You're invited to the Official Election Night Party for Farouk Shami on March 2 in Houston, Texas!

Farouk Shami Campaign Releases New Song

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 1, 2010

CONTACT: Jessica Gutierrez
(832) 367-9602
Jessica@faroukforgovernor.com

Farouk Shami Campaign Releases New Song

HOUSTON— In a last minute push to win supporters and motivate Texans to go to the polls tomorrow, Farouk Shami has publically released the song “Farouk” from prominent hip hop artist J. Xavier. The song outlines Farouk’s new solutions for Texas, including creating jobs and reforming the education system so it looks out for all Texas children.

“I thank J. Xavier for his support and lending his amazing talents to our campaign,” said Farouk Shami.

To download the song click here.

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Farouk Shami has the Courage to Demand a Better Future for All Texans

Statement from Farouk Shami

Shami's Campaign is Focused on Winning

"I want to thank Vince Leibowitz, Kelly Love Johnson and Charlie Ray for their hard work on the campaign. After a meeting with my senior staff, we came to an understanding that there were strategic differences between a few of us. Three of my senior staff members resigned, so I accepted their resignations on amicable terms.

Please do not underestimate my camp because my campaign is stronger than ever! I am the spokesperson, and I have a Communications team that has experience and believes in my vision. 

This morning we all woke up ready to fight because today is just one more day closer to the election. We have our soldiers in place all over the state of Texas, working their hearts out for a candidate that is bringing them new ideas, new jobs and new hope for Texas. I look forward to victory on March 2nd."

-Farouk Shami

Response to WFAA Interview

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 12, 2010

CONTACT: Kelly Love Johnson
(512) 771-8737
kelly@faroukforgovernor.com

Response to WFAA Interview

HOUSTON- Farouk Shami, like most Americans, still grapples with the events that transpired on September 11, 2001. When asked, in an interview earlier this afternoon as to whether or not he believed 9/11 was an inside job, Farouk responded with the fact that he did not know. To say that he believes otherwise is at best mischaracterization of his comments and at worst yet another attempt to discredit Farouk Shami. Farouk has shown his unwavering support to the victims of 9/11 by visiting New York and donating millions of dollars to help business owners who were affected by the tragedy.

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Hope and Opportunity: A Letter From Farouk Shami To You

Dear Supporter,

This has been a very important week for our campaign. We began with the gubernatorial debate in Dallas and I will end the week Saturday in Lubbock. It has been a whirlwind week.

Throughout the week as I traveled across our state to San Antonio, Odessa, San Marcos and other places, I met voters who had heard about my plans to create 100,000 jobs and slash electricity bills from the debate. Do you know what they said to me? They told me they couldn't understand why the media was saying that these ideas would not work--they had been to faroukforgovernor.com and read how these bold visions can easily become a reality for Texas.

Evidently, the media didn't do their homework. It is hard to explain, in one minute, how I'll create 100,000 jobs in Texas in two years, but I have explained it many times as I've traveled around our wonderful state. It is difficult to distill into a one minute soundbite how I will work as your governor to slash electricity bills to help many Texans actually have free electricity in ten years. But, I've explained this many times to many voters from Galveston to El Paso. It is even on our website!

Do you know what impressed me the most? Voters remembered, and voters knew. Voters did their homework where the media did not.

The media and the establishment will always say that a bold, new idea like those our campaign has been bringing forward will not work or find a way to discredit it--just like people said manned space flight, computers, cellular phones, and even the Internet would not work. Yet today, we have a space program, computers, cell phones, and the Internet.

You know what? I am used to it.  When I developed an allergy to chemicals while working as a hairdresser, people told me I'd never find a way to do it differently. I did. I did it because I am determined to overcome challenges. I have faced many challenges in my life. The fact that the media and the establishment say I cannot do what our campaign is promising to do is simply another challenge to overcome.

With your help, we will overcome that challenge. Let's do it together. Early voting starts on Tuesday. I encourage each of you to vote early and vote for our campaign of new ideas, new jobs, and a new hope for Texas. To find your early polling place, please call 1-800-999-6475 after 9 a.m. this Tuesday and our team will help you.

I look forward to seeing you on the campaign trail!

In Unity,

Farouk Shami
PS: Send FAROUK to 77007 for cell phone updates from my campaign!

Pol. Adv. by the Farouk for Governor Campaign | 2500 West Loop South #300 | Houston | TX | 77027 | 1-800-994-0424

Farouk Shami campaign workers ready to hit the streets of Houston! Go Team Farouk!

