Collin County Democratic Party chair resigns for health reasons

by Bill Baumbach of The Collin County Observer

At a meeting Wednesday night of the Democratic party's county executive committee, County Chair Dan Dodd resigned due to ill health. Dodd concluded he could not devote full time to the party going into the 2010 election. He is resigning to allow someone else to carry the party to the next level.

Dodd spent five days in the McKinney hospital this month due to a deep vein thrombosis in his right leg and a pulmonary embolism. According to Dodd, he prognosis is good, but treatment will take 6-12 months.

Dodd told the assembled precinct chairs that, "I do not have the necessary time and energy to devote the party during our 2009-2010 party-building frenzy and historic vote."

Dodd also noted that he was proud to have chaired the county party during a period of unprecedented growth, leading to his chairing the second largest Democratic Convention held in Texas -- the 2008 County Democratic Convention, which drew over 4,000 delegates and guests.

His resignation is effective June 30.

Dan was the Democratic candidate in 2006 for Congress in Congressional District 3. He was elected county chair in 2007 and won a full two year term in 2008.

The Democratic precinct chairs, who make up the county executive committee, will elect his replacement at their July meeting. According to state party rules, the secretary, Dr. Murray Leaf, will chair the next executive committee meeting.