CIVIL WAR AMONG DALLAS DEMOCRATS?:
During the last month there has been a massive eruption among Democratic Party activists in Dallas County. They are upset with the County Chair to the extent of calling for her resignation, or, if she does not, for imposing limitations on her power. The main spark of this is her publicly supporting a Republican appointee to a federal judgeship, using her official title and party letterhead for that purpose.
Some local Democrats had already complained to the Texas Democratic Party's State Chair, but he had ruled this was not a technical violation of the state party rules since she did not endorse a Republican candidate on the ballot against a Democrat. That was not the only issue, as some were also angry about how she has administered the party office, campaigns, and interaction with the Precinct Chairs, who constitute the County Executive Committee.
The discontent with the County Chair has continued to fester, and now burst out in five resolutions. Three of them (from the Dallas County Young Democrats, the Stonewall Democrats of Dallas, and the Dallas County East Democrats) called for her resignation. Two others (from the Lake Highlands/White Rock Area Democratic Club and the Richardson/Northeast Dallas Democrats) only called for a County Executive Committee meeting to discuss the situation. Here are the texts of the resolutions:
Resolution by the Dallas County Young Democrats:
Whereas; Dallas County Democratic Party Chair, Susan Hays wrote a letter on Dallas County Democratic Party letterhead, endorsing a republican elected official who had been nominated for a Federal Judgeship by George W. Bush,
And whereas; Her letter, stating her office as Dallas County Democratic Party Chair, was read into the Congressional record by republican Senator John Cornyn, an event reported by the San Antonio Express-News, thereby embarrassing all Democrats in Dallas County,
And whereas; The policies and hiring practices of Chair Hays’ administration led to a Party Office in the 2004 election cycle that was, in the publicly expressed views of many members of this club, the most unresponsive and unhelpful Party Office in many years,
And whereas; Chair Hays has not acted in a manner consistent with the government of the Democratic Party as constituted in its Party Rules, because she has disregarded the necessity of working with the Dallas County Democratic Executive Committee for the entirety, so far, of her second term in office [see Party Rules Art. III. E., 6. (c)],
And whereas; The members of this club regard Chair Hays as being guilty of a “breach of trust” with her constituency, the loyal Democrats of Dallas County,
Therefore, be it resolved; That the Dallas County Young Democrats no longer have confidence in the ability of Susan Hays to administer the Dallas County Democratic Party and so, call for the resignation of Susan Hays as Chair of the Dallas County Democratic Party,
Be it further resolved; That the Dallas County Young Democrats request a meeting of the Dallas County Democratic Executive Committee,
Be it further resolved; That in the event that Susan Hays does not resign, the Dallas County Young Democrats endorse such actions of their officers and members, including and especially those who are Democratic precinct chairs in Dallas County, as necessary and proper to modify the administrative powers of Susan Hays as Chair of the Dallas County Democratic Party to provide relief from the grievances associated with her administration,
Be it further resolved; That a true copy of this resolution shall be sent to each Democratic club and precinct chair in Dallas County, and to Dallas
County Democratic Party Chair, Susan Hays.
Dallas County Young Democrats
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Resolution by the Stonewall Democrats of Dallas:
Whereas, Dallas County Democratic Party Chair, Susan Hays, wrote a letter dated July 6, 2004, supporting the nomination of Republican Texas Supreme Court Justice Michael Schneider, who had been nominated for the position of U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District by George W. Bush, and
Whereas, this letter, written on Dallas County Democratic Party letterhead and referring to Chairwoman Hays by her official title as Dallas County Democratic Party Chair, was read into the Congressional record by Republican Texas Senator John Cornyn, an action considered inflammatory by many members of this organization due to the fact that we were in the middle of a Democratic Campaign to recapture the White House, and
Whereas, Chairwoman Hays is quoted in her letter that: “A quick vote is critical this late in an election year”; a deed condemned by several members of this organization as unnecessary considering that the Democratic Presidential Nominee may have been victorious in less than four months, and
Whereas, the policies and practices of the Party Office, in the 2004 election cycle, especially the lack of a coordinated general election campaign involving candidates, clubs and precinct chairs, led many Democrats to publicly criticize the Party Office as unresponsive to the needs of the party membership, and this has caused a loss of confidence in the leadership of the County Party Chair, Susan Hays, on the part of many members of this organization,
Therefore, Be it resolved, that the Stonewall Democrats of Dallas wishes to express a lack of confidence in the ability of Susan Hays to administer the Dallas County Democratic Party and calls for her resignation as Chair of the Dallas County Democratic Party, and
Be it further resolved, The Stonewall Democrats of Dallas request that a meeting of the Dallas County Democratic Party Executive Committee take place within the next 30 days to discuss issues concerning our Party Leadership and future strategy of the Dallas County Democratic Party, and
Be it further resolved, that if Chairwoman Hays refuses to call a meeting within 30 days, the Stonewall Democrats of Dallas urge the Democratic Precinct Chairs to call a meeting of the Dallas County Democratic Party Executive Committee as provided for in the rules of the Texas Democratic Party
Be it further resolved, that a true copy of this resolution be sent to each member of the Dallas County Delegation of the State Democratic
Executive Committee, each Democratic club in Dallas County, The Dallas County Democratic Executive Committee and to Dallas County Democratic Party Chair, Susan Hays.