 

 

Dallas Mayor Pro Tem Endorses Shami for Governor

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


CONTACT: Kelly Love Johnson
Kelly@FaroukforGovernor.com
(512) 771-8737

Dallas Mayor Pro Tem Endorses Shami for Governor

Dwaine Caraway, Dallas Mayor Pro Tem, says Shami “represents hope” 

DALLAS—On Friday night at a dinner given by the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance, Dallas Mayor Pro Tem Dwaine Caraway announced his endorsement of Texas Democratic Gubernatorial Candidate Farouk Shami.

Caraway and Shami met recently during one of Shami’s many campaign stops and said that he was impressed with the gubernatorial candidate for several reasons, but mostly because “he speaks with experience and from the heart. He speaks about issues—jobs, economic development—that affect the average citizen and those who have not had a voice for some time.” said Caraway. “He is real and he is committed.”

“I am proud to have this endorsement,” said Shami. “Mayor Caraway is very much in touch with the communities I am trying to help by creating jobs and those who have been impacted most by the economic downturn.”

Councilmember and Mayor Pro Tem Dwaine Caraway serves City Council District 4 in Dallas.

Farouk Shami will debate his Democratic opponent tonight on KERA public television. Visit www.FaroukforGovernor.com for more information.

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Mexican American Democrats Endorse Farouk Shami

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, February 09, 2010

CONTACT: Kelly Love Johnson
Kelly@FaroukforGovernor.com
(512) 771-8737

Mexican American Democrats Endorse Farouk Shami

State Chair said Shami "represents to a lot of us what the American Dream is about…"

HOUSTON-Following a meeting on Saturday morning, the Mexican American Democrats (MAD) announced the group's endorsement of Texas Democratic Gubernatorial Candidate Farouk Shami.

Steve Salazar, State Chair for the Mexican American Democrats of Texas, said that Farouk Shami's "willingness to sit down and listen, to talk to people about issues that affect us as a group-not only the economy and jobs, but also immigration and crime-led us to make this endorsement. He is inclusive of all people from all walks of life and can identify with those of us who were not born in the United States." Salazar added that the group felt Shami "represents to a lot of us what the American Dream is about: hard work, dedication to the community, and willingness to serve."

"I am proud to have the endorsement of the Mexican American Democrats," said Shami. "I fully identify with its mission and vision and hope to work with them often in the near future."

The vision of the Mexican American Democrats is to seek full representation of Mexican American-Latinos at all levels and in all activities of the political process representation within the Democratic Party.

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Farouk Shami vs former Mayor Bill White Debate Watch Party hosted by the African-American Outreach Team

Farouk Shami set to debate former Mayor Bill White! Host a Debate Watch Party on Monday, February 8

Dear Supporter,

The momentum and excitement about Farouk's campaign is growing every hour throughout Texas.

On Monday, February 8th at 7 p.m., Farouk Shami will debate former Mayor Bill White. The debate, which is sponsored by Public Broadcasting Station KERA in Dallas, will also be available on the radio and internet.

Sign-up today to host an official Debate Watch Party on Monday for Farouk by clicking below:

Early voting in the Texas Democratic Primary begins in only two weeks. Attending or hosting a Debate Watch Party with just two weeks until the start of early voting is a great way to help spread the word about how Farouk is giving Texans new ideas, new hope, and ending business as usual.

Also: Farouk will be in the Rio Grande Valley and Corpus Christi this week. Visit the events section of faroukforgovernor.com for more details.

In unity,
Karen M. Lowe
Karen M. Lowe
African American Outreach Director Statewide
PS: Send TEXAS to 77007 to get cell phone updates from the campaign.

Pol. Adv. by the Farouk for Governor Campaign | 2500 West Loop South #300 | Houston | TX | 77027 | 1-800-994-0424

Farouk Shami Accepts Debate Invitation From KERA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Kelly Love Johnson
Kelly@FaroukforGovernor.com
(512) 771-8737


Farouk Shami Accepts Debate Invitation From KERA

HOUSTON-Farouk Shami formally accepted an invitation by KERA and its media partners to debate opponent Bill White on Monday, February 8, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. in Dallas, Texas.

"Our campaign is very pleased to be offered the opportunity to reach so many voters through this debate", said Campaign Director Vince Leibowitz. "We applaud our opponent for agreeing to give Texas democrats an opportunity to see the front runners for our party's nomination in a head-to-head debate."

Shami's campaign previously challenged democratic gubernatorial candidate Bill White to accept debate invitation proffered by numerous democratic clubs and organizations within Texas. "We believe when Texas democrats are given the opportunity to hear Farouk Shami's message of new ideas, new jobs and a new hope for Texas they will make the decision to go with the candidate that will breathe new life into our party as opposed to the candidate of the establishment", Leibowitz said.

