Chairman Berlon Please Resign. Today.

It’s time for some leadership from the State Committee and Executive Committee of the DPG. When we were elected to these position we accepted a responsibility to our party and it’s membership.

23 Executive Committee members agreed last week on some important next steps to take to assure a thriving and transparent Democratic Party of Georgia.  We did nothing wrong.

Since then, Chairman Berlon has fired the fundraising staff at the party, threatened party leaders and members with  lawsuits and other repercussions, overstepped his authority concerning affiliate organizations, and has shown disrespect for the party and it’s membership.

When Mr Berlon ran for DPG Chair he outlined a number of ideas that he would implement to assure a strong and dynamic party.  Check out what he wrote.  Aside from offices in Augusta and Savannah, we have not seen these ideas come to fruition.

I am heartbroken over these recent events.  I have been a devoted Democrat since the time I could stick a stamp on an envelope (my mother had me started at the age of 4 or 5).  I supported Mr Berlon in 2007 and in 2011.  I worked closely with him to help fashion his campaign, and counted him among my friends.  I was on the ED Selection Committee and thought that with Page and Mike leading our party we would move forward with vigor and vision.

After 14 months at the helm of the party, it’s clear that Chairman Berlon is not prepared for the work ahead.  Below the fold is the text from an email that went out this morning to all State Committee Members.  It went out anonymously for fear of repercussions from Chairman Berlon and other party members. I helped craft that email.  I am not afraid. We have done nothing wrong. Our consciences are clear.

TO: DPG State Committee Members

Since his election 14 months ago, Democratic Party of Georgia Chair Mike Berlon has violated multiple sections of the DPG Charter and By-Laws, circumvented the the authority of the State and Executive Committees, and put our Party in serious financial peril.

HERE ARE THE FACTS:

The State Chair has failed to provide a budget to the State or Executive Committees during his 14 months as Chair.

The State Chair has failed to take the necessary steps to raise sufficient funds for ongoing activities (call time, one on one donor contact, etc) despite the strong recommendations of the Executive Director and Party employees.

The State Chair made hiring and compensation decisions, a responsibility granted only to the Executive Director, without the authorization or approval of the State or Executive Committees (BL1.6.4 , BL1.6.5).

On Monday, February 27, the State Chair fired two Party employees, a responsibility granted only to the Executive Director, without the authorization or approval of the State and Executive Committees. These employees were fundraising staff (BL1.6.4 , BL1.6.5).

The State Chair denied, from the outset of her employment, the Executive Director’s enumerated responsibility of “hiring of qualified staff members for all budgeted and other approved or temporary positions and institute dismissal or other disciplinary actions as necessary against such employees”, severely restricting her ability to successfully perform her role as Executive Director. (BL1.6.2 ).

The State Chair brought disgrace upon the party by discussing internal Party matters with the media and jeopardizing the fundraising apparatus of the Party (BL2.8.2 ).

The State Chair has threatened (with lawsuits, and other repercussions) multiple members of the State and Executive Committees merely for speaking out against him in legitimately called meetings and in email exchanges, bringing disrepute upon the Party (BL2.8.2 ).

Mike Berlon has forgotten that the ultimate authority in our Party belongs to the State Committee, not the Chair.

It’s time to remind him.

 

 


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134 responses to “Chairman Berlon Please Resign. Today.”

  1. JD Avatar
    JD

    yes

  2. Ed Avatar
    Ed

    Just out of curiosity, is this you making a joke?

  3. JD Avatar
    JD

    I received an email from Chairman Berlon inviting me to the Jefferson-Jackson dinner on behalf of the State and Executive Committees. Did the committee’s vote to extend that invitation, because if not we need to take Berlon down for overstepping his authority to invite people to the vent.

    >_<

  4. Primary Colors Avatar

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  5. JD Avatar
    JD

    Right, I want to know who is on the district’s Coordinating Committee, which is different.

  6. cranky & crusty Avatar
    cranky & crusty

    JD- Congressional Districts are populated by the members of the state committee that reside in the 5th. They elect a chair, who then in turn appoints a Vice Chair. So if you have access aka can look up the state committee people on the GA Dems website, then you can find any congressional districts members.

  7. JD Avatar
    JD

    Can you tell me? Or point me to where this committee’s membership is listed?

  8. Ed Avatar
    Ed

    Yes.

  9. JD Avatar
    JD

    Does anyone know who is on CD5’s District Coordinating Committee?

  10. cranky & crusty Avatar
    cranky & crusty

    I don’t think Labor will be contributing very much to the DPG this year. I’ve hear that money the various labor orgs had been giving to the DPG has been severely cut back.

    In one case from 25K last year to 5k this year.

    Not sure how money will be raised for the DNC convention expenses.

  11. Disgusted Avatar
    Disgusted

    This looks like Democrats doing everything they can to make themselves the laughing stock of the state. It’s time to get it together and do what’s right. Does anybody care about doing that, or do you all just want to bad mouth each other.

  12. Nostradamus Avatar
    Nostradamus

    142 and still going.

  13. aquariusrizing Avatar
    aquariusrizing

    Considering the number of events that have been organized w/out venues, dates that changed several tims, or featured speakers that have been unconfirmed, I would expect no less nor any more from Mike. He seems to believe that the world revolves around him, his schedule, his misplaced personal ambitions, and the rest of us are just his minions. He’ll schedule it again when HE feels like it- same as he’ll pick and choose the time for the next SC member mtg. His decision to throw several babies out w/the bathwater when he took over is coming back to haunt him. Karma IS.

  14. aquariusrizing Avatar
    aquariusrizing

    From what I hear, it was Chair Berlon who leaked our minutes to Jim Galloway- I didn’t hear it from Jim- but as a pre-emptive strike against those who are calling for his resignation it ranks as one of the most selfish, horrible things I have EVER seen a chair do-. If he were really working in the best interest of the party, he would’ve thought about how those minutes made us look to our opponents, rather than how to justify his refusal to attend a mtg. of the Exec. Committee, just because he didn’t call it. Nikema is next in line- I don’t know how it shakes out any other way- calling in the DNC isn’t going to give the reins of the party back to someone who has enough experience to jerk us out of the realm of the inflated ego!

  15. Old Timer Avatar
    Old Timer

    I’ll freely admit to “retreating the the anonymity of the Internet” to say what I have to say, and you can take it or leave it. I have acquaintances on both sides of this controversy, and there are people I like and admire, and others I frankly don’t, on both sides as well. So I’ll say what I have to say using a pseudonym to get it out there without my identity being an issue, and also to keep from getting more emails and phone calls about this matter than I’ve already gotten.

    When there’s a mess like this, I think the best way to sort it out is to stop thinking and talking about what has happened in the past and just look at where we are now and what the best route forward is. The real threshold question is whether the Chair should resign or be removed.

