Democratic Committeeperson Challenges

I recieved two letters via email today concerning what's going on in the Democratic Party here in Philadelphia. The Dem leadership of this city is worried. They are panicking. They are calling the people who want to get involved in the Democratic process "outsiders" and "Republicans" and I know I may be an outsider, but I am no Republican outsider. Following are the two letters in their entirety.

* * * * *

30th Ward Democratic Committee
2213 Naundain Street, Philadelphia, PA 19146
P xxx-xxx-xxxx F xxx-xxx-xxxx

Terry Gillen, Ward Leader
James Burks, Ward Chair

March 12, 2006

Dear Fellow Committeeperson:

I wanted to pass along a letter from the Chairman of our Democratic Party, Bob Brady. He is concerned that many committeeperson throughout the City are being challenged by outsiders who are trying to created division within the Democratic Party and within some of our wards and divisions. I personally believe that some of the people who are doing this are working hand in hand with the republican [sic] Party.

This week, some committeepeople may receive a notice that their petition is being challenged in court. If you receive this notice, let me assure you that Bob and I and the Democratic Party will go to court and fight to make sure that you can run for reelection. Democratic Party lawyers will argue your case for free in order to keep your name on the ballot. We will do this because we all need to stick together and fight these people who want to divide us.

Let me know as soon as soon as possible if you receive a legal challenge of if you believe that someone is trying to remove your name from the ballot.

If we stick together we can stay strong. We won't play into the Republicans' hands and allow anyone to divide us!

Regards,
signed
Terry Gillen

TG/
Enc.

* * * * *

The Democratic County Executive Committee of Philadelphia
Executive Offices: 1421 Walnut St
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19102
Telephone: 241-7800
Robert A. Brady
Charmian

Terry Gillen
2213 Naundain St
Philadelphia, PA 19146

March 8, 2006

Dear Terry,
It has come to my attention that there is an organized effort to file petitions to become a Democratic committee person in many wards in the city. It is clear that this effort has been started by forces that seek to polarize and destroy this party. I strongly urge you to oppose their efforts. I suggest that you immediately notify me at City Committee of the divisions where this has occurred. I will have the petition reviewed to determine if it is defective. If it is, I will assist you in filing a petition with the Common Pleas Court to have the person stricken from the ballot on behalf of your designated candidate in that division.

We are a family united. As your leader and friend, I will fight to make sure we remain united.

I will also prepare withdrawal slips for these individuals that filed and I will try to have them withdrawn.

Very truly yours,
signed
ROBERT A. BRADY, CHAIRMAN
Democratic County Executive
Committee of Philadelphia

* * * * *

Those of us who are running, I urge you all to call the Board of Elections bright and early in the morning and see if your name has already been removed without notification: 215.686.3469. This is not what I call a democracy.

Rep. Brady's contacat info in PA: 1907-09 S. Broad Street Philadelphia, PA 19148 | Phone (215) 389-4627 | Fax (215) 389-4636 and his info in DC: 206 Cannon House Office Building Washington DC 20515 | Phone (202) 225-4731 | Fax (202) 225-0088.

And last I checked Philly for Change and Neighborhood Networks were not Republican groups. I am, however, a member of both outstanding groups. And Committee of Seventy is a non-partisan group. Those, to my knowledge, were the groups who were leading the push to get newbies involved in the process.

Comments

[acm]

I'm under the impression that they're concerned about union members who might be republicans that reregistered for this occasion. However, it's also true that general outsider assaults worry the insiders. Let's storm the walls and make the party listen to those whom it supposedly serves!!

:)

[Matt]

This is sickening. Keep fighting the good fight, Albert, and let us know if there is anything we can do to help you.

[mac]

I have so had it with firmly entrenched politicians thinking they own the party. I say let's vote everyone out and start fresh.

[upyernoz]

ugh, i wish i were surprised. keep up the good fight, albert!

[Frank]

I guess they just want to keep the spoils of pay-to-play for themselves. The hell with good people like you who want to make the city a better place. Keep going at 'em, buddy.