Mr. Shami also looks forward to letting voters see the difference between politics as usual and his fresh perspective from someone that isn't a career politician. Mr. Shami looks forward to the opportunity to face Bill White in front of the moderators, the voters and all Texans.

"I am not a polished and packaged career politician with a cookie cutter campaign. I am a candidate for the people, not the special interests or the quid pro quo politics that disillusion voters," Shami said.

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Revitalizing Texas’s Economy: Creating Jobs and Providing Opportunities in Low-Income and Minority Areas

TUESDAY, JANUARY 26
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Kelly Love Johnson
Kelly@FaroukforGovernor.com
(512) 771-8737

Revitalizing Texas’s Economy: Creating Jobs and Providing Opportunities in Low-Income and Minority Areas
Democratic Candidate for Governor Farouk Shami Releases his Policy on the Economy at Press Breakfast in Dallas

DALLAS/FORT WORTH—During a press breakfast on Tuesday, January 26, Farouk Shami discussed his policy to create new jobs for Texans and provide opportunities in low-income and minority areas of the state.

The economy of Texas is the second largest in the US and would be the 15th largest in the world if it were its own country. Our economic growth and opportunity has caused corporations and individuals from around the country to move to Texas. Yet, this growth has been somewhat uneven and has left behind entire regions and populations throughout our state. We must continue to foster economic growth, while paying special attention to ethnic groups and regions left behind by nearly two decades of Republican rule in Texas.

“All Texans have a right to have access to the American Dream,” said Shami. “We cannot continue to leave entire communities behind. My plan gives corporations incentives to place businesses that pay a living wage in areas where the jobs and money are needed most.”

Shami’s plan (see below for full details), includes: building small business incubators, creating green energy jobs, promoting border industry clusters, modernizing core infrastructure, creating high-paying jobs in disadvantaged areas, and tax incentive changes for employers considering relocating to those areas.

“I am pleased to announce my plan to bring a better future for Texas and to lead the way with jobs for a new economy,” said Shami.

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Farouk Shami’s Plan for the Texas Economy

• Build Small Business Incubators

Farouk came to this country with very little money, yet he had something far more important: a dream—and the drive to achieve it. Entrepreneurs and small business owners are the backbone of the Texas economy and both embody the American dream and enable others to enjoy it as well. The state of Texas can help these people achieve success with both seed capital and educational business resources. We need to utilize the Texas Enterprise Fund (EF) to provide small grants to businesses employing 25 or fewer people that have a strong business plan and will be able to grow with the added capital, in addition to using the fund to close deals with large corporations. Furthermore, we ought to create partnerships with these businesses and public universities so business school faculty and students are available to help these entrepreneurs bring their dreams to reality.


• Create Green Energy Jobs

Texas has always been the energy capital of the United States. We can now utilize that background to become the green energy capital of the United States, taking advantage of the abundant wind and sunlight in the western part of the state. We have already taken the first steps in building wind farms in west Texas, and we should rapidly expedite their building. Furthermore, since wind tends to blow hardest at night, we can utilize the same transmission lines to bring solar power back during the day. The jobs created in initially setting up these facilities and continuing to maintain them will provide a powerful stimulus to the overall economy of Texas.

In addition, Farouk’s plan to insure that every Texas household has access to in-home solar panel systems to help cut down on electricity costs will also create a tremendous number of new, green-collar jobs.


• Promote Border Industry Clusters

Our border with Mexico represents a very important economic strength. We can help this area continue to grow by working with local officials along the border and their counterparts in Mexico and to create industry clusters along the border. This means we would build high-skill, capital-intensive operations on this side of the border that utilizes low-skill, affordable labor across the border.


• Modernize Core Infrastructure

One of the first things corporations look at when deciding whether to relocate is whether they will have access to transportation, energy, water and broadband lines that will fulfill their needs today and into the future. We can put Texans to work today to build new roads, ensure all communities have access to broadband internet access, expand the capacity of our electric grid, and ensure we have additional water resources to meet any projected future demand. This investment in tomorrow will yield real benefits well into the future by showing corporations that they will never face the problems currently experienced by companies in California.


• Create High Paying Jobs in Disadvantaged Areas

Economic growth for too long has been focused in the same affluent areas of our state’s major cities. We can counter this by offering corporations additional tax credits to move to areas that are economically disadvantaged, using an escalating scale to ensure the biggest credits go to those moving to the areas with greatest economic hardships. We can stipulate that these businesses must pay an average wage of at least $10 an hour living wage to ensure the jobs coming into these communities are real jobs that can help lift the area out of poverty.

• Tax Incentive Changes

Farouk proposes to eliminate the ability of counties and municipalities to give tax incentives to employers looking to locate to the area. The problem with these schemes is that they end up producing few good jobs while providing a massive benefit to the company looking to locate in the area. Further, it adversely impacts existing taxpayers and businesses by burdening them with the increased taxes that result from infrastructure improvements needed for a new employer.

