Who’s Throwing This Party?
I picked up some interesting information regarding local party politics this week. It goes to precinct committeemen filings for the Marion County Democratic Party and who exactly might be running the show next year.
According to Marion County Clerk Beth White’s Office there were 542 PC filings. The number takes into account withdrawals and successful challenges. Out of that 542, I discovered this breakdown of PCs and who brought them to the table.
- Mayoral candidate Brian Williams – 190.
- Indiana Democratic African-American Caucus – 72.
- Mayoral candidate Jose Evans – 44.
- Stonewall Democrats – 20.
That’s a total of at least 326 individuals running for PC. I say at least because Organizing for America, the Barack Obama political group, also brought people to the table.
So if you do the math, out of 542 PCs running, at least 60% could be considered outside the establishment. That also means if enough of them get elected and enough of them form a coalition, there could be a new County Chairman and whole new Marion County Democratic Party.
March 13th, 2010 at 11:23 am
Your math is correct. Your logic is lousy.
What you don't know is, multiple recruiters were trying to fill all PC slots. Most of them worked through and with the cooperation of the county chairman's office.
This wasn't a stealth effort. I've talked to many of the Williams committeepersons, and they're establishment Democrats for the most part. Very few new names.
But you could be somewhat right in this respect: going back 30 years, any Marion COunty Democratic chair, at any one time, probably has 30-40% of the PCs disagreeing with him/her. It's a hot seat.
March 15th, 2010 at 4:22 pm
I wonder about one thing. How do you classify them as “outside the establishment”. Isn't this just a change in who is running the establishment? It seems that we are cutting out Joe Democrat in favor of an even heavier patronage/client system.
I won't consider any of these folks “outside the establishment”. I'll just think of them as a different flavor of the establishment.
Watch as the loyalty pledge soon to be required to work at this political level creates even more division.
March 15th, 2010 at 4:44 pm
I quite agree with T.A. — I see no significant change in the MCDCC except for better performance election day. It's a gain for all Democrats !
March 15th, 2010 at 6:20 pm
Keep telling yourself Brian Williams will be the next Mayor. Keep telling yourself Ed Treacy is going away.
Have you seen Alice in Wonderland yet?
March 15th, 2010 at 10:43 pm
This posting is loading with faulty assumptions. 326 or 542 filings whichever you wish to use is misleading. In many cases there are 2, 3 ,4, or 5 filings for the same precinct. Only one person can be elected. It is true that many new names were filed and that can only help the party. Combine those with the veteran names who have made up the backbone of the party and you have a party organization that is stronger than ever. Your hope of a revolution or collapse of the Marion County Democratic party is NOT going to happen.
March 15th, 2010 at 11:58 pm
I'm getting the sense that Abdul is stumping for Williams. I can't quite figure out why though. Abdul… you normally have pretty insightful analysis of things. However, this analysis is so obviously spun to the advantage of one candidate and is counter to your normal in depth look at things that I can't help but think you want Williams to win badly. Maybe you just like a battle and you know Williams needs some help to stay in the game.
I agree with much of analysis above. Many, many of these filings are multiple filings in the same precinct effectively reducing the #. A few of Williams' filings have told me directly they are not supporting Brian and they just filed with him because it was an easy way to get the paperwork in (admittedly this is only a few that I know of).
The big piece you have amazingly chosen to omit is the fact that there are over 220 precincts that have no candidate filed. This means the County Chair gets to appoint his people to almost 38% of the votes.
Of Brian's 190, it will be a great day if he gets 100 elected. Multiple filings in the same precinct will drop that number right off the bat and then there is the fact that he has to get them elected. Many of his filings are going up against established PC's who have worked their neighborhood for decades. That's an uphill battle to get elected.
If he gets 100 elected he will control less than 17% of the vote at slating. The bottom line is, although I applaud Williams for bringing some new people into the process, he has NO CHANCE of winning at slating and I think if you REALLY WANTED to look at this without an agenda you would come to the same conclusion.
March 16th, 2010 at 1:39 am
Actually 100 of Williams' PCs have no challengers.
March 16th, 2010 at 1:40 am
I must have hit a nerve.
March 16th, 2010 at 1:41 am
Why don't you ask Brian Williams if he will abide by slating, since he has tried to stack the deck in his favor. The PC move will fail, precisely as mentioned above. So. Which way is he going to play that one? I for one, think many Democrats would like to know. You are either playing the slating game (which he has tried to do) or you do not. Get it out in the open now, or do you fear Melina THAT much Mr. Abdul?!
Anyway, Alice in Wonderland was not nearly as good as Book of Eli.
March 16th, 2010 at 1:43 am
Yes, the Cheshire Cat is my favorite character. I love his grin.
March 16th, 2010 at 1:58 am
Actually the only two women I'm afraid of are my wife and mother. And not necessarily in that order.
March 16th, 2010 at 12:21 pm
All joking aside. Will you please ask Williams this question? “Will you enter slating, and if you lose will you abide by the rules and step aside for whoever wins, to be the uncontested candidate at the Primary?”
March 16th, 2010 at 2:53 pm
OK, I'm either living in a surreal world, or this post was made a week ago…am I right?
March 16th, 2010 at 9:08 pm
Patently FALSE. But, for laughs, let's assume it's true. It only moves him to controlling between 20 – 25% when it's all said and done. Not Enough to Get it Done. Especially considering all the enemies he has made with how he has gone about it.
March 16th, 2010 at 9:09 pm
He won't do it. He doesn't want to know the answer.