OHIO: Lucas County Democratic Party and Unity

This is a long entry. I hope you have the patience to read it all. If not, then you are not the type of person to be reading this Roland Hansen Commentary blog anyway.

By now, you would think I would have learned that everyone is an expert when it comes to politics. That is especially true for those anonymous persons who comment on electronic message boards, forums, and blogs. Just ask them; they have the answer to everything, or at the very least they will tell you that the people involved in politics are all corrupt or something along those lines. They’ll tell you what a candidate is doing wrong, even though they have never worked on a political campaign. They will condemn or criticize political parties, even though they have never been an active participant in a political party (other than voting, that is, even if they do that much). I strongly suspect those people do not even understand what a political party is all about, let alone know about platforms and planks of a political party.
Yes, indeed, the naysayers are the experts. Not me! Heck, what do I know? Apparently very little according to the “expert” anonymous political commentators I have been reading. Sarcasm intended. I must add that I do admire and respect a few anonymous political commentators who have demonstrated their credibility and their knowledge.
For those who might read this but are unaware of some of my background, I’ll give you just a quick short glimpse of me. I have a long and interesting history of involvement with Lucas County politics that spans approximately 36 years now. Along with that extensive personal involvement, I have taught political science classes at the University of Toledo and at Owens Community College. I am also a member of Pi Sigma Alpha, the National Political Science Honor Society and a member of Pi Alpha Alpha, the National Honor Society for Public Affairs and Public Administration.

Now, let’s get to the topic at hand. But first a little background.
There has been schism, fractures, in-fighting, feuding, public squabbles, divisions, and the like within the Lucas County Democratic Party over the years. Disagreements and in-fighting are natural aspects of almost any and all organizations; but, the problems that have ensued in Lucas County over the most recent years resulted in two separate organizations for a couple years, both of which claimed to represent Lucas County Democrats.
The serious difficulties began approximately a decade ago. It was when the Lucas County Chairmanship went to a former “Independent” who had been the Campaign Manager of an Independent Mayoral candidate just a couple years previously. That Chairperson (Paula Ross) brought in some new people, which in itself was not bad, but became problematic because long-time Party activists were concurrently being excluded (including yours truly).
After a few years of that person’s leadership, there was a coup that resulted in a new Chair (Sandy Isenberg) who lasted one year, and then another new Chair (Jack Wilson) who also lasted one year, and then another new Chair (John Irish) who also lasted but one year. With all those persons, there were some attempts at bringing all Dems into one big family again. None succeeded.

Flash forward to the present.
On August 9, 2007, Ron Rothenbuhler was elected as the new Lucas County Democratic Party Chairman by the Lucas County Democratic Party’s central committee.
It was on August 16, 2007 that I stated on Glass City Jungle, the local political blog of the ever-efficient and knowledgeable LisaRenee and one of the best and most credible political blogs in all of Ohio: "I, myself, think that the efforts being made in the local Democratic Party should be considered as honest and sincere. Unless there is any FACTUAL information to the contrary, I welcome getting back to what the Democratic Party is really all about. I would also like to see the local Republican Party have a rebirth. Regardless of the doomsayers and critics of political parties, a strong two-party system is a very intricate part of our political system and of our country.”
The next morning, on August 17, I made this comment on Glass City Jungle: “I predict that the Lucas County Democratic Party will come together on a united front in the not-too-distant future.” Later that same day another poster wrote: “Roland, perhaps you have some of that magical powder mud mentions and could drop it off at 1817 Madison tonight!” to which I replied: “I have no magical powder. I only have 36 years experience in the local political arena. I stand by my prediction.”
It was on August 27 that I attended the press conference called by Party Chairman Ron Rothenbuhler. Later that same day on GCJ, I wrote: “I was quite impressed by the Lucas County Democratic Party Press conference today. There is no way a person can truly realize its importance and impact unless the person was there personally to see the variety of people and hear the conversations and cross-conversations. I suspect the media will not provide sufficient coverage in such a way as to effectively communicate the extremely positive ramifications that may result from this renewed effort at Democratic Party unity in Lucas County.”
I have been frustrated for decades with local political neophytes who seem to think that the City of Toledo is one and the same as Lucas County. Consequently, part of another comment I had made concerning that press conference was that it “included the Mayor of Maumee, Maumee councilpersons, the Mayor of Oregon, Oregon Councilpersons, the County Clerk of Courts, the County Recorder, the County Treasurer, all three County Commissioners, and many others.”
None-the-less, the local “expert” anonymous political commentators zeroed in on situations with the Democrats on Toledo City Council and on the fact that several of the county-wide elected officials had at one time served on Toledo City Council.
While I do understand the frustrations some people may have with some elected Democratic Party officeholders, I do not agree with painting all Democrats with one broad brush.
I repeat here what I have written elsewhere. The local Democrats of the Lucas County Democratic Party are not just the folks on Toledo City Council, or the people who live within the City of Toledo. Local Democrats consist of ALL LUCAS COUNTY Democrats.
There is more to the Lucas County Democratic Party than what some media would have you believe. There are also many Democrats who are elected officials in Lucas County.