Passed on this day, January, 18, 2005
Michael T. Moon
President
Stonewall Democrats of Dallas
- - -
Resolution by the Lake Highlands/White Rock Area Democratic Club:
Whereas the Lake Highlands/White Rock Area Democratic Club notes that there is extensive discontent in Dallas County about the performance of Democratic County Chair Susan Hays, and
Whereas a Dallas County Executive Committee meeting may be called by 51% of its members,
Therefore, be it resolved that the Lake Highlands/White Rock Area Democratic Club calls for the Dallas County Democratic Executive Committee to meet within the next 60 days to discuss the performance of Chair Hays and to take whatever actions are necessary and proper for the administration of the Dallas County Democratic Party, and
Be it further resolved that a true copy of this resolution, along with a copy of Chair Hays’ July 6, 2004, letter of support for one of Bush’s judicial
nominees, be sent to each member of the Dallas County Democratic Executive Committee, to each Democratic Club in Dallas County, and to Dallas County Chair Susan Hayes.
Passed in open meeting, January 8, 2005.
- - -
Resolution by the Dallas County East Democrats:
Whereas, Dallas County Democratic Party Chair, Susan Hays, wrote a letter dated July 6, 2004, supporting the nomination of republican Texas Supreme Court Justice Michael Schneider, who had been nominated for the position of U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Texas by George W. Bush, and
Whereas, such letter, written on Dallas County Democratic Party stationery and referring to Chair Hays by her official title as Dallas County
Democratic Party Chair, was read into the Congressional Record by republican Texas Senator John Cornyn, an event reported by the San Antonio Express-News, thereby embarrassing Democrats in Dallas County, and Whereas, Chair Hays stated in her letter that, “A quick vote is critical this late in an election year,” thereby implying that the republican-controlled Judiciary Committee should confirm Justice Schneider
before a possible Democratic Presidential victory in the November General Election, and
Whereas, the policies and practices of Chair Hays’ administration have caused dissent and shown a lack of respect for the activists and precinct chairs of this Party, as demonstrated by Chair Hays’ failure to call a meeting of the Dallas County Democratic Executive Committee to address these issues, or to consult our precinct chairs about the future administration of the Dallas County Democratic Party, or to conduct or manage a coordinated campaign for the Dallas County Democratic Party,
Therefore, Be it resolved, that the Dallas County East Democrats hereby states a lack of confidence in the ability of Susan Hays to administer the Dallas County Democratic Party and calls for her immediate resignation as Chair of the Dallas County Democratic Party, and
Be it further resolved, that the Dallas County East Democrats requests that a meeting of the Dallas County Democratic Executive Committee be called, either by Chair Hays or by the precinct chairs as provided for in the Party Rules, to discuss the problems with our Party leadership and to do whatever is necessary and proper to correct those problems, and
Be it further resolved, that the Dallas County East Democrats requests the Democratic precinct chairs of Dallas County to refuse to sign any
petition to place the name of Susan Hays on the 2006 Democratic Primary ballot for County Chair, and finally
Be it further resolved, that a true copy of this resolution be sent to each member of the State Democratic Executive Committee in Dallas County,
each Democratic organization in Dallas County, each precinct chair in Dallas County, and to Dallas County Democratic Party Chair, Susan Hays.
Agreed to this 26th day of January, 2005.
- - -
Resolution by the Richardson/Northeast Dallas Democrats:
Motion: The Richardson/Northeast Dallas Democrats request that a meeting of the Dallas County Democratic Executive Committee be called by Chair Susan Hays within 30 days, or if 30 days have elapsed without a meeting, then by the precinct chairs as provided for in the Party Rules, to discuss the problems with our Party leadership.
