I’ve been around the old dkos for a number of years (UID: 97330), revisions, and primary season pie fights. I’ve even had a few rec listed diaries. I’m also a longtime campaign manager and consultant for progressive Democrats in the St. Louis metropolitan area. A year ago, I decided to hang up my campaign manager hat and go back to my original passion, fighting segregation and promoting Fair Housing.
Here are some of the highlights to my political consulting career:
In 2004, I went to work for the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), knocking doors for the Kerry/Edwards ticket. This began my time working in Democratic politics. Since then, I have worked on many campaigns. 2006: Missouri Progressive Vote Jefferson County organizer, where I helped Mike Frame and Sam Como win their state house seats. I also helped gather signatures for the minimum wage increase.
2007: Campaign advisor for Galen Gondolfi's 20th Ward aldermanic run.
2008: Statewide field director for WECAN, the coalition that stopped an affirmative action ban from making the ballot. Congressional Districts 1, 2, and 3 field director for Missourians for Quality Homecare. I also ran Robin Wright-Jones' successful campaign for State Senate.
2010: Field, messaging, and mail strategy for the successful Clem Smith for State Representative campaign.
2012: Campaign manager for Michael Butler's successful State Representative campaign. 2013: Field Director then Campaign Manager for Reed for Mayor.
2014: Office Manager for #HealSTL.
2015: Field and messaging consultant for the aldermanic campaigns of Ald. Cara Spencer and Ald. Frank Williamson.
Well, I’ve accepted the Political Revolution’s challenge and have decided to take on the incumbent Democratic Ward Committeeman, who basically inherited his position (chosen successor who has faced no opposition) and hasn’t lifted a finger to actually help build the Democratic Party in our ward. It’s gonna be an uphill battle, as the incumbent is perfectly content to use the ward committee’s financial reserves to fund his campaign. How do I know? He’s already printing literature with the committee listed in the “Paid For By” tag. This might seem unethical, but it’s pretty much standard for the local “machine” Democrats. This kind of flaunting of basic “small d” democratic values is exactly why I’m running. What about myself? I’m doing it the old fashioned way: asking friends, family, and the politicians for whom I’ve worked for donations. I’ve raised about half of what the ward committee has in the bank, and I’m on pace to hit my fundraising target.
From my campaign website’s blog:
For many years, our ward’s Democratic Committee has met in secret, without attempting to reach out to our ward’s community. Because of this, it has grown apart from our community and no longer plays a significant role in the ward’s day-to-day life. For years, there have been no signs posted advertising public meetings, they don’t formally sponsor charitable events in the parks, and, worst of all, there is no regular voter registration drive, leading to the worst voter turnout rate in city. This means our ward is under-represented on city-wide issues and has very little political capital to shift resources to our area. This is unacceptable.
The Ward organization is barely existent except during major elections. Even then, they do little more than lend the ward committee’s endorsement to establishment candidates and hand out sample ballots on election day. This exclusionary culture must come to an end. No longer will endorsements be given out without all candidates given the opportunity to speak to the Ward Committee. No longer will our ward committee sit out general elections. We will organize canvasses to help drive turnout for the Democratic ticket and for candidates who represent our community’s best interest.
Our ward is a socially and economically diverse area which faces many challenges. We cannot afford to be divided into camps of elites and commoners. We need a ward committee that is open and focused on bringing our ward’s voters into the democratic process. After years of failure by our Democratic Ward Committee to organize voter registration drives, we are left with abysmal voter registration rates and most importantly, voter turnout that is often last in the city.
That’s why I’m running. You can’t have a real Democratic Party without internal democracy and community involvement. If we don’t actively strive to make the Democratic Party relevant to working people’s everyday lives, we are failing.
A commitment to democracy is a core progressive value, and one that I will bring back to our ward committee. Your voice should matter. You should be invited to participate. You should be given the information to make informed decisions on election day. At the center of all of these is the belief that democracy and citizen participation are inherently valued by progressives.
If we’re going to remake the Democratic Party into a more progressive institution (one that truly values working families and communities of color), then we’re going to have to run for party positions. We can’t just sit on the sidelines and complain. Despite the fact that I’ve always been behind the scenes, it’s time for grassroots progressives to get in the game, and I’ve thrown my hat in the ring. I certainly hope a bunch more kossacks are doing the same.
If you happen to live in St. Louis’ 20th Ward, I’d certainly appreciate your vote on Tuesday, August 2nd. If you don’t, but would still like to give a fellow kossack a hand, feel free to donate to my campaign!