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.
"The jog compensates for the curvature of the earth."
LOL
Trajan88
When they were making the roads the Steer just wouldn't move.
Steers win in TX. They went around.
Then they just paved the path already made.
:o)
Scouts Out! Cavalry Ho!
I lived in Texas for many years. I have three grand-daughters, and the middle one (age 8) was born in Plano. While now living in California, she constantly upsets her teachers by sayings, such as, "I tell all'yall, them clouds tell me it's a fixin' to rain!". Bless her sweet Texas heart.
Sure, any country boy knew that by the time he was 10.
Yeah .... and Howard Dean is convinced that the Democratic Party can take back the south. LOL!!
Great, just what the party needs, more Olympia Snowes, Susan Collins, Hagels, Jeffries...etc and we still can't vote for the judges who wield the real power...and Atlas Shrugged
Geeeeee .. I think I'll move there. I'm in the tail end of a blue monster.
98% Republican? Sounds like paradise.
Thank you for your kind words. You are correct with one exception...Austin. We live here. The folks here are not SANE...except for the Freepers of course!
"The jog compensates for the curvature of the earth."
I probably should explain a little.
If you put squares on a globe, the corners won't match with the next square 'above' it. That's because the distance around the globe becomes smaller as you reach the poles. That same situation causes problems with lining up county roads.
I grew up in southern MN, the N/S roads to the north of our house jogged about a hundred yards in order to meet up with the roads in the next county. Nearly every N/S road did so.
Texas is closer to the equator, and the jog for the same size county won't be a large, but the counties are probably larger
Austin is the liberal mecca of Texas. Think Berkley, but deep in the heart of Texas.
It just doesn't make any sense, until you factor in TU being there. It's amazing to think that A&M is so staunchly conservative, yet TU is so liberal.
"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."That seems to be a major factor when Democrats walk across the aisle. (Reagan and my brother to name two).
I am just BARELY out of Hall's district.
Rockwall is just down the road from me.
Excuse me???
It's Holy week, I was being nice.
I wasn't born in Texas, but got here as quick as I could. I wouldn't move anywhere else for "Love nor Money" as the old saying goes....
Well .. I love San Diego - it's a RED county - but it has a BLUE city govt. We've tried 3 times to elect a RED mayor - and lost. The city is like most major cities - full of minorities - gays - DEMOCRATS. So that small minority rule the rest of the RED city.
It's very frustrating.
I stay here because of my mom (whom I take care of). However, if I was by myself, I would probably move - but I would definitely not choose Florida.
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