The key is to centralize at the state level and in exchange provide the local government with a payment from the state equal to the difference between what the business would actually pay without the incentive and what the business is actually paying under their incentive plan. This is the only way to stop the race to the bottom competition between local governments for new businesses and expanding businesses.

The money from this will come from the EF and increased sales tax revenues. Further, with the state managing the incentives, they will inevitably be smaller than what local governments are handing out now.

Farouk's Statement on Massachusetts Election Results

"The American people, from Massachusetts to Texas, are fed up with politics as usual and want to see actual results and not the same old all talk and no action. They voted out the Republicans in 2006 and 2008 because they were fed up with how things were going and are voting out Democrats now because they haven't seen anything done to fix America's very real problems. My business would fail if I didn't fix problems on a daily basis. That's the difference between being a political insider and a businessman and that's the reason I'm the best candidate to bring about real change in Texas and help lead the Democratic Party to victory in November."

Reposted from: http://www.faroukforgovernor.com/page/farouks-statement-on-massachusetts-election-results

Photo Highlights: Farouk Shami and Derrick King lead 32nd Annual MLK Parade in Houston, Texas

 

 

 

 

 

 

Farouk honored as Grand Marshall in 32nd Annual MLK Parade in Houston

Please join Farouk Shami in commemorating the memory of the late Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday, January 18th from 10:00am to 1:00pm.

Farouk is honored to be the Grand Marshall of the parade and will be accompanied by Derrick King, the nephew of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Mr. Shami was a nominee for the Dream Keeper Award which recognizes exemplary displays of committed service to the tenets of Dr. King, the ultimate dreamer, and the Reverend's ideals of social responsibility, political empowerment, diversity, racial harmony, nonviolence, and unselfish service.

For more information about the 32nd Annual MLK parade, please visit http://www.mlkgrandeparade.org

Farouk will attend the 22nd Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Breakfast at the George R. Brown Convention Center prior to participating in the parade.

UNITY: Farouk Shami to host community dinner in Houston on January 14, 2010

Farouk Shami, Democratic Candidate for Governor of the State of Texas 2010 requests your presence at a private dinner.

Mr. Shami would like leaders in the community to participate in this meeting with the objective being to open dialogue establishing unity amongst the community and how best to achieve this goal in order to empower our communities.

                                                                                                        

The event will be held on January 14^th, 2010 from 7PM until 10PM at AACC – Arab American Community Center, 10555 Stancliff Rd., Houston, Texas

We look forward to your presence and contribution in uniting our communities!

Farouk Shami nominated to receive a 2010 Dreamkeepers Award from the Black Heritage Society

Farouk Shami is a nominee for the 2010 Dreamkeepers Award amongst a list of prestigious Houstonians. Please log on to www.originalmlkparade.org, to cast your vote for Farouk Shami. Nominees will be honored during “The Dreamkeepers Awards Ceremony & Ball” on Friday, January 15, 2010, 7:00 P.M. at ONE AMERICA'S PLAZA, 2311 Canal St. @ Navigation St., Houston, TX 77003.

The Black Heritage Society is currently in preparation for The 32nd Annual "Original" Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade Celebration: “DREAMKEEPERS Weekend 2010,” Jan.15-18th. The “Dreamkeepers Award" embodies the essence and continuance of Dr. King's Dream through service to your community for the betterment of mankind and the protection of Civil Rights every where!

Farouk in the News: "It's time to stop pointing fingers and just flat out lying about scientific fact and take action to help Texans breathe clean air."

This article originally appears at: http://www.texastribune.org/blogs/post/2010/jan/08/tribblog-easy-steps-cleaner-air/#ixzz0cAbvVKM2

Excerpt from TribBlog: Clearing the Air by Reeve Hamilton, Texas Tribune

Democrat Farouk Shami says, "It's politicians like Bill White, Rick Perry and Kay Bailey Hutchison that have neglected our environment for years with political posturing. It's time for Texas to lead on this issue and as governor, I will focus on green, clean and renewable energy initiatives. It's time to stop pointing fingers and just flat out lying about scientific fact and take action to help Texans breathe clean air."

Join international guest artist Joe Anthony at a fundraiser for Farouk for Governor on Sunday, January 17, 2010

Event: "Hair Politics" - Houston - Jan 17th

Join international guest artist Joe Anthony at a fundraiser for Farouk for Governor on Sunday, January 17, 2010 from 7:30pm to 9:30pm at the Sheraton North Houston (near Bush airport) 15700 J.F.K. Boulevard in Houston, Texas 77032. Click here to purchase $30 Tickets