Blue Mass Group

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I’m Running for the Democratic State Committee

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Now that the Democratic Party’s mailer is out, it’s not exactly a big secret that I’m running for one of 5 male GLBT at-large seats on the Democratic State Committee. There are many reasons why I’m running, but chief among them is this: we, as a party, need to be able to get our powerful grassroots movement beyond organizing around particular candidates and into organizing around the common problems Massachusetts citizens face everyday. I feel I am uniquely qualified to bring these kinds of ideas and solutions to the DSC that will be able to make an impact on the all-important policy level.

As a successful state politics blogger and a winning Field Director, I have direct experience at both the communications and field level – two critical elements in enacting the change we need. From my online activism, I’ve advocated endlessly for glbt rights, the environment and all sorts of other issues that are critical to us all. On my internet radio show, LeftAhead.com, I’ve had guests such as MassEquality’s Marc Solomon and the former Editor of Bay Windows, Susan Ryan-Vollmar, on the show to talk about where Massachusetts needs to go now to continue on our path of civil rights progression, among many other critical subjects. As a Campaign Field Director, implementing grassroots election strategy and running many of the day-to-day operations, I’ve been successful to the tune of helping win 12 out of 15 precincts (or more than 68% of the vote) in Lori Ehrlich’s 8th Essex Democratic Primary win for State Representative. I look forward to a repeat performance on the March 4th General Election.

I hope to bring my unique experience and fresh perspective to the State Committee to bridge two of the Democratic Party’s most powerful tools – the grassroots and the netroots – in a way that will truly make our party blossom on Beacon Hill. I’d be happy to answer any questions about my candidacy here, in the comments.

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  2. …irrespective of whether they agree with Ryan or not, that he would make a top-notch committee member and is an asset to the Democratic Party and the entire progressive movement.

    <

    p>Ryan – good luck. I have know idea with whom you are competing, but I can’t imagine that many will exceed your enthusiasm and energy for progressive politics.  

    • The core of the Democratic State Committee is already in place.  Eighty members, one man and one woman per Senate district, were elected on the presidential primary ballot earlier this month.  Another eighty (again, one of each gender per Senate district) are elected by a conference of delegates from each ward and town committee in the given Senate district.  These conferences are supposed to be tomorrow (Sat. 2/23), but in most cases will not happen because there is only one declared candidate.  There are the ex officio members (Congressional delegation, House Speaker, Senate President, Governors Councilors, Constitutional officers, DNC members from MA, DSC officers, and former chairs of the DSC and DNC from MA) and those who have an emeritus status by virtue of having served on the DSC for twenty years.  These are the ones who are eligible to vote on March 8th.  There are 94 additional members to be elected that day.

  4. I hope you make it!  We need the next generation to step up and make their presence known.  I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you.  

  5. but consider this.
    I am 52. A WASP, Boy Scout, born here, raised here suburban American.

    <

    p>I have gone from “Ask not what your contry can do for you, ask what you can do for your country”.

    <

    p>I, having been karmically fucked by government, vow to fuck government generationally by teaching my children and granson specifically how to fuck government at every possible turn, action, thought, behavior short of consequence.  I am that pissed.

  6. Good luck, Ryan…I am no longer a member of the State Committee or I would gladly give you a vote. But, I can give a good word about you to the members I know.

    <

    p>I don’t always agree with you, but I love your enthusiasm.

    • I’d really appreciate it.

      <

      p>The good thing with the position I’m running for is it isn’t so much about the issues as it is making sure our party is effective. I’m running because lately I’ve felt that while we’re making progress in being an effective party, in electing quality candidates and such, we could do a lot more at the organizational level, making both the field work and netroots work off each other and be more effective.

      • I’ve enjoyed reading your essays and occasionally communicating with you here at bluemassgroup.  I’m relatively new–but I’m also here to wish you the best of luck!  

  8. Though I am new to Blue Mass. Group, I’ve enjoyed your passionate  and considered point of view; I am sure that you will be a thoughtful and effective advocate for the grassroots, the netroots, the LGBT community, and even for the pissed and disaffected like Lasthorseman.  

    <

    p>Just don’t forget Western Mass!  

    • Wow!  Where do I sign up? (Only kidding.  I happen to like the functional campuses.  Or is it “campi”?)  Well, at least they have a well-respected Center for Portuguese Studies down there. đŸ˜‰

      <

      p>I may not be a Democrat, nor do I necessarily agree with the bulk of the positions on here, but I wish you the best of luck in becoming a party activist.  If there’s anything this society needs, it’s more activists.  Could you imagine a world without activists? (Cue Lionel Hutz’s thought bubble.) đŸ˜€

      • UMASS Dartmouth doesn’t look like much at first, but it’s actually a beautiful campus once you get in the main academic quad and see it up front. Of course, the buildings are all old  and the concrete was too heavy for the designs and thus parts of the campus are literally falling apart… but there’s tons of open space, that gorgeous clock tower surrounding and hovering over the rest of the campus and other little treats.