    I’ve known Mike for a long time, and I think he did a good job in Gwinnett. I hate to say, however, that there are real reasons he should go for the good of the party. This analysis really doesn’t depend on sorting out who did what and what provision of the bylaws permitted or prohibited whatever happened. The real question is whether the Democratic Party of Georgia can move forward as a credible organization that people want to support with their dollars and efforts with him as Chair.

    I’m not sure that can happen. People know the party is dead bang broke and over committed to things like rent on the new office, it’s out there that Mike doesn’t put the effort in to raise money himself (I can’t say I blame him for not wanting to twist arms on the phone – having done it myself – but that’s a vital part of the job), and there have been some very questionable expenditures that have gotten a public airing.

    I appreciate and understand Mike’s loyalty to his friends, but I think anyone with a grain of sense will ask why the state Democratic Party hired a “lobbyist.” I heard griping and snickering about that hire before this blow up from people outside the organization who need to support it, and this brouhaha has only made that situation worse. Throw in some of the other hires and fires/resignations that have been aired out during this controversy, as well as the obvious deep divisions that have been exposed, and I doubt that the current version of the DPG will be able to attract enough donors. People don’t like to give to organizations they think are financially desperate anyway, and then when you throw this nasty stuff in, it only gets a lot worse.

    Will we get money from some organizations (mostly our labor friends) that give at least something to the JJ Dinner regardless of circumstances? Yes, but I assert that the griping from people (especially legislators) will cut that group down to a smaller number (giving smaller checks) than it even otherwise would be. We will get some money from qualifying, but even that won’t be as large we might hope, with fewer seats for Democrats to run in.

    We may really need a true “reset” to get people to take a second look at the DPG as a place worthy of their dollars. After this ugly scene over the last week and Mike’s central role in it (especially Galloway’s column, that made Mike look terrible), I doubt we can get that if Mike remains as chair. Mike may have been trying to save himself and avoid having to go by being able to say that he made the necessary changes, but the news coverage of this has made Mike seem like the problem (the AP story on this – which appeared in just about every newspaper in the state – even has UGA professor/quote machine Charles Bullock pointing to “paying the rent on a shiny new office” as part of the problem).

    I must add this, however. There are people on the “Berlon must go” side who’ve been involved in the DPG for a long time, even going back to before the 2002 cataclysm that ended the old machine. They have, frankly, been doing what some posters here say – they gripe, complain, spin conspiracy theories, and take shots at whoever is at the headquarters, regardless of who it is or how they got there. We all know it, because those who’ve been around long enough know understand that is what they (and those they pull into their orbit) always do. We get their phone calls, their emails, and hear what they say to us and others at party meetings.

    I add the last part as a word of caution about the way forward. Mike may need to go, but we’d better be careful who we turn the headquarters over to if he does. We really can’t screw this up now.

  16. Catherine Avatar
    Catherine

    OK. No one “retreated to the anonymity of the internet”. Members of the Executive Committee called for a Special Meeting per the ByLaws. The meeting was not an guerilla insurgency. It was a meeting, with specific agenda items. The agenda was adhered to, minutes were prepared and distributed.

    It seems that some are confusing the calling for the Special Meeting with the email that went out asking for the Chair’s resignation. These were very different incidents, and should not be lumped together.

    JD: There are a total of 46 positions on the Executive Committee two positions are held by the same person, and one is vacant. So, quorum is 23.

  17. CatherineAtlanta Avatar
    CatherineAtlanta

    Steve, you know that I did not distribute the minutes to the State Committee.

    I repeat my earlier question: If a fully masked and robed individual walked into a State Committee meeting, would the body allow them to stay? There is a difference between an open meeting and allowing anonymous attendees.

    I did not send the anonymous email. I helped to craft it. Threats of legal action and other repercussions made some fearful of being named.

    The reasons for the Special Executive Meeting were very clear and had nothing to do with removing the chair. The agenda was in the original email to the Executive Committee and related to the scheduling of regular Executive Committee meetings and clarification of the party finances. But, of course, you KNOW that – you got the minutes.

  18. JD Avatar
    JD

    I misread – there were 12 that called for the meeting.

    Does anyone know who was at the actual meeting?

  19. Literate Person Avatar
    Literate Person

    Did anyone say there were only 12 people at the meeting? 12 is the threshold for calling a meeting without chair approval.

  20. JD Avatar
    JD

    Catherine,

    The process is extremely important. You all are arguing that the correct process was not properly followed to have a person fired.

    Additionally, if there were only 12 members present, then it was not an official meeting because it did not have quorum. My understanding is that All Congressional Chairs, All federally elected officials (Congressmen), all DPG Executive officers, three appointed officials, a member from each affiliate organization, etc etc, must be there – which would be well more than 24 people.

    BL6.3 A quorum for the conduct of Executive Committee business shall be a majority of the membership of the Executive Committee. A majority vote is required for passage of Executive Committee actions.

    So any votes you all had were illegal and void.

  21. Catherine Avatar
    Catherine

    1.All 14 people who signed on to call the meeting were listed in the email that went to the Exec Comm calling for the meeting.

    2. I did not call the meeting and am not inclined to reveal the names if those who signed on, for fear that they will be maligned like those who have come forward.

    3. I am sick and tired of all this discusiion about the process. Really? Disagree with me all you like, but this is YOUR party too, and there are serious challenges ahead due to these issues.

    I may write more later, but I am in a meeting with DNC & OFA leaders in town from DC & Chicago and have just finished delegate selection training.

  22. Just the Facts Avatar
    Just the Facts

    Just going to point this out one more time, Mike Berlon is the one who went to the press with this.

    If Mike Berlon would not have commented to Jim Galloway, this would not be in the press and would not be on BfD.

  23. JD Avatar
    JD

    If the members do not identify themselves, how do you know there is a quorum. Completely relevant question.

  24. JD Avatar
    JD

    Maybe because BfD decided to publicly attack the sitting chairman of the Democratic Party and then, when someone calls them out on it, they get pissy. If you guys had any real backing, you would have taken it to the state committee – not on a blog.

  25. MelGX Avatar
    MelGX

    Why are you asking these questions here? Do your own homework. Contact your Congressional District Chair or Vice Chair. Contact your party officers. It’s not my job to remediate you.

    Even if I were inclined, your personal attacks on Catherine were completely misplaced and over the line.

  26. Peaches Avatar

    These questions are completely irrelevant.

  27. MelGX Avatar
    MelGX

    The meeting was not closed and the bylaws were followed to the letter. They can be found here: http://www.scribd.com/GeorgiaDemocrat/d/69760784-DPG-by-Laws-Final10-21-11

    BL6.2.2 Special Meetings of the Executive Committee may be called by the State Chair or at least 1/4 of the membership of the Executive Committee upon receipt by all members of written notice 2 days prior to such meeting. Such notice may be given electronically.BL6.2.3 Meetings of the Executive Committee may be conducted by telephone.

