The Cuyahoga County Democratic Party Executive Committee counts me among its members. It is likely that you have never heard of that specific committee before, yet it is incredibly powerful.
And it is an issue.
Even in nonpartisan contests, such as those for Cleveland City Council, this committee is responsible for supporting candidates. Benefits of receiving the endorsement include reduced mailing costs and your name appearing on the coveted party slate postcard that is handed out by party volunteers at polling stations and at homes on election day.
Although I support Mohammad Faraj for City Council and I live in Cleveland’s soon-to-be Ward 7, I chose not to cast a ballot in my ward’s election because I don’t think such decisions should be made by a small group of people in a bar’s back room. In any event, we will have to cast another ballot because the local Democratic Party was too inept to adequately inform every candidate at our endorsement meeting. I’ll refrain once more.
Since I favor small-d democracy over the smoke-filled backroom version that still plagues the local Democratic Party, I will abstain from all endorsement votes until the Cuyahoga County Democratic Party Executive Committee is disbanded.
Chris Martin
Cleveland
