A state committee will investigate a complaint alleging the Hidalgo County Democratic Party did not follow state rules during the organization's county convention in March.

Details on what may have gone wrong won't be released until a credentials committee is formed and reviews between 125 and 150 complaints statewide. The committee will be chosen the week of the state Democratic convention, which begins June 5 in Austin, and is expected to determine if the complaints are valid by the end of that week.

Texas has a three-tier delegate selection system for the 2008 Democratic National Convention: First were the presidential preference primary elections and precinct conventions on March 4, then came the county/Senate district conventions on March 29, and the third tier is the upcoming state convention.

Through this system, the state's Democrats determine the 228 delegates from Texas who will vote Aug. 25-28 at the Democratic National Convention in Denver to select the party's presidential nominee for the November general election.
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Jackie Leatherman covers Hidalgo County government and general assignments at The Monitor. She can be reached at (956) 683-4424.