  28. Nostradamus Avatar
    Nostradamus

    There are few people who would be better served to be CD than Catherine.

    Also, FWIW, there are few people as trustworthy and honest and less desiring of any undue negativity or malicious activities within the Party than Catherine. Which, frankly, makes her terrible for politics.

  29. Ed Avatar
    Ed

    twss.

  30. griftdrift Avatar

    48?!?!?!?!?!

    I think we’ve found the nut of the problem.

  31. Ed Avatar
    Ed

    It really is all that need be said in this debate.

  32. CatherineAtlanta Avatar
    CatherineAtlanta

    The bylaws were followed, with the exception of minutes being distributed (though if you believe the meeting of 2/22 to be against bylaws, then the “minutes” were merely notes from a group of interested parties) by someone other than the Secretary and prior to being approved by the Executive Committee. However, said “minutes” or “notes” were distributed only to Executive Committee and State Committee members.

    Everyone on the Executive Committee was aware of the Special Meeting, anyone who appeared in person or called in (and identified themselves) was permitted to attend.

    It is now time for members of the Executive Committee and State Committee who have remained silent to step forward, no matter their perspective, and take some action. And, by stepping forward I don’t mean commenting on a blog that has no affiliation with the Democratic Party of Georgia.

    Perhaps one of the 48 Executive Committee Members or 300+ State Committee members could make an effort to confirm whether an Executive Committee Meeting is being planned?

  33. Jen B. Avatar
    Jen B.

    “[I]t’s funny to me that the folks who are having so much trouble processing this are stuck on the fact it went public, not on the actual problems being endlessly enumerated.”

    Thank you.

  34. Long time State Committee Member Avatar
    Long time State Committee Member

    it’s funny to me that the folks who are having so much trouble processing this are stuck on the fact it went public, not on the actual problems being endlessly enumerated.

    I can personally account for the fact I told three members of the exec committee in August that the Chairman needed oversight, and lots of it. However since then he’s refused to call any exec meetings ( beyond the half assed one in Dublin) or distribute a budget.

    He spent the first 6 months of his tenure telling us we had no money, had his brother do a review of the treasury -all this was announced at SC meetings, Yet in Sept in Dublin told us we didn’t have money problems any more. Wait what.. in 3 months they all magically went away? No, we still had them, as our disclosures will attest.

    Sadly once he’d fired Trevor, Charity and created such a hostile situation for Page she had to leave, it was time to go public. It’s the only thing anyone has responded to. Sad, yes. True, yes.

    On the flip side, if we have nothing to hide this really shouldn’t be an issue, right?

    The problem is, there are systemic issues that are not being addressed.

    Starting today, and in the next couple weeks some very high profile Democrats are coming to GA, lets see if the chairman is invited to those events or gets a shout out for hosting them, or appears on stage with anyone.

  35. CatherineAtlanta Avatar
    CatherineAtlanta

    Steve,

    If an individual walked into an Executive Committee or State Committee meeting with wearing a full face mask and a floor length robe, do you think the body should allow them to stay?

  36. JMPrince Avatar
    JMPrince

    All well & good ‘MB’ and I suspect that I’ve got some idea of who the various players are. And I’m always thinking for myself, and not paying much fealty to any cult of personality either. Which is just one reason why I’ve remain so popular I imagine.

    We all live in the same house. We must communicate and understand each other better. We can all imagine what the ‘opposition’ or the ‘other’ is like. Often these turn out to be just self serving myths, no matter how colorful. There’s a fabulous old song for that. In Yiddish:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGgFqq1yVe0

    By the great Paul Robeson, one of NJ’s finest.

    We still need to develop some facts here to better understand what is & was going on. Heaping dysfunction upon dysfunction still will not make the trains run. And I’m betting that I’ll be misunderstood once again too. JMP

  37. MB gotta go Avatar
    MB gotta go

    not even sure I understand your comment or is that question.

    I’m using a moniker because of where I work (and its not the Disastrous Party of Georgia).

    You can take my comments with a grain of salt if you so dislike anonymous posters.

    Think for yourself. Ask for yourself. Hold your ideals true and those you elect hold them accountable.

    “The day we see the truth and cease to speak is the day we begin to die”
    ― Martin Luther King Jr.

    There comes a time when one must take the position that is neither safe nor politic nor popular, but he must do it because conscience tells him it is right.”
    ― Martin Luther King Jr.

  38. JMPrince Avatar
    JMPrince

    Still generally bad practice. And yes, that’s where the argument started. JMP

  39. MB gotta go Avatar
    MB gotta go

    1.) Please if you’re allegedly fighting for ‘greater transparency’ and for ‘bringing our problems out in the open’?

    — Sorry JP never once said I was “fighting for greater transparency”. I said don’t be embarrassed when the shit hits the table. Its better now than it has been in the past when the shit hit the fan and everyone cowardly took cover.

  40. JMPrince Avatar
    JMPrince

    Interesting discussion. Some additional points that might be useful going forward:

    1.) Please if you’re allegedly fighting for ‘greater transparency’ and for ‘bringing our problems out in the open’? Don’t be so brave as to hide behind some pseudonym. Do us all the favor of letting us know where you stand & why and who you are, so we might be able to better assess it all in some context. That would be helpful.

    2.) I dearly appreciate folks who have a deeper historical perspective here, again this helps somewhat for the context. It will not however ‘solve’ the issues that perpetually need addressing.

    3.) As I’ve mentioned previously, I’m typically in favor of strategic whining. Not as another perpetual entitlement, but as a proper expression of dissatisfaction with things and conditions that need changing. However, this usually necessitates and likely requires an alternative plan that might be more favorable or successful. I’ve seen none forthcoming on so far.

    4.) When or if we have any suggestions of a better plan of attack, WE as a Party & state sanctioned entity will have something to vote and act on perhaps. The State Committee will do that in coordination with the ExecCom. Goodness knows neither the AJC, the APN nor the GOP will do it for us. We’ll be doing it.

    5.) Cong. John Lewis has a lovely speech he’s been giving for a long time. It’s about children sheltering from a huge storm and dangerous high winds in his family’s rickety shotgun shack home. Despite being terrified and confused as to where safety might lie, as Lewis tells the tale, the children were repeatedly exhorted to ‘stay together’ & ‘stay in the house’ and try to ‘walk with the wind’ to keep the house from lifting off it’s foundations. They did just that, and survived to tell the tale.

    We might all finally take these words to heart and think about their true deeper meaning. JMP

  41. MB gotta go Avatar
    MB gotta go

    when I google “Bad Political Blog,” this comes up – http://www.gapolitico.com.

