Brian Melendez elected state DFL chair

[dflprincess]

happened at the Central Committee meeting today.

[goodhue]

1. Indeed

I was there and am pleased with the results as I supported Brian and Donna. Here is a concise summary from a DFL list-serve e-mail . . .

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/state-central-discuss/message/3995

Date: Sat May 21, 2005 7:54 pm
Subject: Melendez Elected DFL Chair dhill726

Brian Melendez was elected as the new Chair of the State DFL Party at the State Central Committee Business Conference held in St. Cloud at Apollo High School today.

Melendez received 182.5 votes on the 1st ballot to Josh Syrjamaki's 190.5 votes and Betty Folliard's 90 votes. Folliard withdrew before the 2nd ballot was taken and announced her support for Melendez from the podium during her withdrawal statement. The second ballot was taken but before the results were announced, Syrjamaki took the podium and announced the election of Brian Melendez as the new party chair.

In the Associate Chair race, Donna Cassutt won a 1st ballot election over Betty Folliard. Nancy Larson was nominated for associate chair, initially accepted the nomination and then withdrew her nomination after the Q & A period, expressing support for Cassutt.

[goodhue]

2. also elected were

Sue Rego as Secretary
Kerry Gauthier as Treasurer
Megan Thomas as Affirmative Action Officer

for more info on the candidates check out . . .
http://www.dfl.org/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={21469607-F45E-4DBF-94D0-3AF015229747}

[Lydia Leftcoast]

3. Great for Donna!

She was so active in the Kucinich campaign, and she's really rising in the party.

[dpbrown]

4. Minnesota made excellent choices.

Josh was said to have spent up to $40,000 of kingmaker and union money, and hired up to four staff members to work the business conference, in an unsuccessful effort to become the anti-Brian.

Fortunately for Minnesota, a majority of Minnesotans was able to see through the unsubtle subterfuge in running the corporate candidate against someone who really seems to "get" the grassroots.

Minnesota is going to be better positioned to benefit from Chairman Dean's direction to build the party at the lowest levels with Brian Melendez at the helm.

Donna Cassutt is an awesome force for change who has already shown her organizational abilities: In the Kucinich campaign, as a National Convention delegate, as Outreach for Kerry in Minnesota, as Chair of the Progressive Caucus, and as the genesis behind bringing the DNC listening sessions to Minnesota. She is going to be an effective leader at the Associate Chair position, not a shadow stand-in for the Chair.

Good work to everyone in St. Cloud today!

Dan Brown
Saint Paul, Minnesota

[wheresthemind]

6. Inside sources put Josh's totals much higher then that even...

Brian ran a real grassroots campaign and pulled a Wellstone!

[katinmn]

5. Thanks to all for giving updates on the business meeting!

Sounds like the DFL party is now headed in the right (left) direction!

I hope Ric Studer will be the new progressive caucus chair. He's been doing a good job as associate chair.

[MnFishhead]

8. Only if they get rid of Matt Pretenza

[MN ChimpH8R]

7. I've known Brian

for number of years - met him through bar association activities. He's a very smart, able, articulate and hard-working guy, a solid liberal and will, I think, do great things for the party.

Here's to you, Brian and the MN DFL :toast: