About Neil

For more than 20 years, Neil Durrance has been a public servant in North Texas, having served two terms on the City Council of Denton and running for County Commissioner in 1991.  Recently, he served as Chairman of the Denton County Democratic Party, where many new initiatives were born under his leadership.

Elected County Chair in 2007 to fill an unexpired term, Neil was elected to his own term in 2008. He served until May 2009 when he resigned to begin his run for Congress. As chair in Denton County, Neil vigorously promoted the growth and strengthening of the Denton County Democratic Party.  Some of his accomplishments include:

  • Led a strong core of volunteers to keep a headquarters open year-round
  • Launched a visibility campaign to show the Denton County Democratic Party as a united group serious about changing politics in North Texas
  • Recruited a 2008 slate of nine candidates
  • Presided over a county convention with approximately 3,000 attendees, the largest political convention in Denton County history
  • Founded the North Texas Coalition of County Democratic Parties, bringing together nine county parties to share ideas and strengths - an idea now endorsed by the state party and spreading across Texas
  • Identified fifty new precinct chairs
  • Formed committees that actively share in establishing goals and managing party activities

Neil, a long-time citizen of Denton, holds a B.S. in political science from UNT and a law degree from Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas. After graduating from law school in 1981, Neil began his legal career in Texarkana, Texas where he practiced before both the Texas and Arkansas bars. He has also been admitted to appear before the United States Supreme Court, 5th Circuit Court of Appeals and US Eastern, Southern, and Northern District Courts. In 1988, Neil moved back to Denton, Texas and opened a general law practice.

An active member of his church and community, Neil has been a leader and proponent of justice, personal responsibility, and professional integrity.