Dear Travis County Democratic Precinct Chairs:

In a matter of days, you will be casting a vote for our next Travis County Judge. As precinct chairs you hold the tremendous responsibility of selecting a bold and progressive executive leader who is representative of the community she serves. For us, this leader is Dyana Limon-Mercado.

Who we are: We are Travis County community members and friends of Travis County community members who reside within the 111 precincts whose precinct chairs are ineligible to vote due to the voting chairs being on the ballot last fall. This means that out of the 250 dedicated Democratic precinct chairs who make up Travis County, only 139 individuals will be in the position to select our next chief executive for a county of 1.2 million residents.

Elections are about choices: Each of us has the power to shape the future of our community and the well-being of the families who call Travis County home. We could not allow the unusual circumstances of this election go by without elevating our voices in support of Dyana.

Why we support Dyana Limon-Mercado for County Judge: Travis County voters in the 2020 primary run-off elections issued a clear mandate that this unprecedented time in our history calls for a new leadership playbook. Dyana’s vision of co-governance is rooted in the belief that the people closest to the problem are closest to the solution, and that the most effective solutions for the community must come from the community. Her demonstrated commitment to keeping equity, accessibility, and empowerment at the center of her leadership approach is precisely what Travis county voters have come to expect in their representatives.

Dyana is a trailblazer: She was the first in her family to graduate from college, the first in her family to earn a Master’s Degree, and, as you well know, in 2018, became the first Hispanic person to Chair the Travis County Democratic Party. If elected Travis County Judge, she would be the first Latinx person — of any gender — to serve in that position.

Dyana has the leadership experience: In her roles as Executive Director of Planned Parenthood Texas Votes and Travis County Democratic Chair, Dyana has prioritized bringing new voters, especially young people, people of color, and women, into the political process. We’ve watched Dyana stand up to Dan Patrick and Greg Abbott to defend the rights of immigrants, young people, women, the LGBTQIA+ community, and working families at the Capitol and at the ballot box. It is all of this experience which has informed her progressive platforms on criminal justice, healthcare, and economic development. In addition, Dyana has successfully managed multi-million dollar budgets by balancing prudent fiscal decisions on spending with real investments in her employees' wellbeing. These are the skills our next County Judge will need as we confront the ongoing COVID-19 epidemic and the subsequent economic recovery.

As Travis County navigates these unprecedented times, we are certain that no other candidate is better qualified than Dyana to meet the challenges of the current moment. And while we would have wished for a more democratic process, we understand the procedural uniqueness of this race. We are grateful for your service as precinct chairs, and hopeful we will enter September with Dyana Limon-Mercado as our Party's nominee for Travis County Judge.

Sincerely,
Travis County Community Member