Fort Worth To Host Democratic Party State Convention
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FORT WORTH (CBSDFW.COM) – Fort Worth will be the host city for the Texas Democratic Party State Convention in 2018.
"While Texas Republicans were voting last week on the merits of seceding from the United States, Democrats spent their time working to bring a major event and its positive economic impact to Tarrant County," Tarrant County Democratic Party Chairwoman Deborah Peoples Peoples said.
Fort Worth was selected by the Senate District Executive Committee (SDEC), the Texas Democratic Party's governing body.
The two-day gathering will be held at the Fort Worth Convention Center in the summer of 2018, most likely in June.
"We are thrilled to be selected to host the State Convention," Peoples said. "I think it's important for Democrats to come to Tarrant County, which is the last largest county in Texas to not
have many Democratic officeholders. We're looking forward to the convention and think 2018 will be a great year when we take back Senate District 10."
Crystal Perkins, executive director of the Texas Democratic Party, agreed about the priority of Fort Worth and Tarrant County in winning elections.
"We tried to pick a place where it's going to have an impact on the state as a whole," Perkins said. "That was a big reason. It made a lot of sense."
SDEC Committeewoman Celina Vásquez led the Tarrant County Delegation, lobbied for votes and played a key role in making the final vote a decisive one in Fort Worth's favor.
"We gave a spirited presentation making the case for Fort Worth," Vásquez said.
Mary Wilson, director of state accounts for the Fort Worth Convention and Visitors Bureau, praised Vásquez for her efforts.
"Without her help in speaking to the committee during our presentation, I am not sure what the outcome might have been," Wilson said.
Several cities were considered before Fort Worth won over El Paso as a finalist.
Perkins and Wilson agree that Fort Worth is a good site because of its ability to host a large convention with nearby hotels, restaurants and entertainment for convention attendees.
Perkins said the event will draw as many as 8,000 to 10,000 delegates and guests to Fort Worth.
The Texas Democratic Party State Convention is held every 2 years and hasn't been in Fort Worth since 2006. The 2016 State Convention will be in San Antonio.
Members of the Tarrant County delegation that helped bring the convention to Fort Worth include Celina Vásquez, Michael McPhail, Libby Willis, Charlie Ray Smith, Carla Traylor Collier, GaryLivingston, Wendell Holmes, Kelly McDonald, Kathleen Thompson, Carol Cappa, Leah Payne (Tarrant County Democratic Women's Club) and Celia Morgan (Texas Young Democrats).
Delegation leaders also received a letter of support from U.S. Representative Marc Veasey (D-Fort Worth) and the Fort Worth Convention and Visitors Bureau.
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