| It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.
The Dickens line seems appropriate as Bexar County Democratic Party (BCDP) makes history and faces strife going into 2010.
History was made as Bexar County appointed a new chair to take the lead of BCDP. Roberto Flores' selection makes him the first openly gay chair of the local party. He is a proven leader with in the LGBT community and Democratic party and has shown an ability to put together strong coalitions across the county.
Flores has been serving as co-chairman of the Stonewall Democrats of San Antonio. The group was founded in 2000 and became hyper organized during the No Nonsense in November campaign in 2005 as Flores and his partner Dan Graney were instrumental in organizing San Antonio.
The reason for the pre-election appointment is due to the fact, recent chairwoman Carla Vela, has decided to run for Bexar County clerk.
While we would normally celebrate this historic move in Bexar County and the continued growth of BCDP, Flores is met head on with immediate challenges.
As outgoing chair of the party described the current situation, it is a "terrible day for Democrats".
The San Antonio Express News is reporting, Dwayne E. Adams, took over $200,000 from the local party over the last year. The accounts were exclusively used for primary elections and party operations.
Carla Vela - who resigned as chairwoman Tuesday night because she intends to run for Bexar County clerk - said Treasurer Dwayne E. Adams, 54, took funds over the past several months from a Compass Bank account that the party uses exclusively for primary elections.
She also said Adams dipped into the party's operating account, which now is overdrawn.
Vela said the party pressed charges Wednesday against Adams with the district attorney's office.
Adams could not be reached for comment Wednesday.
While this is a tough time for the local party, the amount of progress it has made in the past decade and the infrastructure the Bexar County Democratic Party has put together is impressive.
When Carla Vela took over the party in 2006, former Chair Rudy Casias had dismantled the party with a total lack of leadership.
When Vela took office the following year, the party was nearly penniless and without a headquarters. The chairman she replaced, Rudy Casias, had fought almost ceaselessly with the party's County Executive Committee, leaving the organization shot through with internecine strife.
As a general note, it doesn't appear Adam's trail of lies and deception end with his work at the Bexar County Democratic Party.
Bexar County Democrats aren't the only associates of Adams feeling burned. Nabil Jadallah, former owner of the Bandera Shell convenience store at Bandera Road and Loop 410, said he sold the business to Adams in May. Jadallah said Adams owes him $45,000 in rent and almost $5,000 in unpaid bills.
Jadallah said he evicted Adams from the property in October and subsequently filed a lawsuit against him in small claims court.
As the party resolves the ongoing situation, it is still in a better spot than 2006. There is a headquarters. There is infrastructure. There are loyal, well organized Democrats. There is a commitment to win and work together.
Luckily, the new, historic chairman is also a qualified and committed leader. The appointment of Roberto Flores seems both fortuitous and timely.
Please help the Bexar County Democratic Party get back on their feet and prepare for 2010 today. Please consider making a secure donation, via ActBlue, today. |
