Gwendolyn Wilkins enters NCDP party race

Gwen Wilkins has announced she will run for First Vice Chair of the North Carolina Democratic Party. Wilkins stated her passions for insuring educational and economic opportunities for Americans are the basis for her efforts to elect Democrats to office according to Wilkins' candidacy announcement, dated January 18th.

Wilkins joins June Mabry in challenging incumbent Stella Adams at the State Executive Committee meeting in Raleigh on January 29th to elect five state party officers for the 2001-2013 term.

Both Wilkins and Mabry have served as precinct chairs, county chairs and congressional district chairs.  Wilkins chairs the more democratic-leaning District 1 while Mabry chairs District 8 that worked to defeat Republican, five-term incumbent Robin Hayes and elect Democrat Larry Kissell. Kissell was re-elected in 2010.

While we have endorsed June Mabry for First Vice Chair, we would like to see Wilkins join her on this executive council. For that reason we encourage readers to contact Wilkins directly and urge her to run against Delmas Parker for Second Vice Chair instead.  Mabry has the best odds of defeating Adams in a two-person race. Wilkins' entry all but guarantees Adams a second term if the race continues with three women candidates.

However, if Wilkins is willing, she can easily defeat Delmas Parker, 74, who is seeking his fourth term as Second Vice Chair and running unopposed again.  Should Wilkins enter the second vice chair race, Delmas may withdraw rather than lose to her.

A Wilkins' win over Delmas Parker would insure at least two women will be seated on the state executive council as there are no female candidates running for any other office than First Vice Chair.

To encourage Gwen Wilkins to enter the race against Delmas Parker and support gender balance at the highest level of our party, contact her here:

• party email address:  firstcongdist@yahoo.com
• personal email address: gweniepooh13@msn.com 
• phone 252-883-4184

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.

Who should be the next NCDP Party Chair?

Every other year, a handful of the same old faces resurface to lay claim to the six officers (electable) seats of the North Carolina Democratic Party.

This year is not all that different.

Running for Party Chair are two well-liked democrats:

• David Parker, a Democratic National Committee member and NC super delegate 
• Bill Faison, a NC House legislator

Insiders know David Parker is the front runner since his announcement on the heels of current NCDP chair David Young's announcement not to seek re-election.  Young knew better than to run for another term after the devastating losses Democrats suffered statewide on Young's watch during the mid-term 2010 elections and the county elections.  David Parker has the support of the majority of congressional district party chairs due to the tax-check-off debacle squabble over sharing funding that David Young tried to prevent.

Insiders know who's actually responsible for picking one of the worst state party boards in the NC History.  David Young presided over the democratic party after being hand-picked by the out-going NCDP chair Jerry Meek.  Was Meek seeking to prop up a weaker chair to make himself look good?  All we know is thanks to Jerry Meek, the NCDP handed the NC Legislature over to the Republican party, giving the Republicans the upper-hand and voting majority for the FIRST TIME in 100 years!

Bill Faison seems to be a nice guy. Like David Parker, he's an attorney.  Both have held elected office. But there are differences.  Faison, recently elected to a fourth 2-year term to the NC House, has absolutely no experience running a political party which is a very different animal compared to running a campaign 1/100th in size of the party's responsibilities. Democrats have to ask themselves if Faison is going to have the time to continue running his law firm, serving in the legislature and deal with a nasty divorce that's been dragging on for nearly 2 years.

According to Lindy Creech, Faison's wife, Faison has stuck her with feeding and tending the 30 horses he bred and  half the tax bill on the family residences. In September 2010, Mrs Faison filed a post-separation document with the Orange County courts seeking recourse to his "intentional infliction of emotional distress." Until recently, the 55-year old homemaker and mother of his six kids handled Faison's law firm advertising, leaving her with no visible income since their split. In his defense, Faison issued a press release two months ago claiming his soon-to-be ex-wife believed him to be Bill Gates, not Bill Faison. Nice. Real nice.

Why would a sitting legislator want to run the state democratic party? It's known Faison's district will evaporate under the new redistricting plans Republicans are drafting.  This leaves Faison out of office and irrelevant. Running the state party would give him leverage and a way to maintain influence inside the party once he loses his legislative position. Another democrat seeking party office to stay in elected office? He wouldn't be the first one or the last to pull this sad approach. 

Bottomline, the NC GOP is quietly laying in wait for the NC Democrats to screw up again. January 29, 2011 is D-Day for Democrats. That's when State Executive Committee members, super delegates and elected officials will converge in Raleigh to vote for the next leader of the NC Democratic Party. After a spate of negative press and ugly ethics accusations, Democrats need a leader who won't make headlines for all the wrong reasons.

Democrats, wake up and smell the coffee! No more intraparty conflicts. We can't afford to stroke egos while voters elect republicans. Make your vote count on January 29th and vote for David Parker for NC Democratic Party Chair.

As long as Jerry Meek and his wife, Rep. Tricia Cotham, try to control the NC Democratic Party, the Republicans are going to control NC.