|
Dear Fellow Tarrant County Democrats:
As your Tarrant County Democratic Chair and candidate for re-election, I am shocked at what I believe are questionable campaign practices by the leadership of the Mid-Cities Democratic Club. On January 28th, the club sponsored a fundraiser billed as the "Gubernatorial Forum Fundraiser." I attended the event and paid the admission charge as did other candidates.
I received an e-mail forwarded to me this morning from Miki Hawkins, dated Friday, February 3, 2006, proposing that the proceeds from the "fundraiser" be given to my opponent, Ms. Geiger, and John DeLorme, who is running against Raymond Daniel, for Justice of Peace, in the Democratic Primary. The e-mail reads in part as follows: "One thing we need to consider before our next meeting is whether or not to use some of the proceeds from our recent event to help candidates in the Democratic Primary. Since two of our members are running for office and face challenges in the Primary, this is a question of some interest to us. We will send out a separate email to Mid-Cities Democrats membership list asking them to vote on this question soon." (Both DeLorme and Geiger are the "two members" mentioned in the e-mail text.)
As you can see, Ms. Hawkins proposes to use the proceeds from this event for two candidates in a contested Democratic primary when they made no mention in the promotion or at the event that the proceeds would be going to candidates in contested primaries. It is deceitful to invite candidates and their supporters (and other Democrats clubs), charge them admission and then turn those funds over to their opponents. This club used state-wide candidates as "hooks" to collect campaign cash to be used against other Democrats in a partisan political race without telling these guests of their intentions. These misrepresentations are the type of tactic employed by the likes of DeLay and Rove, not Democrats.
Members of the Tarrant County Democratic Party should not approve of these false, misleading and deceptive campaign practices. I call upon Ms. Geiger and Mr. DeLorme to refuse to accept any donation from this event. I call upon the membership of the Mid-Cities club to inform Ms. Hawkins and the club leadership of their disapproval of their practices and to adopt by-laws that require that clubs honestly inform event attendees that proceeds from the event will be contributed to primary candidates and that clubs donating such funds only do so after an open meeting, with proper notice and opportunity for debate and vote of all of the members.
Money raised at events such as this should support Democrats against Republicans or support the Democratic Party. I ask all Democrats to e-mail (mikih@midcitiesdemocrats.com) or contact Ms. Hawkins ((817) 545-6617) and object to these unfair campaign practices that tarnish the reputation of our Party for above-the-board, fair campaigning.
Very truly yours,
ART BRENDER
Chairman, Tarrant County Democratic Party
|
