Posted on 03/25/2005 8:32:47 PM PST by SwinneySwitch
Since February, three Wise County officials have left the Democratic Party to join the Republicans.
County Republican Party Chairman D.A. Sharpe said County Clerk Sherry Parker-Lemon, County Treasurer Katherine Canova and 271st District Judge John Fostel joined the party's membership rolls at a meeting Monday night.
"All three of them are not saying they've changed their philosophy," Sharpe said. "They've been conservative Democrats, and the Democratic Party has left them, is how they describe it."
Parker-Lemon said she believes that the Republican Party more closely represents her political beliefs. She said she has many good Democratic friends and wanted to be fair with them in carrying out her decision to leave the party.
"I've attended their meetings faithfully for years," Parker-Lemon said, "and I felt like I owed them the courtesy to go to them and personally address them on this."
Canova said she also has many friends in both political groups and hopes to keep them after switching parties.
More and more Texas Democrats have chosen the Republican Party in the past seven years, Sharpe said. "They're just taking this occasion to switch and reaffirm what they think their identity really is," he said.
With the three changes, Wise County has 16 Republicans and four Democrats in elected offices, making the county 80 percent Republican-controlled.
Art Brender, chairman of the Tarrant County Democratic Party, said that he doesn't know of anyone leaving the party in the county but that he understands why it happens.
"Sometimes one person will get elected, a candidate from one party, and they get concerned because of the way the national election went," Brender said.
Pat Carlson, chairwoman of the Tarrant County Republican Party, said the county is already 98 percent Republican. It's so heavily Republican, she said, that it's not unusual for Republicans to run against one another in key races.
Of 90 elected offices in Tarrant, 82 are held by Republicans and eight are held by Democrats, making the county about 91 percent Republican.
But Carlson said she doesn't know of any Democrats joining her group lately. "That's happened in years past," Carlson said, "but not now."
Sharpe said he's just happy to welcome Fostel, Parker-Lemon and Canova.
"They're all very fine people," Sharpe said. "And to my knowledge, I expect them to be a fine contribution to our party."
All three officials are serving four-year terms that expire in 2006.
The county treasurer earns $43,141 a year and has a $4,824 travel allowance; the county clerk earns $43,141 and has a $3,600 travel allowance; and the district judge makes $101,700.
It seems that every time I hear Texas mentioned here at FR, it's in the context of something good happening there, and the Freepers that I've spoken to about Texas always have very nice things to say about the Lone Star State. It sounds like a great place with very nice and SANE people....I simply MUST visit there one day :-)
I liked Texas when I went down there. It wasn't home but it was cool for a visit.
Come on down to Texas! I've lived here all my life and *I am* very nice and sane. I'm also an excellent driver.
It's a fine state and I'm the only really odd FReeper here, the rest are great people.
Doesn't leave much.
B'shem Y'shua
chuck
It really varies Stoat, right now I'm low on the Texas GOP trying to raise taxes, but will never go demonrat!! Come on down!
Tx ping
Is the immigrant problem huge there though, like California? Just curious.
Texas GOP ping!
It would have been foolish not to switch.
We're #2 behind Caleefornia, but gaining!
I was down in the Dallas area at an odd time (mid 80s). There had apparently been a building boom that cooled and everywhere I went were streets with sidewalks and concrete driveways but no houses.
Another thing that kinda wierded me out were that roads. They were arrrow straight for a hundred miles then they made a sudden sharp jog and went back to being straight again.
Trajan88; TAMU Class of '88; Law Hall (may it R.I.P.) Ramp 9 Mule; f.u.p.!
Currently celebrating 35 years of oil royalties from Wise County.
BTTT
The jog may have been at a county line. The jog compensates for the curvature of the earth.
You're never to old to be true to yourself, Zell.
either way,
"Give 'em hell, Zell!";^)
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