Runoff candidate, librarian speak to Dem club

Claudia Zapata, one of two Democratic primary candidates running for Texas’ U.S. House District 21, addressed the Bandera County Democratic Club at its monthly meeting held on April 9th.

Members also welcomed guest speaker Mauri Guillen Fagan, Director of Bandera County’s public library, which is celebrating its 90th birthday this year. Mauri has served as the library’s director for the past three years.

Zapata introduced herself as the candidate who will “fight for working families and rural communities,” stating that it’s time folks in the 21st Congressional District had representation that works as hard as they do.

She spoke passionately to issues that directly impact those who live in the Hill Country: expanding access to food and grocery stores “so that rural residents don’t have to drive 20-plus miles to byy food;” establishing much needed rural healthcare facilities and networks run by workers from the community; supporting teachers with school funding for necessary resources to keep their classrooms updated; and protecting our Hill Country water, land and air “which are all continuously threatened by unmitigated development.”

“Growth is inevitable, but it should respect the people who live and work in those neighborhoods,” she said.

Claudia’s background experience includes involvement with non-profit organizations and as a community organizer as well as her work as a legislative intern in the Texas House of Representatives. As an employee of Texas Health and Human Services, she worked four years as a workforce and budget analyst.

Zapata will oppose Ricardo Villarreal in the May 24th Democratic Primary Runoff election. The winner will face off with incumbent Republican Chip Roy in the November General Election. Zapata received 47.3 percent of the vote in March, with Villarreal receiving 27.1 percent.

During her speaking segment, Fagan encouraged everyone to support, join and visit the library, in person and online, to discover the multitude of resources, programs and services offered.

“Libraries are extraordinary spaces that support our communities in ways beyond a place to just borrow books,” she said. These services are free to the public.

Discussion ensued over the book bunnings currently taking place in the state stemming from State Representative Matt Krause’s list of 850 banned books sent to the Texas Education Agency. Krause accompanied his list with a note saying he believed the books should be removed immediately from all school libraries. Texas. A majority of the books on the list feature race and LGBTQ+ subject matter.

“The Texas Library Association, The American Library Association and The Public Association have all issued statements condemning this banned book list,” said Fagan. “Libraries and librarians all over the country are doing everything in their power to fight these censorship efforts.”

Fagan added that book banning has a history in the United States, and each time The American Library Association has stood up “to defend intellectual freedom and the right to read and access information without interference and without judgment.”

Fagan informed club members about the library’s recently formed Diverse Readers Book Club for anyone who wants to read literature with People of Color or LGBTQ+ authors or characters.

“Our public library is and has always been a place where people feel safe coming to and using,” she said.

Atticus Graham, Leader of the Diverse Readers Group, spoke about his vision and plans for the book club. Club members were invited to join the group, which meets monthly at the library.

Following the guest speaker presentations, the business meeting commenced, led by Club President Eloise Clayton.

The next scheduled Bandera Democrat Club meeting will be Saturday, May 14, 2022, at the BEC Community Room.

There will be a potluck meet and greet from 11 a.m. to noon, followed by a guest speaker segment and finalizing with the business meeting. The Bandera County Democratic Club monthly meeting is always open to the public.

For information about joining the Bandera County Democratic Club, connect with them on Facebook or email bandemoclub@gmail.com.