What a crazy night it was at the Ohio Democratic Party executive committee meeting to decide the new chairman. Everything started out normal with about 130 of the 137 members in attendance to help pick a new chairman. Everyone had taken their seats and had received vote cards.
Then total chaos! Bill DeMora motions to have a roll call vote instead of a secret paper ballot. It was seconded. There was a call from interim chairwoman Rhine McLin, Dayton Mayor, for all in favor say yes and all opposed say no. The yes's easily carried to all in the room, but wait Chairwoman McLin says the No's carried the vote. DeMora calls for an appeal of the chairwoman's rule and loses in another bizarre voice vote. Everyone is looking around trying to figure out what the hell is going on.
Finally, after some heated exchanges there is an agreement to have a roll call vote on whether to overrule the chair. I do not know the exact count but I would say it passed by a 90-45 vote. The chairwoman then continues to side against the voice votes of the executive committee. Booing ensues! Finally the Redfern/Strickland supporters manage to have a roll call vote to throw out the current system of voting. Chairwoman McLin continues to voice her opinions on what is happening and becomes flustered with no idea what is going on. There is an agreement to have a stand up vote rather than a roll call vote, this way there is no exact record of who voted for whom.
Both candidates get 5 minutes to plead their case. Redfern goes first and gives a good list of his accomplishments and why he is ready to take his success to the state party. Lieberman goes next and lays into Redfern/Strickland for forcing and intimidating people to vote their way. It was very tacky in front of the news cameras and there were many cat calls during his speech. Finally, a vote! Redfern wins with probably 80% of the vote.
Everyone celebrates and goes to the holiday party but wonders how bad our party will look on the news and in the papers. It was an ugly display. Sometimes a party being open to the public does not go so well. It was one of the most interesting nights I have ever seen, totally unscripted. I just hope the party will be able to unite behind Redfern. In my opinion he was the best choice. For some background I grew up in Dayton, moved to Columbus three years ago and now work in the Ohio House of Reps. I have never been totally impressed with Lieberman.