Why am I running for County Chair?

Natalie Ward and others rallying in support of immigrant families in Conroe TX.

I'm writing this to clear up some false allegations that have been circulating on social media. None of the people stating these opinions have ever spoken to me directly about my reasons for running for Chair of the Montgomery County Democratic Party.

I understand how someone could assume that I had resigned from one position to run for the other, but that simply isn’t true. Here is the timeline of what happened:

January 2023 – May 2023

• Spoke about my concern with the party finances, and spending in particular, with the County Chair in private, many times. She responded that we needed to increase donations.

Summer - Fall 2023 

• Spoke about my concern with the party finances, and spending in particular, multiple times during public executive committee meetings.

• My concerns were heard by some, however, the current County Chair kept assuring us that we didn’t need to curtail spending, we only needed to increase donations.

• MCDP began to have issues paying its rent in full and on time.

November 2023

• Submitted my written and verbal resignation during the executive committee meeting.

• Submitted a formal complaint about the County Chair to the Texas Democratic Party (TDP) Disciplinary Committee. I alleged two financial violations and one personal violation of Party rules.

December 2023

• Spoke with several people and asked them to run for County Party Chair; all of them declined; most stated “I wouldn’t touch that with a 10 ft pole.”

• Decided, along with my husband, that I could not let our County Chair run unopposed.

• A few days before the application deadline, I submitted my application to run for MCDP County Chair and my Campaign Treasurer Appointment with the appropriate authorities.

• The MCDP Chair asked me to meet her at HQ two days after I had submitted my application to run for County Chair.

• The County Chair told me at that meeting, that if I won the election:

  • 20 Precinct Chairs would resign their positions immediately.

  • MCDP’s employee would quit.

  • Several office volunteers would quit.

  • She, the current County Chair, would quit volunteering for MCDP, and she would take all of “her” volunteers and “her” donors with her.
    

***In my opinion, these actions should never be taken by ANY County Chair.***

• I responded that if she won the election, I would continue to volunteer for MCDP, in whatever capacity needed because I am committed to the Party, and not to any one individual.

• In late December I received the Final Ruling on my complaint from the TDP Disciplinary Committee. They dismissed all 3 charges. ***I offered, both verbally and in writing, to help contact TDP Staff and work on the Rules Committee to get these issues addressed, but the Chair has not yet taken me up on that offer.***

  • Both financial charges were dismissed because my complaint was submitted more than 21 days after the events had occurred and because no one at the MCDP CEC had made any motion to curtail spending by the Chair, therefore they implicitly approved the spending. (Lesson learned!)

  • The personal charge was dismissed because we each apologized for our actions.

  • The TDP Disciplinary Committee then made 5 extensive recommendations that MCDP revise its current bylaws and procedures to address “several potentially troublesome areas.”

  • The TDP Disciplinary Committee then stated, “The TDP Staff are willing to work with MCDP to make sure these are properly addressed.”

January – February 2024

• I’ve spent my time traveling around the County and have been able to engage with many voters who have not had previous contact with MCDP.

I would be happy to discuss any of these issues with anyone who wishes to do so. Please contact me at 936-666-2307 or email NatalieForMCDPTX@gmail.com.