TPJ has
been covering the candidates for DNC Chairmanship. This week it is Donnie
Flowler.
Fowler
Donnie Fowler rise to fame was initially in high technology circles through his
work in Silicon Valley and at the Federal Communications Commission. He served
President Clinton and has worked in six presidential campaigns. His expertise is
in management of media, policy, business development, & technology agendas.
A
website promoting Fowler’s candidacy can be found here: -- Change the PartyFowler is
running as a reform candidate. Fowler is mounting a very aggressive campaign.
He has
published a detailed agenda for the Democratic Party that is worthy of
consideration regardless of the ultimate selection for Chairman:
Communications & Messaging
Coordinate Party's National
Messages / Support State Messaging
develop values and issues
agendas
coordinate
weekly messages for DC strategy
weekly formal interaction with
state leadership to learn and inform
Encourage and Coordinate
Development of Progressive Think Tanks
Redirect Resources to Regional and
Local Media Operations
develop five regional
communications centers in close partnership with state
parties
enhance communications
training and increase resources
Research
increase resources
for in-house research and work with allies to increase
knowledge base and save DNC resources
track media
regionally and locally and identify best practices at
state level regarding policy development, campaign advances, and
demographic changes
continually update and
enhance voter targeting through voter file, polling, and
local knowledge
Politics & Constituencies
Inclusion at Every Level -
planning, opinions, and operations
include state party
leadership in strategic planning
ensure that traditional and
growing constituencies all have a voice and chance at
consulting contracts, staffing, and party leadership
Political Programming Initiatives
create executive position in
National Chair's office for direct liaison to state parties;
re-energize the regional desk system
create national, coordinated
strategy for state ballot initiatives
develop & implement
redistricting strategies for 2010 census
enhance interactive organizing
over the Internet
conduct ongoing voter
registration and issue-identification
reform way DNC at-large members
are chosen
Protect Support of Still-Loyal
Democrats - Task Force I
African-Americans, Union
Members, Lower Income Americans, Unmarried Americans, etc.
New England, Upper Midwest, &
West Coast
Challenge Republicans for Changing
Groups of Voters - Task Force II
Latinos / Hispanics, Women,
Ethnic Voters, Racial Minorities, New Citizen and First Generation
Immigrant Voters, Catholics, Married Voters, Non-Union Blue Collar,
etc.
Lower Midwest, Southwest
Sunbelt
Attack Republicans on Their Own Turf -
Task Force III
Evangelical Voters, Small
Businesses, Rural America, etc.
Rocky Mountain States, Plains
States, Border South, Deep South
Financial
Donors Respond to Clear Messages
and Clear Plans
close coordination between DNC
planning & fundraising
Provide Accountability
provide project-specific
progress and proof of delivery
Maintain Participation of Large
Contributors and Fundraisers
Continue Improving Direct Mail
Programs
Nurture New, Small-Dollar Internet
Universe
Develop Better Revenue Sharing Plan
with State Parties
Structural / Operational
Increase Professionalism of DNC
provide management training and
performance benchmarks
Establish Measurable Goals and
Deliverables
what gets measured gets done /
establish benchmarks
track projects across timelines
and goals
Establish Clear Job Descriptions /
Hold Staff & Consultants Accountable
know who gets credit for
success, blame for the shortfalls
Review National Convention
Planning, Processes, Scheduling
Establish Quarterly or Semi-Annual
Review of All Operations
create budget committee of key
national and state leaders
conduct regular, independent
CPA review of books
management consultant review of
operations
THE CHAIRMAN
The race
for Chairman of the DNC appears to be fragmenting around the issue of “reform”
vs. “status quo” candidates. Some Democrats are actively promoting the idea of
keeping Terry McAuliffe, the current Chairman.
Capitol
Hill Blue provides this current assessment of the situation:
Senior Democrats are trying
to persuade national Chairman Terry McAuliffe to continue his service as party
chairman, especially if none of the current candidates gains momentum in the
race to replace him. . . .
McAuliffe met privately
Wednesday with several Democratic senators on Capitol Hill, and was asked again
to consider serving for another year or two. . . .
Democratic senators
reportedly at the meeting included Democratic Leader Harry Reid of Nevada and
Charles Schumer of New York. . . .
None of the early candidates
for chairman has gained momentum. Some potential candidates - Iowa Gov. Tom
Vilsack, Democratic activist Harold Ickes and former Labor Secretary Alexis
Herman - have dropped out.
Candidates for the position
include former Texas Rep. Martin Frost, former Denver Mayor Wellington Webb,
Democratic strategist Donnie Fowler and Simon Rosenberg, head of the centrist
New Democrat Network. Rosenberg was formally announcing his bid Thursday in
Washington.
Others who have been
considering a bid include former presidential candidate Howard Dean, former
Indiana Rep. Tim Roemer, former Michigan Gov. Jim Blanchard and former Texas
state chairwoman Molly Beth Malcolm.
Democratic governors are
watching the contest closely and will send representatives to several regional
Democratic meetings where candidates will make their pitch, including a session
this weekend in Atlanta.
"Right now, the governors are
interested in the concept of an outside-the-beltway candidate and we still have
not coalesced around any one candidate," said New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson,
head of the Democratic Governors Association.
Richardson said he's open to
splitting the job, with a chairman handling the communications and public side
of the job and a chief executive handling "the nuts and bolts." – Capitol Hill Blue
