Primary Election Date: 05/29/2012
General Election Date: 11/06/2012

Who Am I?

Growing up in Austin, Dan first served the people of the 10th Congressional District when he interned for the late Congressman Jake Pickle while attending McCallum High School. He still lives in Austin with his wife, Ami, and two children, Jack and Grace.

Currently, Dan works with the U.S. State and Defense Departments, training American civilian and military personnel bound for Afghanistan. In 2009, Dan was awarded a commendation from the State Department for his service during the Afghan Presidential election.

His work strengthening democratic institutions has taken him to places like Bosnia and Kosovo as well as Iraq where he worked with the Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq to conduct the historic elections of 2005, and to Afghanistan where he helped coordinate the nation’s post-Taliban constitutional convention and re-establish Afghanistan’s Central Bank.

Dan holds degrees from both Georgetown and the London School of Economics. He served on the board of the Saint Louise House, a charity devoted to assisting homeless mothers with children.

Why Am I Running?

I'm running for Congress in the 10th congressional district of Texas because for years the voices of too many Texans have been pushed aside in Washington. They've been undermined by giant corporations and ignored by politicians more interested in self-indulgent political games and personal profit than fighting for real solutions. I've spent time in Iraq and Afghanistan working to grow democracy only to see it failing here at home.

That's not right. We deserve better.

We’ve just gone through the worst economic recession our country has seen in decades. And we’re just starting to rebound. But still, too many Americans feel like they’re out there on their own. Their anxieties about retirement, their children’s education and advancing in their own careers are real. Growing up and now raising a family here in Austin, I’ve known firsthand what that is like.

And there are other families, across this country, still looking for that next job or pouring all their effort into growing their small business or hoping that the promise of Social Security and Medicare will be there when they need it.

Central Texans deserve a voice in Congress that understands this.

We deserve a voice that speaks up for our needs above the political theater and the demands of powerful lobbyists and corporate donors. For years we haven't had that voice.

We need to change that.

In Congress, I'll fight to make sure our voices are heard again. I’ll fight to make sure what matters to families here in Texas matters in Washington.

Hold Me Accountable!

I will focus on renewing our commitment to creating and sustaining a 21st century economy in Texas and across the country.
That means:

1. Ensuring we continue to generate an educated and trained workforce that can help create and grow the next wave of high tech, clean energy and information-based jobs here in Texas. I'll make sure we continue to prioritize and protect our investment in education especially in these tough times.

2. Reclaiming our leadership role in research and development of these new technologies. As countries like China and India are doubling down we are pulling back. We have the opportunity to be on the forefront of envisioning, designing and manufacturing the next generation of energy and technology solutions. I'll fight to make sure those jobs and those benefits are grown right here at home.

My DFA values:

I've spent most of my career working to build and strengthen Democracy around the globe and know first hand that a strong Democracy is based on a true sense of Community, real Security and inalienable Liberty. I've dedicated my professional life to supporting these principals and will do the same in this campaign and when in Congress.

I have worked in countries where liberties are few and under constant attack. We will not stand for that in America. I'll work to make sure we are all viewed equally under the law and are free from bigotry, harassment and intimidation. I'll work to ensure the United States is a leader in social justice and that we do better than we have done before.

This campaign will be about rebuilding our communities. Divisive, partisan politics has turned Congresses into a dysfunctional institution more focused on show downs and political theater than doing the job Americans sent them to do. Elected leaders are first and fore most members of their community back home and thats been lost. I grew up in a family that taught me that we are all in this together and that those who can give back should. These are the values I know we share; they are the values that have inspired me to run for Congress and the values that will guide me when I'm in office.

My Campaign is People-Powered!

The only way to compete against one of the richest members of Congress will be to out organize him. We fully recognize that no amount of TV commercials and expensive websites can overcome real community building and a powerful grassroots organization; this will be a key to our success.

We already have a strong team of volunteers working to gather signatures for our place on the ballot and will continue to build and rely on this team to get our message out to voters. We are also deeply proud that a majority of our donors are small donors- students, teachers, working families- giving $100 or less to a campaign that will bring their voice back to Washington.

This campaign will only be successful with the help of those who are willing to work to spread our message at the door, on the phone and online.