Agreed to this 25th day of January, 2005.
During the last month there has been a massive eruption among Democratic Party activists in Dallas County. They are upset with the County Chair to the extent of calling for her resignation, or, if she does not, for imposing limitations on her power. The main spark of this is her publicly supporting a Republican appointee to a federal judgeship, using her official title and party letterhead for that purpose.
Some local Democrats had already complained to the Texas Democratic Party's State Chair, but he had ruled this was not a technical violation of the state party rules since she did not endorse a Republican candidate on the ballot against a Democrat. That was not the only issue, as some were also angry about how she has administered the party office, campaigns, and interaction with the Precinct Chairs, who constitute the County Executive Committee.
The discontent with the County Chair has continued to fester, and now burst out in five resolutions. Three of them (from the Dallas County Young Democrats, the Stonewall Democrats of Dallas, and the Dallas County East Democrats) called for her resignation. Two others (from the Lake Highlands/White Rock Area Democratic Club and the Richardson/Northeast Dallas Democrats) only called for a County Executive Committee meeting to discuss the situation. Here are the texts of the resolutions:
Resolution by the Dallas County Young Democrats:
Whereas; Dallas County Democratic Party Chair, Susan Hays wrote a letter on Dallas County Democratic Party letterhead, endorsing a republican elected official who had been nominated for a Federal Judgeship by George W. Bush,
And whereas; Her letter, stating her office as Dallas County Democratic Party Chair, was read into the Congressional record by republican Senator John Cornyn, an event reported by the San Antonio Express-News, thereby embarrassing all Democrats in Dallas County,
And whereas; The policies and hiring practices of Chair Hays’ administration led to a Party Office in the 2004 election cycle that was, in the publicly expressed views of many members of this club, the most unresponsive and unhelpful Party Office in many years,
And whereas; Chair Hays has not acted in a manner consistent with the government of the Democratic Party as constituted in its Party Rules, because she has disregarded the necessity of working with the Dallas County Democratic Executive Committee for the entirety, so far, of her second term in office [see Party Rules Art. III. E., 6. (c)],
And whereas; The members of this club regard Chair Hays as being guilty of a “breach of trust” with her constituency, the loyal Democrats of Dallas County,
Therefore, be it resolved; That the Dallas County Young Democrats no longer have confidence in the ability of Susan Hays to administer the Dallas County Democratic Party and so, call for the resignation of Susan Hays as Chair of the Dallas County Democratic Party,
Be it further resolved; That the Dallas County Young Democrats request a meeting of the Dallas County Democratic Executive Committee,
Be it further resolved; That in the event that Susan Hays does not resign, the Dallas County Young Democrats endorse such actions of their officers and members, including and especially those who are Democratic precinct chairs in Dallas County, as necessary and proper to modify the administrative powers of Susan Hays as Chair of the Dallas County Democratic Party to provide relief from the grievances associated with her administration,
Be it further resolved; That a true copy of this resolution shall be sent to each Democratic club and precinct chair in Dallas County, and to Dallas
County Democratic Party Chair, Susan Hays.
Dallas County Young Democrats
- - -
Resolution by the Stonewall Democrats of Dallas:
Whereas, Dallas County Democratic Party Chair, Susan Hays, wrote a letter dated July 6, 2004, supporting the nomination of Republican Texas Supreme Court Justice Michael Schneider, who had been nominated for the position of U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District by George W. Bush, and
Whereas, this letter, written on Dallas County Democratic Party letterhead and referring to Chairwoman Hays by her official title as Dallas County Democratic Party Chair, was read into the Congressional record by Republican Texas Senator John Cornyn, an action considered inflammatory by many members of this organization due to the fact that we were in the middle of a Democratic Campaign to recapture the White House, and
Whereas, Chairwoman Hays is quoted in her letter that: “A quick vote is critical this late in an election year”; a deed condemned by several members of this organization as unnecessary considering that the Democratic Presidential Nominee may have been victorious in less than four months, and
Whereas, the policies and practices of the Party Office, in the 2004 election cycle, especially the lack of a coordinated general election campaign involving candidates, clubs and precinct chairs, led many Democrats to publicly criticize the Party Office as unresponsive to the needs of the party membership, and this has caused a loss of confidence in the leadership of the County Party Chair, Susan Hays, on the part of many members of this organization,
Therefore, Be it resolved, that the Stonewall Democrats of Dallas wishes to express a lack of confidence in the ability of Susan Hays to administer the Dallas County Democratic Party and calls for her resignation as Chair of the Dallas County Democratic Party, and
Be it further resolved, The Stonewall Democrats of Dallas request that a meeting of the Dallas County Democratic Party Executive Committee take place within the next 30 days to discuss issues concerning our Party Leadership and future strategy of the Dallas County Democratic Party, and
Be it further resolved, that if Chairwoman Hays refuses to call a meeting within 30 days, the Stonewall Democrats of Dallas urge the Democratic Precinct Chairs to call a meeting of the Dallas County Democratic Party Executive Committee as provided for in the rules of the Texas Democratic Party
Be it further resolved, that a true copy of this resolution be sent to each member of the Dallas County Delegation of the State Democratic
Executive Committee, each Democratic club in Dallas County, The Dallas County Democratic Executive Committee and to Dallas County Democratic Party Chair, Susan Hays.
