PRESS RELEASE 2004-01

 

DEMOCRATS HONOR SOLDIERS AT COUNTY CONVENTION; INCOMING CHAIR ANNOUNCES 2004 INITIATIVES

 

More than 40 Van Zandt County Democrats gathered Saturday morning for the 2004 County Convention of the Democratic Party of Van Zandt County, which featured speeches from elected officials and candidates as well as a salute to three soldiers just back from Iraq.
 

The highlight of the convention included a brief ceremony to honor three soldiers who returned to the U.S. last week from Iraq. The soldiers entered the convention floor to a thunderous, two-minute standing ovation by convention delegates and other attendees. All political business was suspended and Van Zandt County Democrats honored the men for their service to the United States in Iraq

The three soldiers, from the 366th Armored Division, Bravo Company, Raider Brigade of the U.S. Army's Fourth Infantry Division--Cprl. Brock "Rocky" Blanton of Canton, Spec. Chris King of Milwaukee, Wis., and Pct. T.J. Adcox of Evansville, Ind.,--were presented with gifts of eagle statuettes cast in bronze and "Hero" Beanie Babies dressed in camouflage. The party provided the statuettes and Precinct 3 Justice of the Peace W. Ozelle Wilcoxson (D-Wills Point) donated the Beanie Babies, which she has been sending to soldiers around the world for many months. Tax Assessor Collector Vicki L. Looney (D-Myrtle Springs) assisted County Chair Elect Vince Leibowitz in presenting the soldiers with the gifts.

Each of the soldiers addressed the conventions to thunderous applause and standing ovations, and joined Van Zandt County Democrats for lunch following adjournment.

During the convention, Tax Assessor/Collector Vicki L. Looney (D-Myrtle Springs) and Precinct 1 Commissioner Candidate Albert H. Willingham (D-Pruitt) spoke, and Linda Bush spoke on behalf of Sheriff R.P. "Pat" Burnett (D-Edgewood), who was unable to attend as he was assisting a crime watch group. Vince Leibowitz spoke on behalf of CD 5 Candidate Bill Bernstein (D-Dallas), who was also unable to attend.

County Chair Elect Vince Leibowitz also spoke and outlined his agenda for the next two years.

He announced a major party initiate entitled "Overcome 80," which will focus on voter registration, voter outreach, and making sure the party's core voters get to the polls during the 2004 election. Leibowitz noted the program was named for the 80 vote gap that resulted in Democrats losing the county's top executive/judicial office (county judge) during the 2002 election.

"In 2002, we lost the election for the top administrative post in Van Zandt County by 80 votes--80 votes," Leibowitz said.

"We must do everything within our power to 'overcome 80.' We must register more voters. We must initiate outreach programs to reach existing voters and let them know that the candidates of the Democratic Party are for the people of this county, and not for special interests. We must also make sure our party's core base of supporters make it to the polls. We will walk every city and every neighborhood in this county this year to make sure this happens," he continued.

"We will need everyone's help in this endeavor to 'Overcome 80.' This fall, we must return our Democrats to office and take back the Precinct 1 seat on the Commissioners Court," he said.

"'Overcoming 80' will not be easy. It will take a lot of work. But we must do it for the people of Van Zandt County. We will--this year and in 2006, return Democrats to every office in this county they now hold and we will take back each and every elected office in this county on behalf of the people of Van Zandt County. The people of this county deserve more than elected officials beholden to special interests and big money campaign donors. The people of Van Zandt County deserve leadership at every level that will work to serve and protect their interests. We can, we will, and we must 'Overcome 80,'" Leibowitz said.

 

An additional report on the county convention, including information on delegates and alternates elected to the state convention and other convention business will be released at a later date.