D.A.’s Secretary Retires – Or Does She?

The other day a good friend was trying to encourage several of us that Liberty County was changing and that politicians could no longer be certain that whoever the Democratic Party put on the ballot would be elected here. “Liberty County is tired of the liberals in Austin and Washington and all of their crazy ideas and they have begun to question why they should help those politicians by backing the local Democrats.”

Of course that is music to many of our ears but my friend offered more analysis. Part of the evidence the friend offered was that Durlene Davis no longer worked in the District Attorney’s office. Durlene Davis is infamous inside Republican circles for being the power-broker for the Cleveland area. She was on the county payroll for years and years under District Attorney Mike Little. If memory serves me correctly, she was the subject of a complaint filed by Will Cox or someone poll watching for him in 1994. In that complaint, Davis was accused of violating the rules that protect the integrity of an election in a polling place.

Davis is seen as a dominating schemer on behalf of whoever she favored in the Democratic primary and a guarantor in the general election. By “guarantor” I mean, though it has never been proven or tried in court, it was alleged she was responsible for helping to hire vans and van drivers to take the sign in sheet and ballots to voters in the black community and illegally allow them to vote. Allegedly, she also helped the voter to vote for the politician she favored and even provide “gas money” for participants.

I appreciate my friend trying to encourage us, but I am concerned the “retirement” of Durlene Davis does not include her political activism. My concern is bolstered by an article written in June 2010 in The Cleveland Advocate. I am more encouraged by an offer to supply a significant amount of reward money to anyone who can help identify and bring to justice anyone, past or present, that has tampered with elections in this county.

Below is The Cleveland Advocate’s account of what appears to be a tantrum by Durlene that received comments complaining about Davis’ racists’ methods (this excerpt is from an article posted in the June 19, 2010 before the city of Cleveland’s citywide celebration):

Councilwoman Durlene Davis spoke after the resolution was approved and stated that she feels there isn’t enough minority representation on the city’s celebration committee.

“There are no blacks, Hispanics or Indians represented at the 75th anniversary celebration,” said Davis about the event’s committee. “Why wasn’t the entire community asked to participate? They were not. That is not fair.”

She argued that since many ethnic groups make up the history and evolution of the city, more programs and music representing them should have been incorporated into the celebration.

When told that there were several black citizens already on the committee, Davis said that though she deeply respected them, they were not vocal individuals who involved themselves extensively in the community.

“They don’t participate,” said Davis. “They go to church. They go to one or two board meetings and then they go home. They are not a Barbara McIntyre or a Durlene Davis. These are the kind of people we need on the committee, not those that are going to sit up there with closed mouths.”

City Manager Philip Cook refuted Davis’ allegations and said that all the meetings were open to the public and that they have been held every Wednesday at 2 p.m. at city hall.

“We have been meeting every week for the last couple of months,” said Cook.

“There have been people that have been overlooked,” said Davis.

“No, they have not,” said Cook.

He explained that many groups, churches and businesses have received letters inviting them to participate in the celebration planning.

“In order for this city to grow, we have to be on the same team,” said Davis. “We can’t have special interest groups.”

Davis told Cook that he needed to develop a rapport with the business community. Cook then stood up and walked out of the meeting. He excused himself because his daughter needed medical attention.

City Secretary Kelly McDonald said that letters were sent out to 33 churches in Cleveland.

“They have two weeks to get into the parade and set up a booth,” said Davis. “That’s not enough time.”

Information on the 75th Anniversary has also been published in both the online and print editions of the Cleveland Advocate, Eastex Advocate and Dayton News in recent weeks. Davis herself had attended the June 9 meeting. Though according to others on the committee, it was her first meeting to attend, she was more than 30 minutes late and stayed only a few minutes before leaving. Her parting shot as she left was to say that she wanted a commemorative T-shirt showing she was a member of the committee. The committee has been meeting for the last few months in preparation for the July 2-4 event.

After Thursday’s city council meeting, Davis, believing the Advocate reporter to be Caucasian, said, “Everyone on the committee looks like you.” However, she was then corrected and informed that the reporter is Hispanic.

According to onlookers, her racially charged comments and methods in the community are believed to be irresponsible and divisive.

Liberty Dispatch Contributor