In 1858, in the election for the US Senate, Abraham Lincoln lost to Steven Douglas by a vote of voted 54 to 46 in the Illinois legislature. The first members of the Senate chosen by direct election was in 1914.

After the May 4 Democratic Primary there will be scheduled the 2022 Montgomery County Democratic Party Reorganization Meeting. Reorganization is a big opportunity — every four years — for Montgomery County Democrats to re-think and re-structure the local party organization. 

I’d like to see the MCDP Constitution revised so at the next Reorganization, in 2026, rank-and-file Democrats, who so choose, can directly elect the Chairperson of the MCDP.

Direct election of US Senators came with the 17th Amendment in 1913. The goal then, of the progressives who worked to pass this Amendment, remains the goal for progressives now — make positive changes in our system of representative democracy that will empower the rank-and-file and will make our republican system more robust.

Montgomery County has about 40,000 Democrats and in past quadrennial reorganizations, only about 120 Democrats have been elected to the Central Committee and only about 100 have attended the MCDP Reorganization Meeting. This small group chooses the leader for the thousands of Democrats in the county. It’s even worse at the state level. The ODP Chair chosen to lead Ohio’s 1.3 million Democrats is selected by a very tiny politburo. (See: Note To David Pepper: Go For the Big Win — Invite All Ohio Democrats To Become Voting Members Of The ODP)

At the 2018 Reorganization Meeting, the organization got a new name. The new MCDP Constitution replaced “The Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee Constitution.” The name of the organization officially became “The Montgomery County Democratic Party” in 2018, but the content of the current MCDP Constitution remains as before — focused exclusively on the Central Committee. On the MCDP web-site, rank-and-file Democrats who so choose can “become members” of the MCDP, and pay dues, but this is just a fund raiser. There is no actual MCDP organization.

I’d like to see the 2022 Reorganization ratify an MCDP Constitution that establishes the MCDP as a real organization — open to membership of all rank-and-file Montgomery County Democrats. This organization would have officers. It would have committees. It would advance a vision of grassroots activism. The goal would be that, over time, the MCDP would become a network of grassroots Democratic communities — serving their local jurisdictions — building the Democratic Party as an attractive brand. 

The Ohio Revised code indicates that one of the MCDP’s committees must be the Central Committee and this must be the “controlling committee.”  The 2022 MCDP Constitution would spell out a process where decisions of the virtual group, the MCDP, would be verified by the in-person group, the MCDP Central Committee. (The rule of the ODP is that only those in in-person attendance may vote in the Central Committee. This rule has been suspended temporarily because of Covid.)

In the new structure, there should be no conflict between the MCDP organization and the MCDP Central Committee because all of the members of the Central Committee also will be members of the MCDP. Most often, members of the Central Committee will be the leaders of the MCDP organization. All of the work of the Central Committee will be transparent to the membership of the MCDP organization, with a process of feedback established in the Constitution. The person chosen the MCDP Chair most likely also would be chosen the MCDP Central Committee Chair. In the new structure, there will be no Executive Committee.

The MCDP Constitution will spell out the process for endorsement that will include participation and a vote by the on-line membership of the MCDP.

The way forward for the Democratic Party is to deliver the message that it is the “For-democracy” community. It is a partisan political party seeking to win elections, yes, but it attracts voters because it delivers the message that it is a force for democracy in the grassroots — standing for civic virtue, servant leadership, transparency, democracy.

The MCDP Constitution in its present form is a relic of a previous time when the county Democratic Party organization had control of many, many patronage jobs. If you could become a Ward Leader, or become a member of the Executive Committee, you might have the clout to get your cousin a job working on county roads. So the current constitution establishes the power lines for a very hierarchical, political boss system typical of 19th century political parties. This structure — based on patronage — at one time may have motivated a Democratic community to get engaged and to pitch in and do the hard work needed to win elections. But now it is out of date. It is not working.

To motivate Democrats, especially the youth, we need basic changes to the MCDP structure to empower the rank-and-file using 21st century technology. The new constitution needs to support a vision of the MCDP as an inviting community — where members love and respect each other and who are like-minded in their passion for service and their passion for democracy.

Rather than amending the 2018 MCDP Constitution, there needs to be a basic reconstruction. One goal of such a reconstruction should be the direct election of the MCDP Chair by an on-line members-only MCDP organization.

Exiting in a chariot of fire, Elijah left his mantle fall to earth.