        <

        p>It’s actually funny: I hadn’t intended on going to UMASS Dartmouth – I was only thinking of it because I was offered a very good package. When I finally got to the very entrance of the campus and saw all those ugly buildings from the entrance I literally told my mother, who was taking me, to turn the car around. Luckily she said no.

        <

        p>I was turned on the campus by the time I saw a) all the open space throughout the campus and that, from the inside of the academic quad, it was actually quite pretty (even if the outside is ugly) and b) their awesome housing (luckily, the tour didn’t include their older, crappier buildings that ought to be knocked down… but also, luckily, I never ended up in them!).

        <

        p>UMASS Dartmouth – and the whole South Coast – in my mind is Massachusetts’s hidden jewel. It’s a great campus, in a great area, with great programs (best nursing and engineering programs in the system) – but unfortunately, few people even know about it. People from Western Mass like to complain about how Massachusetts is so Boston-centric and, of course, they’re right. But the South Coast has had it, in my view, even worse than Western Mass… and they can’t even get a stinking train, which would do wonders to help that area.  

      • The campus really is quite a site to see.  The contrast between the concrete and the open grass and some trees really is beautiful during the spring and summer.  During the winter, its frigidly windy and depressing.  

  10. And best wishes for a successful campaign.  Shake up ’em up, sugar.  God knows they need it.  đŸ™‚  Some of them have been on that committee so long they forget what real air smells like.  

    • up thread, there’s a great explanation on the whole process, but suffice it to say there’s a wide variety of ways one can come to serve the DSC. Many people are elected by town, many are 20 year members, ex officio, etc. A small minority of the DSC is elected to at-large seats, representing interest groups and minorities within the Dem party, such as the gay and lesbian seats. While I don’t want to put any words in the party’s mouth, it seems to me like a great idea in making sure the party is accurately reflecting the party makeup. Plus, it gives people like me a chance to run for a seat where I don’t have to worry about getting thousands of votes and raising thousands of dollars… because, obviously, I don’t have thousands of dollars to spend in the race. Granted, running against incumbents in an election that only members of the DSC vote in will be a challenge of its own (and in ways even more challenging), but at least it gives people a reasonable shot of winning.  

        • I interpreted one of the postings that XYZ was filling a slot for a male/female or a GLBT.  I was perplexed. I am still surprised that there are seats allocated for certain
          distinguishing characteristics/features.    

    • Does the Republican party automatically elect all of it’s members to the state committee due to lack of enrollment?

      <

      p>Just having a little fun…

      <

      p>To answer your question, yes it’s called encouragement of diversity.

      <

      p>

      • I know of at least one race that cost tens of thousands of dollars between the two candidates… so they definitely elect their own members, too.  

      • To answer your question, yes it’s called encouragement of diversity.

        <

        p>So it’s a quota system?

        • Call it what you will. I think it’s a good idea.

          <

          p>Does the Republican party reserve any youth seats in their state committee or convention?

      • The south shore had a battle a few years ago amongst Republicans contesting a seat for the state committee. Some woman from Hinghanm who has had a seat since Reconstruction retained her seat.

        <

        p>Someone sent me an email a few days ago purportedly showing accurate expenditures of the Massachusetts Republican State Committee. If they are in fact accurate then I know why they can’t attract candidates or get them elected. They spent over half the money donated on booze and parties and big salaries for cronies. They spent paltry sums on supporting candidates and in some instances they didn’t contribute a dime to a candidate. Interesting.

      • I’m a Democrat, so I’m very familiar with our system, but I did do some research on the other parties once.

        <

        p>I believe that the Republicans limit the voting rights of the state committee to the 80 statutory members (i.e. those that are elected at the presidential primary). Any other members are essentially what we would call associate members (no voting rights).

        <

        p>Congrats to Ryan for running. I expect to be at the DSC election meeting. I’m not running because I’m not eligible for any of the affirmative action seats (so I’ll probably end up helping run the election as I did four years ago).

  12. As Ryan mentioned, the booklet has been published.  Just to clarify, the February 15 cutoff point, was just for inclusion in the booklet.  People can run even if no biography was submitted.  Whether or not a biography was submitted, a candidate still needs to be nominated and receive two seconds from members.

    <

    p>In most categories, there are more potential nominees than slots.  The exceptions are male and female affirmative action, and female Portuguese speaking.

    <

    p>I have been very impressed with the quality of the nominees.  As a member, I’m curious to this community’s thoughts on any of the candidates.  Thoughts?

  14. This is awesome news….I think the state party could use the energy, enthusiasm and grassroots cred you’d bring. Best of luck, let me know if I can help in any way.

  15. the DSC needs folks like you…good luck!

    <

    p>I know a few DSC members…I will be sure to speak to them about your candidacy.

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