Cal Cunningham Decides Against Lt. Gov. Bid

Former NC legislator Cal Cunningham issued a statement he has decided against running for Lieutenant Governor according to reports on Monday.

Testing the waters before the North Carolina Democratic Party's meeting in Greensboro Saturday Cunningham teased Democrats about a possible bid.  Sources say the chilly reception by the hundreds of State Executive Committee members may have more to do with Cunningham declining to run than the short campaign window he blames. 

"Elizabeth and I did not plan for a campaign this year," Cunningham said in a statement. "After careful reflection, I've concluded we cannot balance our existing professional, financial and family commitments with the full time demands of a statewide campaign at this late hour.  The only responsible decision under present circumstances is not to run.

With the 2010 U.S. Senate campaign still fresh in their minds, many democrats blame Cunningham for re-electing Republican U.S. Senator Richard Burr by forcing an expensive run-off primary campaign against the party's clear front runner Elaine Marshall, NC Secretary of State.  Marshall had an overwhelming lead in the primary election but not enough to win the seat outright.  Relative newbie Cunningham forced a primary run-off which he lost by a wide margin -- but not before depleting much of Marshall's campaign war chest. The primary run-off cost Marshall much needed campaign money to effectively run against the well-heeled Burr who spent a small fortune on television ads. 

The vastly under-experienced and overly-ambitious Cunningham is a sore reminder to many democratic women (at least those who were at the SEC meeting) that just being a white, male candidate often trumps more qualified female candidates for party support and promotion.

"Undeniably, Cunningham is camera-friendly (read: pretty) but his" Dan Quailesque qualities can't overcome Cunningham's lack of political experience and depth. Democrats need only to recall John Edwards' quick jump from a one-term senator to vice-presidential nominee to realize our party leaders need to think beyond the visual -- the stereotypical camera-ready, male politician with perfect hair. Pretty, alone, doesn't get it done. (Before you gripe about the Edwards comparison, remember no one knew then about Edwards mistress problems. Edwards lost his bid due to his shallow, political experience).

If the NCDP expects to retain the Governor and Lieutenant Governor offices, it needs to recognize there is much larger pool of available talent (read: women).  If the party chooses to only run female candidates when there are no suitable male candidates to promote, it only has itself to blame.  And the party shouldn't be surprised to find the majority of its own base (yes, women) isn't all that motivated to vote if they're bored or embarrassed by their own party's nominees.

NEW! 2012 Statewide Candidates Page Debuts

Democratic candidates seeking statewide office in North Carolina can now link their websites and announcements to NCDPpolitics.  "Who's Running: 2012 Candidates" makes its debut today on this site and all candidates are listed who've announced their intentions to seek a statewide office.

Both Democrats and Republicans are listed by office and links are provided to news announcements and candidates campaign websites were available.

Stay tuned for new candidate announcements as they become available.  To add any statewide candidate information to our website, please send information to ncdpinsider@gmail.com.

NCDP Approves Auxiliary Status to LGBT Democrats

It's official.  Over the weekend, the North Carolina Democratic Party approved a new state auxiliary organization into its ranks based solely on sexual orientation.  The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered Democrats of NC (LGBTDemocratsNC) received overwhelming approval of its bylaws during the NCDP's State Executive Committee meeting in Greensboro on Saturday, January 28th.

Several hundred democrats attended the first 2012 SEC meeting to review a packed agenda that included items such as the selection process for the national convention, gubernatorial candidate announcements and recognition of county parties that had met organizing and sustaining fund goals.  However, no agenda item received such an enthusiastic reception and overwhelmingly supportive reaction as the LGBT charter for state auxiliary status.  Unlike Republicans, Democrats view discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation as a civil rights matter. 

The SEC party officers unanimously voted to approve both the LGBT Democrats NC charter and a resolution opposing the anti-marriage, anti-family Amendment One which will appear on the May 8th primary ballot. Amendment One seeks to oppose same-sex marriages by defining marriage in the NC state constitution as being between one man and one woman.

LGBT Democrats of North Carolina auxiliary status grants this newest organization both party credentials and the ability to influence and officially support democratic candidates like fellow statewide party auxiliaries that include College Democrats, Young Democrats (ages 21-35); Senior Democrats (ages 53+), Democratic Women, Hispanic American Democrats, The African American Caucus and Teen Democrats.

