Diversity needed on Male-&-Pale Committee Revising Plan of Organization

Mostly old, white guys.

That describes the 17-member committee selected to revise the NCDP Plan of Organization under former state Democratic party chairman David Young. Of course, Young appointed his recruiter and predecessor, Jerry Meek, to the committee and he's one of the younger white guys.

Ann Newman of Mecklenburg County initially raised concerns about the committee's gender imbalance during the State Executive Committee meeting on Jan. 29th. Our research shows Newman is right.  There most definitely is a lack of women as well as minorities and younger democrats among the committee members revising the Plan of Organization.

Newly elected NCDP Chair David Parker is strongly urged to review this disproportionately "male-and-pale" committee and to make immediate changes to right the demographic imbalance. Unlike the GOP, democrats are a diverse team.

By replacing several members with more women, more minorities and more youthful members, the new NCDP leadership team can show it supports balanced racial, gender and age representation in its top level projects and committees. These replacement changes should accurately reflect the state's population of registered democrats.

These are the results:

• Five out of six members are White 

RACE of 17 members

82% White (14)

18% African-American (3)

• Three out of four members are Male

GENDER of 17 members

24% Female (4)

76% Male (13) 

• Committee members average age is 52; Five out of six members are between the ages of 52 and 77

GENDER of 17 members

18% age 25-49 (3)

82% age 50-77 (14) 

Demographic research of the NCDP Plan of Organization Revisions Committee's individual members are detailed below and include race, gender, age, city of residence and profession where available. NC Voter registrations confirm much of this information. 

These are the members recently chosen by the previous state party executive council to revise the NC Plan of Organization:

• District 1    -  Betsy Leech - White, Female, age 60, Greenville
• District 2    -  George Greene - African-American, Male, age 53, Raleigh (Teacher) 
• District 3    -  Chris Hardee, chair - White, Male, age 39, Manteo (Realty broker)
• District 4    -  Matt Hughes - White, Male, age 22, Hillsborough (University student, teaching fellow)
• District 5    -  Charlie Wallin - White, Male, age 37, Boone (University employee)
• District 6    -  Richard O'Brien - White, Male, age 50s - 60s, Franklinville 
• District 7    -  Don Simmons - White, Male, age 74, Erwin 
• District 8    -  Tom Macon - White, Male, age 63, Fayetteville (Education mmgt.)
• District 9    -  Kenneth Baker, chair - White, Male, age 50s, Waxhaw (Physician)
• District 10  -  Cliff Moone - White, Male, age 61, Hickory, (Education manager)
• District 11  -  TBD
• District 12  -  Bernita Sims, chair - African-American, Female, age 59, High Point (Realty & former Councilwoman)
• District 13  -  Mary Alice Simmons, chair - White, Female, age 77, Raleigh (Retired Secretary)
• Chair Appointed  -  Susan Oller - White, Female, age 67, Raleigh 
• Chair Appointed  -  Jerry Meek, former state chair - White, Male, age 40, Matthews  (Attorney)
• Chair Appointed  -  Eugene Weeks - African-American, Male, age 70, Raleigh Councilman
• Chair Appointed  -  James Stephenson - White, Male, age 52, Cary (Attorney)
• Parliamentarian   -  Stephen Gheene - White, Male, age 60, Durham (Attorney)

The days of backroom political favors are over. We need the best team working to revise the Plan of Organization and the less lawyers on the team, the fewer the loopholes. We need an easy-to-understand plan, written in simple, clear language that won't require a law degree to comprehend or apply.

Chair Parker, are you listening?

The new Chair's new to-do list

State Party Chair David Parker's to-do list just got a good deal longer after today's highly anticipated announcement by the Democratic National Committee awarding Charlotte, NC with the honor of hosting the 2012 Democratic National Convention.

But before the Chair can even begin to think about the national spotlight's focus on North Carolina in a presidential election year, Mr Parker will have to contend to some urgent housekeeping items long-overdue. Among them:

• Addressing the role of party infighting and division instigated by the faux-auxillary Progressive Democrats of North Carolina through actions violating the Plan of Organization. This key item must be addressed before March 1st with the onset of precinct organizing, county conventions and district conventions

• Appointing an interim DNC delegate until the State Executive Committee can convene to elect Parker's replacement due to his election to party chair. 

