Dannie Montgomery running for NCDP Chair

Correction: This post was updated to correct an inaccuracy concerning Montgomery's 2009 bid for Chair, not first vice chair as previously mentioned.

Dannie Montgomery has joined the race seeking to become the next Chair of the North Carolina Democratic Party.  You may remember Dannie Montgomery. She was the First Vice Chair of the state party for six years, four of those alongside former party chair Jerry Meek but that ended in 2009.

Montgomery and Meek had a falling-out at some point and tension was clear between them when Meek's would neither back nor endorse Montgomery in her 2009 bid for chair. Instead, Meek backed David Young. We haven't heard much from Montgomery since then but that changed yesterday when Montgomery emailed her campaign announcement to hundreds of "executive (party) members" seeking their support and votes.

"I am passiionate (sic) about the Democratic Party and your support in my campaign will be priceless to the state of North Carolina. My greatest strength lie in my blending of leadership styles that incorporate what are seen as traditionally male and female traits: vigor, hard work, kindness, rigorous discipline, integrity, creativity, inspiration, and much more." Montgomery adds, "I am available for a meeting, forum, or conversation at your convenience and look forward to discussing the future of the North Carolina Demoratic Party and your endorsement. We took a "shulacking" in the 2010 election and 2012 will not be a repeat performance."
- Dannie Montgomery

The Anson County democrat and teacher listed her numerous positions served in various democratic party   ranks (county chair, 1999-2005, 8th congressional district chair in 2004, lost a run-off election for county commissioner, Larry Kissell campaign team member, etc.) and her awards (3x teacher of the year at her school). No real specifics on how she'll engage or activate the party's base.

Montgomery's pitch did point out the failures of the mid-term elections as belonging to the current state party administration. "We have a problem.  You and I are the solution. The NC General Assembly is in Republican hands after a century of Democratic leadership and the attacks have already begun. This takes place at a time when we have a Democratic Governor and a Democratic President leading our state and country. Now is the time to address the challenges of the 2010 elections with new leadership, vision, skill, and renewed determination to place NC government back in the hands of the people who have a proven record of success for the people of North Carolina."

Unfortunately, Montgomery's candidacy could cause more harm than good.  By running as a late-entry and third option, she could be an election spoiler and hand her "frenemy" and nemesis Meek's candidate a narrow victory. Then again, the backlash against Meek is palpable inside the party. People are fed up with his egotism that he actually controls the party.

Still, politically savvy insiders know Montgomery has plopped herself into a strategic and favorable position. By entering the race now, Montgomery knows that should she come in third place (and she will), she is perfectly poised to be courted, caucused and a**-kissed by her fellow chair candidates for her endorsement before the next voting round.  If Montgomery's as smart as we think she is, she'll plan to drop out early and throw her support (and her supporters' votes) to David Parker, the stronger leader of the two candidates.
And wouldn't that be a cold, hard slap in the face to Meek?

Montgomery should consider dropping out of the chair race and instead run for her old job against Stella Adams who's record of success is anemic at best.  Better yet, Montgomery might want to challenge second vice chair Delmas Parker for his seat. Either way, Danny Montgomery is going to impact this party election one way or another.

Lets hope it's for the better.

OMG. There's Nerve, there's Gall and then there's Stella Adams.

Stella Adams with Gov. Bev Perdue, 2010

Stella Adams,  the first-vice chair of the North Carolina Democratic Party, wants your vote again after a lackluster term as a party officer while a Republican slaughter of democratic candidates took place in the 2010 mid-term elections.  Adams, first elected in January 2009 along with party chair David Young (both with the full support of former chair Jerry Meek), promised to keep the presidential momentum going. Well, that didn't happen. 

"I was devastated by our losses in November and after a great deal of self-reflection I believe that there are critical issues facing our Party moving forward and I commit to help pick up the pieces and rebuild from our True Party base and constituencies," Adams states in her email plea to party voters.

"I hope I have earned the support of those who are better acquainted with my record," said Adams in her email announcement.  Record? What record? 

Adams claim she's done plenty for the party using social media by -- get this -- tweeting 700 NC democrats regularly. The same ones who can vote for her to retain her office. The rest of us didn't hear diddley squat from her. Adam's idea of working for candidates? She states she "promoted them through (her) Facebook page." Uhm. Yeah. Do you believe this?

Adams claimed she "deciminated" party positions. I have no idea what that means. Decimated them? Disseminated, maybe? I don't think she knows either.  Sorry, Stella, but your track record of "protecting the environment" and "defending the weak" and "speaking truth to power" did nothing to get out the vote in 2010 or rake in the contributions.

Still riding the Obama Campaign coat tails, the sly Adams planted a picture of Obama in her email and mentions how many young people and African Americans joined the Democratic party before admitting "we failed to keep them active and engaged." Nowhere does she mention how she'll fix this or get these voters engaged.  Still, if we re-elect her, Adams wrote, "I promise to re-double my efforts to involve and engage these voters in PARTY activities."

I guess that means twice as many tweets. 

Stella Adams, Back in the Day.

Stella Adams just doesn't get it. The problem is we need party leaders who know how to get out the vote and bring in the money.  Instead, Adams is all about "platforms" and "core constituencies" and other party buzz-speak that doesn't mean a damn thing while Republicans are taking the oath to office that Democrats once held.  "I am willing to stand firm," says Adams. 

Willing to?  No, thanks!

That sly ole Adams won't even use a current photo in her pitch for re-election votes. This glamor shot Adams included in her email is a few years old. Very different from the picture shown at the top of this blog, taken from Adams' own Facebook album this past year. 

Sometimes it's the little things that tell you as much about a person as the big things.