A Sign Of The Times

Over the last year, progressives have experienced a growing number of people new to politics looking for answers to seemingly simple questions. A lot of these questions have few to no answers found or, at least, easily accessible. As a candidate for Collin County Democratic Party Chair, one of my goals is to offer an FAQ page for our website among other online informational ideas that we should have implemented years ago. 

One of the general inquiries I get asked about a lot is best management practices for yard & road signage considerations. Until I'm elected or CCDP Leadership decides to rectify this, I'm more than happy to share some basic ideas that most any candidate or campaign team can benefit from. These are lessons learned from communication with other candidates throughout the State of Texas during my City Council bid. 

Keeping in mind that requirements in each municipality may vary, a candidate in Texas might consider:

• Reading through and honoring the State of Texas requirements here, Texas Ethics Commission on Political Advertising, and all links therein
• Importance to add the 'Political Advertising By' and the other TXDoT 'Right-of-Way' disclaimers (per the above link) on all signs. Did you forget? No worries. This can be added as a weatherproof sticker
• Only print double-sided yard and road signs
• Create a sign map (Google's My Maps is your friend)
• Ask for permission when placing signs on private property. When in doubt, follow suit with what others are doing (but be prepared to monitor that decision)
• Public property placement is only applicable at municipally managed polling places (with schedules typically determined by municipalities) and cannot typically be bigger than 2'x2' in a lot of municipal areas
• Have as many yard signs as possible for polling places during early voting, primary, run-offs, and general elections. Sustainability Tip: Ask everyone with yard signs to place them at the polling places. Keep in mind, you have to arrange to pick them all up in the municipally determined time period (road signs have a longer grace period for pick up but still limited)
• At a minimal, purchase heavy gage t-posts, long outdoor zipties, and a solid pair of scissors or box cutter
• Invest in at least one post driver and post remover (both will save your life or that of those planting your signs) and a good pair of leather gloves
• Be sure all of your road signs have rivets (based off sign size). Tip: bring a screwdriver or something similar to poke extra holes for extra zipties (the wind is stronger than you think)
• In high wind areas, support signs with a top brace (a wood crossmember should work)
• Periodically drive by, or have others check in on the state of, all signs 
• Don't assume that a local party's recommendation(s) for sign printing options is the only option

Again, this isn't a complete list of signage considerations for every candidacy. However, progress takes change, and I look forward to your vote on March 6th, 2018.

Good Citizen

Continuing a series of interviews called Building A Better Collin County with the goal to reach out to our county and North Texas community and create a sustainable path to our future:

Among similar interviews with other organizations I've worked on, this interview is with Saif Islam representing both Good Citizens DFW and DFW for Beto. As I note in all these videos, this not an endorsement of me or the Democratic Party directly.

That said, I fully support both of these groups and am honored to get to know Saif better. His support of DFW and humanity represents the best of our ability to provide positive, proactive efforts in Collin County and across the metroplex.

#ProgressTakesChange #Vision #Unity #Community #Empowerment

Cause and AFFECT

Continuing a video series of interviews called Building A Better Collin County with the goal to reach out to our county community and create a sustainable path to our future, one that reflects a sensible path of Vision, Unity, and Empowerment.

Among many similar interviews with other organizations in prior and in weeks to come, this second interview is with Pastor Ramon Hodridgerepresenting both AFFECT, Avenue F Family Enrichment Corporation of Texas, Inc, and the Ave F Church of Christ. As I note in all of these videos, this not an endorsement of me, my campaign, or the Democratic Party.

That said, I fully support causes like AFFECT and am so honored to get to know Ramon better. His support of the Douglass Community in Plano represents the best of our human ability to provide positive, proactive efforts in Collin County. Please consider donating to AFFECT here, http://affectinc.com/donate.

#BlackLivesMatter #ProgressTakesChange #Vision #Unity #Community#Empowerment

Block Walking in Plano

Speech at a DFW Rally 2017

Hi. I'm Stirling, and I’m running for Plano City Council, Place 8.

