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Saturday, April 19, 2008
Thomas Luken on Chris Dole and the Democratic Nomination
Posted by The Dean of Cincinnati
written by Tom Luken
198 of us newly elected precinct executives are gathering on Monday to proudly organize the Hamilton County Democratic Party for the next biennium. We are proud to follow in the footsteps of Harry Truman, the patron of the little guy, and JFK who set the standard for civic contributions in selflessness in the words “Ask what you can do for your country.”
An issue we will take up on Monday centers around Democrat Chris Dole, chairman of the Board of Trustees of Crosby Township, whose name has become a household word since the Enquirer introduced him to the public with a headline “Someone Willing To Give Voters A Choice”. Actually Chris was previously known to various Democratic elected officials, who, like David Pepper, remember Chris fondly for helping in David’s crucial suburban campaign which brought about a Democratic majority on the commission. Perhaps that helpfulness was the reason almost all of the Democratic elected officials eagerly signed Dole’s nominating petitions to replace Republican Pat DeWine.
As the Enquirer continued, Chris got involved because he believed that “Democracy works best when the voters have real choices.” The editorial goes on “the real losers are the county’s citizens who have no choice and whose opinions clearly don’t matter to the bosses.”
When Chris saw the need there was little time for reflection. He jumped into the daunting task of getting 5000 signatures on petitions with only volunteer circulators. He fooled the naysayers who predicted he couldn’t succeed in such short of time, and filed 4,800 signatures on petitions that the Board of Elections employees described as “the cleanest petitions they had ever checked.”
Chris is the kind of guy who works the night shift so he has time during the day for his civic work and family.
Chris hates to be negative, but he admits that Hartmann’s connections to the Bush-Cheney-Rove machine give him extra incentive to prevent handing over this county commission seat without a fight.
Mr. Burke, on the other hand, has published numerous statements in the past three months making, and then repeating, his dismal predictions that “It is unlikely that he (Dole) can win.” (Burke letter April 15th to precinct executives.). I’m personally flabbergasted. I have run for office more often than anyone, and usually as the underdog to Republicans who had a big majority in those days.
Yet I never heard of a Democratic Chairman demeaning a Democratic opponent of a Republican by repeating prediction of victory for that Republican. Chris Dole is a great candidate, and even Mr. Burke has not been able to document any basis for his jaundiced view, except that Burke made a deal with Republicans not to support anyone but Hartmann.
Again, all I can say about these unfounded predictions is, if I had quit in the face of negative predictions I could not have won eight out of nine congressional races where I was outspent considerably.
And, Chris won’t quit either. He’s won everything he tried.
Strangely, Mr. Burke keeps repeating that Mr. Hartman has the support of labor. How does Burke know? In my experience, and I usually had the support of labor, labor is not monolithic, and most often doesn’t commit until late in the campaign. Mr. Burke should explain just how he knows something different.
THIS Monday is the big day of decision. Another obstacle for Chris is that Mr. Burke’s insistance is on being in the chair, and has refused to recuse himself due to his passionate opposition to Mr. Dole and his commitment in the “deal” to oppose Dole. Perhaps some fair minded precinct executives can persuade him to vacate the chair to a somewhat more neutral person.
Finally, under these special conditions most people would prefer a written ballot. Why? Mr. Burke is so partisan that he is consumed by this deal he has made, he insists on knowing how each of his fellow precinct executives votes, especially those close to him via boards and business. There is no governing law on the method of voting. In the most famous contest in Hamilton County history, almost 1200 elected precinct executives voted in the John Wiethe-Vince Beckman contest which was decided by a written ballot.
Mr. Burke will be offended, of course. I recall that two years ago at the organization meeting he got so excited that he threatened to resign if he did not get his way on a procedural matter. But he’ll get over it, so let’s decide which is the fairest route for Hamilton Countians, not which one Mr. Burke prefers. A written ballot will be popular.
And lets all have a good time because we’re celebrating democracy.
Tom Luken, 23K
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19 Apr 2008 at 04:36 pm | #
God luck Tom!
Burke’s secret deal with the Republicans is the way he operates.
He’s still fighting the brave souls from the West End, OTR and CUF.
He bribed Dale Mallory to screw the neighbors while he was CityLink’s lawyer.
He may have won the court battle, but there are a ton of other ways he’s being fought.
This back room deal’s being fought too.
Burke’s days are numbered.
His tactics are pissing off too many people.
19 Apr 2008 at 11:05 pm | #
Alright, so Burke can alienate the best of Democrats - but let’s not screw ourselves in the deal.
What does the “official” endorsement of Dole do for him? Does he get the “(D)” behind his name or not? Is that necessarily better than an “(I)”? Does he get some specified sum of money to help his campaign, or is THAT up to Burke or is it an “on your own “ kind of thing?
The only thing I’ve heard is that his name can appear on sample ballots distributed by the party. Is this integral for election?
I fully support Dole. He is probably the best candidate on the entire ballot from any party and I intend to volunteer to help him any way I can.
