Texas
Democratic club forms in Preston Hollow area
By Tammye Nash - Senior Editor
Jul 3, 2008 - 2:22:44 AM

Ever since the Democratic sweep of 2006 in Dallas County, local pundits have been saying the county is changing its hue from red to blue.

Roger Grape saw the evidence backing up that claim at his Democratic precinct convention in March. Now he wants to capitalize on the momentum generated by the primary race between Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton and start a Democratic club in the traditional Republican stronghold of Preston Hollow.

He said that 175 people showed up at his Democratic precinct convention in March this year.

Two years ago, he said, “I think there were three people who showed up.”

“This area has always been highly Republican. I’m not saying it has turned completely Democratic, but during the primary precinct convention, it became clear there are Democrats here,” Grape said this week.

“Now I am hoping to get those Democrats organized and working on the election this November,” he added.

The Preston Hollow Democratic Club will hold its first meeting on Thursday, July 10, from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the North Dallas Chamber of Commerce, 10707 Preston Road.

Democratic candidates who will speak at the meeting are U.S. House of Representatives District 32 candidate Eric Roberson and State Senate District 16 candidate Rain Minns.

Their speeches will be followed by a short organizational meeting, Grape said.

He said the club would serve 25 precincts in the area north of Northwest Highway, west of Central Expressway, south of LBJ Freeway and east of Interstate 35E. He said he included the area west of Marsh Lane and east of Interstate 35E, not usually considered part of Preston Hollow, because there hasn’t been a Democratic club serving that area for several years.

“Our first order of business will be to find out what kind of club the people want to have,” Grape said. “Some clubs merely focus on local elections. Some do endorsements and some don’t. So we want to ask those that attend what they would like to see this club do.”

“Democrats in Preston Hollow have a terrific opportunity to help turn Dallas County, the state of Texas and the United States blue this November,” Grape said. “Becoming an organized Democratic club is the first step toward doing our part.”

For more information and to RSVP for the organizational meeting Grape at 214-502-7084.