en el vientre”—fire in the belly-and they tamed a wild land into a place of freedom and noble possibilities.

I want to believe again. I think about the noble statesmen of Texas past—Sam Rayburn, Lyndon Johnson, Pete Laney, George Mahon, and Ann Richards. Certainly they made political deals—but they kept their people, their constituents, at the forefront of every deal. I want to be one of those. I want to believe again.

 Right now, Texas is a state of many contrasts. We are #1 in business in the United States. And I am steadfastly committed to maintaining that honor—but we are also #1 in child hunger, #1 in the amount of uninsured, #2 in the number of students who drop out of high school, I want to believe again. I’ll never forget the words of Barbara Jordan at the 1976 Democratic National Convention. “Equality for all, privilege for none.” I was twenty-three years old, I had voted for Richard Nixon in my first election as a voter and I was discouraged, disillusioned and worst of all, cynical. I didn’t want to be cynical. I wanted to believe with every part of my heart that people were at the heart of every governmental action. Those words resonated within me and they still do so today.

Yes, we have challenges, but I want to believe our difficulties are mere opportunities—to get it RIGHT, once and for all. I want to believe again. I want Texas to be #1 in opportunity—whether your name is Huang, Haddad, Kapoor or Singh, Gonzales or Smith. And it shouldn’t matter if you are Stephen or Stephanie either.

I want to believe again, that’s why my campaign is based on education, economic development and energy–these three pillars will maintain Texas’ greatness and honor Her to become even better.

 I want to believe again—that we can be a state of two parties that work together in a spirit of cooperation and mediation keeping our people FIRST in everything we do. I will work hard to make that happen. 

 I want to believe again. Public opinion of politicians is at an all time low, but I want all of us to change those attitudes—by having our words match our actions, so we can transform skepticism into trust and bring back nobility, morality and ethics to Texas. All it will take is three seats, three seats to make everyone believe again.

I want to believe again. And I want you to believe it, too. Thank you.