neil durrance announces campaign for congress

Chairman of the Denton County Democratic Party Neil Durrance has announced his intention to run for U.S. Congress in the 26th Congressional District in Texas.

Read the press release below.

Neil L. Durrance, an attorney and Chairman of the Denton County Democratic Party, today announced his campaign for Congress in the 26th Congressional District.

“For too long, Rep. Burgess has voted against the best interests of Texans. We need real leadership in Washington that puts partisanship aside to find solutions to the challenges we face. I will work with both Democrats and Republicans to turn the economy around, improve access to quality, affordable health care, and invest in the next generation of leaders by strengthening education.”

Mr. Durrance’s campaign will focus on bringing fiscal responsibility to government, creating jobs in the district, making educational opportunities available people of all ages, and improving health care.

Neil Durrance has practiced law since 1981, served as a City Council member, and was elected Chair of the Denton County Democratic Party in 2007. Filing with the FEC allows Mr. Durrance to begin the fundraising phase of the campaign. During this phase the organizational structure of the campaign, including staff, will be put in place. A formal public announcement is expected in late fall 2009.

Questions should be directed to durranceforcongress@gmail.com.

Celebrate Obama's Inauguration with the Denton County Democrats!

The Denton County Democratic Party will be hosting an Inauguration Party at the Prairie House in Denton on the evening of January 20th to celebrate the inauguration of President Elect Barack Obama. The Prairie House is located at 10001 Highway 380 in Denton, TX.

All Denton County Democrats are invited to attend. The event will be held from 6:30 until 10:30 pm. Attendees will view the inaugural celebrations and discuss the events of the day. There is no cover charge, and food and drink will be available at the expense of individual participants. The entire Prairie House has been reserved for the event.

Parties of eight or more wishing to reserve a table should contact the Prairie House directly at 940-440-9760. For further information on this or other Denton County Democratic Party sponsored events, contact the DCDP Events Chairman at 972-219-0401.

The Denton County Democratic Party urges all interested parties to come and celebrate “Change in America.”

Watch the following video and listen to President-elect Obama's Inaugural speech at the Lincoln Memorial. Then join the Denton County Democrats on this historic night as we proudly celebrate the inauguration of our 44th president.

Precinct Blogs in Denton County

Few things have been more exciting in this extraordinary election year than watching the grassroots organizing that has developed as a direct outgrowth of the primary election process. And one of the most entertaining aspects of that for me are the blogs that have been popping up at the precinct level. There is nothing more rewarding to this blogger than helping another blogger join the chorus of activists seeking progressive political change in Denton County.

A couple of new blogs have launched recently, joining some previously established ones. Here is a list of the current Democratic precinct blogs in Denton County that I know of. Have I missed anyone? If you've got a Democratic precinct blog in Denton County that isn't listed here, leave me a link in the comments.

Blog/City                       Precinct No. 

Castle Hills Democrats          Precinct 224 
 
Highland Village                Precinct 322 
 
Lewisville                      Precinct 324 
 
Corinth Democrats (Lake Cities) Precincts 129 & 108

And if your precinct or city isn't represented, visit these for a little inspiration. When it comes to blogging, the more the merrier.

unity rally tomorrow!

Listen up, North Texas Democrats! It's time to get together and present a united front as we head into November's general election against John McCain. We've had a long, hard-fought primary battle and Barack Obama is our nominee. Let's get behind him and elect a Democratic president.

What: Democratic Unity Rally - Denton County Democratic Party
(Food, Live Music, Speakers, Meet Candidates, Register to Vote)
When: Saturday, June 14, 2008 - 11 AM to 3 PM
Where: Vista Ridge Amphitheater
3049 Lake Vista Drive; Lewisville, TX (15 miles north of Dallas)
Who: All Democrats and people who may vote Democratic
Cost: FREE admission. Food and beverages available for sale. Limited number of Unity T-shirts are available for a small donation.
Kids: Bring them with you. There will be activities.
Parking: FREE ample parking.

Sponsored by the Denton County Democratic Party. Join us, volunteer, and support the campaign for change!

2008 Denton County Democratic Convention

Dear Fellow Democrats:

CONVENTION TIME IS HERE!! SPREAD THE WORD!!!

After an astonishing primary (54,000 Democratic Voters!!!) it is now time to have our Denton County Democratic Party County Convention. Our party has grown by over 1000 percent since the last primary. Yes, I said 1000 percent! The result is that we have outgrown all facilities in Denton County.

Our County Convention will be held in the Quakertown/Civic Center Park located in Denton, Texas, March 29, 2008 beginning with registration at 8:30 and the convention lasting until 4:00 p.m. Because we are a party of unity and inclusion, we must now all pitch in to host the largest political convention ever held in history of Denton County and we need your help. Many of you have already stepped forward and the Party we is grateful for your efforts.