[Scott]

I am shocked that members of an established political party would try to keep out new blood. Shocked, I tell you.

Here's hoping you stick it to the (Democratic, in this case) Man!

[howard]

It's been my experience that sometimes (regardless of party, etc.) those in power perceive anyone who seeks to challenge them as the enemy to everything they represent.

Of course, if those in power can get the everyday voters to buy into this type of thinking, it makes it much easier to turn away those who challenge them.

[Ellen]

Pardon my lack-of-French but Sons of Fucking Bitches!!!!!

This SHIT is what kept me out of the D-Party for 21 years of voting eligibility - and I'm not in it now due to conficence in it - I'm in it out of utter fear that they are too concerned with "popularity" to stand for ordinary people anymore and are just looking to trick Republicans into voting for them, hopintg to rape the rest ogf us into voting for them due to lack of other choices.

Now I really wish I could move across the street!

[Sir Oolius]

It has come to my attention that there is an organized effort to file petitions to become a Democratic committee person in many wards in the city. It is clear that this effort has been started by forces that seek to polarize and destroy this party.

LOL! This can only happen in a place that has no voters' pamphlet.

[Patrick Hart]

Good luck, Albert. Out of curiosity, how many elected (new) committee people would it take to make leadership changes on the city party level?

[AlexC]

Can they (the establishment) control your vote?

If no, then they don't want you.

Unfortunately, that's local politics!

[Becky]

Oh the horror of *someone new* running for a democratically-elected position.

Even if Albert is out to polarize the Democratic party or legalize the clubbing of baby seals or whatever, if he meets the position's qualifications and went through the appropriate procedure to get on the ballot, there shouldn't be a problem.

How much money is the Democratic committee going to spend on this bullshit? I'm tempted to switch my registration from unaffiliated to Democrat just to vote against these types in future primaries.

[eRobin]

Philly politics are rotten to the core. I feel sorry for you having to wallow in that muck. Keep up the fight.

The sleaze of this city makes me not want to run.

[albert]

thank you everyone for all of the support!

yes, local politics is especially ugly. i didn't think it would get to the point of calling people who want to get involved in the democratic process Republicans though. and let me state publically that i have never clubbed a baby seal. other marine life [potentially endangered and not], well, nobody asked.

and let's clean up this sleaze. mop it up and ring it out.

[Brian Boru]

There's some deja vu here for me: my first political activity was as a 12-year old stuffing mailboxes for Joe
Clark and Richardson Dilworth in support of their effort to rid Philly of the evil republican machine that had been in power for what 75 years, 100 years?
Of course, I haven't actually lived in Phila. since 1962 so I can look on this from afar (New Orleans) with a certain bemusement.

> Even if Albert is out to polarize the
> Democratic party or legalize the clubbing
> of baby seals or whatever, if he meets
> the position's qualifications and went
> through the appropriate procedure to get
> on the ballot, there shouldn't be a
> problem.

And if 6, 12? 20? folks simultaneously go through the same procedure all at once, that doesn't reek of a problem? Doesn't merit a second look? They (you?) all got together and filed in some kind of coincidental alignment of the stars in the sky?

As for the local Democratic machine, all they're doing at this point is telling their friends that their backs are covered -- something the Democratic Party at large seems to have forgotten how to do.

Now, you'd think that that uncharacteristic (for a Donkey) behaviour would make people think of it as some kind of model, and not something worth destroying, but whatever.

If you're feeling wronged, let it all hang out. Take it to the press, who can examine just how many folks there are in this and maybe score a few interviews about all this wonderful new civic pride.

[yoko]

And they call this a democracy. A legitimate, upstanding citizen like yourself, wanting to do his civic duty in the face of corruption and chaos.

Keep us updated with the ballot-- it would be ridiculous, to say the least, if you weren't on it.

[Melissa]

And why is it that the only comment siding with the Democratic machine was posted anonymously? Come on now, if you're going to defend the status quo at least have the courage to attach a name (preferably your real name) to your comment.