The Freestone County Democratic Party has announced that Ms. Opal Oliver is retiring from her position as Chair of the County Democratic Party. Ms. Oliver has faithfully and effectively led the party for many years and accomplished several priorities, such as keeping a voting box open in one of the outlying areas of Freestone County that was slated for closure. Assuming the role as Chair of the County Party is Mr. Richard O’Dell of Fairfield.
Mr. O’Dell moved to Fairfield in 2014 after retiring from the Federal Government, working at the Social Security Administration headquarters in Baltimore, Maryland. He was responsible for making sure all Internet websites put out by Social Security were accessible to all disabled persons, regardless of disability. He was active in the county Democratic Party in Maryland working in local campaigns including voter registration laws, state same-sex marriage laws, and local options.
Mr. O’Dell follows in the Freestone County political footsteps of his great-grandfather, Richard Windsor of Lanely. Mr. Windsor served as Justice of the Peace for Freestone County from 1912 to 1916 and again from 1920 to 1924. Richard’s great-uncle, George Windsor also served as Justice of the Peace for Freestone as did several of his great- cousins in the early part of the twentieth century.
When asked about his political views being a Democrat in a predominately Republican state, Mr. O’Dell said that politics seem to have moved beyond this-party versus that-party politics. While years ago, being Democrat or being Republican meant loyalty to your party and what it stood for. However, he said, over the last several years, personalities have emerged that cloud the ability to recognize what the party is saying it wants and what an individual says he wants. Many professional politicians have adopted the mental attitude that they are above the party and whatever they want is what the party should want. The question isn’t whether you are Democrat or Republican but rather do you agree with the philosophies, the beliefs and the activities of the person you are voting for.
During the next election, the Democratic party will be working to remedy several needs in rural areas that it has identified. Mr. O’Dell says that both political parties are realizing the value of rural America and the part that it plays in the governance of America. He said that the Democrats will be pushing to provide broadband internet so that students and all rural Texans can participate in the electronic communication era. While Internet companies are pushing 5G speeds in select larger cities, many rural Texans in Freestone County cannot get reliable internet or cell phone access. The party will continue to identify and fight voter suppression efforts. Infrastructure investments must be made to improve rural roadways in Freestone County and all rural Texas. O’Dell said that the party plans to address rural environmental and property issues that impact all Texans. Water resources are under attack and increased state and local controls are needed. Practices such as improper irrigation practices and purchase of water rights for commercial purposes threatens the water supply of millions. He said that reasonable guidelines and restrictions on the uses of eminent domain that today favor commercial operations over private property rights. Climate change impacts rural Texans who depend on the land to earn a living and to attract tourists. State and federal legislators must address this in the fulfillment of their responsibilities. He also said that the Democrats want to allow all rural residents to benefit from the success of the Texas economy and not just a select few at the top of the economic food chain. We must have a living wage for all Texans, he stressed.
The Freestone County Democrats meet monthly to discuss issues and make plans to get their story out to the public. Mr. O’Dell invited anyone interested in the Democratic party or interested in restoring America and Texas to the premier status that they once had to join them at one of the meetings. For more information, you can email the local party at democrats@freestonecodemocrat.solutions.