Jocelyn Rhynard has announced her candidacy to be elected the Chairperson of the Montgomery County Democratic Party. The election will take place at the quadrennial MCDP Reorganization Meeting to be scheduled after the May 2 Democratic Primary. Below is the email that Jocelyn sent to MCDP Central Committee members telling her goals for the party.

Rhynard praised Mark Owens, the MCDP Chair for the last 15 years, and declared “I am ready and willing to pick up the mantle” — implying, but surely not, that Mark, like Elijah, may be exiting in a chariot of fire.

Jocelyn is a member of the Dayton Board of Education. She was endorsed by the MCDP and was re-elected to the Dayton Board in 2021.

Jocelyn Rhynard

The Chairman of the MCDP will be determined by majority vote by the newly elected MCDP Central Committee at the  2022 MCDP Reorganization Meeting to be held after the May 2 Democratic Primary.

Any Montgomery County Democrat may seek election to the MCDP Central Committee. Every four years at the Democratic Primary elections to the Central Committee are held. Every precinct can elect one member of the Central Committee. In the past most precincts have had zero candidates and only a handful of precincts have more than one candidate.

A new rule of the OPD is that in those precincts where there is competitions, the losers will be disqualified from appointment to the Central Committee for the next four years.  In previous elections, after the Reorganization Meeting, the losers generally were appointed to the Central Committee to represent a precinct that had had no candidates. The new OPD rule means that such appointments are no longer allowed. The new rule says that a member of the Central Committee must reside in the precinct in which he or she lives.

Petitions are due to the BOE by February 2 and five signatures are required.

Subject: I’m running for Montgomery County Democratic Party Chair

 

Sent: Monday January 10 2022 8:48:51PM

To my Montgomery County Democratic Party friends,

 

I am honored to know you and count you among my friends. In the time I’ve been involved in the Party, I have worked shoulder to shoulder with you to elect Democrats to office, from the White House to municipal elections. Together we have knocked doors, dropped lit, run campaigns, attended meetings, put up hundreds of yard signs, and supported candidates all over Montgomery County. I have had the privilege of being twice elected to the Dayton School Board, and I am proud of my record of strong and steady leadership in that role.

 

Above all, I deeply believe that Democratic values, policies, and legislation make all of our lives better. And I believe that the Montgomery County Democratic Party, and the Democrats like you and me who make the party run, are crucial to electing Democrats and defeating Republicans in our cities, school boards, courthouses, the Statehouse, and in Washington. We want to win more elections, and we want to turn Ohio blue.

 

Which is why I am excited to announce that I am running for Chair of the Montgomery County Democratic Party. Chairman Mark Owens has served tirelessly for the last 15 years, and we thank him for his service. I am ready and willing to pick up the mantle. I have the time, energy, resources, and experience to do the work of leading the party.

As your next party Chair, I would be committed to three guiding principles:

 

1. Build the party: Revisit the party’s constitution to make much-needed updates and reflect new realities among its activists and volunteers; Create guidelines for and commitments from Ward Leaders and Precinct Captains; Revitalize committees to move the party forward; Execute strong fundraising year round so the party can better support Democratic candidates.
2. Build the bench: Hold annual trainings for Democrats interested in running for office or working on a campaign; Reach out to the community between elections; Identify and engage Democrats who can join and strengthen the party, as well as be future candidates.
3. Engage Democrats inside and outside the party: Hold regular coordinated messaging meetings – for both elected officials and candidates – to strengthen our work across the county; Hold regular listening tours to heal the very real divides in our communities; Have community outreach days, so the Democratic party can have a real presence in the lives of Montgomery County citizens.

I believe that by building the party, building the bench, and engaging Democrats across the county, we can run more competitive races, challenge more Republicans, and win more elections.

 

As we prepare for electing our next Chair following the primary election, I humbly ask for your support. I welcome your input and would be happy to meet to discuss any questions you may have. I look forward to serving the Party for the next four years.

Jocelyn Rhynard

Karl Keith is well liked, and an excellent County Auditor. He is very influential in the local party. Karl, however, is part of the MCDP problem. He is part of anti-democracy political boss system that must change.

Every four years, the Montgomery County Democratic Party is required by state law to “reorganize.” This May 2, at the Democratic Primary, a new MCDP Central Committee will be elected and the 2022 MCDP Reorganization Meeting will be scheduled.

