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October 20, 2014      6:21 PM

Some Arlington Republican leaders support Democratic Texas House candidate Cole Ballweg

Longtime Republicans say their party’s nominee Tony Tinderholt is “an extremist”

Note: This story has been updated with response from the Tinderholt campaign – SB

After weeks of this kind of talk simmering in North Texas, some local Republican leaders in Arlington came out publicly and said they now support the Democrat running to replace Rep. Diane Patrick. One of those leaders includes Patrick’s husband, Ned Patrick.

He and Republican Arlington City Councilmen Charlie Parker and Jimmy Bennett signed a letter of support for Democrat Cole Ballweg over Tea Party Republican Tony Tinderholt. Also signing the letter was former Arlington ISD Superintendent Mac Bernd. The letter surfaced over the weekend.

“We are supporting Cole Ballweg for Texas House District 94.  Although we are all longtime Republicans, we don’t care about his party affiliation,” the group wrote.  “He is a good man and a successful local business owner who cares about Arlington and is not driven by radical ideology.”

But they did not stop at their support for the Democrat. They also slammed their party's nominee.