When Evan Smith helped launch the nonprofit Texas Tribune in 2009, he set out to get people engaged in their government again, especially in places where newspaper coverage has dwindled. The Tribune introduced blogs, multimedia, troves of government data, and something old-fashioned for an online news startup: face-to-face conversations.
John Weaver a legislative, political and communication strategist, is a senior partner at the Austin-based firm The Network LLC. He served as the chief political adviser to U.S. Sen. John McCain and as the chief strategist in the senator’s 2008 presidential campaign before forming both firms with his partners. Recently, Weaver served as the campaign strategist for former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman's presidential bid.
Date
Time
7:30 a.m. - 9 a.m. Doors open at 7:30 am. The event begins promptly at 8 am.
Location
The Austin Club 110 E. Ninth Street, Austin, Texas 78701
(map)
The Texas Tribune and Lyndon Baines Johnson Library & Museum present a special screening of Game Change, based on the bestselling book by journalists Mark Halperin and John Heilemann. The HBO film, directed by Jay Roach, documents the Republican side of the the 2008 presidential election, including the introduction of then-Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska as the vice presidential nominee. The film stars Julianne Moore as Palin, Ed Harris as John McCain and Woody Harrelson as Steve Schmidt, McCain's senior campaign strategist.
Halperin and Heilemann will participate in a post-screening Q&A moderated by The Texas Tribune’s CEO and editor-in-chief, Evan Smith.
Date
Time
6 p.m. - 9 p.m. The movie screening begins at 6 p.m., followed by a Q & A with Halperin and Heilemann.
Location
LBJ Library 2313 Red River Street, Austin, Texas 78705
(map)
Paul L. Sadler served in the Texas House from 1991 to 2003, during which he sat on on several committees, including Education, Judiciary, Pensions and Investments, Health and Human Services, and Calendars, and was one of eight members appointed to the Legislative Budget Board. Sadler has worked as a practicing attorney specializing in litigation matters and most recently served as the executive director of The Wind Coalition.
Date
Time
7:30 a.m. - 9 a.m. Doors open at 7:30 am. The event begins promptly at 8 am.
Location
The Austin Club 110 E. Ninth Street, Austin, TX 78701
(map)
PLEASE NOTE: This event will take place at The University of Texas of the Permian Basin in Odessa, Texas.
State Rep. Tom Craddick, R-Midland, a Midland native, was first elected to represent House District 82 in 1969. In 1975, Speaker Bill Clayton appointed Craddick the first Republican committee chairman in 100 years. Craddick continued to hold chairmanships under Clayton's successors, Speakers Gib Lewis and Pete Laney.
State Rep. Tryon Lewis, R-Odessa, a native West Texan, was born in Kermit and grew up in Odessa. He was first elected to represent House District 81 in 2008 and currently sits on the Public Safety and Judiciary and Civil Prudence committees.
State Sen. Kel Seliger, R-Amarillo, was sworn in to the Texas Senate in 2004 after a special election and was re-elected in 2008 to represent Senate District 31 for a second, four-year term. Seliger was also appointed by Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst to the Energy Council and serves as vice chairman of the National Conference of State Legislatures' Law and Criminal Justice Committee.
Date
Time
7:30 a.m. - 9 a.m. Doors open at 7:30 am. The event begins promptly at 8 am.
Location
Cooper Auditorium in the New Science Building (ST1010) 4901 E. University, Odessa, TX 79762
(map)
