Precincts are as local as it gets and this year offers the best chance for real political junkies to become elected officials. 2010 sees all Democratic Committee members up for election. If you'd like to try your hand at running this year, Gloria Forouzan has an excellent article here (page 7) that covers all the basics of how to run for Committee.
We're talking about a race which requires little more investment than shoe leather and enthusiasm, folks.
Check it out.
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Are we turning a corner? I'm amazed by this simply because committee positions were like Steeler tickets - passed along from one family member to the next; completely closed cycle.
ReplyDeleteOne could say the same for the local trades and unions, but they have been vigorously and openly requesting newcomers for more than 10 years.
Maria,
ReplyDeletethank you for posting this. Like you, I've worked and/or volunteered on local candidate & issues campaigns. I can attest that: 1. People like to complain about politics. 2. People are uncertain about how to get involved.
Running for committee, be that R or D, costs virtually no money.
While not as important as in the past, the committees occasionally do play a significant role.
If you don't run, at least check out the candidates in your neighborhood, ask questions, vote for the best one, not the one that's just been there/done nothing for decades.
n'at..sure they're open...nobody gives a hoot about them anymore...they're like the serfs back in feudal days..you do all the grunt work and still get nothing....how many of you have walked by your committee member and scoffed at them when he or she tried to hand you literature...even in Gloria's comment she makes it clear that the position is "not as important as in the past."So if ya wanna run,go ahead,but please don't think you're gonna make a difference..pretty soon you'll be the one everyone ignores as they walk in to vote!!
ReplyDeleterich10e...getting involved in the committee is a way of meeting people, networking, learning the process, being informed of what is going on and helping to shape things.
ReplyDeleteYou sure aren't going to make a difference by standing on the sidelines but you may make a difference by finding like minded people and working toward something. These committees need an influx of new people not the same tired politics of the past.
I question my involvement in the committees when I see the machine in operation but I'm going to continue to stick with it and work to influence people to make the committee better.
Anyone else think that's a bad thing? Anyone else want to help?
BLUE #2
ReplyDeleteI trace my family connection to the committee system back 70 years of ward chairs and committee members...I know when the chair and the committee mattered....there isn't a remnant of that system still out there...ya wanna make a change ,open up our primaries,let independents vote in them, increase participation through mail in ballots, have elections on weekends... being an ideologue won't accomplish any thing
Sorry to crash the party, but there are good ways of participating in local politics outside the two corporate parties.
ReplyDeleteCan I post this link from Howie Hawkins, a founder of the Green Party?
http://www.opednews.com/articles/2010-Third-Party-Time-for-by-Howie-Hawkins-100101-972.html
local green party:
http://gpoac.org
peace out!
I'm in favor of open primaries. I don't like the nostalgia and the wish to return to the machine days of the committee.
ReplyDeleteYou are absolutely right, the committee doesn't wield the power and usefulness that it used to. Great! Let's get enough new people in it to morph it into something...dare I say...progressive.
There's validity in these here posts. I believe that committees were formed to get citizens' input/feedback on issues of concern. As the D cmte. currently functions, it doesn't work that way.
ReplyDeleteI've owned my home in Lawrenceville for 10 years and have voted in every election, in the last 7 years I have been a registered D (prior to D, I was an Indie who got sick of never being able to vote). I have NEVER, not ONCE, been contacted by either of my cmte people.
Back in 2003 someone pointed out my cmte man to me & I went up to him, (I was smiling & held out my hand to shake his & introduce myself), he RAN away from me. I have not yet even met, let alone spoken with either him or his female counterpart.
There's lots of big work to take on, transforming our parties' committees into what they're supposed to be is a place to start. This goes for Rs, disgusted with what their party has become, as well as for the Ds, who are similarly disgusted.
The fastest growing party choice for Pennsylvanians: Independent.
So, yeah, throw me in with the Open Primary folks.
And Greens, I think that you should focus your energies & resources into winning one race. Winning is sexy. Winning gets you cred & offers you a platform from which to launch other good candidates. It makes it easier to bring in the green too.
By the way, whether you love or hate the article, it'd be nice if you'd email your thoughts to the Bulletin editor, I'm sure she, like other editors, appreciates knowing people are reading. FYI - I wrote this and 2 other articles for the Bulletin as a volunteer.
ReplyDeletePaula Martinac:
bulletin@bloomfield-garfield.org
The 19th Ward needs to get some new Committee members who can swing the Chairmanship vote to someone other than Pete Wagner. He is very vulnerable if people against him run and win.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteUrgh, I can't stand open primaries. If you're not a member of my party, you have no business in selecting my party's candidates.
ReplyDelete