  42. MB gotta go Avatar
    MB gotta go

    JD if there weren’t rabble rousers in the Party there wouldn’t be a LGBT Caucus, a Latino Cauvus, a Women Caucus, a Young Democrats of Georgia, a Forward Georgia, a Georgia Women Vote, or a Better Georgia. All achieved despite the wishes of Party Chairs.

  43. JD Avatar
    JD

    I think they severely limited the ability of the State Chair because he/she was always trying to fix internal stuff and couldn’t focus on the external.

    Either way, go Google “Bad Political Blog,” I’m going to bed.

  44. MB gotta go Avatar
    MB gotta go

    so in your limited assessment and involvement with the Party, since I don’t ever recall you having the cajones to run for the State Committee – you think Dems in Georgia have lost every statewide seat because of a few whiny people and not because of 3 Chairs who have had limited vision and abilities to build a grassroots organization Okey dokey, you’re the 1st winner in the “who gets a free JJ ticket” contest.

  45. JD Avatar
    JD

    Well, that is your assessment; however, what is see is a whiny group within the party who don’t make up a significant number of the state committee to do anything about any of these chairs. Seeing no recourse from the State Committee, they publicly gripe and complain because the squeaky wheel gets the oil.

    I find it more likely that we have rabble rousers inside the party than three “bad chairs” in a row.

  46. MB gotta go Avatar
    MB gotta go

    no JD you missed the entire point. Try reading before making statements. The point was volunteers have always had to cleaned up behind dumbass Chairs who try to run this Party like Napoleon. This Party has survived despite their antics because of dedicated volunteers. Instead of bitching in private corners finally some dedicated volunteers have stepped forward to say “enough’.

    Sorry I had to spell it out for those of you who have reading comprehension skills.

  47. JD Avatar
    JD

    Seems to me that the problem may be with the “dedicated volunteers” that can’t get along with any of the chairs.

    Just Sayin’

  48. MB gotta go Avatar
    MB gotta go

    With all due respect Mr. Perkins, you must be new around these parts. The Party didn’t die when Bobby Kahn said “screw you” to the Kerry campaign during the 2004 primary. What happened was dedicated volunteers went to the Kerry campaign and said “despite our Chair invest in Georgia”. The Party didn’t die when Kahn said “screw you” to Howard Dean at Melanie’s office. Nope. Dedicated volunteers went to Howard Dean and said “despite our Chair invest in Georgia.” The Party didn’t die when Jane Kidd lied about staying neutral in the 2008 Primary and supported Obama. Nope. Dedicated volunteers went to the Clinton volunteers and said “don’t turn your back on the Party.” The Party didn’t die when Jane Kidd couldn’t muster up the strength to stop every good Dem from running for Governor. Nope. Dedicated volunteers went to every campaign and said stay and fight until the General Election.

    Instead of waiting for the next 2.5 years and having dedicated volunteers continually beg on behalf of a rogue Chairman, you have dedicated volunteers saying now, today, please resign.

    Instead of looking at this situation as they “nuked” the Party look at it as an awakening period – a time to get some real change. Instead of complaining about “this in an election year and we shouldn’t argue in public”, look at as a blessing that this is getting aired out in 2012 instead of in 2014.

    How many times have you ever heard Democratic volunteers in Georgia say “Mea Culpa” in public? Never. How many times have you heard someone’s supporters say “Mea Culpa” in public. Never. Maybe in private. But never in public. This is a rare and brave occasion. Embrace those who are willing to eat crow because they truly believe in the mission of the Democratic Party.

    Instead of wanting to burn these dedicated volunteers at the stake, the State Committee should be thankful that they brought these issues to light.

    Do you really think this matter would have be solved at the State committee level? Really? Really? How so when the State Committee can barely get quorum in order to elect someone to the DNC.

    Take this situation as the starting point of a new conversation. Not the ending point of the Party. If your leadership is as strong as I suspect Mr. Perkins then suggest you explore all that is being said and question your Chairman. He can only be held accountable if he is asked the tough questions and answers are demanded of him.

    The entire Democratic Party in Georgia, and on the National level, needs to stop worrying about being embarrassed in the media and in public. If you aren’t feeling uncomfortable then you are feeling too much comfort in being on the losing side.

    Stand up for the next generations of Democrats. Stop embracing the Democrats core belief in the cult of personality.

  49. APN Editor Avatar

    Good for you Catherine. I was waiting for this post.

  50. MB gotta go Avatar
    MB gotta go

    Wait a minute did Berlon tell the Marietta Daily that “he was not fully informed about the fiscal picture. ” before Page resigned. Oh bullshit. He’s the only one who controlled the finances. That dude is pathological. Hide your kids, hide your wallets, hide your debit cards.

    I can’t believe he postponed his presser. The presser where he was going to announce that he was suing the DNC and Obama for America. Sndeak if you want to continue to think this is all petty then you might want to tell your guy that even a hint about suing the DNC and OFA is beyond stupid and won’t bring any Party unity or favor.

    Hey State Committee Member (Ful) – I guess you don’t know what the DNC has been calling your lovely Chair for about 2-3 months now — THE ROGUE CHAIRMAN. The DNC has known for quite a while that Berlon needed to go before Berlon starting yapping to Galloway like a chatty Cathy. Berlon answers to no one because this the Democratic Party of Mike Berlon.

    Its obvious Berlon can’t handle the day-to-day operations of the DPG:
    – He lets his best friend’s wife become his Chief of Staff and then puts her on payroll without the executive cmte knowing,
    – he then hires his best friend as the DPG lobbyist w/o the exec cmte knowing (because the DPF really needs a lobbyist when legislature is in session because the House and Senate Dem caucuses don’t do a good job–NOT),
    – he lets the guy he hired as Political Director stay on payroll even though the Political Director can’t pass DNC vetting (good luck with secret service letting that guy around the President),
    – he fires 2 professional fundraisers and replaces them with an intern with no fundraising experience,
    – he claims to have reduced $160,000 off the books although he’s going to have to rehire an ED in 2 months (so there goes that reduction),
    – he doesn’t have enough money in the DPG bank account to put down a deposit for the JJ space,
    – he’s hired the same guy to raise $$ for this year’s JJ although the guy did it last year and last year’s JJ raised the least amount of money in 10 years.

    And on top of everything he doesn’t understand how to say “no comment” to the press. As a lawyer one would think he wouldn’t lie so rampant in the press…but yet he continues.

  51. JD Avatar
    JD

    The only power enumerated in the charter for the ED is the power to fire and hire. Other than that, what power that position has is delegated by the chair. If you can show me other enumerated responsibilities, then you will have a leg to stand on.

    In the absence of the ED, who has the power to hire/fire someone? In fact, who has the power to do anything right now in the absence of the ED? Clearly if Mike sneeze the wrong way, everyone will claim he’s abusing the air others breathe, so please point me to who has the power to hire/fire when there is no ED.

