David
Leland's announcement letter, sent out Jan. 6, 2005
[letterhead] David J. Leland 361 Walhalla, Columbus,
OH 43202 Phone 614.262.5896 Email LelandODP@aol.com
Dear Fellow Democrat:
The contest for DNC chair
should not be about an individual, or even a political party. It has to be about our
future: a future
based on the promise that America can succeed when every individual has a fair
and
equal opportunity for success.
I am a candidate for DNC
Chair because I believe in the promise of America.
Because of history,
institutional advantages, profile and the ballot line, our Party is in
the best
position to take advantage of the movement to take back our country. It has often been said that a person can
accomplish anything…as long as he/she does not care who gets the credit. I would be honored to be your choice as DNC
Chair…not
to be the “star” of the party, but rather the person who is dedicated
and
focused to bring our Democratic Party family together in this fight for
the
very soul of our nation.
I bring a unique experience to
this position: experience in fundraising
and media relations; experience in running for and holding public
office;
knowledge and experience in party structure, grassroots politics and
other
issues confronting state parties; knowledge you get from being a
full-time
party chair for seven years; experience working for two labor unions;
experience as a national mediator; and experience with the internal
operations
of the DNC. And all this comes with a
Midwestern heritage and a keen sense of purpose.
The following outlines the
direction I want to help you take the Democratic Party:
Ø
“Brand” the Democratic Party.
We
must pull together the great talent in our Party to distill a clear,
positive
and powerful message about who we are and what we stand for. Once that is accomplished, we must integrate
the message into all facets of Party communication and organization. Americans must be able to understand and to
say with conviction and without hesitation what being a “Democrat”
means. During my race for Ohio House, I
was able to
beat a 6-term incumbent in a 61% Republican district by framing the
debate. We need to do the same.
Ø
Fight back! Today, talk radio and some cable news outlets
have
reverted to the methods of the partisan press of the 1800s. They provide propaganda and talking points
for like-minded individuals. We
must fight back, using all means of communication
at our disposal, from
cutting-edge technology and specialty communication outlets to the
old-fashioned weekly newspapers. We need
to systematically and aggressively drive our message in every city and
village
in America. Our efforts
in Ohio involved use of newsletters, daily faxes, Internet message
services, radio
actualities to over 200 radio stations, letters-to-the-editor, etc. As Chair, I gave over 7,100 interviews for
media outlets worldwide – none was too small to get our message out.
The
DNC communications staff should also be structured to organize and
direct our
talented and diverse group of current and former officeholders,
one of
whom will be our next President, to act as media spokespersons
for our
party on critical issues.
Ø
“All politics is local.” Build up state
and local party infrastructures with money and staff and the latest
technology. We cannot speak to and reach
the people of
this nation without strong, structured local party networks. This involves listening to and empowering
local office holders and community leaders who have the knowledge and
credibility to communicate our message to their friends and neighbors. These individuals need the resources to
succeed and must be an integral part of the party building process. Strengthening and building state and local
party operations is not just a slogan to me.
For seven (7) years as the full-time chair of the Ohio
Democratic Party,
I implemented these suggestions in my state, and worked through the DNC
and the
ASDC to assist other state parties.
Ø
Involve everyone. Everybody who
wants to help
should be welcome. We do not have a
Democrat to waste! Our party is about
inclusion, not exclusion of people or ideas.
Ø
Fundraising. To accomplish all of the above, we must build
upon the
fundraising success of Terry McAuliffe using all the tools: direct
mail,
telephone solicitations, one-on-one meetings and the Internet. I enjoy fundraising and I have made it a top
priority. For the past fifteen years, I
have directed record-breaking fundraising efforts on the local, state
and
national levels. I have also conducted
fundraising seminars across the country.
As Chair, I will continue to do this and include the DNC
development
staff and others. We will fan out
throughout
the United States,
teaching Democrats at all levels how to raise money.
Everyone can and must do it. They
just need to know how.
Ø
Stop re-inventing the wheel. Work with
groups like Democratic Gain and other groups, to maintain an ongoing
relationship with our campaign staff.
These people should be involved in various opportunities within
the
party and with its allies. There are
numerous campaigns, associations, foundations, unions and corporations
that
need the expertise these folks can provide.
The DNC should act as a clearinghouse to help place these
individuals to
help them grow and prosper, so that they will be available when the
need
arises.
Ø
Remember what we stand for!
This
last point is probably the most important.
As Americans, there is more that brings us together than
separates us. We all want to live in
communities that are
safe and clean. All Americans want to
know that if they work hard, they can make a good living for themselves
and
their families. All Americans want
better lives for their children, and most Americans wish to treat their
fellow
citizens with the same respect and dignity they expect in return. Republicans win when they magnify the minor
differences among us. Democrats win when
we speak of our common aspirations.
America is the nation we love today because of
generations of
strong Democratic Party leadership. This
is the foundation that we must build upon as we go forward.
I
look forward to working with you as we fight for our country… and all
that it
stands for!
Sincerely,
David
J. Leland