Wednesday, October 7, 2015

Maricopa County Dems' leadership transfer shockingly uncontroversial, no corporate media coverage?

Yesterday (Tuesday), Kelli Butler resigned her leadership position as Maricopa County Democratic Party chair, so that she can effectively manage an election campaign (hers) seeking a seat in the Arizona House of Representatives from LD28.

Because the transition, with Steven Slugocki stepping up to serve as acting chair, will be smooth and essentially seemless, the situation apparently is just not salacious enough to warrant coverage by corporate media. 

Besides the lack of controversy, perhaps having any Arizona Democrats demonstrate sound judgment doesn't fit the Arizona Republic's (and other corporate print and broadcast media outlets) preferred narrative. The Republic, along with other enablers (think co-dependency) in the Capitol press corps, have played a key role in the decades long catastrophe of one-party dominance in lawmaking and public policy. 

In Butler's letter to members of the MCDP executive board, she states,
The transition of MCDP leadership is the first priority, however. I am thrilled to announce that current First Vice Chair, Steven Slugocki, is stepping in to serve as our Acting Chair, effective immediately. At our MCDP Executive Committee meeting on October 29th, Steven will seek the election by the committee to the position of Interim Chair. Then, at the MCDP Winter Convention on Saturday, December 5th, I hope all Maricopa County PCs will join me in affirming Steven Slugocki as official Chair of our party.
MCDP will be in great hands. Steven is a proven leader, having served on MCDP’s Executive Board since 2008 – he has been our Secretary, Treasurer and First Vice Chair. He is experienced, dedicated and energized. MCDP’s entire Executive Board... all support Steven in this new role. Additionally, MCDP’s outstanding Executive Director, Jon Ryder, will provide his tremendous expertise and experience, ensuring continuity throughout this transition.
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Slugocki sent this out last night,
As you've read today, Kelli Butler has stepped down as Chair of the Maricopa County Democratic Party in order to run for the Arizona State House in District 28. It is critical that we hold that seat currently held by Dr. Eric Meyer, the House Minority Leader. I know we all wish her much success in this next important undertaking.
As acting Chair, I want to thank Kelli for her dedication and hard work for our party. In the past year, working with our fellow Executive Board members and staff, MCDP has continued to build on its strengths, and Kelli leaves our party in great shape.
We've worked with our local leaders at the city level to ensure big Democratic successes this year, and we've been busy working with our district leaders to strengthen and grow our party all across the Valley. We're working with our legislative leaders to make sure the legislative caucus program is the success we all need it to be next year.
At every level, MCDP has -- and will continue -- to work every day to recruit and train candidates up and down the ballot. We expect to be making some major announcements on countywide races very soon.
I've been committed to MCDP and served on our Executive Board for 8 years now. I have been elected as MCDP's Secretary, Treasurer, First Vice Chair and most recently re-elected to the same role. I've served under our 3 last Chairs -- Ann Wallack, Laura Copple, and Kelli Butler -- and I'm proud to have their support, as well as that of former Chair Mark Manoil. [...]
Continued Democratic victories are what we are here for -- and MCDP is ready and able.
Thank you all,
Steven Slugocki
Acting Chair
Maricopa County Democratic Party
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The transition itself is an accomplishment of more people than just Butler herself. However, I am keenly impressed with her vision and dedication. This move was not made in reaction to any internal conflict or selfish purpose for anyone involved.

However, a potential Democratic candidate to succeed current House Minority Leader Eric Meyer (D-LD28), Scott Nielson, for personal reasons apparently now will no longer be running in the 2016 campaign.

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My concern is also very much with and about the impending LD26 election. Up to 62 elected precinct committeepersons will cast votes for three names from which one will be appointed to fill our vacancy in the state senate. There are 62 elected Democratic PCs in LD26. 

Those PCs have the power to make a sound decision... or not. 

Of those who have expressed interest in seeking the appointment, one is the current LD26 chair. She has stepped up her game, so to speak, since we first learned that Sen. Ableser would be resigning. Yet, it is clear to those who exercise critical analysis, that she would not provide LD26 citizens/voters the best value in the event she is selected at this time.

She, and several other enthusiastic, young Democratic activists have tremendous potential for succeeding in such service in the not too distant future.

But at this time, I believe the best choice we (LD26 Democratic PCs) can make is to select both of the two incumbent state Representatives, Juan Mendez and Andrew Sherwood -- along with THE strongest additional candidate. 

Based on current hunches and unofficial feedback from the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, they are not wanting to appoint either Mendez or Sherwood. Doing so would create a vacancy in the House of Representatives, thereby necessitating a repeat of the process to fill that seat.

In 2011, then Senate President Russell Pearce (R-SB1070) was defeated as a result of strategies developed based on Game Theory
Game theory is the study of strategic decision-making. It is "the study of mathematical models of conflict and cooperation between intelligent rational decision-makers." Game theory is mainly used in economics, political science, and psychology, as well as logic, computer science, and biology. Originally, it addressed zero-sum games, in which one person's gains result in losses for the other participants. Today, game theory applies to a wide range of behavioral relations, and is now an umbrella term for the science of logical decision making in humans, animals, and computers.
As it played out in 2011, Andrew Sherwood was well-positioned, as chair of the Democratic Party for the old LD Pearce represented. However, if Sherwood had run, Pearce would have won. Pearce and his supporters knew this. That's why they concocted a scheme to run a sham candidate, Olivia Cortes.
Instead, she [a petition circulator being questioned in court] answered [attorney Tom] Ryan's questions honestly, admitting that she told some folks — including undercover newshounds such as myself — that Cortes' candidacy was meant to "dilute" the vote and help Pearce fend off his main rival, Republican Jerry Lewis.
In 2011, Sherwood exercised a form of delayed gratification, putting off until 2012 his own run for the Arizona House. In 2012, Sherwood won.

In order to enhance (and hopefully ensure) the likelihood of either Sherwood or Mendez' appointment to the Arizona Senate, LD26 Democrats must select wisely on Monday, when they meet for the short list selection process.

There is likely only one person in LD26 who could cause the MCBOS to select one of our current House members.

More on that tomorrow. 

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Today it is a case of the grasshopper pitted against the elephant. But tomorrow the elephant will have its guts ripped outLe Loi, Vietnamese emperor, 15th Century

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