Reminder: Harris County Democrats is NOT Harris County Democratic Party

I understand that the Democratic club known as the “Harris County Democrats” has endorsed candidates in the upcoming City of Houston elections. I want to remind everyone that the “Harris County Democrats” is NOT the Harris County Democratic Party and does not speak for the Harris County Democratic Party in any way. “Harris County Democrats” is a just a local club, like Houston Black American Democrats or Harris County Tejano Democrats or Oilpatch Democrats or Stonewall Democrats or Bay Area New Democrats, for example, or more than 30 other Democratic clubs in the Harris County area. They do not speak for, nor are they controlled or influenced by, the Harris County Democratic Party. Their endorsements are entirely their own and do NOT constitute or imply endorsement by the Harris County Democratic Party.

The Harris County Democratic Party does not endorse candidates in any race (except that we may, and sometimes do, endorse in a runoff election where there is only one Democrat in a race). The Harris County Democratic Party will not be endorsing, and has not endorsed, any candidates in the November 3, 2009 elections.

So please do not be confused. The endorsement of the “Harris County Democrats” is NOT the endorsement of the Harris County Democratic Party and should not be regarded as any imprimatur of the Party.

Apparently that offer of organizational support was misunderstood to be an offer to “host” or “sponsor” the event, or to associate the Harris County Democratic Party with the event in that fashion or role. It was not intended to be that. While we are very appreciative of the Bill White campaign’s assisting our candidates in this manner, it is very important that the Harris County Democratic Party remain absolutely neutral in the contest between Bill White and John Sharp for the United States Senate seat. The Harris County Democratic Party has not, and will not, sponsor or host events at which just one – but not both – of those candidates are invited to attend and/or participate, or at a non-neutral site. A function at one candidate’s campaign headquarters or anywhere else featuring just one of them would not meet our criteria for sponsorship or hosting.

Now the HCDP will, on request of either campaign, publicize or promote major events of either candidate on our website and in our newsletters, but we will not sponsor or host any such happenings unless both candidates are provided equal opportunity to participate at a neutral site.

But the fault for this current mis-communication was entirely my own. Apparently I was not clear enough in expressing the limited role the HCPD was willing to play in this event in order to avoid creating a mis-impression of favor for one candidate over the other and I did not adequately convey the necessity for personal approval by me before communications purporting to be on behalf of the HCDP (or potentially creating the impression that they are) are distributed. Clearly, I should have been more pro-active in this regard and I am profoundly sorry that I did not do so on this occasion.

I am quite grateful to the Bill White campaign for undertaking this event to assist our candidates, and commend him and them for doing so, but that gratitude should not be interpreted as an endorsement of his candidacy or expression of favoritism toward him in any way.
To the supporters of John Sharp (and to Mr. Sharp himself), I apologize for this lapse and for the unfortunate implication that this incident may have created that the HCDP favors either candidate. In truth, we favor both of them – equally – over any candidate the Republicans put up for this seat.

To make up for any unfairness my errors may have caused, I hereby publically offer my home to Mr. Sharp for him to hold a “meet and greet” reception (provided his promotion of such an event contain an appropriate explanation to the effect that the use of my home is not intended to convey or imply an endorsement by me of his candidacy, but is solely a courtesy or accommodation to the candidate).

And to the supporters of the Harris County Democratic Party, I offer my sincere regrets that, as a result of my failure to monitor or control things adequately, or to communicate more clearly, an event which should have been a glorious opportunity for all of us to help and support Democratic candidates has been tainted and may have created an incorrect impression that the HCDP favors one candidate for senate over another in this race. It does not.

Gerry Birnberg
Chair, Harris County Democratic Party
August 9, 2009