  52. JD Avatar
    JD

    That is not the question I asked. Answer mine first.

  53. gette Avatar
    gette

    There is probably enough blame to go around on all sides of this mess.The obvious choice is for someone to reach out to the National Democratic Party to bring one of their folks in here and take over. Georgia can still be a strategic player in this Presidential Election and with all the hard work that the individual counties have contributed it would be a real shame if the media whores who have compromised our abilities be allowed to reduce us to the sidelines.We have worked too damn hard!

  54. Chris Avatar
    Chris

    In the micro dollar world you’re competing not only against Obama but also organizations like Komen, PETA, Planned Parenthood, Livestrong etc, organizations with strong brand identities. A state or county Democratic party doesn’t really have that. You also spend just a real inordinate amount of time chasing pledges – a lot of people will tell you on the phone sure I’ll give $25 and then never follow up. It ends up burning a lot of labor and money going after small donations, the return for your buck is just bigger going after the big guys.

    Ultimately you have to make the party an attractive vehicle for candidates to raise money into to benefit themselves or their fellow candidates. The party’s a great legal vehicle for this, but you have to inspire confidence that the money won’t be wasted if they raise it and you have to get buy in on the benefits of doing it this way. In the past when the party did a lot of this, a lot of the activists and state committee members would look at the top line (of the money coming in) and say how come that money isn’t spent on us. Well, life is tough – it’s not your money to spend. What I think might not have been grasped by everyone is that when the party is raising millions of dollars as a legal vehicle it adds prestige and THEN party officers/state committee etc have more leverage to raise their own money on top of it for activities that the party wants to pursue without the candidates.

    In other words, a lot of people looked at the topline and said hey we should be spending that money on ourselves, not appreciating that if you are just gonna spend it on yourselves that money disappears. Make the party an attractive vehicle for caucus and other election spending and yes that money will come with strings, but in exchange for the strings attached you get the prestige to go out and raise additional money to add to do your own stuff. Just my $0.02.

  55. Uh, No Avatar
    Uh, No

    Tasso Knight was hired when there was an Executive Director. Please explain that.

  56. Uh, No Avatar
    Uh, No

    The issue here is not what he has done near as much as his reaction to confrontation. Mike Berlon has made mistakes, as every human being has. But when confronted with the undeniable facts that much of what he has done is against the Charter & Bylaws that governs the organization, he backs himself into a corner, lies about others, and denies any wrongdoing. If he would have just said “I messed up, let’s fix this, we’d be in a very different position.

  57. Ed Avatar
    Ed

    You’re joking…right?

  58. CatherineAtlanta Avatar
    CatherineAtlanta

    It was postponed.

  59. Ed Avatar
    Ed

    So did anyone go to the presser?

  60. Peaches Avatar

    It’s hard to top this one for both. 146 comments on a post titled “Clinton Obama ticket”.

    http://www.blogfordemocracy.org/2008/03/a_clinton_obama_ticket.html

  61. Fletcher Avatar
    Fletcher

    JD,

    Burn rate = monthly expenses.

    Burnout = turnover.

  62. JD Avatar
    JD

    Fletcher, that is the most reasonable thing anyone has said lately.

    First, there is a high burn rate for people in this position. I believe it is because of BS like this. You have a person who is holding a full time job outside of the party, who isn’t getting paid for their service, who is trying to do the best they can with the resources they have, then everyone comes along and trashes the person when they don’t get their way.

    It is a thankless, non-compensated position where you are going to have bombs thrown at you from Republicans and Internal Democrats. Who would want such a job?

  63. Fletcher Avatar
    Fletcher

    JD,

    The DPG is NOT I repeat NOT Obama.

    When a professional fundraiser hears others begin to talk about how Obama raises money, they cease to listen.
    ____________________________________________________________
    The question is not whether Berlon should leave, that is up to members of the state committee. My question is what other options are out there?

    It seems that no one was interested in the job when the DPG actually had money. What qualified candidate wants the job now, who has the ability to fundraise?

    My largest concern is not who is at the helm, but the rather large burn rate of the party with not much to show for it. Obviously fundraising is not strong, candidate recruitment is weak, candidate and operative training programs are not in place, and op-research hasn’t existed in a while.

  64. Jen B. Avatar
    Jen B.

    My 2 cents. I stopped actively participating in mid-2005, so I don’t pretend to know the current inner-workings of DPG. However, I’ve known Catherine for nearly nine years. She’s not a bomb-thrower and isn’t one to rush to judgment. I can only presume that DPG’s internal process is irrevocably broken, which is why she chose to address the Chairman in such a public fashion. Sometimes a little sunlight does us all good.

  65. Ed Avatar
    Ed

    And please, no sock accounts.

  66. Ed Avatar
    Ed

    We should take a paige out of your book and get the name right.

  67. Jen B. Avatar
    Jen B.

    Again. It’s Page, not Paige.

  68. JD Avatar
    JD

    You could start with explaining why my points were wrong. That would be something to say.

    You could offer alternative solutions to the problem, that would be something to say.

    Or, you can use Republican tactics of name calling when you have nothing else to offer. This comes when you have nothing else to say.

  69. Ed Avatar
    Ed

    There’s honestly nothing to say to you.

  70. JD Avatar
    JD

    When you have nothing else to offer, you resort to name calling. You would fit in well at a Republican Primary Debate.

  71. Ed Avatar
    Ed

    JD, I’m being as diplomatic as possible here, you really are an idiot.

  72. JZ Avatar
    JZ

    In the absence of an ED, who has the authority to fire someone.

  73. CatherineAtlanta Avatar
    CatherineAtlanta

    I don’t know who forwarded emails to Mr Galloway. I do know that Chairman Berlon spoke to Mr Galloway, giving the AJC something to run. Simply put, if there is no story, they won’t run it.

    Fine, let’s take this back into the family. Maybe you, or someone you know could encourage Chairman Berlon to schedule an Executive Committee and/or a State committee Meeting ASAP?

    As for me wanting a job at the party. Sorry, darling, you got that one all wrong. I love working for the party as a volunteer. But honestly, the things I’ve done at the party the last few months no one could pay me to do – cleaning up the kitchen after a week of neglect, cleaning bathrooms, organizing cupboards so that no one gets hurt when they open a cupboard door, emptying trash cans, decorating for the holidays. I didn’t mind doing it because I believed that staff time was better spent on the work of the party.

    And, seriously? No job in a political party is a “plum”. It’s hard work, typically 24/7 (24/6 if you’re tough enough to take Sundays off), below market salaries, constant financial worries (even in the strongest of organizations), hellfire calls from outside and inside the party, constant shifting of priorities. You have to love it to be willing to do it.

