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archived: 16 - 22 Jan, 2005 Back Next CHAIRMAN TURLINGTON Two years ago, TPJ endorsed Jerry Meek for Chairman of the NCDP. Today, TPJ recommends Ed Turlington for Chairman of the North Carolina Democratic Party. TPJ endorses Turlington for the same reasons that TPJ recommends Gov. Howard Dean for DNC Chairman – Turlington is the right person for the job facing the NC Democratic Party. Turlington has roots both in the progressive and moderate wings of the Democratic Party as exemplified by his work for McGovern, Bill Bradley, Terry Sanford, Sen. Edwards. He has extensive experience in mounting campaigns both within the State and nationally. A Turlington Chairmanship promises the hope of an individual who can build bridges between the conservative, moderate and progressive forces that comprise the NC Democratic Party. For NC progressives who have not had an appropriate voice in the Democratic Party, Turlington’s demonstrated ability to work in the various wings of the NCDP should ensure a meaningful voice in Party affairs. TPJ also believes that Turlington is the best candidate to address these critical issues facing the Democratic Party in the State:
Jerry Meek, current Vice Chairman of the Party, is a viable candidate. As one TPJ reader noted in a recent Junkies’ Speak article, NC Democrats are fortunate to have two fine candidates for Chairman. Meek and Turlington both devoted themselves to the 2004 election. Yet, Meek’s lack of leadership in some areas has been a disappointment. Meek sought the Chairmanship during the last Party election cycle. Many progressive Democrats, including TPJ, committed to challenge Barbara Allen as Chairman. In the 2002 election, former Democrat State Representative Phillip Baddour was locked in a recount of votes against the apparent and ultimate Republican winner. Rep. Baddour was one of the leading Democrats in the State House and moderately progressive on some issues. The NCDP under Barbara Allen sent no one to help protect the recount for former Rep. Baddour, while the Republican Party had a gaggle of lawyers and observers present. Junkie went and was convinced that a Party that will not stand with one of its own when the “chips are down” is no Party at all. Many believed that Meek was on track to win the Chairmanship when he cut a deal with the Party leadership to accept Vice-Chairman. Meek must now share some degree of responsibility for the failure of the NCDP to effectively organize statewide for the 2004 General Election. As previous TPJ articles have noted, the NCDP failed to mount an organized voter registration effort statewide. That failure hurt Democrats badly. The Democratic Party’s website is generally lacking and certainly the did not make effective use of the internet as a campaign tool during 2004. While Meek notes in his campaign for Chairman that he traveled the State helping local Democrats to develop internet technology, the NCDP of which he is a leader made virtually no improvements – a strange paradox. While Meek’s abandoning his campaign for Chairman might be understandable and forgivable, his lack of leadership in addressing just the two items above is a mystery. In essence, if progressive Democrats thought that Meek would be a voice inside the Party for reform over the last two years, it has not been publicly apparent on these critical issues to the Party. The progressives who are the core of Meek’s candidacy point to his leadership after the NCDP stopped consideration of a State Platform at its last Convention. Democrats will recall that when progressive delegates advanced a plank to support the development of commercial hemp in the State, moderate delegates correctly noted that a quorum was not present. The Convention ended without a Party Platform. Meek did, belatedly, call for the State Chairman to convene a meeting of the Executive Committee to adopt a platform. Where was Meek’s voice over the nearly two years on the issues of voter registration and building an internet presence? The 2004 election brought a lot of new citizens to the Democratic Party in North Carolina, particularly progressives. It is the most massive infusion of "new blood" that the NC Democrat Party has had since he 1960's. Turlington is the best candidate to incorporate these Democrats into the Party effectively. Looking at Turlington’s unmatched record of building political organizations and his progressive roots, these new Democrats should find their rightful place within the Party. It is place progressives have earned. For progressive Democrats, some of whom appear to be spoiling for a fight over policy issues, Meek appears to be willing to join that fight, promising to speak out against policies that elected Democrats may be taking. In addition, Meek is promising a Party that is “independent.” Meek’s statements signal an independence and fight that is destructive rather than constructive. A Party divorced from its public office holders? One can only imagine the reaction to Meeks statement by members of the Democratic Party State Senate Caucus and the Democratic Party State House Caucus, the two most potent organizations in the NCDP as proven by the last election. Assuredly, there has been too much “top” in the NCDP and not enough “bottom.” But, the goal should be to find a balance that fosters success, not division. Progressive Democrats seeking independence should take a lesson from the Republican intra-Party war that is currently raging. Democrats narrowly regained control of the NC State House largely due to the Republican infighting that cost them at least two districts. Rev. Jesse Jackson once observed that in facing the dilemma of fashioning the various wings of the Democratic Party into a cohesive and successful force: “a bird needs both of its wings to fly.” Bob Geary has authored an excellent analysis of that dilemma for the North Carolina Democratic Party in “Turlington Versus Meek Puts State Democrats at a Crossroads.” Turlington is the right person to fashion the “wings” of the NC Democratic Party into an organization that listens and responds to all, including progressives. He is the best choice for Chairman. WINNING THE SENATE TPJ continues its review of the 2004 election results in North Carolina and the South with an analysis of the results in the NC State Senate. For readers who might have missed TPJ’s analysis of other races, follow these links to:
Winning the State
House, Part II Overview While Democrats recaptured a majority in the State House, Democrats in the State Senate were expanding their existing control over the State Senate by a net of two seats; 28 to 22. The net increase provides the Democratic Party with a clear working majority. It was an impressive feat in an election where Democrats running on the national ticket were being soundly defeated. Follow this link for a chart of the results from all of the State Senate Races – NC Senate Vote Totals As in the State House, the impressive Democratic Party victory was based upon narrow margins. Analysis: No Contest Of the 50 State Senate districts, 17 were uncontested by the major Parties. Democrats held 8 of the 17 uncontested seats and Republicans 9. Follow this link for a chart of the uncontested districts – NC Senate Uncontested Districts The percentage of State Senate seats uncontested by the Parties, about one third, poses an interesting contrast to the percentage of State House seats that were unopposed by the major Parties. As noted in TPJ’s analysis of the State House results, 71 of 120 State House seats were unopposed. The eight uncontested Democratic Party State Senate seats do not follow a distinct geographical pattern; three loosely classified as being in Eastern North Carolina and four in the Piedmont. Neither was it urban vs. rural. Four uncontested Democratic seats are from rural areas and four from urban centers. For Republicans, geography was more of a factor. Six of nine uncontested Republican seats are within the I-85 corridor and all nine within the Piedmont. Recall that in the State House, the uncontested seats followed a more distinct geographical pattern. As TPJ noted in its State House review:
For
Republicans, some 24 of the 35 uncontested counties were in districts
contiguous to or west of I-85. Of the 11 remaining uncontested seats, 5
districts were in Wake County or contiguous counties to Wake. Analysis: Contested Seats: Non-Competitive Of the 33 contested seats, Democrats won 21 and the Republicans 12. Follow this link for the results in the contested districts – NC Senate Contested Seats Of the 33 contested seats, 23 districts were simply not “competitive” between the Parties. For the purposes of this analysis, TPJ defines a “competitive” race as one in which the two major candidates were separated by more not more than 15%. Of the 23 non-competitive districts, the Democrats won 13 and the Republicans 10. Follow this link to the chart for non-competitive districts: -- NC Senate Non Competitive Seats Analysis: Contested Seats: TPJ’S HOT 10 Control of the State Senate hinged on only 10 competitive districts – TPJ’s Hot 10. These districts comprise TPJ’s Hot 11:
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