I am a firefighter in Austin, Texas and a Vice President-Elect for 2007. I have 21 years of service and look to do 10 more. My brother is President of his Local in Spokane, Washington and even more radical than I am.
The Fire Fighters Pac fund in Austin has become one of the most influential in the city and has a perfect record of endorsing winners. While the pac is non partisan and has endorsed some GOPers, they all have passed muster in supporting fire and public safety issues. Besides giving money we have a sign printing trailer and print and put up campaign signs allover the county. Our membership is closely divided between DEM and REP, with a few libertarians and at least two Greens. (I lean strongly Green.)
Our previous Local 975 President, Mike Martinez is now on the city council and will end up a state representative within 4 to 8 years. Fire Fighters in Austin are the #1 rated city service and #1 best liked city department. Texas is very very red, but in Austin we like our little blue oasis. BTW, Texas DEMS picked up 6 house seats this cycle one being Valinda Bolton who won in a REP district against a better financed male Air Force veteran. This might be enough to useat the Texas House speaker Tom Craddick for a more moderate REP, but maybe not.
In my reidential county that has been trending Red since shrubette was governor, DEMS KICKED ASS!!!!! WE threw out THREE incumbant REPS on the county commissioners court, and won every other seat in the county except for 1 Justice of the peace. Most of our winning candidates were women! The DEM landslide ran very very deep here.
The funniest story that just put US over the top and the REPS on the run was that our state house representative, Patrick Rose was assaulted at a polling place while campaigning on election day by the scumbag he threw out of office in 2002, Rick Green. Rose was hit at least 3 times and he didn't fight back. Voters waiting in line pulled Green off of Rose. Green turned himself into the sherriff's office later in the day and is out on bond, subject to one year in fail and a $5000 fine. This is VERY FUNNY! Green was an absolute scumbag in office, and was the challengers campaign manager.
This news ran around quickly to all the polling places, and I am sure it helped tank the Republican candidates. Rose won by over 60% and Our twice redistricted US REP LLoyd Doggett, won with over 70% This was a real laugher.
My new precinct commissioner Karen Ford, won with over 53% in an area where most thought she had no chance and aginst a 4 term incumbent Republican. The Hays County Republicraps are profoundly, thoroughly, crap kickingly routed. They had the dry rub and salt ground into their wounds and were then thrown on the BBQ. We were very happy.
Love to all, now wake up and get to work on 2008.