Q + A

Why do you want to be Chair?

I want to be BCDP Chair for the same reason that I volunteer: to create progressive change. BCDP is one of the most essential organizations for progressive change in Boulder County. By volunteering for BCDP, I can help dozens of Democrats get elected, up and down the ballot, across the county and beyond. I’ve shown that I can bring people together to strengthen that work. So I want to be the BCDP Chair to support the many hundreds of volunteers carrying out that work, so I can be a major force for progressive change.

We are at a time when change is on our minds. Certainly, we hope that at the national level, Democrats are learning lessons from the loss in 2024 and affecting meaningful change. Change for the Boulder County Democratic Party is different because we continue to experience success, and we have the opportunity to build on that success. The new leadership we choose must value the people, the relationships, the experience, the commitment, and the creativity that exists among us, and use all of that to deeply tap our potential, be ever more inclusive, and look to expand our impact. That will take a leader who knows this first hand, as I do, and as I am: ready to listen, to innovate, to collaborate, to support, and to build.   

What does the BCDP Chair do?

The primary job of Chair is to lead a team of people to support our volunteers who are working to elect Democrats. There are many moving parts to that, but first and foremost is our Field Team. These are all our volunteers, including many of you, who work in your precincts distributing Voter Guides, contacting voters, and working on critical races in other parts of the county and beyond. Supporting this are many teams, from Fundraising, to Community Events, to IT.

To hold all these moving parts together, the most important task is to listen. The job of Chair involves more listening than talking. It means making sure diverse voices are heard, especially on contentious issues, finding consensus, and getting the best ideas to rise out of disagreements. This is something I've done numerous times as a Bylaws Team Leader. For instance, in 2023 I facilitated a successful discussion on the contentious issue of whether, and how, to endorse Democrats in local non-partisan races. The discussion brought together local elected officials, candidates, and volunteer activists across the county. It resulted in a new candidate questionnaire that educates voters on candidates’ positions from a decidedly Democratic perspective. This ties together the work of our Field Team in preparing and collecting the questionnaire, our Platform Team, with questions taken directly from our Platform planks, and our IT Team in posting the electronic Voter Guide.

The Chair must also run monthly Executive Committee (EC) Meetings, where we discuss day-to-day operations. My goal is to make them more engaging and joyous—and informative: The teams discuss their ongoing work, so it should be a place where a new volunteer can learn about our wide array of activities and how they can become involved at a higher level. The challenge is that the EC is also where we do our official business. In learning about parliamentary procedure as part of my Bylaws work, I've come to realize that the most important thing about Robert's Rules is when not to use them. Most of our discussion is done informally, allowing a freer exchange of ideas. By carefully planning agendas, inviting engaging speakers, and knowing when formal procedure is and isn't appropriate, we can make EC meetings a much more dynamic experience.

What are the critical needs of BCDP at this time?

First, for most of this cycle, we have had no Volunteer Team Leaders. It’s essential that when a new volunteer reaches out, they get a prompt response. We want them to feel welcome in the party, and to be connected with a team or activity that motivates them, while they still have the enthusiasm that led them to reach out in the first place. This is the responsibility of the Volunteer Team. I will work with our Vice Chair for Capacity to recruit and retain a dedicated—and diverse—Volunteer Team.

Second, we critically need a reinvigorated Outreach and Inclusion Team. Voters are frustrated at the state of our country, and Donald Trump and his cronies exploit that frustration to punch down on vulnerable communities. It falls to us to do our part to protect and lift up those communities. We need a reinvigorated Outreach and Inclusion Team to help our community members move up the ladder of engagement—from nonvoter to voter, from voter to volunteer, from volunteer to leader. And we need to create a political environment where our state and local officials can hold accountable those who harm our communities—so that when they punch down, we can punch back.

Communications is another priority need, since it broadens the reach of everything we do. When we start up a new outreach program, participate in a community event, or take a position on a hot policy issue, our Communications Team gets the word out. This keeps up year-round engagement with the public and our volunteer base.

Finally, I would foster greater relationships between our volunteers and partners outside BCDP. I believe it is the principal job of Chair not to exert authority, but to provide resources, and relationships are a critical resource. For example, since we know CD8 will be a close race, critical to winning back the House in 2026, our Field and Volunteer teams will need contacts with their counterparts in neighboring counties, the State party, and the nominee’s campaign. I will use my position as Chair to make connections on behalf of our volunteers.

Now is a time for fresh ideas in the Democratic party. Just as voters are frustrated at the state of our country, we Democrats our frustrated that our party, nationally, was unable to meet the moment. I don't have all the answers to this—if these questions were easy, the election would have turned out very differently. What I do know is that there are answers to be found right here in our community. Every time a volunteer has a conversation with a voter, a glimmer of an answer emerges. Outside the party, from community groups, to issue-centered organizations, to policy research centers, activists are working to shore up areas where the progressive movement has fallen short. Connecting our volunteer base to these groups brings important voices to this rebuilding effort.

Do you plan to run for public office?

No, and here’s my thinking on that: If I ran for public office and won, that would be one more elected official who shares my values. But if I can support Democrats broadly, that would help dozens of candidates with progressive values—and that’s just here in Boulder County. Volunteering for BCDP has been the perfect avenue for this.

It looks like there will be a hotly contested race for Governor next year. Do you know who you’ll endorse in the primary?

Yes, I know exactly who I’ll endorse—no one! I take the commitment to neutrality very seriously. Voters often blame “the Democratic Party” or “the DNC” when their preferred candidate loses a primary. So it’s important to stress that the selection of Democratic nominees belongs to Democratic caucus and primary voters, and to them alone. BCDP is responsible for managing the Caucus and Assembly process that is the first step toward nomination, and it’s critical that we avoid even the appearance of favoritism. For this reason, Officers are prohibited from endorsing, or even appearing to endorse, candidates in contested primaries. 

I’m stressed about national politics. Can you show me a cat picture?