Posted on 08/13/2005 8:59:17 AM PDT by LdSentinal
CANTON - Van Zandt County Precinct 2 Justice of the Peace Ronnie Daniell announced that he is switching parties and will run as a Republican in 2006.
Daniell ran for office in 2003 on the Democratic ticket. He said his change of heart comes from his disappointment in certain leaders of the Democratic Party.
"It's just very simple: I'm a person who believes in trying to be a peacemaker," he said. "With the leadership I've noted in the national and local party, I cannot in good conscience follow that party."
Daniell said he has been considering the switch for awhile, and even Democratic Party Chairman Vince Leibowitz agreed with him.
"Judge Daniell's party switch comes as no surprise to me," he said. "I regret that Judge Daniell has attempted to camouflage his desire to switch parties by claiming disaffection for myself, our executive committee and Democratic National Convention Chairman Howard Dean."
Daniell insisted that he is switching parties because of "conscience," and made it clear the decision "has absolutely nothing to do with the many wonderful, dedicated Democrats of my precinct, or those of our county."
"I believe we're elected to serve people and not parties," he said. "It's not my desire to run anybody down. I love folks, and I try to help them."
Leibowitz said he has several potential candidates "looking to take him (Daniell) on."
But Daniell said the party switch will have no impact on the way he runs his court.
"I have not, nor will I ever, cater to a party, group, organization or individual," he said. "I will continue to be committed to fair and impartial justice for all."
BTTT
Welcome ..and you are not the only one...
It's a perfectly natural instinct for man to do all he can to survive.
Not everyone wants to go down with the SS Democratanic.
...even Democratic Party Chairman Vince Leibowitz agreed with him.
"Judge Daniell's party switch comes as no surprise to me," he said. "I regret that Judge Daniell has attempted to camouflage his desire to switch parties by claiming disaffection for myself, our executive committee and Democratic National Convention Chairman Howard Dean."
One more elected official switches to the GOP since Howlin' Mad Howard became Chairman...
Howard Dean: the gift that keeps on giving.
Great! Another liberal defector doing every thing to stay in power! I'm sure he'll turn into a conservative as well! Lets have all Democraps do this and allow no standards! Comes from the philosophy that if you keep watering down the punch and it'll taste better!
Does anybody actually have any reason to claim that this guy is liberal, or do we just call people liberals and RINOs for the hell of it now???
I don't know Van Zant County specifically, but I don't think a whole lot of liberals get elected in that part of Texas. And there are lots of democrat elected officials across the South that haven't supported a dem for non-local offices in decades. I'd rather they switch one at a time, rather than all at once.
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