At a national and state level, the Democratic Party is a mess —  no leadership, no vision. Reorganization is the big opportunity for Montgomery County Democrats to reform the party at the county level with new leadership and a new plan to create a “For-democracy” 21st Century political organization. Reorganization is the opportunity for MCDP to step away from its “political boss” structure that is pervasive in the party and to become a model for the state and nation.

If you are a Democrat, this is your opportunity to be a leader — to be on the Democratic ballot and seek election to the MCDP Central Committee —  to represent the Democrats in your precinct. And, if elected, you can be a voting participant in the important 2022 Reorganization Meeting.  (See how below.)

One big issue to be resolved at Reorganization is the on-going anti-democratic endorsement practice of the MCDP. The huge mistakes the MCDP made last year — crazy and hurtful endorsements — is a result of a rigged political boss system. The second big issue is the fact that many Democrats simply refuse to vote. Why? I believe, the anti-democratic practices of the MCDP can be blamed. Some Democrats have lost faith in the party. The MCDP must do better. Now, it is more important than ever that the MCDP move into the 21st Century and become an organization that empowers the rank-and-file and that energizes Democrats with new confidence in their party. 

I became a Central Committee member in 2006. In fifteen years there has been little change in the MCDP organization. It’s a political boss system and the same group has stayed in control for years. These are all nice people. Who wouldn’t like the county auditor, Karl Keith? I hate to bring it up, but Karl is part of the problem in that he has consistently supported the anti-democratic actions of the MCDP. Karl has supported the endorsement procedures and all of the dumb endorsements over the last many years. 

I count six of Karl’s employees in the County Auditor’s office who are members of the MCDP Central Committee, so Karl unfairly has seven votes. The 19th century practice of anti-democratically empowering political bosses needs to stop. The Clerk of Courts, Mark Owens, (now retired) has eight employees — eight votes — on the Central Committee and County Prosecutor, Mat Heck, has twenty votes. This is public information. I compiled a list of county employees who are voting members of the Central Committee and I doubt that I found them all. Members of the Central Committee are suppose to represent the Democrats in their precinct. It is a corrupt system when members first loyalty is to an elected official.

I decided to research Karl and the other elected officials in the MCDP leadership after the March 2019 Central Committee meeting. (You can see the David Esrati’s you-tube here.)  At that meeting, I was intent on making a motion to form independent committees to study some crucial issues. A young woman interrupted. I was baffled why this person would be so aggressive and would show such contempt. Only later did I discover that this 24 year old has a good job in the Auditor’s office as an Administrative Assistant for Karl Keith. 

Prior to being interrupted, I was saying:

“We need to do the hard work of researching and dialoging about questions of real importance…. The Central Committee needs to discuss and deliberate important questions. We need to come to grips with what a twenty-first century Democratic Party should look like…. We need to let people know that we are champions of democracy.

There’s only 60 people here this evening. What does that poor attendance say? It says most members saw no value in coming to this meeting. We didn’t have an agenda for this meeting. We are not operating in a professional way. …

Why is there no committee studying the 2018 election in Montgomery County? There has been no report. Why won’t Democrats come out and vote? We have precincts that voted 90% – 95% for Cordray. It’s amazing. But these strong precinct only had a turn-out of 40%. Why aren’t we talking about this? What is our plan?”

Ironic — Speech At Central Committee Meeting Calling For The MCDP To Be “A Champion Of Democracy” Interrupted By ‘Non-Debatable’ Motion To Immediately Adjourn

“I thought I had the floor, and the right to speak, but, as it turned out, I didn’t have the floor after all. There was a member waving her hand wanting to interrupt me and the chair allowed it. (17:55) As it turns out, the person harassing me was Kyle Tromley — an Administrative Assistant for Karl Keith, our County Auditor. Kyle wanted everyone to know that she’s worked her tail off for the party and that she was tired of hearing me complain and ramble.

 

I told Kyle that I’d like to get to know her and that it was important that everyone in the party find a way to work together. After some back and forth, I said, “I’d like to make a motion.” At this point Karl Keith, stood and moved that we immediately adjourn. (18:58) (Not until later did I didn’t realize that Kyle and Karl were a tag team.) When I asked Karl why he thought an abrupt end to the meeting was appropriate, Karl said that adjournment is a privileged motion and that there could be no debate. I guess we follow Roberts Rules only when it is suits our purposes to do so.

