Thursday, February 15, 2007

Back on the HCDCC.

My wife Robin and I are new members of the Humboldt County Democratic Central Committee. HCDCC I had made some comments about how they were doing business, and I received enough feedback to quit whining and get back involved. I was nominated last meeting to be a member of the Committee in the form of a 4th District Representative. This meeting I spoke of my past history as member of the committee back in the 90's. I was then grilled for my past endorsement of Virginia Bass for mayor, and was asked point blank if I would support only Democratic candidates in the future. I could not commit to that and I reminded others in the room that they endorsed a Republican over me during the election for Supervisor in June but I was over that. Chair Patrick Riggs said that he personally did not back me in the primaries but was willing to support me on the HCDCC and let bygones be bygones. I appreciated that, and was voted (Not unanimously mind you) to be a member. Times-Standard Online - Humboldt Democrats focus on becom ing effective locally My wife Robin was unanimously voted on as an associate member. She may run for a political office this next year. Stay tuned.

31 comments:

Anonymous said...

So what are you hoping to gain by joining an organization that stabbed you in the back, and to this day appears to be twisting the knife a little?

Anonymous said...

How dare they question you on supporting a candidate that was not a democrat. Can our local dem's truly be that hipocritical? Well I guess they are. I dont know how you do it. I do not see any reason, at all, to support anyone involved or connected to the HCDCC. Richard you should start your own Democratic group and close down the hipocritial, backstabbing, HCDCC. I will never forget what they did to you. What did Neely promise to the HCDCC anyway? Same thing she promised the casinos?

Anonymous said...

Well Richard also simultaneosly supported a republican(Virginia Bass) in Eureka and a green(Dave Meserve)in Arcata.Sour grapes are being put aside for the betterment of the group.What's wrong with that?

Anonymous said...

I agree with 5:27, Richard, what the hell are you thinking??

Do you really need them or is it that they really need you??

samoasoftball said...

My wife and I have been Democrats since we first registered back in the mid 70's. We are both blue collar working class type Democrats. I share the same core values of most on the HCDCC. We may disagree on some points, but the basic foundation of beliefs are there.

Obviously my message did not reasonate with the majority of my fellow Democrats in the 4th District last year.

I do see that the vision of the HCDCC as moving ahead and I can either be a part of that direction, or stand from the sidelines with no voice. I want to have input and help the HCDCC on a positive path forward.

Rose said...

Good luck. You are going to need it.

Anonymous said...

Sorry Richard, if you think those wolves just want to comb your fur you're wrong. Those wolves like testicles, working class testicles.

Anonymous said...

Youre a nice guy, but I dont see both MossBack and FogCrawler factions supporting a Sand Dweller in any election, regardless your membership with the Democrats. The only way that would happen is with a trueborn Surf Monkey, the one talked about in scripture.

Anonymous said...

Well the HCDCC is showing a movie, those guys are real "movers and shakers" the blue collar people are on all sides not just the democrat side. Richard should start his own Democratic movement and epose the HCDCC for what they realy are. Does any one have the names of who were running the HCDCC during the Neely election I would like to do some research on what they got from Neely to support her.

Anonymous said...

expose them sorry

Greg said...

Richard, your 10:51 comment is right on the money. Please allow me to clarify that the only reason you were not unanimously welcomed back is because one or two members abstained. Some seem to feel like Democrats should never, ever, ever, support anyone other than registered Democrats, even when excercising one's first amendment rights in good faith.

One's conscience counts. As Mother Theresa put it, "intent counts". And these days, when democracy (for all of us, Rose) has been so deeply trashed in this country, when the consent of the governed --a Republican value, I might add--has been ignored so blatantly, we all need to show up.

To answer an earlier question: HCDCC needs you. The country needs more people like you who will get over it, refuse to give in, and get back to work.

Call us next week and we will get down to Ferndale for that pizza with Carol and Robin.

Oh - 7:10 - feel free to call me when you start your research, but remember - phones have Caller ID.

Anonymous said...

Are you sure it's not the Humboldt County Socialist Central Committee?
I would never join a group that wanted me to vote only for candidates that are aligned with any one party.

Greg said...

8:32 you can rest easy. I believe it was two people on HCDCC who seemed to have the totalitarian approach. I am sure there are people like that in every political party.

Eric V. Kirk said...

Good for you Richard!

Eric V. Kirk said...

Obviously my message did not reasonate with the majority of my fellow Democrats in the 4th District last year.

Well, I also heard talk of concerns that you were "splitting the vote" which is silly in a run-off type situation.

Anonymous said...

Glad you are getting involved - that group needs someone that can pull them together. Backing Neely was a mistake and made me wonder where their heads were. Maybe their proctologist called after all.

Anonymous said...

Hey 7:56 not looking for trouble it is common knowledge/fact that Neely made certain promises as well as threats in order to garner some of her supporters. I am just wondering what some people in the HCDCC were promised, like most, that I know of, were lied to and never got their promises fullfilled and the threatend ones...well lets just say they were allowed to keep their jobs. Just looking for facts my friend, just looking for facts... Dont let your conscience get the best of you. Thought and conversation, not anger and violence. Richard is a great guy and you guys are lucky to have him you should treat him right.

