On The Record: Sondra Haltom

For this episode of On The Record, we speak with Sondra Haltom, Field Director for the Texas Democratic Party.

How did you get started in politics? Did you come to it in your youth or later on?

My first real political experience came in 1996 when I was in college. I was elected President of the TCU Young Democrats, at the very first meeting I attended, and was soon contacted by a representative from State Representative Lon Burnam’s campaign asking if I wanted to go door to door for him. I said yes and I’ve been working in politics ever since.

What was your personal progression from the role of activist to the role of Field Director for the Texas Democratic Party?

Campaigning is my life. Since that first experience in 1996, I’ve worked as a staff member on 12 campaigns and as a consultant on many others. In 2004, I lived in 2 different states and 5 different cities traveling around working on campaigns.

One of the things that I learned over the years is what a difference it can make to have a strong Party organization. I’ve always been very passionate about the need for Party-building, especially in the odd numbered years when many people tune out to politics.

As Field Director for the Texas Democratic Party, I’ve had the opportunity to implement some ideas, such as the Town Hall Tour that we did earlier this year, to help Democrats stay engaged and start preparing for the next election. It’s been amazing to see how energized Texas Democrats are.

Democrats across this state are more prepared, better trained, and more focused on victory than I have ever seen. I can’t wait for election night 2008 to see everyone’s efforts pay off.

How do state politics affect your neighborhood?

People don’t realize just how much of an impact government, at all levels, has on their daily lives. The safety of the air we breathe, the water we drink and the food we eat all depends on the action (or inaction) of the government.

The choices our leaders make now will affect the kind of education our children receive, whether or not there are jobs available in this state that provide a living wage, and a litany of other things that determine whether the future will be better or worse for all Texans.

The difference between Republicans and Democrats is that they (Republicans) think of their neighborhood as literally the street they live on, while we think of our neighborhood as a larger community that we all share and for which we are all responsible.

Who are some of your political heroes?

Those who know me will be surprised when I say JFK for his optimism and idealism, and they won’t be surprised at all when I say LBJ for his aggressive and pragmatic approach to campaigning. We shouldn’t shy away from having big ideas, but we can’t implement those big ideas if we don’t get elected.

What advice would you give to young people just getting into politics?

Volunteer. Spend as much time as you can, doing whatever needs to be done, at your favorite candidate’s campaign or the local party office. Make yourself indispensable.

A lot of times on a campaign, responsibilities get assigned to whoever happens to be in the room and has proven themselves to be dependable. You never know when putting out yard signs will lead to staffing a Presidential candidate, which could lead to a job on their campaign, which could end with a job in the White House.

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

It’s tough to say just one thing, because there is no silver bullet. Politics is a balancing act between money, people, and time. You need enough of each to effectively communicate your message before Election Day. That’s why it’s so important to plan ahead.

We are currently working with our County Parties to help them draft plans that will strategically utilize their resources. We have been conducting trainings for County Chairs, Precinct Chairs, candidates and Democratic activists all over the state with the goal of teaching them to balance these key elements.