 

The video shows that when the vote was taken, standing with Karl to seek an immediate adjournment was not only 24 year old Kyle Tromley, his Administrative Assistant, but also 25 year old Mike Brill, Karl’s Executive Assistant at the Auditor’s Office. (The rest of the Auditor’s contingent was not present at this meeting or I’m sure they would have stood with Karl as well.)”

The purpose of this retelling of this 2019 meeting is not to trash Karl. Like I said, Karl is a nice guy and I believe he is an excellent County Auditor — but he, and others of the MCDP bosses, actively are anti-democratic, empowered by the anti-democratic 19th Century political boss structure inscribed in the MCDP Constitution.

The anti-democracy practices of the MCDP are a turn-off to Democratic voters. We need a complete turn-around and we need to establish a MCDP Constitution that is “For-democracy.” The time demands such a turn-around.  Reorganization comes at a time when democracy is a hot topic and a big concern. In fact, democracy should be our biggest concern. On the anniversary of the January 6 attack on the Capitol, President Biden warned: “Make no mistake about it, we’re living at an inflection point in history, both at home and abroad.”Our challenge as a grassroots organization is to advance a “For-democracy” plan that empowers the rank-and file.

The MCDP should change the MCDP Constitution concerning endorsements. In 2018, each of my five motions concerning endorsement were voted down. (See the list below.) But fixing the endorsement mess is only part of the challenge. Our goal must be to create an MCDP worthy of the challenge of our time, worthy of the support of Montgomery County Democrats, worthy to be emulated by other county organizations.

How to Become A Candidate For the MCDP Central Committee

February 2 is the deadline to get on the ballot to be elected to the MCDP Central Committee. Here is what is required:

1. Download form 2L from the Secretary of State’s website. Here is the link.
2. Check with the BOE to verify the precinct you live in. (Some have changed.) Here is the link.
3. To complete this form, you will need the signature of at least five Democrats living in your precinct. To get a list of the Democrats in your precinct, go to Campaign Tools at our BOE.Here is the link.

In 2018, the MCDP Central Committee voted to waive the requirement for five signatures and the only requirement was the candidate’s own signature. Even with this simplified requirement only 120 of the county’s 360 precincts had any candidates, so I am concerned that with the five signature requirement even few precincts will be engaged in this election.

The BOE will post every Friday an update on petitions that have been submitted.

February 22 is the next important date. This is the deadline for any write-in candidate to submit a petition. The requirement is simply the signature of the candidate. The candidate’s name will not appear on the ballot,only one write-in vote can win the election.

