First let me thank the Executive Board for their vision in creating the position of Field Organizer for the Washington County Democrats and for giving me the opportunity to fill the position. I want to especially thank our Chair, Lupita Maurer, and our Co-Chair, Steve Packer, whose guidance, insights and support sustained me throughout the campaign. I also need to acknowledge our army of volunteers, our officers, PCPs and NLs, the regular office staff, and walk-ins whose hard work helped build our victories, and, in races where we fell short, helped build a strong foundation for future victories.
It’s been a great ride, and I’d do it again in a heartbeat. I’ve enjoyed being Field Organizer so much, in fact, that I’ve submitted my name for nomination to the position of Vice Chair of the Democratic Party of Washington County, because I feel that I can best continue the work of expanding and strengthening our party as Vice Chair. The Vice Chair has, on paper, the easiest duty of all of our officers, aside from filling in for the Chair, the only thing the Vice-Chair is tasked to do is to schedule speakers for the monthly Central Committee meetings. If I am elected, I will happily support our Chair and look forward to bringing exciting, entertaining and, hopefully, challenging speakers to our meetings. But I think I can do more.
I’m excited by our upcoming strategic planning process, in which we can take what we have learned in the campaign that has just ended and put it to use in the future. I’d like to build on our network of HDLs, PCPs and Neighborhood Leaders, and, together with the good work of the Training, Organization and Office Committees, train and support these volunteers so they will be prepared for the 2010 campaign. One of the most important resources we have, the one that sustains all of our activities, is our office, and as your Vice Chair I would work with the Office Committee to plan year-round activities that will utilize our office as a public space, a gathering place, an important part of civic life in our community. I’d also like to explore the possibility of a satellite office in HD 29 or 30 to better reach our base in Hillsboro, Cornelius and Forest Grove.
And, as Vice Chair I will work to forge alliances with community groups and leaders that are currently underrepresented in the WashCo Dems. Our greatest strength is our diversity, and our future success will hinge on our ability to make our tent as big as possible.
It’s axiomatic in politics that past performance is not predictive of future success. If you elect me as your Vice Chair, I promise I will roll up my sleeves and build our future victories.