Anonymous said...

Assembly 08 has been promised to Chesbro. Supervisor 2010 has been promised to Kerrigan. Richard, if you think the Dems are going to move aside there big players for you, you might want to think twice.

Anonymous said...

see now wasnt that easy. 2010 to bad we cant have a real person in that office it seems Humboldt wants to continue the trend of a supervisor 4th district that has never had a real job in their life. oh well at least were hearing some info, some true talk. if we are blogging we might as well tell the truth we are all safely hidden let out the secrets of HCDCC the Republicans, Green, Indepedent, it shouldnt matter who, lets get to the truth. Unfortunatley politics is not about honor, ethics, and truth these days it is all bad on all sides. our system is corrupt and if the dems had bcked Richard he could have beat Flemming or Neely but as I said before everyone has got something to gain so they ignore what this community needs and go after their personal agenda. On no level is Neely a better option over Richard Marks. but like 5:10 says there are personal agendas that are more important than doing the right thing. I wont be surprised to see all laws change and George W. gets a third term, all parties are messed up not one is better than the other. and its our fault

Anonymous said...

Bill Pierson not a true supporter his agenda is to continue being able to charge the community the highest rates possible for goods. He wil be able to do this by paying whatever money it takes to keep Home Depot from coming to Eureka. If he is not a Corporate giant in sheeps clothing I dont know who is.

samoasoftball said...

5:10pm- I was a member of the HCDCC in the 90's and helped Democratic candidates. I collected signatures to put Thompson on the ballott in 1998. I have finacially supported Wes Chesbro. Heck, I sent a check to Connie Stewart when she ran for Arcata City Council. I was on Virginia Strom-Martin's steering committee in 1996 and I phonebanked, walked and helped raise funds for Democrats.

I am not expecting an endorsement from the HCDCC in the future. That was not my intent of re-joining. This is a good venue for my wife and I to support Democrats in 2008 through the HCDCC.

Just for the record, I never made claim that I was the best candidate for the 4th District Supervisor job. I was just a viable Progressive Democratic alternative that got caught up in bad timing. I seem to have pissed off people from both ends of the political spectrum. Oh well, I met some great people along the way, so no regrets.

Anonymous said...

Richard, I just think it stinks they are going to support Chesbro for Assembly. You should just declare early your intentions to run for 1st district supervisor. KErrigan is a nice guy but he can wait, and maybe get a job. You on the other hand, we dont know how much longer you will last. You might just be electrocuted tomorrow.

Anonymous said...

Kerrigan for Supervisor? You've got to be kidding. He can't even string two sentences together without tripping over his own tongue. What good has he done for the City of Eureka over the last several years? He's nothing but fluff. He has no substance. If you Dems support Kerrigan for Supervisor I will work as hard as I can to see him defeated ... and I am not a Republican.

Anonymous said...

Did Greg state, "Some seem to feel like Democrats should never, ever, ever, support anyone other than registered Democrats".

Are you referring to the HCDCC supporting Bonnie Neely (Republican) over Richard Marks (Democrat)?

Anonymous said...

It is well known that Bonnie is a RINO so I guess they figured they would support her as the "other" Democrat.

At least Richard's head is on straight and he would have made a good Supe.

Have heard that Jill Geist wants to move up to a State office. Would that pit her against Chesy? Can't imagine Kerrigan as a Supe though.

samoasoftball said...

8:43-The HCDCC did not make an endorsement in the 4th District race. Individuals on the HCDCC personally made endorsements to Neely which is their right.

The only one the HCDCC could have endorsed was myself. They did not. They were worried about Nancy Flemming winning the race.

After the Neely for Supervisor campaign formed the "Democrats for Neely" there was no way I could endorse her campaign. I did not make an endorement for the 4th District in the end.

Anonymous said...

I guess its official then, Chesbro will have no opposition in the Democrat primary next year and no group will rise up to challenge the iron grip of a carefully protected majority of neoliberal Central Committee hacks, a few token progressive members like Marks and Brinton aside.

Anonymous said...

Jill Geist wants a promotion? You must be joking! Didn't she just say a few weeks ago that the scientists behind the dioxin listing for Humboldt Bay just "didn't understand the science?" Jill Geist doesn't understand much.

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
samoasoftball said...

Wesley Chesbro is on the California Integrated Waste Management Board right at the moment. You don't think they would appoint him to this important board at over $100,000 a year if he was just going to leave the position to run for the 1st District Assembly seat do you?

If he is silly enough to do that, maybe I can take his place taking out the garbage on the state level on the Integrated Waste Management Board.

Where do I apply?

Ha ha?

Anonymous said...

Why wouldn't he? State Assemblymen get paid better, get better benefits and besides, he already told us he would run. He had the same job with IWMB before, and he left it to run for office, as he will do yet again at taxpayers expense.