—  Articles —

• Turner-Sloss, Fairchild pull off rare feat in Dayton commission race November 6, 2021 “Democrats Darryl Fairchild and Shenise Turner-Sloss made some history this week by defeating two Dayton City Commission candidates who were endorsed by the Montgomery County Democratic Party. Credit to the voters who saw through the shenanigans and who were willing to vote for substance over distraction,” Fairchild said, a reference to controversial mailers that were sent out by their opponents attacking him and Turner-Sloss. Those mailers angered many Democrats, with some people saying they were racist….”
• Montgomery County Democrats apologize for attack ads October 29, 2021 UPDATE: Montgomery County Democratic Party Executive Director Kurt Hatcher resigned Friday in the wake of the controversy over the mailers. The Montgomery County Democratic Party issued an apology to two Dayton city commission candidates for attack advertisements sent by mail to city voters. The party’s central committee on Thursday voted to apologize to Dayton City Commissioner Rev. Darryl Fairchild and candidate Shenise Turner-Sloss, said Mark Owens, party chairman.
• Montgomery County Democratic Party Dominated By Appointed Gov. Workers And Elected Gov. Officials September 16, 2011 A DDN article today, “Public Workers’ Political Activity Limited,” tells that one-fourth of the 186 members of the Central Committee of the Montgomery County Democratic Party (MCDP) are employed as Montgomery County government workers, and one-tenth of the 278 members of the Central Committee of the Montgomery County Republican Party (MCRP) are county government workers.
• Proposed Change To MCDP Constitution —All Endorsements Shall Be By Roll Call Vote Of The Central Committee May 22, 2018  With its endorsement of Democrat Rev Ward over Democrat Rev Fairchild, the Montgomery County Democratic Party further eroded confidence in the party. The Selection Committee’s decision to endorse was not based on the competence and character of the two candidates. It was all about party politics. Evidently, Rev. Ward had more friends than Rev. Fairchild on the Selection Committee. There is no record of how this decision was made. The constitution calls for all endorsements to command a 2/3 support in the Central Committee. The problem is, there is no transparency. There is no way that I can discover who on the Central Committee voted for the endorsement and who voted against and who failed to vote.
• Should The Attendance Records Of Central Committee Members Be Kept Secret? In The Montgomery County Democratic Party There Is Disagreement About Transparency March 29, 2019  Interesting exchange last evening with Kurt Hatcher, Executive Director of the MCDP, following the March meeting of the MCDP Central Committee. I told Kurt that I’d like to be sent a list of members in attendance. Kurt replied that he would not honor my request because the Central Committee had voted in the January meeting to omit any record of attendance in the minutes of the Central Committee meetings….In that same January meeting, the group voted that the email addresses of Central Committee members should be kept secret — even from fellow Central Committee members. Yes, read that again.
• The Montgomery County Democratic Party Shows Blatant Favoritism In Democratic Primary Endorsements. December 28, 2019  The Montgomery County Democratic Party at its December 12 meeting voted on early endorsements for the Democratic Primary. This endorsement practice is so anti-democratic and so reeks of a system that is rigged that some Democratic Party county organizations prohibit this practice. Willis Blackshear Jr. got the big prize — the endorsement for Dayton’s 39th Ohio House District. There were four other qualified Democrats who had taken out petitions (see the last article below). A majority of the 29 members of the Screening Committee party chose the 27 year old son of their friend — Willis Blackshear Sr., the County Recorder who died less than two years ago. The MCDP seems to have no fear of showing in its endorsement actions what appears as blatant favoritism.
• Montgomery County Democrats Defeat Endorsement Motion Oct 26, 2007  Both the Executive Committee and the Central Committee of the Montgomery County Democratic Party, at our October meeting last night, defeated my motion concerning endorsement procedures. 
• At MCDP Reorganization Meeting I Will Propose A Change In By-Laws To Prohibit Primary Endorsements June 2, 2010…  I’ve been surprised to learn that the MCDP operates as a very anti-democratic boss driven system. It took me a while to catch on.  In October, 2007, I made a motion that the Central Committee should make no endorsement of Primary candidates prior to the deadline for submitting petitions.  I thought this motion might get support. I was enlightened about what MCDP is all about during the short debate that occurred in response to my motion.  One insistent person demanded that the discussion be stopped and the question called.  I thought there was a lot more to discuss about the whole matter of MCDP endorsement policies and didn’t appreciate the steam roller parliamentary action to suppress discussion.  The chairperson of the MCDP, Mark Owens, is an elected official, the Clerk of Courts.  My Aha moment occurred only later, when I learned that the insistent person demanding discussion be stopped is an employee in Mark Owens’ office.
• Only 47% Of Montgomery County Dems Will Be Represented At The June MCDP Reorganization Meeting April 8, 2014 Montgomery County Democrats at the May 6 Democratic Primary will elect members of the MCDP Central Committee. 132 of the county’s 360 precincts have at least one candidate (shown in WHITE on map) — 16 of the 132 have more than one candidate — and 228 precincts have no candidate (shown in GRAY on map).
• How Gerrymandering Defeated An Outstanding Candidate And Sent a Weak Candidate To Columbus March 5, 2008 Vic Harris lost to Roland Winburn for the 40th OHD Democratic nomination yesterday by 44% to 56%. I noticed that some voters walking through the parking lot in the rain to the polling place were clutching their Democratic Party Endorsed Candidate slate in their hands. These lists of officially endorsed candidates were mailed to Democrats, and, on primary election day, Party workers were also passing out these slates to voters at the polls. It’s hard to run against the machine…. I am dismayed that the 40th OHD Democrats chose a weak candidate, Roland, a nice man with lost of friends in the party, and rejected a very outstanding individual, Vic. I keep analyzing how and why this result happened. What gripes me is that many people voting for Winburn were simply wanting to be good Democrats and felt that the way to be a good Democrat was to follow the Party’s endorsement.
• MCDP Central Committee Rejects Setting Standards For Itself That Are Generally Expected Of Legislative Bodies Aug 30, 2019 The MCDP Central Committee meeting last night rejected making any requests of Chairman Mark Owens to implement changes to its standards of procedures of operation…. The complaint was that the expectations for the Central Committee — procedures and standards — should at least be comparable to what one would expect to find in a well-run student council at a high school: agendas, notifications, minutes, financial reports, etc.