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Party Q & A: How do local parties help candidates?
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Location: Blogs Marion Politics |
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| Posted by: Ocala.com Election Coverage |
3/5/2008 11:32 AM |
So here are the responses from the Dems and Republicans to our latest question. Question: In what ways does your party help local candidates in their election campaigns?
Bruce Seaman, Marion County Democratic Party Chairman
Most local Democratic Party candidates can count on being outspent by their Republican opponents in multiples like 2 to 1, 3 to 1, or more. The Marion County Democratic Party cannot subsidize an election campaign. There is no cash piñata hanging overhead, just waiting for us to swing our stick. Adequate funding is important and we can point candidates in the right direction for securing funds. However, it’s the candidate’s job to pursue those funds.
Since Republican candidates are heavily supported by developers, it is a simple matter for a developer to call a general contractor who calls a dozen sub-contractors, and then very healthy donations roll in from each of them plus their wives, children, cousins and grandchildren. Of course, there is a quid pro quo, but any citizen can see that. Democrats have friends in the community willing to support them financially and generously, but it won’t be as easy as the local Republican cash machine.
The local party tries to provide guidance and support to local candidates, connecting them to resources and the experience of campaign veterans. We do not run any candidate’s campaign. That is always their responsibility.
Democratic candidates can gain the support of local volunteers through the party, providing a key asset in deploying grass roots activists who are willing to canvass and call and work for your campaign in their neighborhoods. These activists can help to close the cash gap in fundraising.
With two exciting candidates poised at the top of the ticket, we have already seen an increase in the number of local citizens ready to work for Democratic victory in November. Local Democrats need to realize that the patterns of poor governing that motivate their activism for change in Washington are the same patterns of irresponsible government that occur in Tallahassee and McPherson and in other local government. I urge motivated Democrats and independents to volunteer with the local Democratic party by going to www.mariondems.org and signing up to donate and to volunteer. We will only see the benefits of Democratic leadership locally when we support our excellent local candidates, too.
Roy Abshier, Marion County Republican Executive Committee Chairman
The Marion County Republican Executive Committee offers direct help in several ways. We make our headquarters available for such assistance as they may request and we are able to provide. We provide work space for volunteers to assemble mail outs, we have phone bank capabilities, and we make available candidate literature and yard signs for pick up by candidate supporters. Working with the Republican Party of Florida we can assist candidates with workshops designed to help them mount effective campaigns and recruit volunteers.
This year we are making a concerted effort to engage in activities to raise our party's profile and to energize our members. A major effort to do just that is our annual Lincoln-Reagan day dinner and celebration. This year we have as our guest speaker Cal Thomas, a nationally syndicated columnist and Fox News regular. This is our biggest event of the year and our major fund raiser. Profits from this event are used to help with voter registration drives, candidate assistance, community events, maintaining the party's headquarters and expansion of our republican clubs throughout the county. We have fourteen republican clubs now with more in the making. These clubs offer a great opportunity for our candidates to get their message out and to recruit volunteers.
- Tom McNiff |
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Re: Party Q & A: How do local parties help candidates? |
By Jeanetra ott on
3/25/2008 11:23 AM |
| Untill enough democrats in marion county gets really involved in helping the party this county will be forever be run (POORLY) by the republican mean maching.The republicans are the ONLY ugly "thing" in beautiful ocala.I moved to ocala when the great don moreland,wonderful helen thigpen and olsen were serving and doing such a good job.........Now the good ole' boys (re:) the bushie,cheny devotees makes one want to upchuck!! |
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Re: Party Q & A: How do local parties help candidates? |
By eliasin robles on
5/20/2008 8:47 PM |
| I moved to Ocala 4 years ago. I was a local party strategist member of the Democratic Town Committee for 12 years in Hartford, Connecticut. After settling inOcala I visited the Headquarters at Silver Spring Boulevard. I "signed up" at the office to be available for campaigns, meetings, etc. Never got a call back. It seems like they have given up. Moveon.org has done more than the local party in Ocala. Close to election time I called a 1-352 number to see where I had to vote and an answering machine responded several times. I haven't seen a piece of literature by the democrats anywhere. We deserve to have our delegates disqualified from the primary process because we haven't earned our wings. If there is any hope of reviving this party locally i would like to be part of it. I have always loved a challenge! |
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