A native Texan, born in San Antonio, raised in Central Texas, married in Lewisville. Shortly after the birth of my son in Grapevine, my family visited, fell in love with, and moved to Plano. I've spent a lot of time in North DFW, and now I’m ready to serve our community.

Our community is part of who we all are. It's where all of us - families and individuals alike - share a common appreciation for this little piece of Texas. But what it really is and who we really are is so much more. Just look at us from under the microscope. Because, under the microscope, you quickly come to realize, that deep in the heart of Texas, we’re all the same.

Under the Microscope: We are a representation of who inspires us and who we inspire. As I walked with so many inspired people in the Women’s March on Austin a few short weeks ago, I was reminded of so many women heroes: Rosa Parks, Ann Richards, Michelle Obama, Wendy Davis, Hillary Clinton. They teach us to think about ourselves and our actions from another person’s point of view and to be a better person because of it.

Under the Microscope:  We find a purpose for ourselves and in others. When we consider that women make up 50% of the population of our city, of DFW, of our state, of our nation, of our planet yet equal pay for equal work or that women have the right to choose what to do with their own bodies is arguable by so many, we realize that feminism serves a purpose; when we consider that too many people in Texas still feel a need to wave the confederate flag or join the KKK, that Black Lives Matter serves a purpose; and, when we consider that the state of Texas is willing to spend billions of dollars and lose billions more in revenue to keep a person born the way they are out of the bathroom they were born to go into, that the LGBTQIA community serves a purpose.

Under the Microscope:  the sum of our humanity is what makes us, us. And our humanity really shows us that no matter how small our little corner of the world may seem, that each and every person can and does make a difference in their own communities.

I can tell you what I love about Plano and how I want to make sure those things are available for others to love as well: the libraries, the parks, the nature trails, the diverse populations, the huge number of ethnic grocery stores and restaurants, the public schools (your kid gets to take Chinese, for crying out loud! Non-Plano parents are always so surprised and jealous that Chinese is even an option!) all making Plano this amazing, wonderful, beautiful, vibrant little jewel in Texas.

So, if you’re from Plano, remember to vote for me on May 6th, to be your City Councilperson for Place 8, and let me help you and your family continue to enjoy all of the comforts of life in the city you call home.

Thank you. I'm Stirling Morris, and I appreciate your support.

Meet and Greet in Plano for City Council

Why are you qualified for this position?

I’ve spent the last fifteen years in the construction industry, working with developers, owners, architects, contractors, and even cities to build various projects that benefit and enhance communities. I’ve worked on projects that were added to the National Register of Historic Places, and I understand what goes into preserving our community treasures as well as how new development impacts existing infrastructure and the environment.
I’ve served on non-profit boards, volunteered for charitable organizations, and been part of executive steering committees.

Beyond my work life though, I’m qualified for this position because I’m a citizen of Plano. I live and shop here. I eat here. I form relationships and friendships here. While I’ve never held a political office, I’m a firm believer that government should always be, as Abraham Lincoln put it,  “...of the people, by the people and for the people.” As citizens, we should all feel empowered to add our voices to the government, and that often starts locally. Not everyone comes from politics, but everyone should have an opportunity to add their voice to the conversation.

Why are you running for a place on the Plano City Council?

Plano is my home. Some people call a place home because that’s where they’ve always been, but my family and I deliberately chose Plano. We made the decision to settle here instead of any other city in DFW because we fell in love with Plano. At the end of a long day, there’s no better feeling than coming home to a place you love, a place you want to be, and a place that just makes you happy. And when we get right down to it, who doesn’t want to do everything possible to improve their home community? 

That’s why I’m running for City Council. There is so much to love about Plano, and I want to be on the ground, with my sleeves rolled up, helping to keep Plano beautiful and vibrant. I want to help our city be the best possible version of itself--a city in which all its citizens, from the elderly, to the young; the religious to non-religious; the immigrants and minorities--proudly call home.

Plano Block Walk