Hays County Democratic Party receives highest industry honor

HAYS COUNTY — The Hays County Democratic Party has been awarded seven of the coveted Pollie Awards from the American Association of Political Consultants (AAPC), which is the industry’s highest honor bestowed upon political consultants at the national and international levels.

The Hays County Democratic Party won Gold, Silver and Bronze Pollie Awards and four First Place Regional Pollies. The awards honored the Democrats’ Hays Democratic News, newspaper insert and mailer, website, trifold candidate brochure and social media digital ads. There were more entries submitted this year than ever before.

“There is no higher honor than to be recognized for our work by our peers,” said Hays County Democratic Party Chair John Hatch in a news release. “This work was the collaboration of so many people working together to turn Hays County blue. I’m so happy their efforts are being applauded by such a great organization as the AAPC.”

“The 2022 campaign cycle continued to challenge traditional outreach and encourage new strategies and tactics. The firms honored with Pollie Awards this year advanced efforts and challenged the status quo. AAPC offers a very enthusiastic congratulations for their wins,” said Becki Donateli, AAPC President.

The AAPC announced this year’s winners during the 2023 Pollie Awards and Conference in Palm Springs, California, on April 19.

The Hays County Democratic Party submitted entries as The Little Engine that DID and won in seven categories:

• Gold Pollie for the Spanish language mailer/insert
• Silver Pollie for direct mail piece during primary
• Bronze Pollie for the trifold brochure of Democratic Candidates
• First in AAPC Central Region: Best Use of Digital Ads
• First in AAPC Central Region: Best Use of Newspaper Ads (Hays Free Press)
• First in AAPC Central Region: Website – Local Candidates
• First in AAPC Central Region: Direct Mail for Local Candidate 

The Hays County Democratic Party credited the following individuals for their dedication and efforts.

• Mark Trahan, serving as Chair of the HCDP, put into place the team that worked so hard and led to the organization’s success
• HCDP Communications Team, for their work creating the website, digital ads and tri-fold candidate literature, all receiving awards
• HCDP Fundraising Team for organizing the insert/mailer that helped raise more than $20,000 during the Democratic Primary
• Bobbie Garza-Hernandez, for her work translating the Gold Pollie Award-winning Spanish language insert/mailer
• Gina Fant-Simon, as head of the Comms Team for putting together the amazing website, tri-fold brochure and digital ads
• Daniel Wilkinson, graphics
• Clare O’Donoghue Velikic, marketing
• Chris Davis, videos
• Jana Kaura, Mobilize
• Sheri Scott, Twitter
• Barbara Foss, Facebook
• Ashley Orr, Instagram
• Danina Castro, TikTok
• Fundraising- Betsy Singleton, Donna Haschke, Leah Kaufmann, Kathy Carriker, Lacy Waller, Rebecca Minnick, Anna Hargrove and Linda Rodriguez
• HCDP News – Lori Moya, Jeff Kaufmann, Rebecca and John Hatch
• Chana Temple, Candidate Committee Chair
• Eric Fischer, Go-Fish Advertising, Graphics, HCDP News
• Hays Free Press