Passed on this day, January, 18, 2005
Michael T. Moon
President
Stonewall Democrats of Dallas
- - -
Resolution by the Lake Highlands/White Rock Area Democratic Club:
Whereas the Lake Highlands/White Rock Area Democratic Club notes that there is extensive discontent in Dallas County about the performance of Democratic County Chair Susan Hays, and
Whereas a Dallas County Executive Committee meeting may be called by 51% of its members,
Therefore, be it resolved that the Lake Highlands/White Rock Area Democratic Club calls for the Dallas County Democratic Executive Committee to meet within the next 60 days to discuss the performance of Chair Hays and to take whatever actions are necessary and proper for the administration of the Dallas County Democratic Party, and
Be it further resolved that a true copy of this resolution, along with a copy of Chair Hays’ July 6, 2004, letter of support for one of Bush’s judicial
nominees, be sent to each member of the Dallas County Democratic Executive Committee, to each Democratic Club in Dallas County, and to Dallas County Chair Susan Hayes.
Passed in open meeting, January 8, 2005.
- - -
Resolution by the Dallas County East Democrats:
Whereas, Dallas County Democratic Party Chair, Susan Hays, wrote a letter dated July 6, 2004, supporting the nomination of republican Texas Supreme Court Justice Michael Schneider, who had been nominated for the position of U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Texas by George W. Bush, and
Whereas, such letter, written on Dallas County Democratic Party stationery and referring to Chair Hays by her official title as Dallas County
Democratic Party Chair, was read into the Congressional Record by republican Texas Senator John Cornyn, an event reported by the San Antonio Express-News, thereby embarrassing Democrats in Dallas County, and Whereas, Chair Hays stated in her letter that, “A quick vote is critical this late in an election year,” thereby implying that the republican-controlled Judiciary Committee should confirm Justice Schneider
before a possible Democratic Presidential victory in the November General Election, and
Whereas, the policies and practices of Chair Hays’ administration have caused dissent and shown a lack of respect for the activists and precinct chairs of this Party, as demonstrated by Chair Hays’ failure to call a meeting of the Dallas County Democratic Executive Committee to address these issues, or to consult our precinct chairs about the future administration of the Dallas County Democratic Party, or to conduct or manage a coordinated campaign for the Dallas County Democratic Party,
Therefore, Be it resolved, that the Dallas County East Democrats hereby states a lack of confidence in the ability of Susan Hays to administer the Dallas County Democratic Party and calls for her immediate resignation as Chair of the Dallas County Democratic Party, and
Be it further resolved, that the Dallas County East Democrats requests that a meeting of the Dallas County Democratic Executive Committee be called, either by Chair Hays or by the precinct chairs as provided for in the Party Rules, to discuss the problems with our Party leadership and to do whatever is necessary and proper to correct those problems, and
Be it further resolved, that the Dallas County East Democrats requests the Democratic precinct chairs of Dallas County to refuse to sign any
petition to place the name of Susan Hays on the 2006 Democratic Primary ballot for County Chair, and finally
Be it further resolved, that a true copy of this resolution be sent to each member of the State Democratic Executive Committee in Dallas County,
each Democratic organization in Dallas County, each precinct chair in Dallas County, and to Dallas County Democratic Party Chair, Susan Hays.
Agreed to this 26th day of January, 2005.
- - -
Resolution by the Richardson/Northeast Dallas Democrats:
Motion: The Richardson/Northeast Dallas Democrats request that a meeting of the Dallas County Democratic Executive Committee be called by Chair Susan Hays within 30 days, or if 30 days have elapsed without a meeting, then by the precinct chairs as provided for in the Party Rules, to discuss the problems with our Party leadership.
Agreed to this 25th day of January, 2005.
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