  74. JD Avatar
    JD

    It is hard to be a full partner when you

    1) Don’t get paid
    2) Must maintain a job outside of the organization

    If you want someone who can devote 8-10+ hours a day to the organization, you should pay them.

    Second:

    The Obama campaign said 98 percent of January donations were $250 or less. Federal Election Commission filings show Obama’s campaign alone pulled in more than $5 million in un-itemized contributions, usually less than $200 apiece.

    Many of those donors, however, are repeat contributors, meaning that their aggregate donations over the past year would exceed $250. Still, the nonpartisan Campaign Finance Institute, which analyzes contributions, found that small donors, those whose aggregate contributions amounted to less than $200, accounted for 48 percent of Obama’s campaign income in 2011.

    The institute found that small donors accounted for only 9 percent of 2011 fundraising for Mitt Romney, who is battling for front-runner status in the Republican presidential primary and is the party’s top fundraiser.

    You would rather us have the Republican fundraising model – large donors, than the Democratic grass-roots model of President Obama. Hmmm… interesting.

    Could Mike do more call time, sure? Would it help, probably. But the core of this problem is this: We have no state wide offices, we have no real power to do anything legislatively. Other than the hopey, feely, lollipop good times we have, what do we have to offer to potential donors.

  75. Fundraising 101 Avatar
    Fundraising 101

    Successful political fundraising — either on a campaign or at the organizational level — is on the shoulders of the face of the organization, either the candidate or the chair.

    Consistent call time by this person isn’t the only thing that must happen for successful fundraising, but it’s the core of what needs to happen.

    A good “fundraiser” is only as good as the willingness of the person who hires them to actually get on the phone and dial for dollars.

    Any leader of any organization or candidate willing to abdicate all fundraising responsibility and expect that their “fundraisers” will handle bringing in all dollars needed is, frankly, an amateur.

    Success in politics in the 21st century isn’t about happy thoughts and lollipops and unicorns, it’s about raising the money needed to execute your plan, whether a campaign plan or an organizational strategic plan.

    You certainly need competent staff, but you also need leaders who are willing to be full partners in the work and who are willing to run organizations or campaigns that are worth investing in.

  76. Ed Avatar
    Ed

    BTW, am I just not seeing it but I went to Galloway’s blog and don’t see any mention of the letter or anything… granted I haven’t read the physical AJC in about two weeks…

  77. Nostradamus Avatar
    Nostradamus

    This thread will break all kinds of records…. most comments, most stupid, you name it…

  78. Uh, No Avatar
    Uh, No

    Yeah, go ahead and read what Ladida posted. Because you’re wrong. Mike did not have the power to remove her power, and he has never, and will never, have the unilateral power to hire (Tasso) and fire (Charity and Trevor). Period. End of story.

  79. Uh, No Avatar
    Uh, No

    First of all, the Chair of the party does not have the power to fire anyone.

    Secondly, it’s interesting that the first action the chair of the party takes with regards to fundraising is to fire the two professionals who have been developing the program. Maybe he should have been doing call time, and we wouldn’t be in this situation. Anyone that knows anything about fundraising knows that high-dollar donors aren’t going to just give to some rando like Trevor. They want to talk to the chair.

  80. JMPrince Avatar
    JMPrince

    I’ll try to make my comments short here. I’ll reserve the balance of my time for a longer screed later however.

    Some simple points.

    1.) Being uninformed on much of the particulars here, (and willing to freely admit such), I think the better part of wisdom is to rescind the usual circular firing squad, and try to get some apparatus to gather together the facts as we understand them, then formulate a plan for moving forward in better order.

    The firing squad, while certainly gratifying as far as spectacle is concerned, is typically less than edifying for either fact finding or ongoing operational control.

    2.) There are a lovely set of splendid grievances here. Some serious, some less so. Still, spelling out our latest set of gross political disappointments (and goodness knows there are many here locally & nationally), does not add up to a more effective operational plan. Or many election successes.

    What greater good is served by having our DPG leadership effectively decapitated during an election season? I genuinely don’t know.

    Having said that, I would not have accepted Page’s resignation, but I’m not certain that may have made any difference to the conditions that may have caused it. We all live with the same very old dysfunctional family. Locally & nationally. I just had no idea that Festivus was being held over for so long either. JMP

  81. Ladida Avatar
    Ladida

    JD/JZ, reading is fundamental. Your oversimplified chart doesn’t even include the Executive Committee, aka BOD.

    SECTION 6. STATE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, EMPLOYEESBL1.6.1 The State Executive Director shall be appointed by the State Chair with theapproval of the Executive Committee and may be dismissed by the State Chair with the approval of the Executive Committee.

    BL1.6.2 The Executive Director shall be responsible for administrative affairs of the State Party under the general direction of the State Chair and in accordance with policies and directives of the Executive Committee and the State Committee. The State Chair may delegate to the Executive Director any duties and responsibilities required of the State Chair under this Charter and the Bylaws.

    BL1.6.3 The Executive Director shall serve full time and receive compensation as may be determined by the State Chair with the approval of the Executive Committee.

    BL1.6.4 The Executive Director shall propose such staff positions as necessary to carry out the functions of the State Party, along with salaries to be paid. Such proposals shall be forwarded to the State Chair for inclusion or modification in the proposed annual budget. Except for temporary office help involving total expenditure of $2500 or 1ess, all unbudgeted positions or changes in salaries of budgeted positions must be approved by the State Chair and the Executive Committee.

    BL1.6.5 The Executive Director shall be responsible for the hiring of qualified staff members for all budgeted and other approved or temporary positions and institute dismissal or other disciplinary actions as necessary against such employees.

    BL1.6.6 Appeals from disciplinary actions affecting the Executive Director or employees shall be made to the Executive Committee.

  82. JD Avatar
    JD

    I have refrained from posting links to my website, but hopefully this will make it through the censor. If you really want to improve the party, read this and start being constructive.

    http://gapolitico.com/2012/03/01/dpgs-organizational-structure/

  83. JZ Avatar
    JZ

    Actually, Mike can take away her power because her power, other than hiring and firing, are not enumerated in the Charter and Bylaws.

  84. JZ Avatar
    JZ

    So the DPG has poor fundraising efforts – they fire fundraisers. And that is bad?

    Instead of blaming the fundraisers, you blame the head of the party. Yet, when the head of the party takes action, you blame the head of the party.

  85. Uh, No Avatar
    Uh, No

    Check your facts.

    Catherine did not even apply for the ED position. She was never in consideration of her own choice. I don’t believe she even went for another job on staff.

    That’s not why Page resigned, and if you think it is, you have no idea of the problems with OFA and the DNC, which contributed in large part to Page’s decision to resign, as well as, as I understand it, Mike’s inability to do call time. They didn’t see eye-to-eye on how to run the organization, and rather than sitting down and acting like adults, Mike took away her power, something he cannot have done under the Charter & Bylaws. I can’t speak for Page, but if your suggestion is that she resigned her position because she somehow wanted more money or more power just goes to show that you don’t know the character of Page Gleason, so I’m not going to waste my breath dealing with you on that.

