Frank Seddio resigned as the Democratic Party Chair on January 15th, urging the district leaders to select Rodneyse Bichotte, who was subsequently voted in as the new chair.
In this same meeting, three new rules were adopted.
1) County committee officers are no longer allowed to vote in the executive committee. This had been a path of corruption during the Vito days, before Seddio. Though not practiced during Seddio's tenure, it was only made an official rule at his departure.
2) Only one meeting per year is mandatory. Reform voices in the party had pushed for two voices to help improve transparency, accountability, and communication. For the last few years there were two. But I can't say that any of these goals were met by having the extra meeting. Leadership found ways to circumvent participation and challenges in these meetings, per the rules. See number 3. Honestly, the meetings feel mostly like a sham.
3) Resolutions can no longer compel action. This was one method where a lowly county member such as myself could be heard and where the voting of such lowly members can compel action of the committee. Back in September this exact scenario played out, led by NKD, forcing the finance committee to convene for audit purposes. I don't know if that actually happened. I do know that as of last month, the Kings County Democratic Committee only had about $40,000 in the bank and more than $200,000 in debt, including $50,000 owed to Frank Seddio.
Rule changes 2 and 3 above seem like an effort to limit inclusion which motivates me to continue my role as county committee member. I'll show up, keep us engaged, do what I can to help bring about a more engaged Democratic party in Brooklyn.
This month I will begin petitioning again to get my name on the ballot so that I can retain this volunteer role, filling one of four spots representing my electoral district, AD52/ED32. I will be carrying other like-minded committee candidate names on my petition forms, collecting signatures for them as well.
Malynda Rascoe has been my co-committee member this last term and we regularly attend the meetings together. I entrust her with my proxy when I cannot attend and trust her judgement. She's been a Boerum Hill resident for over 5 years now.
Susannah Scherzer and her son Max Scherzer moved to Brooklyn just after Max was born nearly three decades ago. Susannah has been active in our community for years. Max is currently pursuing his Masters of Policy Administration at Columbia University. They hope to fill the remaining two member spots, ensuring our Electoral District has full representation at County Committee.
Jesse Pierce is running for District Leader of AD52 and has the inclusive, community centered intentions that the executive committee of KCDC desperately needs. I add value by being a body and showing up, being a voice, and casting my single vote when I'm allowed. Having Jesse as one of our Assembly District Leaders (we have two) would give our reform-minded movement a super charge.
Saturday, March 14, 2020
The Proxy Problem
Amazingly, the hyper local Democratic County Committee has the potential to get even more local. Each Assembly District can form their own committee, organized in a similar format, which AD 52 did in the past year. We met in early 2019 to establish the district committee, electing a Chair and Secretary, but foregoing electing other standard officers, filling any standing committees or create new ones. The establishment of our District Committee was just a formality two accomplish two main points.
It is within the power of the party's county committee to appoint replacements of elected official, including state representatives that represent districts within the county. This actually happened a couple times in 2018. Elected officials who resigned were replaced by individuals chosen not by election or even by committee. The choice ultimately was made by the Democratic county chair. By establishing our AD Committee, the power transfers to us... or at least to those with the most proxies.
Filling seats in the county committee for our Assembly District is the second thing we accomplished that evening in January. If seats are vacant and people are nominated to fill them, we have the ability to simply appoint people to those seats without an election or signatures to get onto the ballot. Again, when I say we, I mean those with the most proxies.
Hold enough proxies, votes of members absent during a committee meeting, and you can begin to steer the direction of the committee and party unilaterally. I've described how the Democratic County Chair did this at my first County Committee meeting. Despite the hundreds of opposition votes in the room, Frank Seddio held enough proxy votes to tip the scale in his favor.
I saw the same happen in our district meeting, where one district leader held enough proxy votes to outnumber those who showed up. It was disheartening.
The proxies themselves are not the problem. Nor are those people who wield them. I appreciate that people live busy lives and making time for this volunteer gig is not the easiest. Being allowed to entrust another with you vote is a valuable option.
But the proxy becomes a power consolidating tool due to lack of engagement. If we the people don't care enough to show up, then we get no say in the decision making. So, I'll continue to show up.
It is within the power of the party's county committee to appoint replacements of elected official, including state representatives that represent districts within the county. This actually happened a couple times in 2018. Elected officials who resigned were replaced by individuals chosen not by election or even by committee. The choice ultimately was made by the Democratic county chair. By establishing our AD Committee, the power transfers to us... or at least to those with the most proxies.
Filling seats in the county committee for our Assembly District is the second thing we accomplished that evening in January. If seats are vacant and people are nominated to fill them, we have the ability to simply appoint people to those seats without an election or signatures to get onto the ballot. Again, when I say we, I mean those with the most proxies.
Hold enough proxies, votes of members absent during a committee meeting, and you can begin to steer the direction of the committee and party unilaterally. I've described how the Democratic County Chair did this at my first County Committee meeting. Despite the hundreds of opposition votes in the room, Frank Seddio held enough proxy votes to tip the scale in his favor.
I saw the same happen in our district meeting, where one district leader held enough proxy votes to outnumber those who showed up. It was disheartening.
The proxies themselves are not the problem. Nor are those people who wield them. I appreciate that people live busy lives and making time for this volunteer gig is not the easiest. Being allowed to entrust another with you vote is a valuable option.
But the proxy becomes a power consolidating tool due to lack of engagement. If we the people don't care enough to show up, then we get no say in the decision making. So, I'll continue to show up.
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