Chairman of White County Democrats not scared of challenge
Chairman of White County Democrats not scared of challenge
Joe Washington isn’t scared of a challenge.
The 50-year-old Searcy man has overcome many challenges in his life, from his beginnings in Mississippi to being diagnosed with muscular dystrophy in 2011. And being the chairman of the Democratic Party of White County is no different.
“Challenges aren’t that big of a deal for me,” Washington said. “I’ve been dealing with that all along. You’re looking at a guy who has muscular dystrophy, and it took me two years after the doctors told me that I’m wearing myself out before I considered retiring.”
He worked for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. as a banking examiner.
“I’m not afraid of failure, but I’m very concerned that I do the very best that I possibly can to make a real difference. I just don’t know what that is yet.”
In addition to his political activities, Washington is an ordained CME (Christian Methodist Episcopal) preacher.
A native of Natchez, Mississippi, he was raised by his grandmother.
“I grew up very poor,” he said. “My mother passed away when I was 10 or 11. I was raised by my grandmother. She was the kind of woman who didn’t want my father to get in trouble. So we didn’t have any kind of assistance or anything. She wouldn’t even file for welfare with me, my brother or my sister.”
Washington said growing up in a household with his grandparents, an uncle and his siblings was a strain financially for his family.
“Growing up, I decided I did not want to be in that position,” he said. “I saw what other kids had. I figured the only way I could get out of that was education. I didn’t have any athletic skills. I was somewhat OK in school. Growing up, I was told that I was lazy, not because I was lazy but because, look at these arms; there’s not much muscle there.”
Washington would not know what his physical issues
I enjoy it a whole lot. I feel like we’re making a difference”. Joe Washington CHAIRMAN OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF WHITE COUNTY