    Yes, I expect that you will see more come out. Unfortunately, much of it will be on Berlon’s hands. For the record, I haven’t yet heard any public response to the issue of hiring and firing of individuals made unilaterally by Mike Berlon.

  86. Uh, No Avatar
    Uh, No

    Yeah, fundraising was poor because Mike refused to do any call time, like the head of any organization might be expected to do. The senior, experienced staff were fired (one of whom was the planner for the JJ and the other of whom was well-running the Yellow Dog Club, and others), and an inexperienced, recently-hired former intern was retained, who, as I understand it, even thinks he’s a little in over his head without Trevor and Charity.

    As I understand it, Trevor and Mike did not see eye to eye on the issue of call time. Trevor thought it important, Mike did not.

  87. JZ Avatar
    JZ

    Has anyone thought that maybe the reason he hired the fund raising staff is because fundraising was poor. Poor performance is a good reason to let someone go.

    Jus Sayin’

  88. Billy Avatar

    Looking back at Mike’s record in Gwinnett and what he did for the Democratic Party in general, I am not ashamed that I supported him for chair both times he ran. I am deeply saddened by what has transpired – actually, that is an understatement. I cannot express my true feelings in polite company, though.

    (therapy through commenting)

  89. Billy Avatar

    Page was appointed executive director because she was the most qualified for the job. Catherine got the satisfaction of electing someone she thought would be a great chair. A lot of people on this blog/comment thread gave A LOT to help Mike get elected chair. Everyone here has given A LOT to the Democratic Party. Please, don’t insinuate that Catherine, or anyone, is upset because they didn’t get “a plumb.” You are wrong and it makes you look small.

    I don’t know how Galloway got the email, but it got sent and forwarded to hundreds of people. Page is not the one to blame for this getting to the press.

    What has happened, has happened. It is public now. I will admit that I left it all behind me a few years ago. However, I have fought along side every single person on this blog for a decade before that. To see the state of the party the way it is . . . well, I’d be throwing shit at the walls after all we went through. So, fine, it’s public. That isn’t going to make the next election any harder. No voter cares. It has been a long time since the DPG was actually in a place to have an effect on a real election. So, fuck it. Go forth and fight it out. Even if it gets in the street. Get it out. Let everyone vent. If you think people should go, then let the world know you think that.

    When you’re done, sit down and figure out what makes the most sense going forward. Work for that. You might win, you might lose. The simple fact is that the Democratic Party of Georgia will be strong when there are 50% + 1 person in this state willing to vote for Democrats again. If all else fails, make that your goal.

  90. Jen B. Avatar
    Jen B.

    For the second time in this thread, her name is Page, not Paige.

  91. Steve Avatar
    Steve

    Bob, please realize that people like Catherine and Juliana are largely responsible for Mike’s ascent to DPG Chair. I think when people who campaigned and worked hard for his election bring up concerns we should take them seriously.

  92. Steve Avatar
    Steve

    I will be honest in stating my concern in this regard as well. Chairman Berlon spoke with the AJC earlier in the week, and made some remarks I take issue with, for example that he had not communicated with Treasurer Russell Edwards in 14 months. I have seen them together on multiple occasions (such as the JJ Dinner), and have been made aware that they have been in the same room, discussing the affairs of the party, on many occasions.

    I am not taking a specific stance right now, but Catherine brings up a legitimate point– that Chairman Berlon made the first move by making statements to Jim Galloway.

  93. Jules Avatar
    Jules

    Ok, lets do that shall we..how about telling the Chairman start with showing up at the exec meeting he himself called on march 31st then “tentatively” move it to the 10th.

    Oh that’s right it’s still “unconfirmed”.

    Republicans were already laughing at us. We file disclosures, and frankly it’s not like it was ever really a secret about our finances.

  94. Bob Barton Avatar
    Bob Barton

    Please take a look at the Gwinnett County Dem Party record during Mike Berlon’s tenure as Chair and tell me why he was promoted to chair DPG

  95. Just the Facts Avatar
    Just the Facts

    Just the facts: the first person to speak to the press about any of this, was Mike Berlon.

  96. Jules Avatar
    Jules

    I don’t think we are there yet. But I like former congressman Darden very much.

  97. Jules Avatar
    Jules

    soooo when Mike holds his presser tomorrow at 1 pm at the DPG, he’s doing what? Helping or hurting more?

  98. Billy Avatar

    I wanna throw up

  99. Mae Avatar

    ps. Thurbert Baker won’t do it.

  100. Mae Avatar

    Can we nominate Buddy Darden to be our next Chair?

  101. JonF Avatar
    JonF

    Um… What the fuck?

  102. Jules Avatar
    Jules

    Seems to me if the Chair had wanted this all to be discussed in private, he would have showed up at the meeting last week. Or dealt with the folks rightfully elected on the committee to tell us the truth about the finances well before now.

    The odd denials and lack of transparency have been at issue for quite some time. I’m not sure why folks feel like keeping it locked in a closed room will solve anything but fuel more suspicion.

    I think most of us have been quite consistent about our criticism of leadership that isn’t acting in the communities best interest.

    Many of us worked very hard to push for change and gave mightily to the cause of this party, I think it would be very hypocritical of us to stay silent now.

  103. CatherineAtlanta Avatar
    CatherineAtlanta

    State Committee Member (Ful), I’m glad that you’re concerned about this being aired in public. Do you mind if I inquire why you didn’t say any of this when Chairman Berlon spoke to the press earlier in the week? I lost my willingness to keep quiet after the suggestions he made regarding the former Executive Director in the Marietta paper yesterday.

    I stand by what I wrote and would be happy to entertain a discussion with anyone. If you are a state committee member you have my number – feel free to call or email me!

  104. JD Avatar
    JD

    The bylaws and charter are very vague… more to come…

  105. "To be fair" Avatar
    “To be fair”

    No one coronated Mike Berlon to be the king of the Democrats in Georgia.

    He was elected chair with safeguards in place (i.e. bylaws) to supposedly protect against this type of egomaniacal behavior.

    And it doesn’t matter what anyone thinks the bylaws SHOULD say.

    It matters what they ACTUALLY say, a point you Berlon supporters will be adamant about when it comes to how many state committee members it takes to remove him from office.

    I commend Catherine for having the courage to say these things publicly, and call bullshit on the Berlon supporters who say this should be private when Berlon himself has been the one giving Galloway all the info he’s been publishing.

  106. JD Avatar
    JD

    To be fair, it took years to create this mess. Berlon is kinda like Obama – he came into office to clean up a mess. Now, just as the Republicans are attacking Obama, people are attacking him for not cleaning up the mess quickly enough.

