Even in on "off year" the local party works to establish the funding and infrastructure for the next election cycle. It's an opportunity to sustain connections and hear from candidates already working hard toward that next cycle. And it's a chance to enjoy an afternoon of good company, good food, and fundraising for the cause.
Courtney Cole, Democratic Party candidate in the 121st Legislative District, speaking with Johnson County office holders.
The Johnson County Democratic Club meeting on Thursday evening in the banquet room at a downtown Warrensburg eating establishment.
Over years of Democratic Party activism I've always noted a drop off in participation in party organizations after general election cycles - in particular after a presidential election. In the past if one were to bring this phenomenon up in discussion among long time party activists you would get nods of knowing agreement.
This post participation drop off doesn't appear to be the case now. I've observed that people who pitched in as first time volunteers in the Obama and Nixon field operations in our area have continued to be involved in our local Democratic Party institutions. The attendance at meetings is up when compared to the same point after previous election cycles.
The agendas of these meetings contain the usual business elements, like finances, bills, minutes, informational programming, committee reports, but the very important ground work for the next election cycle is also starting up. It's been a little over three months since the election.
Candidate recruitment (and education, if someone decides they're going to run) has begun with all due care and speed. Activists and volunteers gained valuable expertise and experience in the last election and they're eager to test their new found chops for Democratic Party candidates in the coming election cycle.
Our local meetings are now a mix of those with experience (and some longevity as well as institutional memory), newcomers, elected officials, past and potential candidates, political operatives, and the occasional cartoonist...
...Just have to add that what is the point to this? Are they concerned the Missouri Democratic Party is too leftwing, and so concerned that they have to yell out loud, "Those people are unserious leftists, but we are very serious people who people can trust?"?
The 4th Congressional District Committee met at the Pettis County Museum in Sedalia, Missouri this afternoon.
Approximately 30 individuals gathered this afternoon at the Pettis County Museum in Sedalia for a meeting of the 4th Congressional District Democratic Committee. Voting membership of the committee includes the Democratic Party county chairs and vice chairs and legislative district chairs and vice chairs within the 4th Congressional District.
The agenda for this meeting included the usual organizational business (minutes and treasurer's report) as well as a recap of the November 2008 general election from the perspective of those in attendance, planning for an August 2009 fundraising event, and strategic planning for future endeavors.
Six members of the Missouri State Democratic Committee were in attendance, some by virtue of their membership in the congressional committee, others as guests. Each shared their impression of the first state committee meeting after the election.
On the drive to Sedalia we were able to observe a product of past federal government economic stimulus spending:
The Missouri Democratic Party State Committee met in Columbia yesterday and elected Craig Hosmer its new chair (don't fret, this reorganization is done every two years).
Former state Rep. Craig Hosmer of Springfield has been named chairman of the Missouri Democratic Party.
The Springfield lawyer and current Greene County Democratic Party chairman will replace John Temporiti, who officially stepped down from the post today at a party reorganization meeting in Columbia.
Hosmer was Gov.-elect Jay Nixon's top pick for the job after Nixon won Greene County in the Nov. 4 election. Hosmer was Nixon's campaign treasurer...
[emphasis added]
On Thursday the Missouri Democratic Party issued the following release:
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Missouri Democratic Party Chairman John Temporiti announced today that he is stepping down as party chairman following a historic election cycle that saw Missouri Democrats capture five of the six statewide offices, including the governorship.
Temporiti will hand over the chairmanship at the party's reorganization meeting this Saturday in Columbia. At that time the Democratic State Committee will select a new chairman in consultation with Gov.-elect Nixon and the other Democratic elected officials to serve for the next election cycle.
"It has been an absolute honor to lead the party at such a historic time," Temporiti said. "I'm proud of the job the party has done in expanding the electoral map for Missouri Democrats. The advancements we have made over the last couple of years paid dividends in November and will continue to do so for years to come. By stepping down now, it will give the next chairman of the party the entire election cycle to implement a new agenda, and will allow me to stand ready to serve Gov.-elect Nixon's administration in any way possible."
