News – Skip Belt, Candidate for Chairman of the Democratic Party of Fort Bend County, Texas.

Dear Sergio, my great friend,

I was so happy to hear your voice from Brasil. Yes, besides being totally active in my club, Texas International Soccer Association, I am also very active in politics. Today is the primary election in the County of Fort Bend, southwest of Houston.

I am a candidate for the County Democratic Party Chairmanship. I will play a pivotal role in getting all Democratic candidates and our Presidential Nominee elected in the general election in November, 2020. I appreciate your well wishes as well as your encouragement of voters to support my efforts to Reclaim the Good in America.. Chao, Skip Belt.

Needed Reform of the Fort Bend County Democratic Party

If elected Chairman, I intend to call a General Meeting of Precinct Chairs and also invite others such as elected officials, and former candidates, and activists to self-examine our County Democratic Party and to discuss our objectives and goals, our resources, and the role that each one of us plays. We will also discuss our leadership structure and meeting procedures so we can best run our Party.

At the General Meeting we will first allow a free flow of ideas and not the typical top down instruction by the Chairman. We will thoroughly document our best ideas, and evaluate them. Thereafter we will form committees of the participants to thoroughly vet and edit each of the proposals for discussion and recommendation for adoption. I expect this committee process meeting weekly may take the better part of a month. We will first consider the proposals as resolutions and if finally adopted, incorporate them into our By-laws and Rules.

Skip with Gilberto Hinojosa, Chairman of the Texas Democratic Party at the 2018 Convention in Fort Worth.

This exercise is meant to recognize the value and commitment of our Precinct Chairs, their assistants, our elected officers and the advice our good Democratic Activists to spell out our Democratic expectations and objectives and to recognize the Executive Committee (Precinct Chairs and elected officers) as the Governance of the Party. In my opinion The Chairwoman too often acts informally and without much discussion, preferring to use the Executive Board as a sounding board or just as a pool of workers for her projects.

To grow and strengthen our Party, a primary goal should be to diversify and expand the leadership of the Party and our constituents. We must also involve the Executive Committee and/or its designated Committee, in all major Party decisions and actions, decide on successful programs and our priorities, coordinate our County programs with those of the State Democratic Party, and most effectively assist our candidates for elected office. Top down direction without shared authority and responsibility will no longer work for a County as important as Fort Bend.

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M. E. “Skip” Belt

Candidate for Chairman of Fort Bend County Democratic Party

Political/Government Experience

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Missouri City Councilman 4 years

Member Missouri City TIRZ #1 (Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone)

Fort Bend County Election Judge

Loyal Democrat,

Funded the Election Headquarters 3 election cycles

Precinct Chairman 4030,

Fort Bend County Democratic Party Parliamentarian,

2008 Fort Bend County Democratic Convention Credentials Chairman,

District 17 Convention Chairman

Texas State Convention- Rules, Resolutions, and Platform Committees.

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Democratic candidate for County Attorney in 2012,

Party Fundraiser, organizer of activities, GOTV, lectures, Voter Registration.

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Silver Democrats of Fort Bend County President/Administrator.

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Reclaim the Good in America Administrator.

Primary Goals as Chairman of Fort Bend County Democratic Party

1. Build Unity and make the FBCDP more effective through reforms in its structure and procedures to broaden and diversify the leadership of the Party, and in the level of participation and responsibility of its precinct chairs. Most importantly we must devise a committee approach to address major programs and issues to get the broadest participation and discipline among our members and avoid top down ad hoc decision making.

2. Effectively and mutually participate in the programs and activities of groups, Democratic clubs and activists who share our Democratic values and support our candidates. We should also seek their advice and participation, not just their vote at election time.

3. Develop and recognize Party Leaders who understand, accept, and perform their responsibilities and continue the progress made in breaking the 30 year or so strangle hold on our County and State by the Republican Party.

4. Have better cooperation and coordination with the Texas Democratic Party to develop and execute policies and strategies to grow the Party, GOTV, and serve the people of Texas by promoting the values and policies of the Democratic Party.

5. Develop the best candidates and assist in providing the resources and best efforts to elect them. This includes an effective FBCDP website and communication system not just channeled through the Chair, similar to Harris County Democratic Party.

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M. E. “Skip” Belt page 2

Background/Education

Married to Judy Lanier Belt 56 years, 3 children, 9 grandchildren

Resident of Missouri City, Fort Bend County 43 years

Lawyer for 49 years and Executive in International Banking, and Oil Industry

Active in Civic Clubs, International Exchanges, President youth soccer clubs

Former President of Fort Bend Bar Association

Spring Branch High School 1961

Institute of Latin American Studies at the University of Texas

Major Political Science, Minor Spanish and Journalism1964

Graduate Courses at NYU and Houston Baptist University Executive MBA Program

University of Texas Law School JD. 1970

2810 Hampton Dr

Missouri City, Texas 77459

281-650-2751

Skipbelt43@gmail.com

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Por Sergio Lima