Glen Maxey: No More Backroom Deals in the Democratic Party

[WestHoustonDem]

No more back room deals.

The Party belongs to the PEOPLE.

We are less than 90 days from the State Democratic Convention in Fort Worth.

I hope you are part of this process and will be attending your Senate or County Convention on March 25th, and will be a delegate this June at the convention.

At the convention, delegates will have a choice from among several candidates for the position of state party chair.

I have announced as a candidate for that office ( www.MaxeyforChair.com ) and laid out a vision for our party over the coming years. We must open up the process, reinvigorate those who have become disillusioned, and welcome the new energy of folks across Texas who wish for a party that stands for something again.

And for many, their frustration is best expressed by a volunteer who wrote me this week:

“I think someone should start a Democratic Party in Texas!!!!!!”

So with the beginnings of a real conversation and discussion about our party’s direction underway, I’m saddened to write this email.

Some folks distrust the thousands of Democrats who’ll be coming to Fort Worth so much that they once again have decided to try to take away your right to a real discussion.

The back room deal is alive and well in our party. The phone lines have been burning up over the last few days, as our current Chair, Mr. Charles Soechting, and “the brokers of the status quo” have been hatching their deal to shut out the delegates once again.

On Tuesday, Chairman Soechting announced his resignation for personal reasons relating to family and business. Sadly, that’s not the reason he expressed in the calls over the last weeks.

As I’ve heard the story repeated by many, he is doing this because the insiders have decided that Glen Maxey might be elected at the State Convention. I’m flattered that they believe the delegates would elect me. However, I’m appalled that they think this fast move to give their candidate the “incumbency” advantage won’t be noticed for what it is: a slap in the delegates’ face, yet again.

Dropping out and calling a quick election wasn’t right when Republicans Todd Baxter and Ray Allen resigned from the Legislature and allowed Rick Perry to try to set up a short-lived “incumbency” for their successors. It smelled when Perry did it, and it smells when our Democratic leadership does it.

In any case, their plan was not for Glen Maxey to be the person elected by the 63 members of State Democratic Executive Committee at this hastily called meeting.

So, just for the record, I wanted you all to know that I won’t seek the temporary chairmanship for the 49 days until a permanent chair will be elected by the people of the Texas Democratic Party.

I’ll continue to take my case to the duly elected delegates who are entrusted by state law and by the rules of this party to make this decision.

I urge you to talk to your SDEC members about this backroom deal. Ask them to support allowing the delegates to make this decision as the law and the rules suggest.

Instead of calling a special election 49 days before the Convention, Mr. Soechting could just as easily turn over the Chair to our first Vice Chair, Ms. Hadnot.. While he has the power to call the meeting to do the insider deal, he also has the ability to trust the judgment of Texas Democrats and allow the delegates to lead on this important decision.

I wish Mr. Soechting well in his future endeavors.

But under a Glen Maxey chairmanship, there will be no more backroom deals.

Glen Maxey

Candidate for State Party Chair at the June Convention

P.S. The SDEC will meet this Saturday, March 18th in San Marcos. If you wish to contact your members before the meeting, their contact information is listed at:

SDEC

P.S.S. I will not be able to attend Saturday’s SDEC meeting. My closest friend and a longtime Democratic leader, Erma Faye Jefferson passed away this week. Services are at 11:00 am at Aldersgate Church, 2201 Earl Rudder, College Station. March 18th, 2006.