Nixon and the other Democratic officials praised Temporiti tenure as chairman and credited his leadership for the Democratic gains in November.
"A key factor in last month's Democratic victories was the seamless working relationship our campaigns enjoyed with the Missouri Democratic Party," said Gov.-elect Jay Nixon. "It is a testament to John's leadership that Democrats have made such positive gains in Missouri. I value his work ethic and friendship and will continue to seek his participation as we work to move Missouri forward."
Temporiti is an attorney at the St. Louis law firm of Gallop, Johnson and Neuman. He previously served as Chief of Governmental Affairs to St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley. Temporiti's executive experience includes positions as President and CEO of both Mayflower Transit and Vanliner Insurance Company. From 1981-1985 Temporiti served as Chief of Staff to St. Louis City Mayor Vince Schoemehl.
Watching TV the other night, I saw my first ad for a downballot race, for Michael Gibbons for Attorney General. It was a pretty unremarkable ad (never good news for an advertiser) but one thing stood out precisely because of its absence - Gibbons didn't mention his party identification. I went to Mike's website this morning to see if I could watch the ad again and find that I was mistaken, and sure enough, there is no mention of the Republican Party. Neither is there much mention of the Republican Party on his website. In fact, I had to resort to a Google search to find any, and they were all in the "Newsroom" section.
Why not? Chris Koster announces at the very top of the website that he's a Democrat - why won't Gibbons? The Republican Party holds the legislature and the Governor's Mansion, and their own candidates won't even say what party they belong to?
Blue Girl, Clark, hotflash and I will be there covering the entires ["Preview" is our friend] show. It's a rare chance for the four of us to be in the same place at the same time. It's also an opportunity for you all (and us) to say hello to each other, visit a bit, and talk about what's what in Missouri and national politics.
The Missouri presidential primary will take place on February 5, 2008. After that, the process for selecting Missouri's delegates who will nominate the party's candidate for president in Denver at the Democratic National Convention will unfold at various levels through the beginning of May.
The first step is to be registered to vote by January 9, 2008. The second step is to actually vote in the February 5th presidential primary. If you don't do so, you can't be a delegate. Period.
...Participation in the Missouri delegate selection process is open to all voters who wish to participate as Democrats, who are residents of and registered voters in the political subdivision (ward, township, county, legislative district) which is holding the mass meeting, who are at least eighteen (18) years of age, who declare themselves to be Democrats, and are not members of any other political party. Every person attending a ward, township, legislative district, or county mass meeting shall sign a standardized declaration furnished by the Missouri State Democratic Committee that states he or she meets the qualifications as set forth in this section and indicates the address and telephone number of his or her permanent residence. They shall then receive a pledge of support form to be submitted to their caucus leader at the time caucuses are formed. This form shall also include a declaration of affiliation to the Democratic Party and confirm that they voted in the 2008 Presidential Democratic Primary...
The party will check to see if you voted in the primary - it's a public record. If you didn't vote in the presidential primary and you somehow get selected in the early part of the process you will forfeit your position.
More on the special session...
Rep Jeff Harris, speaking in Jefferson City before the Mid MO Democratic Club last night, updated the group on the "special session" called by boy Blunt. He described the machinations of Jetton to prevent changes to the bills brought before the session and asked what it meant that Blunt vetoed these things in the regular session. What kind of leadership is Blunt exhibiting when he is forced to veto bills created and passed by a Republican House and Senate? With a nod to Jon Hagler, waiting in the wings to speak to the group on behalf of Jay Nixon...he called for Matt to be resoundingly defeated next year.
As for tickets to the ball game?
Seems that Matt's brother Andy is a lobbyist for Ticket Master. The brothers pushed for the legalization of scalping.
Jeff voted against it, but it did pass in the Republican controlled legislature.
Now, scalpers can buy up huge blocks of tickets to sports events and resell them at highly inflated prices. Of course this does not affect Matt's rich friends who are able to afford season boxes and tickets...the very rich. For the rest of us, if you want to take your kid to the game for an afternoon, you will have to negotiate your entrance with the scalpers!
We have got to take Missouri back! Lets elect Democrats in 08!
