Are you wondering about the Highway 290 traffic tie-up on the west side of Johnson City last Sunday, August 5? It was the result of the more than 700 people who attended the Town Hall with Beto O'Rourke, Democratic nominee for US Senate.
The town hall brought people to Johnson City from all over the Hill Country to hear the Congressman from El Paso talk about his historic tour of all 254 Texas counties and his vision for Texas.
O'Rourke gave attendees everything he had, speaking under the live oaks at the 290 Vinery on a hot afternoon. He spoke passionately about the legacy of President Lyndon Johnson, his war on poverty, passage of the Civil Rights and Voting Rights Acts, and establishment of Medicare.
O'Rourke said Texas Democrats must lead the way to ensure healthcare for all Americans; take back public school education so that teachers can teach; care for retired teachers rather than treating them like a public enemy; and stop taking kids from their parents and putting them in tent cities. “I want to make sure that Texas leads the way on immigration. We're going to stop the small stuff, the fear,” he said. “[Mexicans] are not an infestation that should be walled out. They are our fellow humans.”
“No matter how tough the political consequences, we must start thinking about the generations that follow ours,” O'Rourke continued. “We have played it too safe in this state, too middle of the road. That doesn't describe the Texas I know. We are a proud, confident, strong people.”
A unique aspect of O'Rourke's campaign is that he is not accepting donations from corporate Political Action Committees (PACs). He raised $10.4 million in the second quarter, with an average donation of $33 from 215,714 individuals.
The town hall, hosted by the Blanco County Democrats, had a significant economic impact on shops and restaurants in Johnson City, with many reporting unusually busy afternoons for a Sunday in August. The Johnson City Police Department assisted with traffic management. To learn more about Beto O'Rourke, visit betofortexas.com.
