By Rick Bova

The California Democratic Party held its annual convention the weekend of Apr 24th in Sacramento.

Gavin Newsom

Being the year after a presidential election, they elected new officers for the Party. Art Torres, the current Chairman of the Party, had decided not to run for re-election having guided the Party for the past 13 years. John Burton was elected as the new Chairman. He has a long record of political involvement, having previously served as President of the Young Democrats, a State Assembly member, President of the California Democratic Council, Chair of the California Democratic Party, U.S. Congress member and as President pro Tem of the California State Senate. He had the backing of Party leaders and when he entered the race others dropped out.

An activist named Chris Finnie rose up to challenge him and the State Party as a whole with a platform and a vision of change. But that was not enough and she failed to overcome Burton support. Alex Gallardo-Rooker, a long time party activist and labor leader, was elected Female Vice-Chair. Eric Bauman ran unopposed as Male Vice-Chair and is continuing his position as chair of the Los Angles County Democratic Party. There was a close race for the Controller position. Hilary Crosby defeated the current controller with her CPA credentials and the promise of more transparency of Party finances. Reginald Byron Jones-Sawyer was unopposed for re-elections as Secretary. Get more information on the officers.

The election of party officers was not the only excitement. There was plenty of spirited discussion during the voting on endorsement of the upcoming May 19th propositions. The propositions are the lynchpin funding compromise agreed to by the legislative leaders to solve the state budget crisis. But not everyone in the Party was willing to go along. In the end, the Party split the endorsement, voting to endorse Propositions 1B, 1C, and 1F and taking no positions on 1A, 1D, and 1E. An endorsement of NO was not an option during the voting. There is not enough time left for the San Diego County Party to take a position on propositions because they had to wait for the State to take a position first.

With the 2010 elections just around the corner, those who have announced their candidacy for offices were out in force at the conventions looking for support. This include our 50th CD candidates, Tracy Emblem and Francine Busby. Gavin Newsom had announced his candidacy for the governorship the day before the convention. Friday was filled with caucus meetings. Caucuses are groups of Democrats joined together to further the cause of an issue or group. Some caucuses are African-American, LGBT, Senior, Veterans, Woman, Environmental and Labor. Saturday was filled with speeches by many party leaders such as US Senator Barbara Boxer, AG Jerry Brown, Assembly Speaker Karen Bass, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newson, US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and Congress member Barbara Lee. Governor Howard Dean gave a crowd-roaring speech on Sunday.

Thor and Tracy Emblem

Delegates to the convention are made up of three groups: 1) Those elected last January during the Assembly District Delegates elections, 2) Those elected by the County Party, and 3) Democratic elected office holders and candidates and their appointees. EDC members Rick Bova, Tracy and Thor Emblem, Leigh and Matthew Mahon, and Barbara Benedict attended the convention. If you get a chance to talk to them, I am sure they can give you an ear full.