But, people have to look at this logically not emotionally. I personally think he has a better chance as an “(I)” - getting cross over votes and Dem votes - but, what do I know.
Spitting in the face of this deal isn’t worth it if there is no return for the candidate - If you don’t like Burke, then vote him out, but don’t use this as an issue to repudiate for repudiation sake - it could be politically costly in the long run.
Think this through folks - whatever is best for Dole is best for the party
19 Apr 2008 at 11:06 pm | #
Is this meeting open to anyone?
19 Apr 2008 at 11:17 pm | #
Tom Luken, my sage advice to you is if you want to organize the Dems for the next biennium, your 2nd order of business after getting the nod for Chris Dole is to dump Timbo Burke.
Pure, plain & simple, Burke is a dictator on the take. He’s the front man & sock puppet for the Mallory Plantation owners & their kids in high places for bought votes with a few shekels.
My freedom to vote my choices have been taken away by Burke.No voice! No choice!
Dump Burke immediately & restore intelligent voting choices to Hamilton County.
20 Apr 2008 at 10:54 am | #
Anon, 11:06 Mr. Burke has always said that our meetings are open to citizens to attend. Feel welcome to attend and view what we do as individuals within one of the two major parties. There will be a separate seating section for those elected in the March 4, 2008 election. That section will be allowed to vote on the items that come up. Caleb Faux at HCDParty Headquarters should be able to provide any other insights.
With all of the major elected Democrats who signed for Dole to get on the ballot, I would hope they, if elected Precinct Executives, would stand for his nomination on Tuesday.
From BOE folks I was told that the (I) stays BUT an endorsement from the party could allow him to be on a Democratic sample ballot, and perhaps recommendations from party officials for some funding. Of course there are numbers of us who will hold fundraisers, donate, work Dole’s campaign and get the word out.
ANON 11:05 this is not repudiation or retaliation. This is a challenge for the accountability of party leadership and individuals as small as those of us precinct executives. Many of us believe that for two major party leaders to make these choices.....secret or not.....takes the basic rights of CHOICE of CANDIDATE from the people who vote. We move quickly, even before a vote, from choice by voters to choice by party leaders for your governing officials. For the two heads of Democratic and Republican parties, also two of the top heads of the local Board of Elections, to make this deal leaves the great appearance of stangling even more the voice of any voter. Could also be viewed as the gentlemen using their two separate hats of leadership to compromise voter rights. Elected Precinct Execs, we are both of service as unpaid citizens in a public capacity AND as a partisan party elected person. Some of us believe we are either one or another. I contend we are both.
Follow my insight here: the local Democratic party puts out requests at meetings or via letters and e-mails for people elected or appointed within our party to precinct positions to volunteer to serve on Nominating Committees. We sign up and hope that meeting times will come within good times for our attendance. Depending on what’s going on in your life, and where you feel you can best serve to bring candidates to the Committee and then in turn to approval of the party in endorsement by the local party in running a race. (I’m making this more simple than it is.) For this particular set of circumstances, the County, there are charges of making sure we have candidates for Auditor, Clerk of Courts, County Engineer,Commissioner...the list of needed posts up for election.
The Nominating Committee for County posts were notified in November 2007 to meet at Mr. Burke’s law offices at Noon on December 4, 2007 to start our matters of which people within the party or county (registered Democrats) would meet. I was to be at the meeting with approximately 10 others, but could not make the first set, yet was eager to know how to proceed, and was glad to hear one of the two people I had felt could be great in the race to fill the DeWine seat had been noted as a possible Democratic contender.
Anon, that was the first and last meeting of the group, several of us spoke and were trying to find when the NEXT COUNTY NOMINATING COMMITTEE would be held, but no answers were forthcoming until the deal went from pulled off at the 11th hour and presented to us in the Enquirer.
Our own internal committee was circumnavigated. The major person discussed was asked to step aside.
The call for this challenge is challenging ourselves as individuals to take more nurturing responsibility for developing candidates and leadership at all levels of the party. For the health of the party and the health of the county’s people. It is of just as great importance that many of us Democrats elected to these small posts are keenly tied to the neighbors and neighborhoods comprising our precincts and owe them the right to our individual best efforts by bringing to the table good and decent candidates for all of Hamilton County to have CHOICE with the People’s VOTE/VOICE.
Finally...if you are a REGISTERED DEMOCRAT and do feel you can make a difference for your beliefs, neighborhood, and for the people of Cincinnati, our suburban towns and villages......regardless of your feelings for the party chair....look into becoming a Precinct Executive yourself. Look beyond the personalities and get back to the principles of representation of our citizens.
21 Apr 2008 at 11:59 pm | #
Thanks to everyone who stood up for Dole and an improved process. Despite the vote to the contrary, I think your efforts were a call to the leadership refine their processes and ensure more accountability to and input from their the other party officials.
I just wanted what was best for Dole. I hope this was best for both him and the party.
Undoubtably - things will be changing. Congratulations