“Paula Hightower Pierson has a strong record of being a champion for public safety issues on city council and in the State Legislature,” said Jason Farris, President of the Grand Prairie Fire Fighters Association.

My commitment to public safety has never wavered during my work in the community and service on the city council and in the state legislature. I was serving on the Arlington City Council in 1996 when Amber Hagerman was abducted. I will never forget sitting with Amber’s mother and grandmother that first night during their torment, hoping Amber was safe.  After the tragedy was discovered, I promised both women that I would work in any position I ever held to prevent such heartbreak from happening again.

That day is seared into my memory and is one of the reasons I worked so hard during my first session in the Legislature to pass Jessica’s Law and strengthen penalties against child predators.

JJ Wallice, President of the Grand Prairie Police Association said, “The residents of Arlington and Grand Prairie can count on Paula to do what is right for our community. Her success in getting new laws passed through the Texas Legislature has made our community a safer and better place for everyone.”

The entire episode was so strange that it caught the attention of a Washington, DC based research group – the Lone Star Project, which has close ties to Chris Turner’s campaign.  After examining the digital signature on graphics in the email, the Lone Star Project has alleged that my other opponent, Dr. Vickie Barnett, may be responsible.

I have met Dr. Barnett on several occasions and find her to be a bright young woman who cares about our community. So, until there is evidence to the contrary, I am not going to question her or her campaign’s integrity. That being said, I call on whoever is responsible for these Machiavellian email games to stop immediately. It is a distraction and we don’t have time for it.

As Democrats, we need to be 100% focused on standing up to Rick Perry and these extremist Republicans that are hell bent on destroying public education in our state and dooming the work force of tomorrow. That is why I am running.  I have been fighting for this community for over 30 years now and it is going to take a lot more than anonymous attacks from a fake gmail account to back me down.

Join us. Let’s roll up our sleeves together and take back Texas!

Democratically yours-

Paula Hightower Pierson

Our supporters were in the field, going door to door, talking to voters about our plan to protect public education, create quality jobs and fight back against Rick Perry and his destructive policies. At the end of the evening, a supporter forwarded me an anonymous email she had received attacking me and propping up one of my opponents by lying about my record of service to our community. I couldn’t have been more pleased.

There is an age old saying in politics: “If you’re winning, focus on your record. If you’re losing, attack the leader.”

The facts about my record:

• I am a wife, mother, small businesswoman, and active member of First Christian Church who has called our community home for over forty years.
  
• I co-founded the Alliance for Children, which has protected twenty-five thousand children from continued abuse. I helped start the Arlington Night Shelter to provide emergency shelter for the homeless.
  
• As your Democratic State Representative I protected our public education system from cuts and expanded access to CHIP — the Children’s Health Insurance Program.
  
• President Bill Clinton appointed me to the Small Business Administration Advisory Council and I joined with Gov. Ann Richards to successfully fight against the closure of the Arlington GM Assemble Plant.
  
• I have spent my career working FOR our community – as a state representative, a city council member and small businesswoman.

As your District 101 Democratic State Representative I will continue fighting to make our community a better place for all Texans.

But – good luck and traditions aside – I know that winning elections takes hard work, dedication and financial resources.

I face a serious challenge in the Democratic Primary. I need your help in order to continue working for the families of Arlington and Grand Prairie. Your contribution today of $10, $25, $50 or $100 will help me celebrate my birthday by generating the financial resources I need to win this election.

I have been on the front lines volunteering and working to make our community better for more than forty years. District 101 is my home and I will fight to protect everyone in it. Almost two-thirds of House District 101 is my former District 93 and I have had the honor of representing nearly 98% of District 101 as either a State Representative or as a City Council member.

Please help me return to Austin in 2013 with your generous contribution of $10, $25, $50 or $100 today. I vow to lead the fight for our Democratic principles – securing better jobs for our community, fully supporting a quality public education system and restoring fairness for all Texans.

Thank you-

Tim Cole was convicted of rape in 1985 and sentenced to 25 years in prison. Prior to his trial and several time while he was incarcerated, Tim was offered probation or parole if he would just admit his guilt. Tim steadfastly refused to plead guilty to a crime he did not commit. He trusted that the justice system would eventually prove his innocence. While in prison he wrote a letter to his brother in which he said, ‘I still believe in the Justice system, even though it does not believe in me.’

Timothy Cole died of an asthma attack in 1999 while still incarcerated. He died never knowing that four years prior someone else has confessed to the crime for which he was imprisoned. Following Tim’s death, his family and the Innocence Project of Texas learned of the confession that had been sent to the police four years prior. DNA testing conducted on crime scene evidence excluded Cole as the perpetrator. A Texas judge officially exonerated Tim at an unprecedented posthumous hearing on April 7, 2009.

While serving in the Texas House, I proudly supported passage of the Timothy Cole Act, which increased compensation for those wrongfully convicted, expanded services offered to the exonerated after their release and added compensation for the family of someone exonerated after death. Most importantly, we created the Timothy Cole Advisory Panel on Wrongful Convictions in 2009 to help prevent similar tragedies across the state.

I am running for re-election so I can continue fighting for Texans like Timothy Cole and their families. I consider it not only an honor but also my responsibility to be the voice for those struggling to be heard. This election will not be easy. For the first time in my life I am facing a Primary challenge. I’m confident, though, that with hard work and the help of friends and supporters like you, we will prevail for the residents of Arlington and Grand Prairie.

Thank You-

Paula Hightower Pierson

I do want to take a moment and say how truly humbled I am at being nominated for the MLK Award in Government this year.  I am honored to join with those who have been nominated for this recognition throughout the years and know that their contributions to our community have truly made a difference in Arlington.

The Grand Prairie Annual MLK Parade is a fantastic parade and will start at 10am Monday morning. The parade begins at City Hall (317 College Street).

I hope to see you at some of the events!

Michael Li has a great blog that is a must read for those interested in following the case closer. http://txredistricting.org/

The close of 2011 allows us to reflect on the successes and challenges we’ve faced throughout this year and reaffirms the importance of family, friends and community. As you celebrate (safely) this evening, remember that by working together we can fulfill the promise and potential of the coming year for all Texas families.

I wish you and yours a very Happy New Year, with hope for a safe, prosperous and peaceful 2012.

Being a candidate means that I have to do some things you so patiently and lovingly taught me weren’t “proper.”

I have to talk about myself. I know that it may look like bragging, but voters need to know who I am, what my record of public service is and why I’m asking them to trust me to represent them.

And since I don’t know all of them personally, I have to talk to strangers. Yes, I could sugarcoat it by calling them constituents, but let’s face it, when I have to knock on someone’s door and introduce myself to them, they’re strangers. I hope, though, that they won’t stay strangers and that I can truly call all of my constituents “friends.”

Finally, I know that it goes against everything you taught me, but I have to ask my friends to support me with their money and their time. I simply can’t do it all myself. A campaign can’t get their message out to voters and be successful without the investment of literally hundreds of folks, and I need help from every one of them.

Mom, you also taught me to fight for our values – quality education, women’s issues, safe neighborhoods, and good jobs for all Texans. So I hope you’ll forgive me for these things I have to do to win the fight for our values.

Love,

Paula

Won’t you help Paula in her fight for our values? The deadline for the first major campaign finance report ends December 31, 2011. Please invest $10, $25, $50, $100 or more in the next three days to help Paula finish the year strong and show her mom that her values are your values and that together, we can win this fight.