A couple weeks ago I took John Burton to task for an email that didn’t seem to get it. I didn’t think he looked too good for that email when the California Democratic Party needs to think of ourselves as in the minority until we get a working majority in the legislature.
Seeing as damn near everyone other than bloggers have gone out of their way to endorse Burton, the key is what he wants to do with the CDP as he will be the next former state senator to Chair the Party. I have to say, I like what he said in today’s email (after the jump).
There are many reasons to get active in local party politics. I am running for Party Chair because I know from years of experience that the Democratic Party of California has been built on both our common values and superior organizing and ingenuity in campaigns.
As Chair, I will ensure that Democrats retain this edge in the rapidly changing world of modern campaigning. And I will focus on the mission of the state Democratic Party: winning elections, by bringing new people into our party, through a battle of ideas.
I will involve people who strongly embrace the direction and values of the Democratic Party, such as grassroots activists from both red and blue counties, leaders from our diverse communities of color, LGBT, women, organized labor, persons with disabilities, seniors groups, environmentalists, consumer advocates and party leaders - working with them to make these goals a reality.
My goals as Chair are below. I hope that I can count on your support to become the next Chair of the California Democratic Party. Please Click Here to Join Our Campaign Today!
Empower the Grassroots.
Elections are not won or lost in Party Headquarters. It takes the dedication, enthusiasm, and hard work of thousands of leaders and activists in every corner of California to win the battle of ideas. One of the great lessons of the Obama campaign is that grass roots activists in the Internet age can produce massive voter contact results if they are empowered with training, tools, and enthusiasm.
The Party should assist county committees and grass roots activists to win local elections. Particularly in red and rural counties where winning local elections is the first step towards developing the kind of infrastructure that can help us convert red areas to blue and develop a strong cadre of future legislative candidates for partisan office.
Register and Communicate with New Voters.
In 2008, Democratic voter registration in California increased dramatically. We can not waste this opportunity. Legislative districts that were once solidly Republican are now within our grasp. I will create a party program to maintain frequent contact with the new 2008 registrants to make sure they know we are right on the issues they care about.
The Party must also invest resources in ongoing voter registration throughout the 58 counties so we can win the seats we fell just short in this time, and also challenge Republicans in other districts as well. With ongoing voter registration, and more contact with the newly registered, we will win elections because we are right on the issues people care about, and we will have the numbers we need to organize and win.
Prepare for Proposition 11.
Prop 11, the redistricting measure, changes everything. The Democratic Party must quickly build the infrastructure to fight general elections in a larger number of seats. We must invest in Republican-leaning areas that will become much more competitive when the new lines become effective in 2012. And we must also invest in areas currently considered safely Democratic that also may become more competitive.
In November we picked up some Assembly seats, but in the coming years we need to strengthen the Democratic Party structures in Republican leaning areas like Assembly Districts 26, 30, 36, 37, 38, 63, 65, Senate Districts 12 and 19 and Congressional Districts 4, 26, 44 and 50.
And we must protect our new incumbent Democrats in tough seats, including Assemblymembers Joan Buchanan, Alyson Huber, Marty Block, and Manuel Perez.
We must also work with our DNC members to ensure the CDP is a full partner with the DNC's 50 State Strategy and benefits from the funding, technology and research that is developed at the national level.
We need to do more than simply investing in campaigns two weeks before the election. The fight for the future begins today.
Build a DTS voter edge.
In most competitive statewide, Congressional and legislative races in California, the balance of power is in the hands of DTS voters. So far, we have been successful with many DTS voters because our message is stronger and more relevant to the dreams and hopes of all Californians. I will lead an effort to compile detailed information on DTS voters so that we can make our message more relevant to their lives than that of the Yacht Party.
Bring Young People into the Party Structure
We need to encourage young people to run for county committee, delegates to the state convention, or other roles in the Party structure. It is important to make sure that the Democratic Party mentors a new generation of leaders. I will commit to making that a priority.
Young voters were engaged and active during the Obama campaign like no other time in recent memory. However, young voters are still regularly ignored by traditional campaigns. Working to harness new organizing techniques that are already being utilized by Young Democrats around the state, like "Peer to Peer" organizing, the CA Democratic Party can activate young voters to be the margin of victory.
Use New Technology
I've been around long enough to know that those who only want to do things the same-old-way are doomed to failure. The Internet is first and foremost a powerful organizing tool, and if we use it properly can be an important fundraising tool as well. Technology gives us the tools to organize activists in new and more efficient ways. Technology gives us the ability to communicate with voters faster, earlier, cheaper and more personally than ever before.
The California Democratic Party can't afford to be a late adopter. We can't be talking about just beginning to harness the power of e-mail when everyone else is talking about adding text messages to their arsenal. We can't be relegated to antiquated web technology and chasing yesterday's online fads. We must not only keep pace, but also innovate to provide the best possible tools for electoral and policy victory. After all, this is the 21st century, and this is California, the home of innovation.
Spearhead Party Fundraising.
None of the above can be done without adequate resources. Every aspect of successful winning campaigns require money, and we, as a Party, will only be as successful as its resources allow. If we want to build our party for the long term, by training activists, continuous voter registration, online organizing, and increased communication with party members and the general public, especially young voters and the newly registered - we need to have resources.
I have a proven record of raising funds for successful Democratic campaigns. I understand that Prop. 34 and McCain-Feingold have changed the campaign finance landscape, and I will work to maximize our dollars within the contemporary regulatory framework. Clearly we must expand the party's fundraising so that we reach out not only to large donors but also to the millions of small donor Democrats who are ready to invest in California's future.
I have a clear plan to provide superior strategy, funding and organization to win elections in California. I understand that campaigns are changing dramatically as technology, regulations and voter demands continue to reshape how people consume information and what they expect of their leaders. I believe the state party must be a cutting edge leader to help Democrats win elections and keep California blue forever .
