Capacity is sitting out there, waiting to be utilized. Organizing for America has a plan, but until we know that plan and get plugged into it we need to figure out some way to boost our electoral strength. We also don't want to jump the gun and create our own duplicative organizations if we can work within the framework of OFA 2.0.
So, to reconcile that, I am calling for all Democrats nationwide to make sure of one simple thing: Make sure that your County Parties and State Parties are as strong, nimble and grassroots as possible. Let's make sure they are doing what their whole existence is meant for: electing more Progressive Democrats.
The following is a guide on how to achieve that.
More below the fold...
County parties are a funny thing.
You go to a meeting. Maybe you just moved to the area and had worked with your county party back at home for years and enjoyed it. Sure it wasn't perfect. Every year you had a corn roast, and substandard speakers; perhaps you would have blue-haired ladies whose politics more resemble Harold Ford than Howard Dean bicker back and forth over spending one thousand dollars on an absentee ballot mailer, although it has been proven over and over to increase Democratic performance, especially in special and off-year elections. But they were your people.
And then the unspeakable happens. This county party is in the process of recruiting candidates to run for all offices that are contested that year. Even in races where a Democrat may have a very tough time getting elected. The party is effectively spending the money it has raised from its members and the rotating schedule of online donations and brick and mortar events for local leaders in the community; the local party is also coordinating its public relations campaign, contributing community service and while attendance isn't astounding, it's respectable at community forums discussing on-going proceedings of the local and state governments.
The fact is (and it's been written here extensively and in other places) that county parties are the true bread and butter of the Democratic Party. Much more so than the Republicans, who tend to have a more top-down structure. So it is important to renew the leadership of these organizations frequently. In that spirit, one the Neighborhood Team Leaders (4G5!) that I was responsible for working with and giving the necessary tools in Ohio wrote up a proposal that I think it extremely prescient in the tools that can be used to create a coalition at the local party level, and then thrust that into the party structure. It may take time, but doing so too fast can actually de-legitimize the local party and will severely undercut any efforts to improve their core mission.
Here it is, and let me know what you think. Can it be improved? If so, where? What is our role? And if you are a Chair-person, Secretary or other official in a local Democratic Party office: Thank you. The work you do is thankless, and difficult at times, especially in the redder areas. This is not about a power grab from the younger members of the party. It's about ensuring that Democrats WIN:
The New Democrats Coalition
I.) ESTABLISHING THE NEW DEMOCRATIC COALITION COMMITTEE
II.) COUNTY PARTY REORGANIZATION & EXPANSION
III.) ISSUE/ADVOCACY DEVELOPMENT, SUPPORT & COORDINATION
IV.) CANDIDATE DEVELOPMENT, SUPPORT & COORDINATION
V.) FINANCIAL PLANNING & FUNDRAISING
VI.) DEVELOPMENT OF COMMUNICATIONS/PUBLIC RELATIONS PLAN
VII.) DEVELOPMENT OF TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM
I.) Establish New Democrats Committee (NDC) - an official committee sanctioned by the County Democratic Club
a.)Establish Mission Statement (Change, Choices, Engaging/Inclusive, etc.)
b.) Establish Membership Rules
c.) Establish Protocol and Procedures (i.e. voting, meeting dates/time/location)
d.) Establish Sub-Committees & Roles
e.) Executive/Leadership
f.) Communications/Public Relations
g.) Finance
h.) Issues/Advocacy Campaigns
i.) Candidate Campaigns & Elections
j.) Technology
k.) Events
l.) Establish Short and Long Term Goals and Timelines
m.) Develop overall plan to implement goals
II.) Expand Organizational Reach - Build Upon Existing County Party Organization
a.) Evaluate current structure of County Party- ID its leadership and key members – where can changes be made (structure, processes and people)
b.) Recruit Members for NDC and Dem County Party – ID and recruit people from Obama/Hillary supporters, dedicated Democrats & others who may not be in the Democratic circles but share Democratic interests. Be sure to take into account people’s busy schedule and figure how to incorporate people to make best use of time and talent.
