Leadership
Leadership of the TDP
The State Officers are elected at the State Convention. These are the officers for June 2006 - June 2008:
Boyd Richie, Chairman
Boyd Richie was unanimously elected Chairman of the Texas Democratic Party on April 22, 2006. Boyd is a life-long Democrat and Texas native with an extensive history of service to the party.
Boyd started his career in politics and government at a young age –
joining his father and siblings block walking for Democratic U.S
Senator from Texas, Ralph Yarborough, who later sponsored him as a U.S.
Senate Page. After high school, Boyd attended Midwestern State
University and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science
in 1966. He received his JD from Texas Tech Law School as a member of
their first graduating class.
In 1976, Boyd beat an incumbent
to be elected District Attorney for the 90th Judicial District, which
covered three counties. A lawyer in private practice for over 35
years, he’s currently serving his third term as County Attorney for
Young County. Boyd has also served as Vice President of the Young
County Bar Association and in 2005, was elected a life fellow of the
Texas Bar Association.
Prior to being elected Chair, Boyd
served two terms on the State Democratic Executive Committee and was
Chair of Audit Subcommittee of the Finance Committee. Boyd also
volunteered countless hours for Democratic candidates and organizations
including Texas Democratic Women and his wife’s, Betty Richie, campaign
for the state legislature. Boyd was appointed by President Bill
Clinton to the Selective Service Local Board, a position he held until
his election as Young County Attorney.
During his first speech
as Chairman, Boyd’s message to Texas Democrats was “our job is not win
arguments, but to win elections” and announced his five point plan to
revitalize the Texas Democratic Party and expand field staff and
grassroots trainings, build a pro-active communications team and
incorporate modern technology into the Party’s fundraising,
communications and outreach strategies.
Married to DNC Member
Betty Richie for 39 years, Boyd is the proud father of two and
grandfather of four. In his spare time, Boyd is an avid sportsman and
a member of the First United Methodist Church of Graham, Texas.
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Roy Laverne Brooks, Vice Chair
Roy Laverne Brooks was elected Vice Chair of the State Democratic Party at the 2006 State Convention.
Roy LaVerne Brooks is no stranger to the Democratic Party or the State Democratic Executive Committee. As a youth, Brooks was elected as Vice Chair of the Texas Young Democrats for three terms that allowed her to serve on the State Democratic Executive Committee. Later to be elected by her peers to serve as the Committeewoman for District 12 where she served more than two terms.
Brooks grew up in Como, a
community that believed in community activism. Consequently, Brooks was
doing block walks, passing out candidates campaign literature, focusing
on grassroots politics. Brooks served as one of the Vice Chairs for
the League of Women Voters and holds memberships in numerous other
organizations. The Fort Worth Commission / Status of Women recognized
Brooks in1993.
Brooks leadership extends beyond the Democratic Party. She served as a member and Vice Chair for the Fort Worth Transportation Authority better known as the T for ten years.
Brooks is a graduate of Prairie View University. Brooks has over twenty years of formal education and earned a Masters in Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Brooks has also done some Doctoral studies. Brooks is a member of the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education and serves as Hospital Chaplain / Social Worker. Brooks is divorced and is the mother of one son. Brooks is a member of the Historic Zion Missionary Baptist Church….
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Dennis Speight, Vice Chair of Finance
Dennis Speight was re-elected to his second term as Vice Chair of Finance at the Democratic Convention in June of 2006. As a past President of the Texas Young Democrats, he gained the experience and skills necessary to fight for all Texas Democrats, creating the first-ever TYD campaign internship program that employed young persons on targeted campaigns. While Finance Director of the Texas Partnership and the Texas House Democratic Campaign Committee, he has successfully demonstrated his ability to raise money from not only traditional Democratic donors, but new sources of support as well.
