Democrat Claims State Rep. Seat in TX Special Election
Dan Barrett bounces Mark Shelton bringing Texas Democrats within five seats of a State House majority

Dan Barrett won 52.2% of the vote yesterday in a special election runoff for Texas State Rep. District 97. District 97 was a Republican stronghold that gave George W. Bush 63.9% of the vote in 2004.

Anyone who met Dan Barrett and observed his campaign immediately recognized his talents as a candidate and was impressed by the discipline and efficiency of his campaign. No observer outside of Tarrant County, however, including the Lone Star Project, was willing to predict that Barrett could pull off a win in the special election. Dan Barrett's smart campaign combined with outstanding support from organized labor, teachers and local activists resulted in an important victory for Texas Democrats and a sound rejection of the failed leadership of Texas Republicans Tom Craddick, Rick Perry and others.

Texas House District 97 is a heavily suburban district in Southwest Tarrant County. The district was drawn by Republicans to be held by a Republican for the remainder of the decade. It was easily held for 19 years by Republican Anna Mowery. In past elections, Democrats running statewide have been trounced in the District. Neither John Kerry nor Al Gore broke 36 percent of the vote. Moreover, the special election runoff was pushed back by Republican Governor Rick Perry to December 18th, just a week shy of Christmas, which would normally give an additional advantage to the Republican.

Dan Barrett’s success in convincing suburban voters in Texas to embrace a mainstream Democrat and reject the harsh ideology and special interest loyalties of Texas Republicans points to a steady shift taking place in Texas. A decade of failed one party Republican leadership has left Texas ranking at or near last on key quality of life issues. From education to air quality to utility rates Republican failures have created an opportunity for Democrats to reclaim the trust and support of Texas voters.

Barrett will face Republican opposition again in the November 2008 general election. Contributions to Barrett's 2008 campaign can be sent to the Dan Barrett Campaign,
P.O. Box 100535, Fort Worth, Texas 76185-0535 or made online here.

About Dan Barrett Dan has lived in Tarrant County for twenty-eight years, ever since graduating from Texas Tech School of Law. Dan, his wife, Debra, and their two adult sons, have roots to Texas that go back several generations. Because he is the son of an Air Force officer, Dan spent his early childhood in several different states and foreign countries. He is a product of Texas public schools, having graduated from Reagan High School in Austin in 1972. Dan’s professional career has been spent seeking justice in courtrooms across Texas. He knows the legal system from all sides, having served as a director of both the Texas Association of Defense Counsel and the Texas Trial Lawyers Association, as well as the Tarrant County Bar Association. He received the designation “pre-eminent” – Martindale-Hubbell’s highest ranking – and served as President of the Fort Worth Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates, as well as both the Tarrant County Trial Lawyers and the Tarrant County Civil Trial Lawyers Associations. He is currently of counsel with Taylor, Olson, Adkins, Sralla & Elam, primarily representing north Texas cities and other local governmental entities. Dan was a Trustee on the board of Shakespeare in the Park from 1990 through 1997, a Director of Volunteers of America, Texas from 1996 to 2000 and has been active in Leadership Fort Worth from 1996 until the present. He was on the TTLA Legislative Analysis Committee for the 77th, 78th, and 79th Legislatures. (From the www.DanBarrett.com )