Righting a Wrong - Sonoma County Democrats Vote to Recommend Rescision of Resolution

Meeting at the Bakers Square restaurant in Santa Rosa tonight, the executive committee of the Sonoma County Democratic Central Committee (SCDCC) voted 7-4 to recommend to the full 30 member central committee that it rescind its controversial resolution on Sponsorship Lists and Democratic Party Officeholders. Under the resolution, adopted on a 12-11 vote in June, local Democratic elected officials in non-partisan offices, such as city council, faced sanctions from the Central Committee should they appoint non-Democrats to "important" commissions, agencies, committees, and other groups if qualified Democrats were available.

Under the resolution, all Democrats are encouraged to bring to the attention of the SCDCC "instances of improper conduct," that is, examples of local Democratic office holders appointing non-Democrats to local boards and committees. A list will be maintained of the violators, who would in the future not receive the support of the SCDCC.

After members of the executive committee spoke out in turn, about equally divided for and against rescinding the resolution, about 8 or 9 guests stood and spoke unanimously against the resolution. Aside from a couple Republicans there speaking against the measure, and one Democrat who just seemed to have some beef with Lynn Woolsey, who was neither there nor otherwise being discussed, all the guests who spoke up were "life-long Democrats" speaking in opposition to the resolution. The recurring themes were that the measure was anti-democratic, non-inclusive, contrary to the spirit of the California Constitution, which establishes that municipal politics shall be conducted on a non-partisan basis, and immitative of the cronyism of the Bush Administration at a minor league level. When the roll call vote for recommending the resolution's rescision passed, the guests, none of whom seemed to know each other and had been motivated to come by the black eye this measure and its attendant publicity had given to local Democrats, exchanged goodbyes and dispersed, leaving the committee to delve into the other items on its agenda.

Here is the text of the resolution, in full:

Part I. - Premise and Resolution
A Resolution on SCDCC Sponsorship Lists and Democratic Party Officeholders
Whereas, elected officeholders who are registered Democrats have endorsed and supported Republican incumbents and candidates for elective office, in opposition to Democratic Party incumbents and candidates who were endorsed by the Sonoma County Democratic Central Committee; and

Whereas, Democratic Party officeholders have supported the appointment of Republicans to important commissions, agencies, committees and other groups, in opposition to qualified Democrats who were contesting for these same appointments; and

Whereas, it is generally accepted that commissions, agencies, and committees are critical incubators for future Democratic officeholders to obtain essential political experience; and

Whereas, it is recognized that having one’s name on a Sponsorship List of an activity supported by the Democratic Central Committee of Sonoma County confers a favored political status upon listed Democrats, by giving the impression that these are persons who are dedicated to the values of the Democratic Party; and

Whereas, it is recognized that the support of non-Democrats by Democratic Party officeholders,as enumerated above, is harmful to the Democratic Party, and that such behavior should not be rewarded; and

Whereas, potential financial supporters, who are sensitive to their names being associated with known Republican supporters on any Sponsorship List, may withhold their financial support, causing a monetary loss to the Democratic Party activity,

Therefore be it resolved that:
(a) The name of any Democratic Party officeholder, who has publicly endorsed or supported non-Democratic Party candidates or incumbents for an elective office, including non-partisan offices, shall not appear on any Sponsorship List of an activity supported by the Democratic Central Committee of Sonoma County; and

(b) The name of any Democratic Party officeholder, who has supported the appointment of a non-Democrat to any commission, agency, committee, or other group, when qualified Democrats contested for those same appointments, shall not appear on any Sponsorship List of an activity supported by the Democratic Central Committee of Sonoma County.

Part 2. - Implementation
A Resolution on SCDCC Sponsorship Lists and Democratic Party Officeholders
Be it Resolved that:
(a) The Candidate Search and Development Committee shall maintain a list of the reported incidents of misconduct by Democrat officeholders, together with full, verifiable documentation.

All Democrats are encouraged to bring instances of improper conduct, as identified by this Resolution, to the attention of the Candidate Search and Development Committee of the SCDCC. It is not suggested that the Candidate Search and Development Committee initiate any investigations, absent the receipt of a specific complaint with verifiable documentation.

(b) Prior to SCDCC announcing any activity that involves a Sponsorship List, the SCDCC shall obtain from the Candidate Search and Development Committee the reference List described in
(a).

(c) All future SCDCC solicitations for which Sponsorship Lists are a part, will show a disclaimer.

The disclaimer shall read:

"Note: Democratic Party officeholders on this Sponsorship List support only Democratic Party candidates and incumbents for elective office, including non-partisan offices. Further, these Democratic Party officeholders support the seating of only Democratic appointees to commissions, agencies, committees and other groups, when qualified Democrats contest for those appointments."

(d) Should a contribution be received that would require a listing on a Sponsorship List, but for the exception of the accompanying Resolution, such contribution will be retained by SCDCC. If the contributor protests because his/her name was not shown on the Sponsorship List, he/she shall be referred to the disclaimer in (c).

Upon specific request for a refund from a sponsor who is ineligible for the Sponsorship List, a refund shall be made of all funds in excess of the basic cost of the activity, i.e., basic ticket cost to the Crab Feed.

(e) The offending Democratic officeholder's record shall be cleared of the misconduct charges, after that officeholder's next election cycle, counting from the date of the offense.