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Victor Garza, Treasurer
Victor Manuel Garza Esq., was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas and for the last several years has lived and practiced law in Edinburg, Hidalgo County Texas. He attended St. Mary’s University and was involved in many student organizations and in other community activities. After receiving a B.A. in 1995, Victor worked with the Lawyers Committee For Civil Rights: Texas Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project; an impact / class action litigation firm protecting the civil rights of its constituents. The following year, he embarked on a year long National Volunteer Service program with the domestic AmeriCorps. The program was one of five national efforts sponsored by the Department of Justice, and administered through the U.S. Attorneys Office. JustServe sought to bridge the gap between the community and law enforcement at the grassroots level.
Seeking to
future his academic credentials, Victor returned to St. Mary’s and
attended the prestigious School of Law receiving his Doctor of
Jurisprudence in the Spring of 1999. Despite the demanding rigors of
law school, Victor found time to volunteer with the Center For Legal
and Social Justice, Human Rights Clinic, and traveled to Cuba on a
human rights expedition. He also studied in Europe for three months at
the University of Innsbruk in Austria. During his third year, Victor
practiced law as a student attorney in the Criminal Justice Clinic
focusing on indigent defense. As a sole practitioner, Victor won his
first trial less than three weeks after passing the Bar Exam.
Understanding
the significance of a quality judiciary he became involved in the
re-election campaign of the now Chief Justice of the 4th
Court of Appeals, Justice Alma L. Lopez. Under her tutelage, Victor
remained involved in politics holding several political posts;
including precinct chair in Hidalgo County and Senatorial District 20
committeeman on the SDEC. He is the Executive Director for the
Statewide Tejano Democrats and is the Chair of the South Texas Tejano
Democrats in Hidalgo County.
His political involvement took him to the Valley, where he assisted State Representative Aaron Pena in his election bid. Working with Aaron Pena & Associates for over three years, Victor fostered his civil litigation skills, primarily working in the area of Civil Rights and Labor and Employment. Wanting to broaden his professional development, while working for the rights of working class citizens, Victor joined the Law Offices of Richard Pena in the fall of 2005. To date he remains active in local and statewide elections. As the Field Director for the DCCC in the 22nd Congressional District, he participated in the overall historic victory to take over congress by Democrats around the country in November 2006. Victor believes that integrity and respect for others are the greatest attributes one may have in life. He is grateful to his parents Gloria and Julio, for instilling in him the principals and values which have allowed him to be successful in both his professional and personal life.
Email: Victormgarza@aol.com
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Ruby Jensen, Secretary
For
the past 30 years, Ruby Jensen has been involved in many Democratic
campaigns. Her expertise is in, but not limited to, phone banking. She
has been active in Congressional races, State Senate, and State
Representative races throughout these years. She coordinated Harris
County phone banks for Governor Ann Richards and President Bill
Clinton’s first campaign. Ms. Jensen has been a member of
Communications Workers of America for 41 years and was elected
vice-president in 1993. She is a delegate and a Trustee of the Harris
County AFL-CIO. Ms. Jensen is a vice president of the Harris County
Coalition of Labor Union Women as well as serving on the executive
board of the national branch. Ms. Jensen is very active in her
community and is a proud mother and grandmother.
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Gary Horton, Co- Parliamentarian
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Corinne Sabo, Co- Parliamentarian
Corinne
Sabo is a property manager and longtime Democratic activist who has
worked in numerous state, local and federal campaigns. In that time she
has helped coordinate grassroots efforts for Ciro Rodriguez's special
election race for Congress in 1997 and organized grassroots efforts for
Leticia Van de Putte's special election race for the State Senate in
1999. A member of the Texas State Association of Parliamentarians and
the National Association of Parliamentarians, she was appointed State
Party Parliamentarian on June 10, 2000 by the State Chair.
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Sheryl Roppolo, Co-Parliamentarian
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Bruce Elfant, Sergeant at Arms
Bruce
Elfant has been a Travis County Constable since 1993 and currently
serves as First Vice President of the Justices of the Peace and
Constables Association of Texas. Bruce also finds time to chair the
Community Action Network Community Council and is a member of the Texas
Association of Counties Board of Directors. A graduate of the
University of Texas at Austin with a BS in Communications, he also
received his Associates Degree in criminal justice from Austin
Community College.
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