• Addressing the gender and age imbalance of members selected under the past chair's administration to the Plan of Organization's Revision Committee 

Chair Parker has his work cut out for him.  Check back here to read more about these three issues in upcoming articles.

We're Here to Stay: Blog restructured to meet the mission

NCDPpolitics has restructured this blog to include hot topics, links to related political blogs that matter, a list of all state auxiliaries' websites and a search feature to better serve our readers and keep Democrats informed on what's happening inside our party. Our mission is to make sure every concerned democrat has the information they need to get involved, to lead and to fight to elect Democrats to public office.

We were pleasantly surprised and more than a little humbled by the amazing amount of visits (over 7,000) in less than a month to our blog. What started out as a simple blog -- to inform State Executive Members of the real facts and plain truth behind the candidates' campaigns who sought to lead our party -- has now turned into a greater responsibility.

The feedback and support has been overwhelmingly positive, including correction requests when needed (Sorry, Melvin. We have corrected your reported age from 69 to 68 earlier today). We have been asked more than a few times if this blog would continue after the new state party leaders were elected and received several suggested topics for continued coverage.  We understand the need exists to share information if we are to help our party unify and strengthen our party's organization at every level.

For that reason, NCDPpolitics will continue blogging and covering the topics that matter most in order to rebuild our party and to regenerate the grassroots efforts so desperately required to win elections.

With the whole world watching North Carolina between now and the 2012 Democratic National Convention, NCDPpolitics plans to do its part to help support the party's new state chairman.

We vow to keep the blog's tone less snarky and more civil, the reporting fair and accurate, and to stay cognizant of what information can and should be shared publicly. We do not want to give Republicans any information that could harm our efforts to take back control of North Carolina's legislative agenda or undermine our candidates and public servants.

However, should sensitive information need to be shared, we will provide it privately and separately to those who request it once they have been cleared and their identity validated.  In the meantime, keep checking back to learn what's going on inside our party and to send us news tips, concerns and background information on issues that have you concerned. Your identity will never be disclosed should you request confidentiality.

Again, thank you for making NCDPpolitics better than ever. You can provide public comment at the end of any article by opening the comment links. We moderate all comments to avoid inadvertently publishing personal attacks, improper language and false information. We currently have a 100% publishing rate on all comments received.  To send information privately, please email us at ncdppolitics@gmail.com.

Charlotte wins 2012 National Democratic Convention

The Democratic National Committee chose Charlotte, North Carolina as the host city for the 2012 National Democratic Convention, just as NC Democratic Party Chair David Parker predicted weeks ago.  The news announced this morning has NC Democrats fired up more than ever to work hard and win elections in the interim.

MSNBC reports the latest news on this exciting opportunity for NC and the DNC:

Dems choose Charlotte for 2012 convention
February 2, 2011

From NBC's Mark Murray and Domenico Montanaro
The Democratic National Committee today announced the selection of Charlotte, NC, as the site of the party's 2012 convention, a clear sign that Democrats will once again target the Tar Heel State in the upcoming presidential contest.

It will be the first presidential-nominating convention to ever take place in North Carolina.
Barack Obama narrowly won the state in 2008, 50%-49% (or 2,142,651 votes to John McCain's2,128,474) -- the first time a Democrat carried the state in a presidential contest since 1976.

By selecting Charlotte -- which beat out St. Louis, MO; Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN; and Cleveland, OH -- Obama and his political advisers will try to repeat their success in 2008, when they used the convention as an organizing tool to win the state in the general election. (In 2008, Denver hosted the Democratic convention, and Obama went on the win Colorado, 54%-45%, the first time a Dem presidential nominee had carried it since 1992.)

It also should be no surprise that, demographically, the city is well represented with the voters who made up the coalition that propelled Obama to victory in 2008: 33% of its residents are black, 11% are Hispanic, nearly 40% have a bachelor's degree (the national average is 27.5%), and its median age is 33.2 years (the national average is 36.5). For the whole state, 21% of the residents are black, 7% are Hispanic, nearly 26% have a bachelor's degree, and its median age is 36.6.

But Charlotte also has potential drawbacks for Obama and the Democrats. For one thing, the city is closely associated with Bank of America, a recipient of the federal government's bank bailout. The bank's corporate headquarters are located in the city, and the Carolina Panthers' football stadium is named Bank of America Stadium.

