Dear Democrats,
I'm writing to let all of you know
that I'm running to be the next chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin. I
made this decision because our party is in trouble and we need someone with the
grit, determination, resolve and experience required to get us back on track. I
strongly believe I'm that person and I'll tell you why.
I'm the only candidate for DPW Chair who has won a seat in the legislature against a long serving Republican in a republican leaning Assembly district. I did that in 2006 by running my own campaign, with my own local volunteers, raising my own money, developing my own messaging, and by talking with voters from dawn until dusk. I'll bring that kind of work ethic to my job as DPW Chair.
I'm the only candidate for DPW Chair who has won a seat in the legislature against a long serving Republican in a republican leaning Assembly district. I did that in 2006 by running my own campaign, with my own local volunteers, raising my own money, developing my own messaging, and by talking with voters from dawn until dusk. I'll bring that kind of work ethic to my job as DPW Chair.
I've also served as a Regional Political Director for the
DPW. I've seen firsthand what does and doesn’t work. There are changes we need
to make in how the party functions and I know how to implement those changes.
The 2012 election results showed us that there are more democrats
who vote in Wisconsin than there are republicans, but not all of those voters
go to the polls in the mid-term elections. This has turned our state government
to a deep red. How do we begin to turn that around?
Messaging. Our platform and resolutions contain bold policy
ideas that resonate deeply with a broad swath of voters, but our candidates
tend to rely on highly paid consultants for their messaging. This has to
change. We need strong county parties that can educate voters about the policy
positions grassroots democrats embrace, and that can influence our candidates
to promote those policies. Strengthening our county party infrastructure is of
the utmost importance and priority.
The outgoing chair campaigned for the job in past years by
stating that we need year round organizing and a 72 county strategy; great
ideas that never came to realization. I will make that a greater focus. One of
our biggest problems is not in raising money but rather in how we're spending
what money we have. I'll start by breaking down the budget to find the money we
need to staff multiple field coordinator positions in key areas around the
state. I will put my money where my
mouth is by cutting the salary of the state chair position and use the savings
to fund full-time field coordinators. These field coordinators will work with
county party officials, activists and allies to develop outreach strategies to
find, educate and engage new and sporadic voters on a year round basis.
Pride in being a Democrat is essential. I want every
progressive and liberal thinking person in Wisconsin to boast about being a
Democrat. Just as I want laborers to be filled with pride in belonging to a
union, I want the professionals in our classrooms to hold their head high and
proclaim to be a teacher without having to feel that they should be ashamed. It
is up to us as leaders of the Democratic Party to make that happen. First we
restore trust, respect and fight, which will equate into pride in ourselves and
in our party.
We all should be very grateful to our brothers and sisters
in Dane and Milwaukee counties, but we can't take this state back with only
democratic majorities in Dane and Milwaukee. We need a leader who understands
the concerns and challenges rural Wisconsin people and voters face. We also
need a leader who will take a bold and creative approach to strengthening our
party in rural Wisconsin.
I am that leader. I've lived in the Chippewa Valley my
entire life. I owned a small business for 25 years in the Eau Claire area and
raised a family there, and as a Regional Political Director I've traveled
across all of western, northwestern and central Wisconsin to hear from rural
people about the issues that matter to them. It was a good mix of urban and
rural voters that sent me to the legislature.
These are just a few of the ideas, strategies and leadership
qualities that I'll bring to the job as your next Chair. As I travel the state
in the next few months I look forward to hearing from all of you. Together we
can start down the path that will return Wisconsin to its progressive roots.
Let's do it.
Sincerely,
Jeff Smith
P.S. To better understand who I
really am I suggest you visit my YouTube site from my legislative campaigns. https://www.youtube.com/user/jeffsmithforassembly
Posts
"The outgoing chair campaigned for the job in past years by stating that we need year round organizing and a 72 county strategy; great ideas that never came to realization. I will make that a greater focus. One of our biggest problems is not in raising money but rather in how we're spending what money we have. I'll start by breaking down the budget to find the money we need to staff multiple field coordinator positions in key areas around the state. I will put my money where my mouth is by cutting the salary of the state chair position and use the savings to fund full-time field coordinators. These field coordinators will work with county party officials, activists and allies to develop outreach strategies to find, educate and engage new and sporadic voters on a year round basis."
ReplyDeleteAmen to that Jeff Smith!