According to the LGBT Democrats of North Carolina's website, the state newest auxiliary already has officers in each of the 13 Congressional districts. 

NCDP Job Opening: Senate Caucus Director

In this critical election year, the North Carolina Democratic Party needs to fill a key staff position by February 1st.  North Carolina Democratic Party's NC Senate Caucus director Krista Anderson is leaving in early February to join President Barack Obama's re-election campaign in NC according to an article in the News & Observer.

Interested applicants can find the NC Senate Caucus position's duties and experience requirements listed in the job posting on DemocraticGain.org.  The state party wants to fill the position quickly listing Feb. 1st as the hire date. The ad expires Feb. 24th.  According to its news section, the NC Senate Caucus website hasn't been updated since October 2011.

Anderson was hired as the NCDP's political director in 2006, a position she held for nearly two years before becoming the state party's Senate Caucus director.  While employed as the NCDP political director, Anderson also worked as campaign manager of Albert Pollard's 2007 Senate campaign and Bill Barlow's 2005 House of Delegates campaign.

In her new job, Anderson will handle the "business end of the (Obama) campaign, managing logistics, payroll and satellite offices."

Read more here: http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/anderson_joining_obama_campaign#storylink=cpy

NCDP House Caucus Director Leaving

Leslie Martes, House Caucus Director at the North Carolina Democratic Party, is moving on to take a position in Washington DC where she will be working for Womens Voices, Women Vote. But before Martes, 31, departs she's seeking her own replacement who will need to start by May 16th according to the job posting.

If you or someone you know is interested in applying for the position, check out the job description below as posted on DemocraticGain's website on April 20th. Martes is currently accepting resumes and her contact information is listed below. 

Caucus Director

Organization:	NC House Democratic Caucus
Date Posted:	4/20/2011
Listing Expires:	5/20/2011
Date Needed:	5/16/2011
City:	Raleigh
Location:	North Carolina
Country:	United States
Primary Category:	Executive Director
Type of Position:	Full-Time
Education Requirement:	Bachelor's
Experience Requirement:	5 - 10 Years

Description & Details
The North Carolina House Democratic Caucus will be accepting resumes for House Caucus Director now through Monday, May 2nd 2011.

The House Caucus Director manages the caucus program including staff, budget, fundraising, polling, research, and direct voter contact. Additionally, the Director advises House members on campaign strategy, fundraising, policy issues, and incumbent protection.

Previous legislative campaign or caucus experience preferred.

How to Apply / Contact
Please submit your resume to: North Carolina House Democratic Caucus, Attention: Leslie Martes, 220 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, NC 27603. Lmartes@ncdp.org

Candidates Seeking NC Super Delegate Vacancy

(Article updated May 2, 2011)

The following North Carolina Democrats have announced their intention to run for the Super Delegate position recently vacated by David Parker upon his election as North Carolina Democratic Party State Chair on January 29, 2011. Name are added to the list in the order they are received.

Super Delegates are elected by the State Executive Committee. The next SEC meeting has yet to be scheduled but it is anticipated to be held by late-April 2011. An interim super delegate may be appointed to fill this vacancy until the SEC can hold the election. To learn more about the election process, please see Section 7.0 starting on page 28 of the North Carolina Plan of Organization located here.

If you intend to run for the position, please send us an email stating your intentions and include your name and county information.

List Updated 4/30/11
1. Carla Cunningham, Mecklenburg County
2. Judy Gilbert, Lincoln County
3. Beth Ostgaard, McDowell County
4. John Verdejo, Wake County
5. Joel Ford, Mecklenburg County
6. Kevin Smith, Wake County
7. Mike Schaul, Wake County
8. Paul A. Lowe, Jr.,  Forsythe County
9. Jake Quinn, Buncombe County
10. John Brooks, Wake County
11. Randy Voller, Chatham County
12. Perry Parks, Richmond County
13. T.E. Austin, Durham County

Dropped Out from SD election:
1. Stella Adams, Durham County
2. Dr. Floyd W. Johnson, Jr., Cumberland County
3. Diana Hill, New Hanover County
4. Jim Morgan, New Hanover County
5. Renee Price, Orange County

NC's Newest Super Delegate: John Verdejo

John Verdejo

Congratulations to John Verdejo of Wake County on his election today as the North Carolina Democratic Party's newest Super Delegate.  Verdejo won the highly-coveted seat on the Democratic National Committee filling the vacancy left by David Parker after his election as NCDP State Chair  in January.

