Thanking all my volunteers for their help in filing my application with the Democratic primary

One of the most difficult things about running as a candidate is to file your application for an election. Yesterday, I completed the needed paperwork to have my name placed on the March 2 Democratic ballot.
I want to thank all of my friends and volunteers who got the names of registered voters to support my candidacy for Judge of the 285th District Court. Thanks to your efforts I am now listed on the March 2 Democratic primary.

With mail deadline fast approaching, now is the time to reach out to elderly friends and family

With Christmas and the holidays, it's a difficult time for many of us to add voting registration to our "to do" list. Yet, after reading the Bexar County voter information web site, I believe it's important to help an elderly relative get their ballot via mail.

As the Bexar County election office requires a two-month window to process an application by mail, it's time for my supporters to reach out to their family to request a ballot by mail. With today's online technology, it's easy for a family member to download this form and complete it for their elderly family, friends and loved ones.

Since the March Democratic primary is March 2, that means now is a good time to get these forms and spend five or 10 minutes with the elderly members. Since many of us gather over the holidays, it's an easy thing to complete and mail to the Bexar County elections office.

Once an elderly person gets the ballot, they have until 7 p.m. on the primary day to get their ballot into the election office.

As new San Antonio residents arrive, it's important to get them to update their voter registration form

When new neighbors move in, many of us provide an informal Welcome Wagon with a small gift like cookies or a bottle of wine. Yet, almost of us forget the need to encourage our new neighbors to register to vote.

Despite having some families with 10 generations living in San Antonio, there are a lot of newcomers who are coming here for a new job or retiring from the military. Many have not registered to vote. With the upcoming March primary, only 74 days away, I am asking my supporters to get their friends and colleagues who have moved to go to the Bexar County web site to get the form. According to the Bexar County voting web site, voters who want to update their voter's registration have until Feb. 2 to vote in the primary. For those who want to vote early, they would need to complete their registration form by Jan. 15.

I believe that if my supporters ask their friends, loved ones and people they meet at their local church, youth sports league or other community venue to register to vote that they would accept a voter's registration form. Just as important as getting our new arrivals to register to vote is the need to have them vote either in the early voting period or on March 2.

It's time to rock the vote and engage our new 18-year-old voters

If you have friends or loved ones who have turned 18 recently, it's time to get them registered to vote in Bexar County.

I am asking my supporters to try to reach out to at least two to three voters in the next 30 days. With Christmas and New Year's approaching, it's a good time for those of you who are big brothers, aunt, uncles, and especially those of you who are "abuelas" to make sure that their 18-year-old relative register to vote. In fact, the Bexar County Election Office will accept applications of those eligible voters who are 17 years and 10 months old.

You can find the registration cards online at this Bexar County site. I am hoping that my supporters will print a couple of them on their personal printer and then bring them to those upcoming holiday gatherings.

When it comes to voting, older people overlook the need to encourage their younger family members to register to vote. By discussing this with them at those holiday parties, it's a good chance to start these new voters on the path towards voting in every election.

Thanks to those who helped me block walk in the 4036 district

Despite miserable weather and wet conditions, I want to thank my supporters who helped me block walk. It was great to meet the voters and to hear their concerns and issues. And, I want to thank those registered Democratic voters that allowed me to put signs in their yard.

With three months and counting, it's time to focus on helping our military troops get information on voting in the March primary

As 2010 is only 17 days away, it's important that everyone who supports me realize that it's time to focus on some early voting deadlines.

Even though the Texas Democratic primary is still three months away, it's important for my supporters to focus on their friends and loved ones serving in the military. According to our Texas Secretary of State, January 1 is the first day to file for a ballot by mail.

As Matt Scherer, my social media strategist and a retired Air Force noncom who served three overseas tours, noted, it's easy for most military professionals to get a ballot from their unit voting officer. Yet, we need for my campaign supporters to reach out to their friends and loved ones with letters, cards and emails asking those who call San Antonio as their home of record to vote if they are registered to vote in Bexar County. As part of the process, each soldier, airman, marine or sailor has to request only a Democratic primary to vote.

I am asking everyone who supports me to look through their personal database and reach out to those in uniform. For each military professional, it's also easy to find information on the Federal Voting Assistance Program web site. With a concerted effort, we can reach out to our military voting base.

Say it ain't so Santa.... you didn't get arrested again!!!

Almost every child has seen the classic "Miracle on 34th Street." Personally, I like the black and white version with Natalie Wood and Maureen O'Hara than the newer version.

Now, some San Antonio children will get to see a reenactment of the famed movie trial Saturday in Judge Edward Prado's court. San Antonio police arrested Santa at the James Bonham Academy Thursday for a violation of a "church and state" statute. It seems that the North Pole toy maker can't distribute toys at public schools, so he was arrested again at James Bonham Academy.

Mr. Claus will appear in court Saturday. Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts will represent him in Judge Pradeo's court at 9 a.m. Meanwhile, other Scouts will try to prosecute him for his distribution of good will.

This is Santa's 16th appearance in court. Thanks to my colleagues at the San Antonio Bar Association, area youth get a chance to take part in a trial. However, this trial provides a wonderful opportunity to expose local Scouting organizations on legal careers.

I also find it interesting that the students from Bonham Academy will make up the jury in this trial. As an attorney and a judge, I would want to question them on their neutrality as they witnessed Mr. Claus' arrest.

However, I am sure that they will again find Santa not guilty. After all, my two children have hung their stockings with care in the hopes that he will visit our San Antonio house.

(P.S. Kudos for the San Antonio Current for their blog on this trial. Their photos of Santa Claus are something even a Grinch would appreciate.)