Post by Logan on May 9, 2016 1:47:42 GMT -6
Carl Whitmarsh, a towering figure in Harris County Democratic politics, died Sunday at 64.
A former executive director of the Harris County Democratic Party and current leader of the Oak Forest Area Democrats, Whitmarsh was a friend to many of Houston's Democrats, from Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee to Texas State Senator John Whitmire. Active in Democratic politics, he backed candidates in local races as recently as last week, when he used his wide network to support Jarvis Johnson in his successful bid for the state representative slot Mayor Sylvester Turner vacated when he took office.
The Harris County Democratic Party announced Whitmarsh's death in an email to members Sunday evening. Details surrounding his death are not yet clear, but he had been in ill health, according to Harris County Democratic Party Chair Lane Lewis.
"Carl Whitmarsh was a dear friend," Turner said in a statement. "There was no greater supporter than Carl. And no greater defender of the little person, those who were discriminated against and those who had nothing but their dignity. Carl was a mighty force of nature when he went after those he believed were hurting others or just plain wrong-headed about issues. But when he was your friend, Carl would go to the ends of the earth to help you. His passing leaves a hole in my heart and I know many, many others feel the same way."
www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Carl-Whitmarsh-titan-in-Houston-Democratic-7421827.php
A former executive director of the Harris County Democratic Party and current leader of the Oak Forest Area Democrats, Whitmarsh was a friend to many of Houston's Democrats, from Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee to Texas State Senator John Whitmire. Active in Democratic politics, he backed candidates in local races as recently as last week, when he used his wide network to support Jarvis Johnson in his successful bid for the state representative slot Mayor Sylvester Turner vacated when he took office.
The Harris County Democratic Party announced Whitmarsh's death in an email to members Sunday evening. Details surrounding his death are not yet clear, but he had been in ill health, according to Harris County Democratic Party Chair Lane Lewis.
"Carl Whitmarsh was a dear friend," Turner said in a statement. "There was no greater supporter than Carl. And no greater defender of the little person, those who were discriminated against and those who had nothing but their dignity. Carl was a mighty force of nature when he went after those he believed were hurting others or just plain wrong-headed about issues. But when he was your friend, Carl would go to the ends of the earth to help you. His passing leaves a hole in my heart and I know many, many others feel the same way."
www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Carl-Whitmarsh-titan-in-Houston-Democratic-7421827.php