Record number of Denton County Democrats attend Chili Supper fundraiser

Sunday, 24 January 2010 00:32

Denton County Democratic Party Chair Phyllis Wolper welcomed a record turnout at the recent Chili Supper fundraiser that crowded into Denton’s spacious Center for the Visual Arts.  She said she was especially heartened to see so many new faces as well as old friends from every corner of the County. It was evidence that the Party is growing and the fact that voters are getting weary of the corrosive effect of one-party local government.

Neil Durrance, Democratic candidate for the US Congress in the 26th District talked about the need to get out the word that Democrats are working for a better America for all, not just for the special interests.  The present Congressman, as a former doctor, said Mr. Durrance, should be looking out for patients and not constantly quoting insurance company statistics to prove all is well with the nation’s health care. 

Party Chair Wolper noted one particularly troubling example of the local one-party spoils system. The incumbent Republican County Probate Judge had been recently reprimanded by the State Commission on Judicial Conduct for, as the Denton Record-Chronicle noted “for appointing guardians and trustees that seemed to inordinately reward close friends, business associates and even his own former wife.”

Probate Judge Candidate Stephen Stephens said that the County had any skilled probate attorneys and he would fairly spread duties among them.  He also said that as judge he would stop attorneys from running up bills by going to court separately on issues that could readily be combined in one hearing at a much lower cost to beneficiaries.

Justice of the Peace District 1 (Denton area) candidate Bill Barnett commented that the JP Court was where youngsters in trouble had their first brush with the courts.  Mr. Barnett said he intends to work to keep at-risk students out of the type of trouble that lands them in JP court and ensure they don’t later find themselves in higher courts facing more serious charges.   His plan includes organizing mentoring teams with local school systems and organizing discussions with students at their schools.

The County party’s Executive Director Mary Infante said the key to the evening’s success were event organizers Marsha Keffer and Jan Dickson, and the chili maestros at Sweetwater Grill.  She also thanked the growing number of volunteers who were helping with the complexities of running the Party organization.