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Chapter Two
Another Man For Ann
With two years of campaigning ahead of her, Ann was determined to pull out all the stops in what appeared to be a never-ending journey toward the Dome. While campaigning in Austin, Ann had the fortune to be contacted by none other than Willie Nelson, who expressed a deep interested in seeing Ann elected the first true female Governor of Texas. The outlaw country star convinced Ann to let him perform at several campaign rallies in an effort to truly get the ball rolling. Even though no other Democrats had thrown their hats in the ring yet, Ann knew the importance of these early months and agreed to host several concert rallies with Nelson in Austin, Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, El Paso, and Lubbock.
Dubbed as the “Another Man for Ann” tour, these six rallies were held in January, kicking off 1989 with a renewed sense of fervor in both Ann and in her increasing amount of followers. At each rally, the Richards campaign would sell shirts, buttons and bumper stickers emblazoned with ‘Another Man For Ann,’ which would typically sell out once Nelson appeared on stage donning his own. The early alliance between Ann and Nelson enabled Ann to quickly form a base of core supporters that include blue-collar workers, students, and teachers. Yet, she knew that this would not be enough to clinch the Democratic nomination. To this end, she began formulating a plan of outreach to both the Latino and African-American communities.
Ann Richards and Willie Nelson at an 'Another Man For Ann' Rally
Following her rally in San Antonio, Ann met with Latino activists and community leaders, promising them that the New Texas she envisioned would have ample opportunities for all Texans and that she would work tirelessly to lift up the Hispanic population of Texas and appoint Tejanos to positions of power in her government. Ann’s Texas drawl remained when she spoke Spanish but the crowds still adored her for trying and for building outreach to the their community. An impromptu rally was held at El Mercado in San Antonio with former Mayor Henry Cisneros as mariachi music played in the background, setting the scene for a political alliance that would help entrench the Texas Latino population in the Texas Democratic Party for years to come.
Cisneros, wearing his own Another Man for Ann shirt, stated that Ann was the only person who could help expand homeownership for Latinos across Texas and revitalize dying urban centers in Latino communities, issues that were very near and dear to his heart and that he had been committed to during his tenure as Mayor of San Antonio. Behind the scenes, Ann was adamant in thanking Cisneros and asked him to help her campaign in other cities, as well as many of the rural Latino communities in the Rio Grande Valley. Cisneros readily agreed. Whether or not Ann promised Cisneros positions or influence is not known, but Cisneros would remain attached to Ann going into the future, helping her with outreach to the Tejano and Mexican-American communities as she marched on her path toward the Primary.
Chapter Two
Another Man For Ann
With two years of campaigning ahead of her, Ann was determined to pull out all the stops in what appeared to be a never-ending journey toward the Dome. While campaigning in Austin, Ann had the fortune to be contacted by none other than Willie Nelson, who expressed a deep interested in seeing Ann elected the first true female Governor of Texas. The outlaw country star convinced Ann to let him perform at several campaign rallies in an effort to truly get the ball rolling. Even though no other Democrats had thrown their hats in the ring yet, Ann knew the importance of these early months and agreed to host several concert rallies with Nelson in Austin, Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, El Paso, and Lubbock.
Dubbed as the “Another Man for Ann” tour, these six rallies were held in January, kicking off 1989 with a renewed sense of fervor in both Ann and in her increasing amount of followers. At each rally, the Richards campaign would sell shirts, buttons and bumper stickers emblazoned with ‘Another Man For Ann,’ which would typically sell out once Nelson appeared on stage donning his own. The early alliance between Ann and Nelson enabled Ann to quickly form a base of core supporters that include blue-collar workers, students, and teachers. Yet, she knew that this would not be enough to clinch the Democratic nomination. To this end, she began formulating a plan of outreach to both the Latino and African-American communities.
Ann Richards and Willie Nelson at an 'Another Man For Ann' Rally
Following her rally in San Antonio, Ann met with Latino activists and community leaders, promising them that the New Texas she envisioned would have ample opportunities for all Texans and that she would work tirelessly to lift up the Hispanic population of Texas and appoint Tejanos to positions of power in her government. Ann’s Texas drawl remained when she spoke Spanish but the crowds still adored her for trying and for building outreach to the their community. An impromptu rally was held at El Mercado in San Antonio with former Mayor Henry Cisneros as mariachi music played in the background, setting the scene for a political alliance that would help entrench the Texas Latino population in the Texas Democratic Party for years to come.
Cisneros, wearing his own Another Man for Ann shirt, stated that Ann was the only person who could help expand homeownership for Latinos across Texas and revitalize dying urban centers in Latino communities, issues that were very near and dear to his heart and that he had been committed to during his tenure as Mayor of San Antonio. Behind the scenes, Ann was adamant in thanking Cisneros and asked him to help her campaign in other cities, as well as many of the rural Latino communities in the Rio Grande Valley. Cisneros readily agreed. Whether or not Ann promised Cisneros positions or influence is not known, but Cisneros would remain attached to Ann going into the future, helping her with outreach to the Tejano and Mexican-American communities as she marched on her path toward the Primary.
- Sevarics
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