Thirteen candidates spoke to a crowd in Raleigh of nearly 500 State Executive Committee from across all 100 counties.  The diverse pool of four women (3 white, 1 black) and nine men (six white, three black) presented 2-minute speeches to the enthusiastic crowd.

The first round of voting narrowed the field from 13 to the 5 top vote-getters. The second round votes winnowed the list down to two finalists. Verdejo won easily after third-round vote results in Fourth District Chair T.E. Austin of Durham trailed with 199 votes to Verdejo's 296 votes.

Verdejo's victory is bittersweet. A relative newcomer by his own admission to both state and Democratic Party politics, Verdejo's party involvement only just began in 2008. Over those three short years, Verdejo appears to have collected officer titles like a trick-or-treater collects candy:

• 2008: Democratic National Convention - NC Delegate
• 2009: State Executive Committee member (2009-Present)
• 2009: NC Young Democrats - Finance Chair
• 2009: Young Democrats of America - Judicial Council Vice Chair and Budget Committee member and Finance Director-Southeast Region (2009-2011)
• 2010: Hispanic American Democrats of North Carolina - 2nd Vice Chair
• 2010: Wake County Young Democrats - Vice President (1 yr)
• 2011: Wake County Democratic Party - 3rd Vice Chair (elected in April)
• 2011: Wake County Young Democrats - President (elected in April)

Still, Verdejo's brief service to the party certainly didn't stop him from leapfrogging over more deserving candidates with decades of service working to electing Democrats. So how did Verdejo win? Three factors.

Home Turf Advantage
Holding the meeting in Wake County certainly guaranteed greater number of Wake SEC members would be on hand to vote for a Wake County DNC candidate. Those DNC candidates from counties on the opposite side of the state were greatly disadvantaged. The further away the meeting's location, the fewer SEC members will attend it.  Added expenses such as hotel accommodations, gasoline and meals also affect attendance for those who live the furthest away.

Big County Advantage
There's no denying four of the five finalists to make it to the second round of voting come from the two largest counties (Wake, Mecklenburg). Candidates from small counties rarely stand a chance of winning party elections since the larger the county's population, the larger the number of representatives such as SEC members. And SEC members equal SEC votes.

For example, Wake County has 75 SEC members or 75 votes; Mecklenburg has 65 SEC members/votes whereas small counties have little say or sway:  Avery (1 SEC vote), Ashe (2 SEC votes), Person (3 SEC votes), Brunswick and Iredell (8 SEC votes each), Pitt (15 SEC votes). Candidates from smaller counties are highly disadvantaged and simply can't compete effectively against candidates from big counties.

En-titled
How many positions or offices can one person hold simultaneously and still be effective? Verdejo's short tenure as an active democrat is jam-packed with multiple duties across multiple positions, many held simultaneously.  Consolidating power, influence and decision-making roles within a small coterie of ambitious individuals eager to grab and retain power for the long haul only undermines the party's strength and abilities.  The negative effects become glaringly apparent like congenital defects within inbred families.

Some may say this is the nature of politics but is this an adequate and acceptable answer? Our party's internal election process is flawed. As Democrats, we can do better. If we don't fix the process, we'll continue to see the same faces in the same positions year after year - a recipe for stagnation.

A list of all DNC candidates and their bios can be found here on the state party's website. The DNC candidates below are listed in order of their appearance onstage at today's SEC meeting and are identified by county, race*, gender** and voting round elimination:

• John Brooks, Wake (W, M, 1st round)
• Judy Gilbert, Lincoln (W, F, 1st round)
• Beth Ostgaard, McDowell (W, F, 1st round)
• Randy Voller, Chatham (W, M, 1st round)
• Brenda Pollard, Durham (W, F, 1st round)
• Jake Quinn, Buncombe (W, M, 1st round)
• Joel Ford, Mecklenburg (B, M, 2nd round)
• Mike Schaul, Wake (W, M, 1st round)
• Paul Lowe Jr., Forsythe (B, M, 2nd round)
• John Verdejo, Wake (B, M, 3rd round winner)
• Perry Parks, Richmond (W, M, 1st round)
• Carla Cunningham, Mecklenburg (B, F, 2nd round)
• T.E. Austin, Durham (W, M, 3rd round)

_____________________
* Race: White (W), Black (B)
**Gender: Female (F), Male (M)