c.) Expand Central/Exec. Committee Membership– Central Cmte has 45 of 117 Seats filled (72 vacant). Exec. Cmte. has 33 of 50 seats filled. Need to fill vacancies from Obama/Hillary supporters & dedicated Democrats and NDC members to expand our influence and further empower the County Party.
d.) Identify Party Members Open to Change – ID members already in positions of influence, either in the Party or elected officials (i.e. XXX & XXX) that might be open to change. How can they help?
e.) Establish Partnership with Democratic Club - Evaluate Democratic Club’s role and ID opportunities within the Club. How can we work together?
f.) Build Bridges to Political Organizations - Develop network with existing Democratic organizations (i.e. Dem Club, Young Democrats, Women’s Club, MoveOn.org, State Party, other surrounding County organizations & New Democrats) as well as with other like-minded organizations.
g.)Build Alliances with Like-minded Organizations – ID organizations that share common goals with NDC (i.e. Churches/Faith groups, media organizations, government entities, business groups, law enforcement and public safety organizations, senior and youth organizations, Healthcare providers, Human/Social services groups, parks & recreation groups, environmental groups, and other advocacy groups). Establish credibility in community (community service efforts and join other organizations). Partner with neighborhood and civic associations.
III.) Establish Issues/Advocacy Campaign Infrastructure
a.) Develop Issues Campaign Infrastructure- ID NDC or Party members who have experience and/or interest in issues campaigns. Recruit then assign tasks. Establish a Communications/Public Relations sub-committee?
b.) Goals/Objectives – Issues we support should help to establish identity and credibility, galvanize and motivate people into action, expand our exposure, bring publicity, and bring about real/tangible change. Remember, hope is foundation to our change.
c.) Diversity and Flexibility – Success through Diversity & Flexibility–
We need to have more than one issue to support, allowing more than one interest to be served and encouraging more people to remain interested.
Seek out diverse views on how to accomplish things. Issues should consist of local and countywide interests. We must be flexible in the issues we support so that we can reach a broad base of views, while maintaining our core principles.
d.) Utilize an Incremental Approach - Need to start with smaller, obtainable objectives that are more moderate (attract and involve Independents and Republicans) and work towards larger, more progressive objectives. This allows our group to plan, organize, implement, achieve, evaluate, and adjust/improve strategies, organization and structure……ultimately build momentum.
e.) ISP Objective - Issue Plan should be Immediate (both in problem and results), Specific (both in problem and solution), and Realistic (both in scope and time). Ultimately we must take action and not just talk.
Issues are the Issues - Issues, not the Party, should be the focus of our Issues Campaign. Identify issues that relate to NDC message. Consideration should be given to issues such as: Environment, Social Justice, Education & Income Inequality. Local issues may include Poverty in Lancaster and Invisible Poverty in Pickerington (they are losing their houses). These are things that impact all of us. Youths should be part of our goals/issues: 1. We rise/fall as one, 2. Being my brothers/sisters keeper, 3. Responsibility/accountability and 4. Community engagement. Can our local issues coincide with national issues, President’s objectives.
g.) Identify Groups that Support NDC Issues – Groups that advocate our issues can reduce redundancy, maximize our efforts, and help us to build legitimacy and goodwill with the group and the public.
h.) Involve Candidates or Community Leaders Who Share NDC Views – Identify candidates or community leaders who have or will support NDC principals.
i.) Develop Plan to Accomplish Issues Objectives – Devise plan to accomplish Issues Objectives. Plan needs to consider financial implications, communications/public relations, and volunteer requirements.
