San Angelo's Head Democrat Picked to Push Party's Progressive Agenda on Rural Republican Texas

SAN ANGELO, TX — David Currie, Chair of the Tom Green County Democratic Party, has been elected Chairman of the Texas Democratic Party Non-Urban/Rural Caucus.

According to Currie, the caucus seeks to influence the state party to address rural voter’s issues as well as share the values of the Texas Democratic Party with rural communities.

In the November 2018 election, Beto O’Rourke carried the 10 most populated counties in Texas by a little over 600,000 votes but lost the 204 least populated by almost the same number. If O’Rourke had managed just 34 percent of the vote in these rural counties he would be known as Senator Beto.

“Small town Texas made the difference,” Currie said.

“I am constantly amazed that so many of my rural friends support Republicans while that party continues to push policies that hurt rural communities,” Currie said. “Every rural community revolves around its public school yet Republicans have underfunded public education--putting the burden on our property owners. “

“They push voucher schemes for their rich friends that disadvantage our rural schools and teachers,” Currie noted.

“Their failure to bring our tax dollars back to Texas under the Affordable Care Act has seriously endangered rural health care. Our infrastructure is not being properly maintained. Our ag products are being tariff taxed. They have little or no interest in rural economic development or universal broadband,” Currie said.

“By contrast the Democratic Party and Democratic elected officials have fought for our communities on all these issues but that message has not penetrated,” he continued.

Currie, a small businessman, rancher and retired Baptist minister who holds a PH.D. in Christian Ethics from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary is highly qualified to lead their efforts, states the Democratic Party of Texas.

Joining Currie on the rural committee are:

• Vice-Chair Alieca Hux (Hopkins Co.),
• Vice-Chair David Langston (Lubbock Co.),
• Treasurer Judy Baker (Grayson Co.),
• Secretary Dana Rushing (Llano Co.),
• Field Coordinator Carl Jones (Travis Co.)
• and Digital Coordinator Shirley Layton (Angelina Co.).

“Overall Republicans have governed quite poorly for rural areas but they have done a brilliant job of defining Democrats,” Currie said. “I fully understand the amount of messaging, education and re-branding needed to return our Democratic Party to prominence in rural Texas and I look forward to the challenge.”

Currie was elected the chairman of the Tom Green Democratic Party in 2016. His previous accomplishments there include winning a Bum Steer Award from Texas Monthly for 2018.