Also, the local NAACP chapter has urged groups, including the Democratic Party, to boycott the city after it scheduled a make-up school day on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

And the city has faced some criticism from a prominent labor union because of its lack of union hotels.

The Democratic convention is scheduled for the week of Sept. 3, 2012. The Republican convention -- which will be held in Tampa, FL -- will occur the week before.


Now more than ever, the NCDP is going to need the support and volunteer help of all democrats across the state working together to prepare for this enormous opportunity to showcase our state's drive to elect democrats.

Think about what you can do to help the NCDP and contact our new party officers to volunteer your time and energy.  

Congratulations to NC Democrats: A Brand New Vision

Correction: Checking NC voter registration information we found Gwen Wilkins is listed as American Indian, not caucasian. We have corrected the information in the article below and regret the error.




It's a brand new day and a brand new outlook for North Carolina Democrats since electing  new state party officers in a marathon meeting of the State Executive Committee on Saturday, January 29th in Raleigh. 

The highly contentious campaigns for state party chair drew 632 State Executive Committee members (91%) to the McKimmon Center in Raleigh along with another 90 or so party activists, guests and elected officials who filled the rear gallery.

Three hours into the meeting, the North Carolina Democratic Party elected a new state chair: David Parker, a trial attorney from Statesville with a 35-year history working for the Democratic Party most recently as a NC Super-Delegate since 1995. Parker easily defeated State House Representative Bill Faison and Dannie Montgomery, a former state party officer. Parker won with a clear majority of 355 votes to Faison's 262 votes and Montgomery's 15 votes on the first-round ballot.

Nearly every incumbent officer lost his or her campaign race by the end of the nearly seven-hour meeting. 

Incumbent Stella Adams came in a distant third for the First Vice Chair race behind Gwen Wilkins (1st District Chair) and June Mabry (8th District Chair). With only 119 votes, Adams was dropped from the second-round ballot and took the podium to endorse Wilkins who led the race with 264 votes, not a clear majority. Despite her 195 votes, Mabry surprised the crowd when she stepped forward and withdrew from the race, handing the election to Wilkins and avoiding the need for a second-round voting session. 

The Second Vice Chair race also concluded on the first-round ballot with Ralph Johnson and incumbent Delmas Parker losing widely to Douglas Wilson of Mecklenburg County who ran on the theme of "Productivity, not Activity." Wilson won with 293 votes to Parker's 123 votes and Johnson's 57 votes.

Only incumbent Tony McEwen managed to retain his seat defeating Paul Brandon Johnson and last-minute entrant Laurene Callender for Third Vice Chair.  Due to age and gender requirements across the five elected state party offices, this office is traditionally held by the out-going president of the state's Young Democrats to meet an under-35 age requirement. But in a surprise move, McEwen chose to run again both in 2009 and 2011. McEwen clearly appeared worried as incumbents lost broadly but ultimately McEwen was elected to a third term garnering 339 votes over Johnson's 40 votes and Callender's 28 votes. 

One contentious moment rose when Dr. Lavonia Allison of Durham stood to protest a motion to move up the Secretary's election ahead of the vice chairs instead of being the last office elected as has been the norm.  The motion was put forward in the interest of somehow saving time because the Secretary's position does not come under any representational mandates for age, gender or racial requirements from the NCDP Plan of Organization.

Allison gave an impassioned speech protesting the motion for preempting SEC members from the opportunity to insure they elect a diverse body of officers. Ultimately, the motion passed and Melvin Williams, who is caucasian, was elected over 34-year-old Kevin Smith, an African-American candidate. However, 69-year-old Williams of Beulaville does bring a different form of diversity and point-of-view to the board; that of senior citizen Democrats.

These new officers were immediately installed upon election and will serve a two-year term through January 2013. They are:

• Chair David Parker (Mooresville, age 54, caucasian, male) david@voteparker.com
• 1st Vice Chair Gwen Wilkins (Rocky Mount, age 55, american Indian, female) gweniepooh13@msn.com
• 2nd Vice Chair Douglas Wilson (Charlotte, age 32, african-american, male) douglaswilson06@yahoo.com
• 3rd Vice Chair Tony McEwen (New Hanover County, age 31 , caucasian, male) tmcewen@ncdemocraticparty.org
• Secretary Melvin Williams (Beulaville, age 68, caucasian, male) melvin535@dishmail.net

NCDPpolitics is pleased to have contributed in some small measure to the new slate of officers by publicizing an aggregate list of candidates prior to the actual election meeting. We measure our success by the fact that not one office went unopposed. However, as thrilled as we are with new Chair David Parker, we do have some reservations about the changes to the process used to elected the new party secretary.

