Post by Moses on Jul 26, 2005 18:53:05 GMT -5
Tuesday, July 26, 2005
Progressives trying to revive Democrats
Dean inspired young activists
By Feoshia Henderson
Post staff reporter
TO LEARN MORE
Change for Kentucky has a Web site at www.changeforkentucky.com and an e-mail list to keep members across the state connected and up on events.
The group also raises money for candidates through the site.
Jen Haaga, 28, never spent much time thinking about politics until after president Bush's re-election last year, a result that didn't please the Fort Thomas Democrat.
"The issues with the Iraq war and foreign policy in general, the environment, stem cell research and the manipulation of moral values for political gain got me looking around and wanting to get involved," she said.
That's why Haaga, a psychologist, took on the role of Campbell County coordinator of Change for Kentucky. It's a self-described progressive organization that is quietly reenergizing disaffected Democrats - and some Republicans, they say - in a way the struggling Democratic Party hasn't been able to in years.
"I think a lot of people in this area felt somewhat isolated because there is a very conservative tone (in Northern Kentucky)," Haaga said. "They felt they weren't being heard or hearing other progressives in the area."
She isn't alone in that sentiment. Change for Kentucky co-founder and director Jeremy Horton, of Lexington, said the group has 5,500 members and chapters in 13 counties, including Boone, Kenton and Campbell. Two of the chapters started in the last week, and Horton hopes to see them eventually in each of the state's 120 counties.
Change for Kentucky formed in February of 2004 after former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean's brief but exuberant run for president in the Democratic primary. Horton was Dean's Kentucky chairman and said Change for Kentucky was modeled after his campaign, which relied heavily on raising small campaign contributions from a broad base via the Internet.
Unlike many county Democratic organizations, Change for Kentucky is managed by younger people, mostly in their 20s and 30s, who rely on technology to communicate and raise money. The volunteer network is connected by cell phones, e-mail and the Internet. Each group meets monthly on the same day, usually in an informal setting such as a restaurant or someone's home.
But what's notable about the fledgling group is not so much its philosophy - which appears to be a quirky mix of old-fashioned liberalism with a touch of libertarianism - but the way it's working to pursue those values.
Horton said the group isn't primarily an "issues organization."
"Our No.1 goal is to get good candidates elected. That's why we filed as a (Political Action Committee) and all the money raised is in hard dollars, so we can spend it on elected candidates. If we elect the right people we'll get all the issues we want," said Horton, 35.
He said he encourages local chapters to work with county Democratic parties. He hopes his group's effort can spur some changes in the party, which has steadily been losing Kentucky votes, he said.
"That's absolutely where this comes from. The Democratic Party has been in need of reform, and perhaps we can show (them) how to better organize themselves," he said.
Boone County Republican Party chairman Ken Brown said he isn't surprised to see disenfranchised Democrats branching out to form a new organization.
"The Democratic Party doesn't have a message right now," he said. "Obviously, there's a group out there that wants to get the message out."
The Northern Kentucky chapters of Change for Kentucky now meet as a single group on the first Wednesday of each month, and have a combined membership of about 70 members. But soon they could break up into three distinct groups, Haaga said.
Each county coordinator has varying goals and a different take on what a progressive is. That's part of Change for Kentucky's vision for letting each county work out the best way to attract voters, Horton said.
Kenton County coordinator Jamie Jameson, 29, said he hopes his group attracts an equal number of Republicans and Democrats. He summed up the progressive movement this way:
"The progressive term to me is the everyday American who wants as little of his or her money as possible to go to government and expects government to use it wisely, and believes government should regulate government and business, not people's everyday lives," Jameson said.
Change for Kentucky has already flexed some political muscle. Horton said his organization of progressive Lexington Democrats helped get him elected to the state party's governing committee. In addition, under the moniker "Change for Kentucky 12," the organization supported a dozen candidates for state and local offices last year, including current Kenton County Democratic Party chair Kathy Groob's unsuccessful bid for the state Senate.
Five of the 12, mostly incumbents, were elected.
One seat, in Louisville's 37th Senate district, is tied up in a court fight between Democrat Virginia Woodward and Republican Dana Seum Stephenson. Change for Kentucky helped raise money for Woodward's legal challenge.
Horton said next year's goal is for each chapter to target one or two local races.
Change for Kentucky members met in Shepherdsville for a state summit and training workshop in May. Participants included high-ranking state Democratic speakers, including Lexington state Sen. Ernesto Scorsone, Treasurer Jonathan Miller and Auditor Crit Luallen, who's widely believed to be a contender for governor in 2007.
Closer to home, the Northern Kentucky group last month worked with Democracy for America, another progressive group with ties to Dean, to hold a house party in which participants planned for next year's elections. Earlier this month, the Campbell County group sponsored a community forum on Social Security.Democratic Party leaders in Northern Kentucky say they don't see the organization as a competitor, but as a partner.
"We have an open line of communication between my party and them. I like the way they energize volunteers," said Boone County Democratic Party Chair Howard Tankersley. "I'm pleased they are out there and I'm pleased they are in Boone County."
Groob said the group is filling a gap in the party by reaching younger voters with technology.
"They're being trained ... (and) really have some grassroots techniques like meetups and blogs that quite frankly the local Democratic Party has not picked up on," she said. "They bring the energy and momentum leftover from the Dean campaign and some techniques.
Groob said Democrats' grassroots campaigning may be turned over to the Kenton County group in next year's elections.
Boone County organizer Rachel Spiller, 34, got involved in both the county party and Change for Kentucky about a month ago, her first foray into politics. She said the party and the Change for Kentucky complement each other.
"I think the main goal is try to increase the membership so that any candidate will know if they need a group of volunteers, Change for Kentucky is ready to go for them," she said. "But now I don't think a lot of people know it exists yet."