  107. MelGX Avatar
    MelGX

    Thank you Catherine for standing up. I know this wasn’t an easy thing to do. You are the best Democrat I know and a true friend.

  108. Ladida Avatar
    Ladida

    One of the things that should be in this letter that isn’t is that after he fired the professional fundraising staff, he replaced them with interns. Some reform. It will take years to fix this mess.

  109. JD Avatar
    JD

    Ooops. My bad. <3 you Page!

  110. Ed Avatar
    Ed

    Some of you might be wise to eventually start listening to me.

    Just saying.

  111. Jen B. Avatar
    Jen B.

    Just an FYI, her name is Page, not Paige.

  112. Ladida Avatar
    Ladida

    A lot of people are saying “I told you so” today, and they are right.

  113. JD Avatar
    JD

    Here is a good article explaining the different types of non-profits:

    http://www.therightbank.com/home/fiFiles/static/documents/resources_white_nonprofit_lifecycle.pdf

  114. JD Avatar
    JD

    There are different phases of non-profit organizations. No all of them act in the same way.

  115. The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings Avatar
    The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings

    This is simple. DPG has a simple Non-Profit board structure.

    The Executive Director works for the board not for the chair. So in DPG terms, the ED works for the executive committee not the chair. The executive committee hires and if necessary fires the ED not the chair.

    It provides for checks and balances.

    Which from the back and forth, it appears as if the executive board is asserting its bylaw mandated role.

  116. JD Avatar
    JD

    I mean, thats just my Master’s in Administration speaking – I’m sure that reviewing the organizational structure would be a bad idea because we shouldn’t update anything and keep it the way it is now.

  117. JD Avatar
    JD

    Right, but the organization hasn’t been functioning well in 10 years – a sign of organizational stagnation and the need to innovate.

  118. Ed Avatar
    Ed

    “GA deserves better”

    Company woman!

  119. Ed Avatar
    Ed

    Dude, ANY organization… its not a complicated or new organization and it works. You’re making this much harder than anyone else knows it is.

  120. charity Avatar
    charity

    You are awesome for standing up. I know firsthand how destructive he is. And people who don’t know anything and get their talking points from Mike should be concerned with finding out the truth. If they are such good Dems then they should stop encouraging the lack of transparency and not participate in sweeping facts under the rug. This isn’t the Mike Berlon Party of GA. He needs to resign because GA deserves better than egomaniacal leadership plagued by falsehoods.

  121. JD Avatar
    JD

    Ed,

    In those organizations (say the White House for example), the President sets the big picture stuff and the COS implements them. If there is disagreement between the President and the COS – the President wins because he is the elected official and it is his administration. If the difference is bad enough, the COS resigns.

    However, what should be noted, is that the President always wins. At no time does the COS ever overrule the president. The President can always overrule the COS if the disagrees with the COS.

    I like Paige, I think she is great and works really hard. That said, she was not elected to lead the organization. She was hired to implement the policies of the Chair.

    I believe most of this issues comes down to the organization structure of the DPG. It needs to be clarified before anyone can move forward.

  122. Jules Avatar
    Jules

    What’s interesting in all this, at no time did I ever hear Mike say he was planning on being in charge of the day to day when he was running for chair.

    Also, he has a “chief of staff” working for him. Although many might argue that was confusing from the very beginning.

  123. Ed Avatar
    Ed

    “However, I disagree with you assertions. I think that Mike should be control, and have ultimate control, over the day-to-day operations of the party. The ED should work as the Chief-of-Staff.”

    In literally every organization that is successful, the chair/president hands day-to-day opps to a chief of staff/ED. Also your concern about two many hands is avoided in these organizations because there is a general overview that the head does the big picture planning and the ED/CoS job is to implement those.

    Just saying.

  124. Catherine Avatar
    Catherine

    JD, I agree that we should be working together. However, that would require a willingness from Chairman Berlon to work with those who may disagree with him on some things and attempt to resolve those disagreements with compromise and understanding. A “my way or the highway” attitude will not get us to where we need to be.

    I find the ByLaws to be very clear and quite well written pertaining to the role of the Chair and ED. There are other areas that are less clear and it’s my hope that the ByLaws will be addressed very soon for clarification on many things.

  125. Tim Avatar

    Very sad I must say, and Catherine, you never have to apologize for telling the truth.

  126. JD Avatar
    JD

    First, Catherine, I want to say thank you for being transparent. What you did takes a lot of guts and I’m glad you are willing to put yourself on the line for something you believe in.

    However, I disagree with you assertions. I think that Mike should be control, and have ultimate control, over the day-to-day operations of the party. The ED should work as the Chief-of-Staff.

    Moreover, I think that the Charter and Bylaws are largely unclear about what the responsibilities of the Chair and ED are. I know the ED has the authority to hire/fire people and deal with staffing issues – that said, I believe that many of the problems we see come from having two executives and two legislative branches. That is a lot of hands in the same pot, and we need to clarify what each of those hands needs to be doing.

    Has Mike made mistakes – probably. I’m sure we could all look back and improve our behavior at times. However, I disagree with this idea that he is some type of power-hungry, ineffective tyrant who is going to destroy the party if he doesn’t resign. We need to be working together, not tearing each other down.

  127. sndeak Avatar
    sndeak

    This is an internal issue and I don’t believe anybody should be leaking anything to the press.

    We’ve got the legislature in session, candidate recruitment going on and preparing for a Presidential race. That’s where my concern lies.

    This petty internal bullshit takes us away from what needs to be done.

    I make no bones about it, I stand firmly with Chairman Berlon here.

    There is a process for this, take it to the executive cmte and the state comte at the next meeting. Don’t send emails making demands or go to the press.

    At the end of the day, 99.997% of the people really don’t give a shit about any of this.

  128. Houston Avatar
    Houston

    Thank you Catherine. We’ve all had good times and bad times in our political lives, but this has been the worst for me. I’m sure we’ll get through this somehow, but I too am heartbroken.

  129. Ed Avatar
    Ed

    Yeah, I can do it probably tomorrow….

  130. Catherine Avatar
    Catherine

    Good point, Ed. I’m sure his number is available. Go for it!

  131. Ed Avatar
    Ed

    Someone needs to call Michael J. stat.

  132. Jules Avatar
    Jules

    Thank you Catherine for your forthright declaration. I’m sure the next couple days will be filled with some very unpleasant attacks, I for one am glad to see some “transparency”.

    I have a procedural question: Shouldn’t some neutral committee be formed immediately to assess the situation, and try to investigate all this mess?

    Would they come from the SC body, or outside of the party? Even if the Chair resigns, it still seems like we’ve go serious trouble in river city.

    Curious to know if anyone has been asking for that….

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