Dr. Allison's diversity concerns appear to be quite valid as this new executive board is now 80% white and male. The past state party executive board was 60% white and male when comprised of three white men and two african-american women. We can't help but feel Kevin Smith was robbed of a proper election opportunity after the Secretary's office was moved up in the election schedule under the guise of somehow saving time in a six-and-a-half hour meeting. Kudos to Dr. Allison's astute observation. She was completely right.

Perhaps going forward, the secretary position will return to being the last elected office as has been the norm and, unfettered by the NCDP Plan of Organization's diversity requirements, allow the SEC voters to elect the Secretary candidate that best balances a more diverse and democratic state party executive council.

Predictions on New NCDP officer elections

Democrats from across North Carolina's 100 counties are gathering today at the McKimmon Center in Raleigh to elect new state party officers.

More than 500 of the 700 State Executive Committee members are expected to cast their votes in what's been viewed as a contentious event inside the party.  Based on research, rumor analysis and good old-fashioned feedback, NCDPpolitics is predicting the following election results:

Chair Candidates: David Parker, Bill Faison, Dannie Montgomery
Winner: David Parker

First Vice Chair Candidates:  Stella Adams, June Mabry, Gwen Wilkins
Winner: June Mabry

Second Vice Chair Candidates:  Delmas Parker, Ralph Johnson, Douglas Wilson
Winner: Ralph Johnson

Third Vice Chair Candidates: Paul Brandon Johnson, Tony McEwen
Winner: Paul Brandon Johnson

Secretary: Kevin Smith, Melvin Williams
Winner:  Kevin Smith

There you have our predictions (or possibly wish list). We'll know in just a few hours.

The Right First Vice Chair: Don't waste your vote

Three women are vying for the First Vice Chair seat. There is a world of difference between these women and you need to know that before you vote. They are Stella Adams, June Mabry and Gwen Wilkins.

We're endorsing June Mabry for several reasons that make her head-and-shoulders above the other two.

Unlike Adams, who works in Washington DC five days a week, Mabry can serve the North Carolina Democratic Party 7-days a week.

Unlike Wilkins, Mabry has achieved results getting Democrats elected in the red District 8 where democratic voter registration is far lower than republicans.   Wilkins has managed to not screw things up but she certainly hasn't had to fight any uphill battles in District 1 because democratic voter registration in that very blue district is near or over the 70 percentile.

In 2008, Mabry's District 8 team of county chairs and grassroots volunteers managed to unseat a six-term incumbent. Larry Kissell defeated Robin Hayes, a first in over a decade for that seat. And in 2010, when Republican candidates were defeating Democratic incumbents and first-time candidates left and right, Mabry's district worked harder than ever and Kissell retained that seat, despite Tea Party momentum and corporate cash cows.

But what was astounding is this week's announcement of the state's African-American Caucus-NCDP endorsed Mabry over the other two. Mabry, who is half Japanese, half caucasian was an interesting and refreshing pick over her two African-American opponents, Adams and Wilkins.

Mabry knows its going to take a hell of a lot more than tweeting from DC to keep the party activists and officers energized.  Unfortunately, that is what we'll get from Adams again if she's re-elected. Tweeting from DC to a small, select group of democrats. Not once did she email the entire SEC members until recently when it was time to seek re-election!  On January 23rd, Adams said in that email:

"Finally, I understand that people are concerned that I work in DC. It is true, I do work in DC but I commute home most weekends and I am in NC more than I am in DC.  Through 21st Century technology I stay in contact with more North Carolinians than if I attended 100 county party conventions. I love our state and I love our Party. It is your choice and I hope you will vote to re-elect me as your 1st vice chair. Sincerely,

Stella Adams"

Adams wasn't even in the state during the mid-term November elections. Check out her Facebook comments where she admits to failing in her role as First Vice Chair.  We start with the morning after the walloping and include Adams comments from the evening of the Nov. 2nd elections.

Stella's Profile · Stella's Wall

• 

  Stella Adams

  I have awakened to a North Carolina I do not know. I apologize to my Democratic Party members for this loss. I apologize to my Democratic Candidates especially Congressman Bob Etheridge for failing to campaign hard enough or long enough to change this outcome. I apologize to all who depended on me who I have failed. I am overwhelmed.

