DENTON TOGETHER LEADERS
Ira Bershad
Ira Bershad is the President of Denton Together and one of its original founders.
Ira lives and works in The Colony, Texas. He is an Executive Recruiter. He has spent much of his life volunteering in his community, coaching youth sports and holding leadership positions.
Previously, Ira served as President of Frisco Democratic Club and as Communications Director for the Denton County Democratic Party. He worked on the 2018 Denton County Democratic Coordinated Campaign team and has been behind some of the county’s biggest political events. He has organized and hosted events including Presidential candidate Julian Castro, the U.S. Democratic Senate Forum, events featuring Beto O’Rourke, Mike Collier, the Texas Democratic Party Chair Forum, Texas Attorney General Forum, and local City Council Debates. Ira appeared as a political commentator on WFAA’s Inside Texas Politics in 2019.
Ira’s political philosophy is that there is only ONE goal of political volunteerism—to win elections. Everything else is in support of that goal.
DEBBIE O'REILLY
Vice President of Denton Together
Debbie was a 29-year English teacher, serving as Department Chair and Honors English IV Team Leader. In 2015, she decided to get involved in politics and became a Precinct Chair for the Collin County Democratic Party. Soon, she managed the campaign of a candidate in Congressional District 3 and coordinated volunteer operations for an Allen City Council candidate.
From there, she was elected President of Women Organizing Women Democrats and then hired as the Executive Director of the Collin County Democratic Party.
Debbie now resides in Denton County and is Chair of Precinct 2078.