Turmoil Strikes Oklahoma Democratic Party; Sources Say Staffers Leave, Donors Hesitant
The Oklahoma Democratic Party appears to be in turmoil today, with the forced resignations of three staff members and some potential major donors said to be reluctant to help fund the administration of new Chairman Ivan Holmes.
Word of the turmoil comes a few weeks after Holmes won the chairmanship in a surprise over Norman attorney Ben Odom, the outgoing vice chairman, in what one party source described as a victory for the "radical fringe element" of the party.
One of Holmes' first acts as chairman apparently was to ask for the resignations of three party workers who have been paid by the Democratic National Committee, part of Chairman Howard Dean's effort to help the party recover from the 2004 election cycle, which ended with the party in debt by about half a million dollars.
Holmes, The McCarville Report Online was told, campaigned on a pledge to fire the entire party headquarters staff. He apparently did not know that three of the four staff members were on the DNC payroll and that he could not "fire" them because they were DNC employees. They are Courtney Ruark, Teresa Hill and Jason McCarthy. Nonetheless, two days after being elected, Holmes “requested” their resignations. A source said the three were preparing to resign anyway, and they did.
Dean, one source asserts, told Pryor and Odom that the DNC now may abandon Oklahoma and not pay for any new employees because the party’s "radical fringe element" has taken control.
The only staff the Party apparently now has operating the headquarters is Holmes; outgoing Chair Lisa Pryor, whose tenure as the paid executive director will end by June 10th; and a receptionist.
Jeremy Hendricks, a Democratic political consultant, is expected to be named executive director by Holmes but even that possible move has concerned some because they've been told Hendricks will be allowed to continue to operate his campaign consulting business, creating possible conflicts of interest.
Some who are familiar with the party's inner workings say the turmoil began during the convention when many of the delegates spent time criticizing moderate Democratic Congressman Dan Boren for being too conservative and arguing with his defenders. They note that resolutions adopted by the delegates included three supporting gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender issues, and others opposing tort reform and the teaching of creationism in public schools, and favoring the impeachment of President George Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney, abortion, and withdrawal from Iraq.
Holmes reportedly spent much of his time at the convention pushing the resolutions; Odom reportedly spent most of his time discussing the nuts and bolts operation of the party including the need for continued fundraising and organizational efforts.
Holmes managed the successful campaign of Labor Commissioner Lloyd Fields, who upset incumbent Republican Brenda Reneau last year. Holmes is a member of Fields' staff and reportedly is giving that job up to become party chairman, a non-paid position. Outgoing Chair Lisa Pryor also held the title of executive director and has been paid the position's annual salary of about $60,000.
Many of those who supported Holmes post their thoughts on the active Democrat blog, demookie.com. Some of those who post there regularly are hosting a party fundraising event on June 23rd, a hotdog cookout, and hope to raise a thousand dollars.
Word of the turmoil comes a few weeks after Holmes won the chairmanship in a surprise over Norman attorney Ben Odom, the outgoing vice chairman, in what one party source described as a victory for the "radical fringe element" of the party.
One of Holmes' first acts as chairman apparently was to ask for the resignations of three party workers who have been paid by the Democratic National Committee, part of Chairman Howard Dean's effort to help the party recover from the 2004 election cycle, which ended with the party in debt by about half a million dollars.
Holmes, The McCarville Report Online was told, campaigned on a pledge to fire the entire party headquarters staff. He apparently did not know that three of the four staff members were on the DNC payroll and that he could not "fire" them because they were DNC employees. They are Courtney Ruark, Teresa Hill and Jason McCarthy. Nonetheless, two days after being elected, Holmes “requested” their resignations. A source said the three were preparing to resign anyway, and they did.
Dean, one source asserts, told Pryor and Odom that the DNC now may abandon Oklahoma and not pay for any new employees because the party’s "radical fringe element" has taken control.
The only staff the Party apparently now has operating the headquarters is Holmes; outgoing Chair Lisa Pryor, whose tenure as the paid executive director will end by June 10th; and a receptionist.
Jeremy Hendricks, a Democratic political consultant, is expected to be named executive director by Holmes but even that possible move has concerned some because they've been told Hendricks will be allowed to continue to operate his campaign consulting business, creating possible conflicts of interest.
Some who are familiar with the party's inner workings say the turmoil began during the convention when many of the delegates spent time criticizing moderate Democratic Congressman Dan Boren for being too conservative and arguing with his defenders. They note that resolutions adopted by the delegates included three supporting gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender issues, and others opposing tort reform and the teaching of creationism in public schools, and favoring the impeachment of President George Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney, abortion, and withdrawal from Iraq.
Holmes reportedly spent much of his time at the convention pushing the resolutions; Odom reportedly spent most of his time discussing the nuts and bolts operation of the party including the need for continued fundraising and organizational efforts.
Holmes managed the successful campaign of Labor Commissioner Lloyd Fields, who upset incumbent Republican Brenda Reneau last year. Holmes is a member of Fields' staff and reportedly is giving that job up to become party chairman, a non-paid position. Outgoing Chair Lisa Pryor also held the title of executive director and has been paid the position's annual salary of about $60,000.
Many of those who supported Holmes post their thoughts on the active Democrat blog, demookie.com. Some of those who post there regularly are hosting a party fundraising event on June 23rd, a hotdog cookout, and hope to raise a thousand dollars.
Labels: Ben Odom, Ivan Holmes, Lisa Pryor, Oklahoma Democratic Party
posted by Mike McCarville @ 1:20 PM
<< Home