  November 3, 2010 at 7:46am

  • Jason Jenkins likes this.

• 

  Stella Adams

  NC fb friends tell me what is going on? I can't get clear results from up here TELL ME SOMETHING GOOD PLEASE!!

  November 2, 2010 at 9:34pm

  • • 

      Sonya Blackmon One thing...Richard Burr won out over Elaine Marshall...buuuuu!...53% Richard

      November 2, 2010 at 9:42pm
    • 

      Phillip Hunter Gilfus All congress critters are safe...

      November 2, 2010 at 9:42pm
    • 

      Mary Baker I wish that I could

      November 2, 2010 at 9:43pm
    • Stella Adams I blame the DSCC for Elaine! she did a phenomenal job with no help from DSCC. I am happy about our Congressionals! What about the GA? will we hold both chambers?

      November 2, 2010 at 9:51pm
    • 

      Michelle Cotton Laws Burr declared winner; looks like Price held on. Haven't seen any thing on Ethridge. Pundits in Washington calling it another sweep by Republicans. Several of Tea Partiers won however O'Donnell lost in Delaware. Not sure about the judges seats yet in NC i.e. Thigpen on appeals

      November 2, 2010 at 9:53pm
    • 

      Diana Williams Palmer It looks like Bob Etheridge and Renee Ellmers are neck and neck in District 2.
    • 

      Chris Telesca where are you now Stella? Oh - bring back Howard Dean and Jerry Meek, or at least their style of leadership and 50-state/100-county strategy. This "new wave" shit ain't working out too well!

      November 2, 2010 at 9:55pm
    • 

      Stella Adams ‎@Diane get out of here Bobby is in trouble?

      November 2, 2010 at 9:55pm
    • 

      Stella Adams ‎@ Chris I am back in DC. What is going on in Cressie's race

      November 2, 2010 at 9:57pm
    • 

      Diana Williams Palmer Stella, Bob's comments to those stalker Republicans saying "Who are you?" really hurt him with smear ads. Ellmers got a lot of money from somewhere because she has had a lot of TV commercials running the past week or so.

      November 2, 2010 at 9:58pm
    • 

      Stella Adams Let me know when you all hear how is Brad doing

      November 2, 2010 at 10:00pm
    • 

      Chris Telesca geeze -it looks like both the NC House and Senate will change hands. Time to call a hanging party at Goodwin House!

      November 2, 2010 at 10:27pm
    • 

      Diana Williams Palmer WRAL has Hunter and Jackson tied at 50% with 54% of precincts reporting.

      November 2, 2010 at 10:27pm
    • 

      Chris Telesca I am looking at the numbers from the SBOE website

      November 2, 2010 at 10:28pm
    • 

      Stella Adams STOP PLAYING!

      November 2, 2010 at 10:28pm
    • 

      Stella Adams OMG! this is a disaster for everything we have struggled for, they will turn back all of our hard work unless GOV PERDUE uses the VETO

      November 2, 2010 at 10:42pm
    • 

      Chris Telesca WRAL was calling both the NC House and Senate for the GOP. Time to call a hanging party for all hands who pissed away our 2006 and 2008 victories.....and I know just what 3-letter group to start with!

      November 2, 2010 at 10:42pm
    • 

      Stella Adams I am at a loss I will be spending the next few days analyzing the data but I don't get it I just dont get it

      November 2, 2010 at 10:55pm
    • 

      Stella Adams What will be our fate

      November 2, 2010 at 10:56pm

Wilkins' last minute announcement to run does little to convince us of her conviction and desire to work and to lead.  While she's a very nice woman as most would agree, we need a First Vice Chair who will do the work asked of her by our new State Chairman.

Mabry has the ability to do everything from rolling up her sleeves and doing the grunt work to drawing upon her marketing background and her political strategy work to get the job done.

Don't waste your vote on a political popularity vote. Vote for someone who can get the job done and who's going to be available when you need her here in the state.

A vote for anyone other than Mabry is a vote to continue with the current administration's Missing-In-Action leadership plan that lacks focus, message and direction.  Vote for a smart First Vice Chair. 

Vote June Mabry for NCDP First Vice Chair because every county and every district matters.

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