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Week of October 2 - 8, 2002
By Marvin Cloud

Rodney L. Griffin, an activist in the Democratic Party for nearly 35 years, won reelection as State Democratic Executive Committeeman (SDEC) - Senatorial District 13. This is Griffin’s third term, having served from 1996 - 1998 and 1998-2000. During the previous election Nat West won by a narrow vote. However, the one-term incumbent was defeated by Griffin in this election, held last June at the Texas Democratic Party Convention held in El Paso with Griffin receiving 75% of the African-American vote and 62% of the total vote.

Griffin, a resident of Fort Bend County and a 16-year independent small business owner in real estate and financial services, points out that the two SDEC positions for SD 13 are not shared between Harris and Fort Bend Counties, and although serving is voluntary and there is no salary and expenses are not reimbursed, the position carries a plenitude of duties.
Responsibilities of the SDEC members include meeting three to four times a year on issues crucial to the Democratic Party; attending area Democratic functions; communicating with constituents; supporting all Democratic nominees; be a Texas Democratic Party Sustaining Member; recruit additional Sustaining Members; promote and assist Texas Democratic Party fundraising events; work with both state and local party organizations to hold grassroots organizational workshops and seminars throughout the district; recruit, encourage and assist Democratic candidates, conduct delegate workshops on convention procedures; publicize and educate delegates and interest Democrats in the district on the convention process.
Griffin states, “African-Americans are arguably the most loyal constituency of the Democratic Party, but paradoxically the most underrepresented on the state democratic executive committee. Thirteen has the best opportunity for leveling the playing field because of its large African-American constituency.”

According to Griffin, SDECs are “the nuts and bolts of running the organization,” and are responsible for anything from financing candidates through fund-raising, seeking out potential candidates and organizing precincts to elect strong Democratic candidates. But, he is quick to point out that it is more than rubbing shoulders with the rich and powerful or the politically-connected. “We are grassroots people. We are the voice of grassroots people,” he stated. As such, some of Griffin’s goals include “taking back State offices that we lost in 1998,” and “helping to rebuild the progressive wing of the Democratic Party.” He believes that issues of importance which should be given priority are affordable housing, health care, public education, full employment and civil rights issues. Currently, the Democrat Party holds an edge in the Texas House and it is one shy of the majority in the Texas Senate.

A child of the 60s, raised in the Jim Crow era, Griffin became involved in politics as an outgrowth of interest in the Civil Rights movement. Perhaps it was a natural outgrowth of watching his parents who were involved in getting Hattie M. White elected to the Houston School Board in 1958. In doing so, she became the first Black since Reconstruction to elected to significant public office in Houston. “My family was on the cutting edge of community involvement. My grandfather was a Pullman Porter; my father attended Tuskegee and my mother went back to school and became an educator. My sister, (now a minister) Sheryl Griffin-Bozeman was a plaintiff in the University of Texas housing desegregation lawsuit in 1960.” The “Turbulent 60s” fueled his interest in protest for social change and in 1968, he became involved with the campaign of Wilhemenia Delco and that led him to the Democratic Party and 34 plus years of history where he has held numerous
positions.

Griffin’s dedication to the Democratic cause was evident in his speech to “Distinguished Delegates and Alternates” at the convention in which he outlined his credentials and the work he has already done. He stated, “I have a rich and consistent history of supporting many notable and successful candidates such as the Honorable Wilhemenia Delco (Austin School Board); McGovern Campaign (1972); Jesse Jackson (84/88); Sissy Farenthold; President Clinton/Gore; Governor Ann Richards; the Honorable Jew Don Boney; the Honorable Lee P. Brown and the Honorable Carol Alvarado. Here I was able to help clear the way for the first African-American mayor of Houston.”
Griffin was part of the delegation that marched to demand from then Governor Bush to fill top administrative posts at Texas Southern University. He also was on the bus to Washington with Rev. Jesse Jackson and William Paul–Thomas for the purpose of putting ex Enron workers in the loop to tell their story to Senate and House Democratic leadership and the AFL-CIO. leadership.
Griffin graduated from Yates High School and received advanced studies in Urban & Metropolitan Politics and a B.A. in Mathematics from the University of Texas at Austin.
Griffin and his wife Jan West have one daughter and three sons. His wife is a Rice University alum who is presently director of education for the Houston Area Urban League. Their daughter Elizabeth Griffin-Bert is a UT Austin alum; Omari is a democratic activist; William is a Harvard Law alum and Brook is a Columbia U sophomore.

Griffin concluded, “We have a chance to make history by electing a Hispanic Governor and an African-American Senator. These are people who reflect our values and our interest. We may not pass this way again. We will not forget Florida. We will make sure our votes count. We can elect good people to office. We have the power.”