What would you think of a County Chair

[JNelson6563]

who told staffers of a US Senator "You are not allowed to call anyone in this county without first calling me."?

What would you think of a Co. Chair who allowed officers of the county party announce at a board meeting that the party recommends people do not attend a fundraiser for US Senator because they didn't feel the Co. Chair was informed soon enough? (Co. Chair knew 3 wks in advance of event)

Part of the problem is we have lunatics with serious issues in local leadership positions. Curious on the views of DUers on this.

Julie

P.S. On edit, please share any horror stories you may have from your county. Ewagner's post made me think of that.

[tanyev]

1. Sounds like Napoleon Syndrome.

[William769]

2. Not a good idea

I am smart enough to know who to listen to & who not to listen to. If someone calls me & I don't want to talk to them I just say goodbye. What little freedoms I have left, I'm holding on to dearly!

[ewagner]

3. Solution:

Elect Julie for County Chair

Four years ago we had a similar situation...we got a whole new board out of it and our membership has increased 3X....

[JNelson6563]

4. There will be new leadership come November

I won't be chair but thanks for the vote. The challenge will be keeping this lunatic restrained until then. Oy.

Julie

[ewagner]

7. A technique to try

We had to use this here recently.

In the County Constitution/Charter, there must be provisions to amend it. Use them to handcuff the idiots...just make sure you've got the votes. We had to stop a "common practice" which was detrimental to the party. Worked like a charm.

[JNelson6563]

10. Precinct delegates

are who elect the officers. They'll be in place before board elections. The aforementioned chair has claimed she will not seek another term and I believe her but will have the votes anyway. Fortunately this chair travels a lot and these aides will call me then but still, what a nightmare she is! Wondered what DUers thought of this and if anyone else had experienced such lunacy.

Julie

[NoPasaran]

5. Sounds like a candidate for EX-chair

We're lucky to have a very good chair in my county.

[sybylla]

6. The Democratic Party is supposed to operate on an inverse triangle

Power comes from the people. The county officers are to act on the will of the membership, not the other way around. I would look to build a concensus to oppose this knuckledragger and bring it up at a meeting when the discussion is opened to "other business."

If you play your cards right and find enough people who agree, you should at least be able to shame the chair into better behavior until election time.

And it wouldn't hurt to ask a friendly board member (or not so friendly if necessary) for a copy of your county party constitution, just so you are clear about what can be done and by whom.

We had one county party in Wisconsin that the state party was asked to intercede with a few years ago. The chair only wanted to discuss one issue during meetings and it was an issue that went against the platform of the Dem party. He chased nearly all the members away and somehow held onto the chairmanship. Essentially, the state party shut the county party down to let things settle and then a year later, recruited a few good activists to rebuild it. I doubt your problem is at that stage yet. I'm only saying this so that you realize even in a worse-case scenario, something can be done.

Keep your chin up and fight the good fight. The county party does not belong to the chair. It is not a machine that only supports a few poodle candidates, it is a tool to support all worthy candidates. You're on the right side in this and you will win.

[iamthebandfanman]

8. id call him

and say
HAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHA
MAN I LOVED THAT JOKE THAT YOU TOLD ABOUT TELLING YOU FIRST!
YOU KILL ME MAN!
UR TO MUCH!
THANKS FOR THE LAUGH!

followed by a hang up or walk away.

[JNelson6563]

9. Good one.

Funny response, I should try it. :-)

Actually the aide told me that in confidence, but your idea is fun.

Julie