We need volunteers for greeters, information distribution, contacting of delegates, facility operation, packet construction, computers and many other positions. If you can help with any positions you should immediately contact Barbara Edward at barbed2000@yahoo.com or call the County Headquarters at (940) 566-1165. (Don't ask for Jace, he's had a rough week.) We will be glad to direct you to the area of your interest.

We also need donations to defray the costs of the convention. We estimate the convention will cost approximately $12,000.00 and we are well on our way to this goal for having a first rate convention thanks to the donations of money and equipment by members of the party. We also want our convention to be environmentally friendly by carpooling, (not to mention the savings on parking space). Donations should be made payable to the Denton County Democratic Party.

So, bring your most comfortable lawn chair (no tree swings, please), a blanket to relax for the afternoon and enjoy the music, and your energized Democratic Spirit for a time to showcase our Party as we make our way to the State Convention in June and Victory in November.

Your County Chair,
Neil L. Durrance

Note from North Texas Liberal: The cost of the convention works out to a little more than $100 per precinct. We need every good Democrat to step up and do his or her part. To see a breakdown of the costs, go to Castle Hills Democrats. To contribute online, go here. To send a check, download this form. To contribute via PayPal, click here. Come to Quakertown Park this Saturday, meet your fellow Democrats and be a part of history.

Denton County Democrats Introduce 2008 Candidate Slate

The Denton County Democrats held a press conference Tuesday evening at a packed headquarters in Denton to introduce its slate of candidates for 2008. The message of the evening was the resurgence of the local Democratic Party.

"We are back,” said Neil Durrance, the county Democratic Party chairman. “We are here to offer Denton County residents choice, balance and accountability. It is our intention to bring balance and good government to Denton County.

Here is the list of Democrats announced at Tuesday's press conference.

• County Democratic Chairman - Neil Durrance, Denton
• District Judge, 16th district - Karen Guerra, Carrollton
• Constable, Pct. 5 - Mike Ballard, Denton
• State Board of Education, 14th district - Edra Bogle, Denton
• Commissioner, Pct. 1 - Phyllis Wolper, Denton
• State Rep., Dist 63 - Jesus Carrillo, Ponder
• State Rep., Dist 64 - John McClelland, Little Elm
• U.S. Rep., Dist 24 - Tom Love, Arlington
• U.S. Rep., Dist 26 - Kenneth Leach, Gainesville

For more, see the Denton Record Chronicle and Whosplayin.

Also, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram is reporting Melvin Willms has filed to run against Chris Harris for state Senate District 9.

Texas Blue Interviews Denton Democratic Party Chair

The Texas Blue's Grace Stevens has an interview this week with Denton Democratic Party Chairman Neil Durrance. Mr. Durrance was chosen in a special election in March of this year after the previous chairman, Dr. John Gossett, resigned due to health reasons.

[The Texas Blue]: What would you say are the primary issues concerning Denton County?

[Durrance]: The primary issue for Denton County is having an open and honest government. It has to become open with the people and become responsive to the needs of the community.

Other issues for the area are going to be important for many years, like health care for our citizens. Personal and professional responsibilities of elected officials are also growing issues.

[The Texas Blue]: What are you looking forward to in the coming cycle?

[Durrance]: A Democratic victory on a national level, a Congressional level, and locally. We currently have the best crop of candidates than we have in a long time, from the White House to state House to local seats, and we’re going to continue to have qualified candidates for years to come.

It is important to support good candidates that hold Democratic values like open government and personal integrity. This has been lacking for many years from all levels of government.

The Democratic message is beginning to resonate with voters all across the state. With issues and demographics favoring the Democrats, there are signs that the GOP's hold on Texas may not be as strong as it once was. That's reason enough for optimism, even in an area like Denton County.

events tomorrow in denton & collin counties

Tomorrow (Saturday, August 19) will see a full day of Democratic events in both Collin and Denton counties. Please consider attending these exciting events to support your local candidates in North Texas.

The Highland Village Balloon Fest will continue tomorrow at Copperas Branch Park. Highland Village is located off of I-35 E near Lake Lewisville. This weekend marks the event's twentieth anniversary. After you check out the hot air balloons and other activities, make sure to head over to the booth hosted by the Denton County Democratic Party to meet several local candidates, including Tim Barnwell, Democratic candidate for U.S. House of Representatives from the 26th District.

At 7pm, join Democratic candidate for Collin County Commissioner in Precinct 2, Bill Baumbach, for Burgers with Bill. The event will take place at Fuddruckers in Plano (located at 2205 N. Central Expressway, Ste. 100). Kids are welcome and vegetarian options will be available. Event coordinators suggest a $25 donation to the Baumbach campaign.

Also at 7pm, the Amy Manuel campaign will host a house party in Lewisville. Join the candidate and her friends and supporters for wine, cheese, and other refreshments. Event coordinators suggest a donation of $10 or more. Please contact John McClelland for more information, including directions. Help Amy Manuel get elected as the next Denton County Commissioner in Precinct 2!

Highland Village Balloon Fest

Join congressional candidate Tim Barnwell and your fellow Democrats this weekend at the Highland Village Balloon Fest.

The festival, in its twentieth year, is sponsored by the Lion's Club and features a Friday night balloon glow, balloon launches and competitions, arts and crafts, raffles, sky divers and more. So bring the family, and be sure to check out the Denton County Democratic Party booth for information on your local candidates.

When: August 18 & 19, 2006
Where: Copperas Branch Park - Highland Village

There is still time to volunteer, and we'll make sure you have plenty of time to check out the balloons and events. See you there!

democratic reunion - july 29

On July 29, the Democratic National Committee is sponsoring the Democratic Reunion. It's similar to the blockwalk they hosted back in April, but this time there is a lot more going on, including house parties! Here are the events we've been notified about by the Denton County Democratic Party:

• 9 AM - Lewisville - Hosted by Steve Southwell
• 10 AM - Dallas - Hosted by John McClelland
• 10 AM - Hickory Creek - Hosted by Martha Sutton and Jerel Twifford

The events in Denton County will also include some Denton County candidates that want to get out and meet the voters. If you are a Democrat in Denton County, get yourself to the closest event! It seems that all of the events are south of Denton proper, but there should be one near most Denton County activists.

If anyone has information about events going on in Dallas, Tarrant, Collin, or other North Texas counties, please pass it on through the comments. We hope the blockwalks are as successful as the ones a few months ago. Good luck to everyone participating!

denton county democratic convention

This past Saturday, I was a delegate to the Denton County Democratic Convention. The convention was opened with a speech from Lt. Governor candidate Maria Luisa Alvarado. She expressed her desire for a stronger Texas for every Texan and promised to bring her Democratic values to the very important post in Texas government. She asked that all Texans vote for her in the runoff on April 11 and beyond that in November.

After Alvarado's address, Denton County Party Chair Edra Bogle addressed her last convention. In May, she will be succeeded by John Gossett, who served as secretary to the convention. Mrs. Bogle called the convention to order and implemented some parliamentary procedures and then we were under way.

Some key speeches included a rousing address from candidate for U.S. Congress, District 26, Tim Barnwell. He talked about how the constituents in his district range greatly; some live in a gated community in Flower Mound and others live in a rough area of Fort Worth. He's running on principles, though, principles that should extend past those barriers. Rep. Michael Burgess has outstayed his welcome in the 26th District and it's time for a change.

Amy Manuel, running for Denton County Commissioner Precinct 2, gave a speech, as well as the Democrat running for State House, District 64, John McLeod. McLeod faces stiff competition from popular Republican Myra Crownover in November.

Some candidates sent representatives to speak in their stead. One of your NTL bloggers proudly spoke on behalf of Barbara Ann Radnofsky, candidate for U.S. Senate. The crowd overwhelmingly showed support for Radnofsky as Jennifer urged the delegates not to vote for perennial loser Gene Kelly on April 11.

Another candidate represented by a campaign worker was Glen Maxey. Maxey ran the No Nonsense in November campaign last year against Prop 2. This year, he is running for State Party Chair. The representative urged all delegates that would go on to the State Convention to cast their vote for Maxey.

After candidate speeches, delegates were chosen for the State Convention. Yours truly will represent Senate District 9 and Denton County this June at the State Convention in Fort Worth. I'm very excited about it and will definitely come back bearing many reports, endorsements, etc.

After a short recess, Edra reconvened the convention to vote on resolutions. The Denton County Party will send several resolutions, including national healthcare and anti-war messages to the State Convention. At the state level, they will have the chance to be embedded within the party platform.

The convention ended with a speech from Lt. Governor candidate Ben Z. Grant. Grant will face Alvarado in an April 11 runoff. Grant famously rode a horse to the Constitutional Convention in the 1970s and is a former Texas lawmaker that was considered a member of the "Dirty Thirty." He asked the delegates for their vote in the primary so he could get back down to Austin and sort out the Republican corruption.

The convention, overall, was a huge success. I was proud to be a part of politics in action and felt like I was really doing something to help better the Democratic Party here in Texas. I can't wait till June when the State Convention will convene. It will be a huge honor to participate. A large number of area Democrats have been elected as delegates to attend, and Denton County will be well-represented.