Even though I believe in the Democratic
Party as the true “small d” governing party, I can see in San Francisco that a
lot of Republican Party corporate values have bled into the Democratic
Party. One would expect a more robust
grassroots party in San Francisco, not a blander version of the Republican
brand. I do believe that both parties need to work together and compromise on
legislation, but that a belief in government as a force of good should be the
driver of our local decisions. Our local
Democratic Party needs to undergo what is called “values clarification” for it
to attract new voters, rather than default those new voters to Decline to State
status.
Below is how I believe I would improve
the county central committee:
Voter Outreach:
(1) Instead of conducting the monthly
meetings in the state office building, the meetings should rotate to the eleven
supervisorial districts. This would make
it easier for folks in the districts to attend a meeting, get to know the SF
DCCC and its role in the Democratic Party, focus on an issue of particular
concern to that district, and hold both the supervisor and the SF DCCC
accountable to that district.
(2) Expand the voting membership to include
two 16 to 18 year old pre-registered Democrats to the SF DCCC, and have
mentorship provided by the Sue Bierman Memorial Internship Program. This would provide substantive power to
youth, and would provide the visibility to the schools in pre-registering
teenagers as Democrats.
Appointment Process:
There should be
a sunshine policy regarding notification of open SF DCCC seats. These openings should be chosen by an
election of the SF DCCC members, and not merely by appointment by the chair,
and not by acclamation, but instead by the potential candidates presenting
their qualifications to the full SF DCCC.
There should be a requirement that at least three candidates are part of
the pool, before a replacement is voted upon.
This transparency will reduce the tendency to appoint one’s ideology,
rather than one’s “fit” and contribution to the committee.