Our loyal supporters have almost paid off the debt of the 2004 campaign. The process of closing that campaign down will soon be finished. As a result, this website will have to be retired too, but a new one will take its place immediately.
Stay tuned, and in the spirit of the 32 morally principled U.S. House Members and one Senator who stood up for democracy, justice, and the Constitution on January 6,
Vanos Biography
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David Van Os Summarized Biography |
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Born: February 19,
1950, Kilgore, Texas Age: 54
Personal
Educational Background
Employment and Professional Background
Professional Honors
Ø
AV-Rated
Attorney, Martindale-Hubbell peer rating system, highest rating for
legal ability and ethics Ø
Listed in Best
Lawyers in America, Woodward & White, by peer review,
Labor & Employment Law, since 1986 Ø
Fellow, Texas
Bar Foundation, by invitation Ø
Member, College
of the State Bar of Texas Ø
Listed in Texas
Monthly’s “Super Lawyers 2003”
Political & Community Activities, Positions, & Honors
Ø
Life Member,
NAACP Ø
1985-1995 –
Member, Board of Directors, Texas Equal Access to Justice
Foundation, by appointment of Texas Supreme Court Ø
1990 –
President’s Citation for Achievement in Civil Rights, Austin NAACP Ø
1990 – Civil
Libertarian of the Year Award, Central Texas Chapter, ACLU Ø
2002 – Texas
Women’s Political Caucus “Good Guy” Award Ø
Attended every
Texas Democratic State Convention since 1974 Ø
Block-walked
for Democratic Party general election tickets in 1972, 1974, 1976,
1978, 1980, 1982, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000,
and 2002 Ø
President,
Northeast Austin Democrats, 1978-1980 Ø
Democratic
Precinct Chairman, Travis County, 1981-88 Ø
Travis County
Democratic Party Chairman, 1996-98 Ø
Ran in
statewide General Election as Democrat for Texas Supreme Court, 1998 Ø
2000-2003 –
Chairman, North East Bexar County Democrats Ø
2001-03 –
Democratic Precinct Chairman, Bexar County Ø
Represented
Austin NAACP in federal voting rights suit over Austin City Council
elections Ø
Represented
LULAC in federal voting rights suit over Austin School Board elections Ø
Represented
Central Texas ACLU in federal suit over re-segregation of Austin AISD
elementary schools Ø Traveled to Palm Beach, Florida, November-December 2000, to assist Democratic Party in vote recount efforts |
Our Continuing Mission
Message to Supporters and Allies
From David Van Os -- November 14, 2004
Over two and one-quarter centuries ago our mission in the world as Americans was forged in revolution against imperial tyranny and framed in the noble words of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. The Constitutional democracy and liberties borne by history’s greatest revolution are the birthright of each of us as Americans. As Americans we are proud of our birthright and we are proud of our historical mission. That mission continues in the heart of each of us.
Today, we are called upon to preserve that mission, and to protect it from those who seek to obstruct Constitutional checks and balances and who seek to render Constitutional liberties subject to radical Republican sufferance. Since those who currently seek to undermine the vision of Washington and Jefferson are rooted in Texas, this state is one of the primary battlefields in the fight to preserve the spirit of our Constitutional framework.
For my part, the fight continues. I am sure that is the case with you, too. While I am disappointed that political operatives of my Party, who constructed strategy this year, did not understand the significance of Texas as a battlefield, let you and I together assure the opponents of the Constitution that Texas is not a free ride for them. The battle is joined and the fight continues.
I recognize that my opponent will be declared to have received the most votes. However, I cannot in good conscience concede an election when millions of votes were cast on electronic machines that do not provide verification that the vote was recorded as the voter intended.
I am sad for the people of Texas. It appears that according to the vote-counters the people of Texas continue to be in the grip of the Republican power machine that does not serve the interests of the people. However, as they say in East Texas where I grew up, I’ll fight ‘em ‘til hell freezes over and then I’ll fight ‘em on the ice. I am committed to the fight to restore Texas to a place that serves the people’s interests instead of the selfish special interests.
Although winning this fight evidently will take longer than I was hoping, I intend to be around for a long time and I am committed to the fight. It was an honor to be at the side of so many of you in the particular phase of the fight represented by the 2004 general election contest for a seat on the Texas Supreme Court.
David
Van Os Responds to Newspaper Endorsement
Once again, a newspaper editor who should
know better displays the pro-corporate hypocrisy that has been
suffocating the people of Texas for too long.
The San Antonio Express-News editorial column of October 15 recognizes
that the all-Republican Texas Supreme Court needs balance, yet endorses
my arch-conservative Republican opponent on the grounds that I am too
partisan because I am a “populist liberal Democrat.” In the same breath
the Express-News applauds my republican opponent for being
“conservative.”
Why is it that being a liberal Democrat is too partisan but campaigning
as a conservative Republican is not? Since even to pose this question
reveals the hypocrisy of the San Antonio Express-News and the other
corporate newspapers that have taken the same position regarding my
candidacy, the real answer has to be that the corporate newspaper
moguls want a Texas Supreme Court that continually caters to selfish
corporate interests and slams shut the courthouse doors against the
people. Why should anyone really be surprised?
“Populist” means being for the people; “liberal” comes from “liberty”
and means being for the people’s Constitutional liberties; “Democrat”
means being of the political party and tradition of Franklin D.
Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Henry
B. Gonzalez, and Ann Richards. I accept all of these labels with pride,
and I thank the corporate newspaper establishment for revealing its
true colors by criticizing me for being for the people, for liberty,
and for proudly being of the political party and tradition of
Roosevelt, Truman, Kennedy, Johnson, Gonzalez and Richards.
In contrast, the Texas Publishers Association, composed of the 22
leading African-American newspaper publishers in Texas, endorsed me by
acclamation – the first endorsement by acclamation in the
organization’s 20-year history. The news organs of our state’s
historically most disenfranchised and disempowered citizens clearly
recognize the need to put a voice for the people on the Texas Supreme
Court. Their unanimous endorsement is a proud personal highlight for
me, and I would not trade it for all of the corporate endorsements in
Texas. I say to the people of Texas that we will win this battle, and
we will put a populist, liberal, Democratic voice for the people on the
Texas Supreme Court.
Endorsements of the Campaign for Justice!
| Democracy For America |
| Texas AFL-CIO |
| Communications Workers of America |
| International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers |
| Iron Workers District Council of the State of Texas |
| International Brotherhood of Teamsters |
| United Auto Workers |
| American Federation of Government Employees |
| San Antonio AFL-CIO Council |
| San Antonio Firefighters Union Local 624 |
| Teamsters Local 745, Dallas |
| Austin Black Lawyers Association |
| Hispanic Bar Association of Austin |
| San Antonio Stonewall Democrats |
| Baron & Budd |
| The Progressive Populist Caucus of the Texas Democratic Party |
| Texas Carpenters & Millwrights Regional Council, United Brotherhood of Carpenters & Joiners of America |
| Texas Working Families Political Action Committee |
Endorsements of the Campaign for Justice!
Endorsements of the Campaign for Justice!
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