On The Record: Shirley Schmidt

For this episode of On The Record, we speak with Shirley Schmidt, the County Chair for the Burnet County Democratic Party.

How did you get started in politics?

I moved to Texas to retire and signed up to attend a woman’s conference. In one of the workshops I was paired with a woman to work on problem solving, and we became good friends.

I met her a short time before the 1994 elections, and she mentioned she had a lot of calls to be made before the election. I offered to help.

I had never made calls for a political candidate, but, after spending a little time with my new friend, I knew this would be a learning experience. My friend was also retired, but obviously quite involved in the community.

She invited me to attend local political club meetings. Initially, I wasn’t interested in becoming politically active, but the meetings and issues were interesting, and I enjoyed the fellowship. I learned a lot from participating and soon attended seminars, workshops and conventions.

What was your personal progression from the role of activist to the role of County Chair?

I worked with three previous County Chairs volunteering election workers, precinct chairs and writing letters to the editor. I didn’t know folks, but I could call on long time residents who would provide names for me to contact.

If the person couldn’t do the job, I found out enough about the person for future tasks, whether it was painting, blowing up balloons, moving tables or copying newsletters to call them again.

When the County Chair couldn’t continue a second term, I reluctantly accepted the nomination and went to work. After retiring and moving to Texas I served as an election worker, precinct chair, president of the Highland Lakes Democratic Women’s club, Board of the Texas Democratic Women and president of the Burnet County Democratic Club.

What would you say are the primary issues concerning Burnet County?

By and large many folks don’t have burning issues they feel strongly about, except raising property or school taxes, which they feel are already too high.

For example, the community passed a large bond issue to build a multi-million dollar sports facility, yet when the local newspaper reported the cost to build a new road to handle the traffic from the new sport facility, voters were dissatisfied.

This is an example of what is indicative of current affairs. The voters and public are not interested in examining an issue until it directly affects them. It is not just in Burnet County but is reflective of political issues all the way to Congress.

The current demand to get our soldiers out of Iraq is similar. When the winds of war were blowing, the public couldn’t even question the invasion of Iraq. It was generally accepted and Congress gave President Bush the authority to invade. The administration’s reasons were all without merit and could have been obvious if it had been seriously questioned before our brave military personnel were sent to Iraq.

The political issue that confronts us in Burnet County’s recent elections, as well as the 2008 elections, is people aren’t interested in trying to understand the issues. They don’t want to confront the negative consequences or costs or explore other ways to resolve the situation.

What are you looking forward to in the coming cycle?

I’m looking forward to our local Party finding ways to connect with the voters to become interested in the issues. We have had more than the usual interest this year in people wanting to communicate with friends and neighbors.

What would you say the political breakdown of your family is? Is it mostly Democratic or are you somewhat unique?

All of my family is Republican, except my husband and a few nieces and nephews. Many are as misguided as much as the public.

For example, a nephew was telling me how government was inefficient and needed Republican leadership to run government like a business. I listed a few companies like ENRON and World Com who duped the public and stockholders out of millions and asked if that was what he wanted running the business of government.

I probably would have remained in similar beliefs as theirs if I had not met devoted, caring individuals who examined the issues and cared about the future when I first arrived in Texas.

What one thing would you say a political organization never has enough of?

An organization needs dedicated individuals willing and able to examine the issues and who care deeply about the future. It needs individuals who think creatively, taking action to find opportunities and bold solutions that benefit the common good rather than a select few.