Election Party

On March 4, the Rod Tanner Campaign will host an election watch and victory celebration at the Fox and Hound Pub & Grille in downtown Fort Worth (604 Main St.). The party will be held in a large room upstairs that can accomodate many people. We will have a big screen TV so we can watch the election returns as well as enjoy much fun, food and frivolity (not to mention beer and wine). The party will begin at 8pm. All elected officials, candidates, supporters and friends of the campaign are invited to attend.

Major Endorsements

There have been many exciting developments in the campaign in the past few weeks. Rod has received endorsements from numerous organizations as well as Democratic Party officials and activists. These include endorsements by --

Texas State Teachers Association
Tarrant County Central Labor Council (and all 49 affiliated labor organizations)
Doctors Guild
Becky Moeller, President, Texas AFL- CIO
Robert Martinez, National Democratic Committee
Danny Cooke, State Democratic Executive Committee/District 12
Marc House, State Democratic Executive Committee/District 10

On the Campaign Trail

Video of Rod Tanner speaking before Democratic Party leaders from east and south-east Fort Worth Feb. 16th at Woodhaven Country Club.

Biography

Rod Tanner is the founding shareholder of Tanner and Associates, P.C. in Fort Worth, Texas. Mr. Tanner's practice focuses on labor and employment law, civil trials and appeals, administrative proceedings and arbitration. He has extensive experience in complex litigation including employment discrimination class actions. His clients include various international, national and local labor organizations, union officials, professionals, employees and public figures.

Mr. Tanner received a B.A. Degree in English Literature with Honors from the University of Texas as Austin in 1973 and he received a Doctor of Jurisprudence Degree from the University of Texas School of Law in 1976. He is admitted to practice in the State of Texas, United States Supreme Court, Fifth and Tenth U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeals, and the U.S. Districe Court for the Northern, Western, Eastern and Southern Districts of Texas.

Mr. Tanner has been Board Certified in labor and employment law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 1990. He is a Fellow in the prestigious College of Labor and Employment Lawyers, and he has appeared in THE BEST LAWYERS IN AMERICA (Woodward White 2008) for the past twelve years. Texas Monthly (2003-2007) has recognized him as a "Texas Super Lawyer," and Texas Lawyer (February 2001) has named him as one of the state's preeminent labor attorneys.

Mr. Tanner's notable cases include Int'l Ass'n of Machinist & Aerospace Workers, Local Lodge 2121 v. Goodrich Corporation (5th Cir. 2005), cert. denied, 126 S.Ct. 647, a precedent-setting case in which the Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals held that a labor organization has standing to represent retired employees in grievance and arbitration proceedings to enforce a retiree medical benefits provision in a collective bargaining agreement.

Mr. Tanner is a past Chair of the State Bar of Texas Labor and Employment Law Section and a past Chair of the Tarrant County Bar Association Labor and Employment Law Section. He is also Co-Chair of the National Employment Lawyers Association Labor Law Committee, a member of the AFL-CIO Lawyers Coordinating Committee, and a Founding Member of the Texas Employment Lawyers Association. He has spoken frequently before professional groups and labor organizations on subjects ranging from the National Labor Relations Act to Title VII class actions. And he is a contributing author of TEXAS EMPLOYMENT LAW (James Publishing Inc. 2007).

Mr. Tanner and his wife, Laura, have resided in Fort Worth since 1980. They have three sons. Mr. Tanner has been active in the community as a member of Forum Fort Worth. He has been a Democrat his entire life, and he is a longstanding member of International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, AFL-CIO. He was the only attorney member of U.S. Congressman Martin Frost's Labor Steering Committee. For many years, Mr. Tanner was a member of the Tarrant County Democratic Party Finance Council.

Rod Tanner Announces Run for Tarrant County Democratic Party Chair

Rod Tanner, a prominent Fort Worth labor attorney, announced his candidacy for Tarrant County Democratic Party Chair. The primary election will be held on March 4, 2008.

Rod is committed to making the Tarrant County Democratic Party a successful force for change in local government. He believes that the Party must be revitalized and united to fulfill its potential. Among his priorities will be to implement an aggressive fund-raising program, broaden the Party’s base of regular donors, and personally lead the candidate recruitment committee to identify and recruit talented local candidates. He will also push hard to upgrade and expand the Party’s resources and create effective Web strategies using blogs and video to energize local Democrats.

Rod is ready to lead the local Democratic Party in addressing the many challenges now facing the state and county. Democrats need a strong, broad-based Party for the 21st Century that will create strategic alliances between leaders of all area communities. The local Party will develop candidates for public office who are committed to creating jobs, improving public education, protecting the environment, rebuilding public infrastructure, and supporting local police and fire fighters. And the Democratic Party must press legislative initiatives to make college more affordable and provide quality health care for all of our citizens.

"Across America, Democrats are recognizing new opportunities, and finding a new direction, based upon hope, not fear, and a vision of a great nation moving proudly forward. It’s happening in Texas, too. Tarrant County Democrats should be on the cutting edge of the new Democratic Majority," said Tanner. "I want to awaken the sleeping giant, the grassroots of the Tarrant County Democratic Party."

Rod Tanner and his wife, Laura, have resided in Fort Worth since 1980. They have three sons. Mr. Tanner has been active for years in the Democratic Party. He is a former member of U.S. Congressman Martin Frost’s Labor Steering Committee, and he is a member of the Tarrant County Democratic Party Finance Council.

Mr. Tanner is the founding shareholder of Tanner and Associates, P.C. in Fort Worth. His practice focuses on labor and employment law, civil trials and appeals, administrative proceedings and arbitration. His clients include a diverse group of labor organizations, non profits, professionals and employees.