FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 6, 2010

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MICHAEL BARNES Announces Campaign for State Chair of the

Texas Democratic Party
Candidate will hold press conference today at 5 PM
Edcouch, Texas – Local teacher and Democratic Party office-holder Michael C. “Borrego” Barnes, Sr.
announces his candidacy today for the office of State Chair of the Texas Democratic Party (TDP), which
will be elected by eligible delegates at the State Convention of the TDP in Corpus Christi on Sat., June 26.
Mr. Barnes will conduct a press conference today, May 6, 5 P.M., at the Mercado Delta, in Edcouch, at 510
N. Yellow Jacket Dr., Edcouch, TX 78538. The State Chair of the TDP represents the Democratic Party
for the State of Texas, and is statutory chair of the State Democratic Executive Committee (SDEC).
Mr. Barnes is seeking the position of State Chair because he believes it is time to “build a stronger
Democratic Party for all Texans.” As a dedicated public servant and public school teacher, he has
committed himself to serving others. His purpose is always to empower his community at both the local
and state level. “All politics is local,” he said, “but once you encourage people to get involved in their local
communities, after a time they will look outward, and they will realize that there are countless places
where their voice and their experience can make a unique and lasting impact.”
Mr. Barnes hopes all Texans take advantage in 2010 of the opportunity to bring their own ideas,
their experience and their vision to the Texas Democratic Party. “We will be a party that wins by
guaranteeing all Democrats a stronger voice,” he said.
It is time for a change in our state Democratic leadership, Mr. Barnes said, because “despite our
best efforts, we have failed to achieve one simple goal—victory—and the costs of continued electoral losses
pose at this moment an unprecedented, and unacceptable risk.” We cannot accept that in a state where
more people identify as Democrats than Republicans, it is somehow possible for the Republican Party to
control every single state-wide elected office, he said. “When you go in promising to win elections, and
you end up 0 for 29, that’s a problem,” he said, referring to the 29 state-wide offices Republicans hold.
Mr. Barnes considers it a non-negotiable priority that Democratic Party candidate Bill White be
elected Governor of the State of Texas. “That is our number one campaign platform, and our number one
priority for the Texas Democratic Party if I am elected,” he said.
Mr. Barnes believes he possesses the right experience for this challenge. “I have worked for a
President, and much like current President Obama, I have also worked as a community organizer,” he
said. He has seen politics in operation from both ends of the spectrum, and believes that his willingness
to listen, to respect the voices of all Texans and all Democrats, regardless of status, title, or position, is
what will matter most in June when delegates choose the next State Chair of the Texas Democratic Party.
Mr. Barnes holds a BA in Political Science from Macalester College in St. Paul, MN and in August
he will receive a Master’s degree in Computer Science from the University of Texas—Pan American in
Edinburg, Texas. He is currently married to Norma E. Borrego Barnes, and they are joined by a
wonderful 13-month-old son, Michael “Quito” Borrego Barnes, Jr.. As a family, they attend mass
regularly at St. Theresa Catholic Church, in Edcouch, where they have performed in the church choir, and
often deliver readings in Spanish and English before the congregation.
In addition to his current job as an 8th grade U.S. history teacher in Edcouch-Elsa ISD, Mr.
Barnes has worked as a community organizer, assisting residents of St. Paul’s ‘West Side’ in improving
voter turnout. In 2007, he spent three months working as a communications assistant in the Harlem
office of President William J. Clinton, in New York City. He is a lifelong Democrat, who has never missed
an opportunity to vote for a fellow Party member. He served, in MN, as co-chair of his Democratic Party
precinct and was elected a delegate to the MN Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) State Convention.
In Texas, Mr. Barnes serves his local community as an election judge and precinct chair. He sits
on the Edcouch Housing Authority, where he was appointed by Mayor Robert Schmalzried in 2009. He
serves his county as Director of Precinct Chairs for the Hidalgo County Young Democrats, and previously
offered his expertise as a web and tech provider to build websites for: the Hidalgo County Democratic
Party, the Hidalgo County Democratic Women, Stonewall Democrats of the RGV, and Hidalgo County
Young Democrats. He also maintains membership in good standing in each of these organizations.
WHO: Michael Barnes, teacher and public servant

WHAT: Announces bid for State Chair of Texas Democratic Party

WHERE: Mercado Delta, 501 N. Yellow Jacket Drive, Edcouch, TX 78538

WHEN: Thurs., May 6, 2010, at 5 PM

WHY: To build a stronger Democratic Party for all Texans

CONTACT: Michael Barnes: (956) 292-1950 or texbarnes@gmail.com

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