Would-Be Dallas County GOP Chairs Square Off: 'I Don't Want Dallas to Become Detroit.'

Would-Be Dallas County GOP Chairs Square Off: "I Don't Want Dallas to Become Detroit."

By Robert Wilonsky Thu., May 12 2011 at 8:35 AM

We never did talk to Debbie Georgatos about why she wants to become the next Dallas County Republican Party chair following the adios of Jonathan Neerman. No matter: After the jump, for those who have 10 minutes to spare, you'll find Georgatos and former candidate for Dallas County Judge Wade Emmert squaring off last night at the Studio Movie Grill on Royal and Central, where both insisted that in order to take back Dallas County, the GOP must "actually do active, consistent, ongoing, sustained outreach" to the Hispanic and African-American communities, as Georgatos put it.

"If you look around this crowd tonight ... compare that with the Dallas County demographics," she said during her introductory remarks. "In Dallas County we have 40 percent Hispanic, 35 percent Anglo, 20 percent African-American and 5 percent Asian and some other groups in that last smaller group. Well, obviously that doesn't look like our room, our party, but the truth is it's our county, and I don't want our county to have perpetual, eternal Democrat rule. I want to take John Wiley Price out. I don't want Dallas to become Detroit."

Meanwhile, Emmert says he and former Dallas County District Attorney candidate Danny Clancy came this close to taking the two top county jobs. "So close," he said. "And, in fact, had there not been the Libertarian candidate in my race, I might very well be your Dallas County judge. And I was frustrated, because I didn't think it has to be that way."

It's not the sexiest looking video. But it's a good listen nevertheless. And ... go.

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Salladdays

Let's see. Republicans want to

1) Make sure my child can't get a quality education by gutting the budget.

2) Tell me which gender I can marry.

3) Tell me what to do with my body.

4) Judge me based on how much money I make or which God I worship.

5) Make sure I can't get healthcare.

Yeah....that sounds like a fun bunch.

EVERLAST

No matter who prevails as the new local GOP chair, I'm sure the Dallas County Democrats will be happy to get a new punching bag. . . The old one was getting worn out!

Tex

Oh, I get it. The answer to all of this "waste" in government is to lay off teachers.

Oak Cliff Townie

The former Mayor and his free spending friends who claim GOP status are a grand example How the Dallas GOP isn't much of a GOP county in the first place.

El Rey

Which is why a Cedar Hill leader needs to run the party for a change.

dertymindz

It's not just the county GOP that's screwing it up for them, but the GOP as a whole. Sorry Republicans, but as y'all get older and the youngins grow up, the Dems, are just gonna get stronger. I think the real progress will be with the third party runners in the future(in the year 2000)....

PlanoDave

Remind me what happened in the last national election, please...

Seems that your prediction didn't really play out in that real-world scenario.

Hard core Progressives are as offensive to mainstream voters as hard core Right Wing. The party that best demonstrates centrist ideas and a willingness to compromise for the common good will win the votes in the future.

Citizen Kim

What happened in the last election was a knee-jerk reaction to continuing economic problems in spite of two years of Democratic majorities - and very understandable.

Now after two years of "leadership" from these wack jobs that were put in place in by that knee-jerk reaction, you are going to see the Mother of All Knee-Jerks in 2012. A Republican won't be able to win dog catcher.

mrsmwp

You are delusional. And, the Democrats had Congress since Jan 2007. Kind of when it all started to go downhill.

jfpo

You need to define "hard core progressives." Many conservatives think that anyone pro-choice is "hard core progressive." These kind perceptions are why the Republicans will become more and more the party of old, angry white people while changing demographics pass the party by. I find it hard to conceive that the Republican Party will even be relevant 20-30 years from now, but I guess many people grow more conservative as they get older regardless of ethnicity. The party will need to find a way to be inclusive to this, something they have been very bad at so far.

Lakewood

In order for republicans to take back the county,they have to reach out to more communities and they have to change the way theydo it. Both candidates make this point. The GOP in Dallas needs a leader who can fully commit tothis job. This isn’t a resume builder, it’s not a hobby or just something to do on the weekends. The job requires alot of work and a lot of time. Wade simply cannot devote himself fully to thisjob.

El Rey

(Sorry, cut off)Wade reaches out when his opponent is afraid to tackle controversy.

El Rey

I've known Wade for over 9 years. He doesn't approach anything 'part-time'. Ask the folks in his former council district if he was 'part-time'. During Wade's term as a councilman, Cedar Hill grew when other cities struggled. He was a big part of that dynamic development atmosphere in South Dallas County. Debbie Georgatos doesn't have the time to meet with Republican constituency groups. Wade reaches out when

Confused

Well, those are a lot of nice words, but if he ALREADY has a full time, day job, then that, by it's very nature precludes his second job from being full time . . . doesn't really matter how much enthusiasm he has.

Herman Muenster

It's not only a matter of time commitment and reaching out. It will also take casting off the crazies in your party. As long as they seek to shove their religion down my throat and ignore science and facts, the GOP will not get my vote.

zobzerto

There's the intentionally incorrect use of the word "Democrat" again. It's a noun, not an adjective, dumbfuck.

The Dude

Zobzerto: Just going off what your posters and billboards say. Also, we would classify you as a dumbfuck not a "Democrat"

zobzerto

Not so. The correct adjective is Democratic, as in "Democratic Senator from New York," or "Democratic Party." Republicans have been intentionally using "Democrat" as an adjective, incorrectly, since the '40s, as a minor bit of disrespect. Look it up.

Please feel free to show us a campaign poster or billboard paid for by a Democratic candidate that uses the word "Democrat" as an adjective. I doubt you'll find one.

zobzerto

@Mark Brown I'm really not worked up or even mad about it. I was just pointing out that it's a petty thing that should indicate when a speaker shouldn't be taken seriously.

But it is interesting that you get so much pleasure out of something so stupid. Congrats.

Mark Brown

zobzerto: Why in the world would I want to use the word "Democrat" correctly when I get so much pleasure out of watching people like you get all worked up and mad about it? Is it intentionally incorrect? Well, it's certainly intentional, I grant you that.

roadsidecouch

Use the adjective "Democratic" and people will confuse the word with "democratic". It is easier if you just substitute the word "dumbass" and "dumbassed" for Democrat and Democratic".