To my chagrin, when the topic of the Lucas County Democratic Party was again brought forth on GCJ on September 3, I thought there was another undue intermingling of Toledo City Council politics and the renewed consensus building of the Lucas County Democratic Party. The reason I formed such an opinion was due to its headline "Democrat Vs Democrat Or Unity At Last?" and the inclusion in the following text of the phrase "the future on the unity between two factions of the Lucas County Democratic Party" along with linking to a newspaper article entitled "Toledo city Council chief, mayor have history of enmity."
I placed the following comment in reply: “If the topic is about unity of the Democrats throughout Lucas County and the Lucas County Democratic Party, then my response is unity is indeed in the process of coming together. If on the other hand, the topic is about Toledo City Council, my response is that there will always be differences. Toledo City Council IS NOT the LUCAS COUNTY Democratic Party. The Democrat members of Toledo City Council are indeed individuals. UNITY does NOT equate with GROUPTHINK. Nor does Toledo City Council equate Lucas County Democratic Party.”
Part of a response to my posting stated “other candidates and former candidates outside of Toledo had and still have some concerns.” And in another response, once again it was brought up about the politics of Toledo City Council and the fact that some Lucas County Democrats holding office today were once on Toledo City Council.
To which I restate here what I stated there: “I understand that of which you are speaking. I do not disagree with you. As some folks are aware, I have been an outspoken critic of several of those same things to which you allude. However, I am looking beyond the high visibility offices and situations that get the bulk of public attention.
In addition to Toledo City Council and County-wide elected officials, my perspective regarding the Lucas County Democratic Party also takes into consideration other local elected officials such as in: the cities of Oregon, Maumee, and Sylvania; the villages of Ottawa Hills, Waterville, Whitehouse, and others; the various township trustees and township clerks, and the numerous Boards of Education. From what I have been able to observe and collaterally ascertain, it appears that the elected Democratic officials and candidates of all these areas are coalescing within the Lucas County Democratic Party. I’ve also observed the outreach efforts to rank and file Democrats who had been ignored, castigated, or ostracized in the past.
Those things of which I mention have not received media exposure and coverage. I am seeing things and hearing things that are not in the every-day public eye.

BOTTOM LINE: The renewed efforts at unity within the Lucas County Democratic Party began less than one month ago. I have personally observed and experienced some of that which has taken place within this brief period of time. I doubt the anonymous “experts” can say the same. Instead, they tend to rehash the personal concerns that while important are not relevant or germane to the structure, procedures, policies, and processes of a political party. Of course, the outreach effort has not yet reached everyone and everywhere throughout Lucas County. Be realistic, people. The process of bringing forth unity within the Lucas County Democratic Party does take longer than one month.

I stand by my prediction. I predict that the Lucas County Democratic Party will come together on a united front in the not-too-distant future.