Kevin Smith, Delmas Parker announce state party candidacy

Two candidates announced their intentions to run for officer positions in North Carolina Democratic Party yesterday, Tuesday, January 11, 2011. After reviewing their announcements and intentions, NCDPpolitics is endorsing only one of the two.

Kevin Smith, 34, made it official in announcing his bid for party Secretary on BlueNC.com, the progressive democrats blog, Tuesday. Delmas Parker, 73,  also came forward seeking re-election as the party's Second Vice-Chair.

Smith's priority is to "move forward and build a strong Democratic Party(...) controlled by the people and not special interests," according to his announcement.  Smith says his focus will be on the issues that are of greatest concern to the people, reconnecting with the people and rebuilding the party's future through several goals:

• Information on Demand
• Streamlined Information Process
• Accurate and Expedient Distribution of Party Minutes
• Transparency of Party Activities
• Accurately archiving all Party documentation

Smith says the upcoming election of Party leadership is a referendum on giving people a say in the state party organization. Smith is not a newcomer to party leadership. He is a former member of the state executive council and the executive committee (SEC member). Smith is interested in hearing from party members and can be reached at smithforsecretary@gmail.com.

NCDPpolitics endorses Kevin A. Smith for state party secretary. Stay tuned for an upcoming article later today on Delmas Parker's candidacy.