IV.) Develop Candidate Campaign Infrastructure
a.) Development Candidate Campaign Team – Find people who have interest and/or experience in candidate campaigns to assist in research, planning, recruiting, budgeting, training, & managing)
b.) Four-year plan – Establish Annual Focus;
- Villages and School Board Seats
- Dem. Central Committee, Congressional, Governor’s, Statehouse and
County Races (Limited)
- Villages and School Board Seats
- Most county-wide races, Congressional & Presidential race
c.) Identify Potential Elected Office Positions for 2009
d.) Overall 115 Seats are up in the County
e.) Currently Seats Distributed as 65 Rep, 40 Dem, and 10 No Party)
f.) Identify, screen and recruit potential candidates
g.) Recruit and train campaign managers & teams
h.) Incorporate candidate themes with party message
City/Village Councils – 63 Seats (31 R, 23 D, 9 NP)
Lancaster City Council – 11 Seats Up (6 R & 5 D) – Partisan
Pickerington City Council – 4 Seats Up (All Rs) Non-Partisan
Amanda – 4 Village Council (3 R & 1 NP) Non-Partisan
Baltimore – 4 Village Council (2 R & 2 D) Partisan
Bremen – 4 Village Council (1 R & 3 D) Non-Partisan
Carroll – 4 Village Council (3 R & 1 NP) Non-Partisan
Lithopolis – 4 Village Council (2 R, 1 D, & 1 NP) Non-Partisan
Millersport – 4 Village Council (2 R, 1D, & 1 NP) Non-Partisan
Pleasantville – 4 Village Council (2 R, 1 D & 1 NP) Non-Partisan
Rushviille – 4 Village Council (4 R) Non-Partisan
Stoutsville – 1 Mayoral (1 D) Non-Partisan
4 Village Council (1 R, 2 NP, 1 Open?) Non-Partisan
Sugar Grove - 4 Village Council (3 D, 1 NP) Non-Partisan
Thurston - 4 Village Council (1 R & 3 D) Non-Partisan
W. Rushville – 4 Village Council (3 D & 1 NP) Non-Partisan
Public School Boards – 24 Seats (14 R, 9 D, 1 NP)
Lancaster Schools – 2 Seats (1 R & 1 D)
Fairfield County Schools – 3 Seats (2 R & 1 D)
Amanda Clearcreek Schools – 3 Seats (1 R, 1 D & 1 NP)
Berne-Union Schools – 2 Seats (2 R)
Bloom-Carroll Schools – 3 Seats (1 R & 2 D)
Fairfield Union Schools – 3 Seats (2 R & 1 D)
Liberty Union – Thurston Schools – 3 Seats (2 R & 1 D)
Pickerington Schools – 3 Seats (2 R & 1 D)
Walnut Twp. Schools – 2 Seats (1 R & 1 D)
Township Trustees – 26 Seats (19 R & 7 D)
Amanda Twp Trustee – 2 Seats (1 R & 1 D)
Berne Twp. Trustee – 2 Seats (1 R & 1 D)
Bloom Twp. Trustee – 2 Seats (2 R)
Clearcreek Twp. Trustee – 2 Seats (1 R & 1 D)
Greenfield Twp. Trustee – 2 Seats (1 R & 1 D)
Hocking Twp. Trustee – 2 Seats (1 R & 1 D)
Liberty Twp. Trustee – 2 Seats (2 R)
Madison Twp. Trustee – 2 Seats (1 R & 1 D)
Pleasant Twp. Trustee – 2 Seats (2 R)
Richland Twp. Trustee – 2 Seats (2 R)
Rushcreek Twp. Trustee – 2 Seats (1 R & 1 D)
Violet Twp. Trustee – 2 Seats (2 R)
- Walnut Twp. Trustee – 2 Seats (2 R)
County Wide – 1 Seat (1 R)
- County Treasurer – 1 Seat (1 R)
V.) Maximize Fundraising
a.) Develop Finance/Fundrasing Infrastructure - ID NDC or Party members who have experience and/or interest in fundraising, assign tasks. Establish a Fundraising Committee?
Evaluate County Party’s Finances – Research party’s income and expense trends, past contributors, membership fees, fundraising events, etc.)
b.) Research Past Candidate Contributions – ID where past candidates in Fairfield County raised money (Campaign finance reports, Huffington website, etc.)
c.) Develop Fundraising Strategy – Incorporate new fundraising events with emphasis on Party Building (memberships/dues), Issues, and Candidates. Consider expanding Party membership. Incorporate State Party in efforts. Utilize technology.
And at the end...there's information about putting forth a successful P.R. effort.
So, in the end, I think this is a decent plan, if maybe bordering on over-complication. It comes down to this: recruit candidates, raise money, increase membership.
What needs to be done count by county to achieve that?
Onward!