By R.J. Morales | TX3DNews
The chair of the Collin County Democratic Party has issued a public response to criticism from a former party leader, disputing claims about party finances, event planning, and organizational leadership.
In a March 16 statement, Chair Jeremy Sutka said the criticism included “inaccuracies, half-truths, and assumptions” and was intended to “provide the context he conveniently left out.”
“The work of this party matters, and the record matters,” Sutka added, saying he chose to respond after what he described as the spread of inaccurate information.
Background of the Dispute
The response follows a March 15 Substack post by former County Chair Mike Rawlins, who raised concerns about party fundraising, spending, and oversight after a recent County Executive Committee (CEC) meeting.
Rawlins wrote that the party’s “Rebirth and Revelry” fundraiser “lost $5,000 on a sold out event,” calling the result “a major” failure and questioning how ticket pricing and sponsorships were handled.
He also criticized convention costs, writing that the party was “paying $10,000” for the Sheraton McKinney, along with additional audiovisual expenses that he said exceeded prior years.
Rawlins further alleged that an executive session “degenerated into a bitch fest about two candidates” and described precinct chair recruitment as “abysmal.”
He called for greater oversight, writing that recent decisions reflected “a gross lack of oversight that borders on dereliction of duty.”
Fundraiser Dispute and Finances
Sutka responded to criticism of the party’s “Rebirth and Revelry” fundraiser, including questions about its name and financial outcome.
He said the name was adjusted to reflect a Mardi Gras theme while still honoring former U.S. Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson and former Texas Gov. Ann Richards, with awards presented in their names and participation from Johnson’s family.
“The intention was never a slight. It was a celebration,” Sutka wrote.
On finances, Sutka said the event resulted in a loss of “just over $3,000,” disputing Rawlins’ reported $5,000 figure. He pointed to rising costs, reduced sponsorships, and the loss of a major commitment.
“We had a major sponsorship commitment ($25,000) prior to announcing the event, but that commitment backed out, leaving us in a hole we could not recover from,” he wrote.
He added that general admission tickets “barely cover the per person cost,” meaning the event relies on sponsorships to turn a profit.
Convention Venue Questions
Sutka also addressed concerns about the cost of hosting the county convention at a hotel venue.
He said organizers began searching for a location in August 2024 and contacted more than 20 venues. According to Sutka, public facilities were unavailable due to Spring Break closures, existing bookings, or unwillingness to host political events.
“When it became clear no public venue was available, we secured the best option we could find,” he wrote.
The party selected the Sheraton McKinney, with a base cost of $7,400 for meeting space and food for up to 300 attendees. Sutka said the total cost, including taxes and fees, came in under $10,000, excluding audiovisual expenses.
“That is not a failure. That is doing the best we could with the options available,” he wrote.
Executive Session Concerns
Both statements addressed discussions held during a CEC executive session.
Rawlins wrote that the session “degenerated into a bitch fest about two candidates,” while Sutka disputed that characterization.
Sutka said the discussion focused on “the responsibilities of Precinct Chairs regarding support of nominees,” citing Texas Democratic Party rules, and followed concerns raised by multiple precinct chairs.
He said the matter was discussed in executive session “to protect the privacy of those involved.”
“To characterize that as a ‘bitch fest’ is unprofessional and, frankly, beneath the standards of someone who once held this office,” Sutka wrote.
Precinct Chair Recruitment
Rawlins described precinct chair recruitment as “abysmal,” noting the party currently has around 120 precinct chairs.
Sutka disputed that characterization, saying the party has added more than 80 new precinct chairs since late 2024.
“They are young, diverse, and energetic,” Sutka wrote. “They are active, engaged, and doing the hard work of building relationships in their precincts.”
Internal Dispute
Sutka also criticized Rawlins’ tenure as county chair and disputed his broader claims about party operations.
“I will not sit silently while a former chair… attempts to tear down the progress we have made,” he wrote.
He also alleged that information from executive session discussions had been misreported publicly.
“This figure was discussed in Executive Session… and then misreported outside of it,” Sutka wrote.
Looking Ahead
Sutka said the party remains focused on recruiting volunteers, strengthening its organization, and preparing for upcoming election cycles.
“Do we need more Precinct Chairs? Yes. Do we need more ideas…? Absolutely,” he wrote, adding that the party is working to build a “more professional, collaborative, and cohesive county party.”
TX3DNews has reached out for additional comment and will update this story if a response is received.
Update: Rawlins Responds to Follow-Up Questions
After publication, Rawlins provided additional clarification on several points raised in his original post.
He said his estimate of the fundraiser loss was based on information he was told or saw shared publicly and acknowledged he was not present for the executive session where the figure was discussed.
Rawlins said his concerns focused on planning and risk, including what he described as structuring the event around a large sponsorship commitment rather than confirmed funds, and relying on sponsorships instead of ticket pricing to cover costs.
He also confirmed his description of the executive session was based on secondhand information.
Regarding the convention venue, Rawlins said he had been told of possible alternatives, including Plano City Council chambers and the McKinney ISD Community Event Center, but said he did not know whether those options were pursued.
He added that reviewing both the fundraiser planning and venue selection process could help identify where earlier oversight or adjustments may have been needed.
