5-30-17: ODP Chair David Pepper

South Euclid Democratic Club Meeting

06-30-17, South Euclid Community Center

Retanio Rucker, Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court
William Vodrey, Cleveland Municipal Court
Andy Santoli, Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Office
Georgine Welo, South Euclid Mayor
Kenneth Atchinson, South Euclid Ward One Candidate
Jason Russell, SE city Council
Kenny Yuko, Ohio senate district 25
Patricia Blochowiak, East Cleveland school board
Larry Diemand, running for congress district 14
Sunny Simon, County Council
Gayle Williams-Byers, SE Judge
Marcus Epps, Euclid City council
Andrea Nelson Moore, running for judge?
Laura Thompson, Lyndhurst City Council candidate Lyndhurst Democratic Party President

2016 Presidential election; collective responsibility, no simple explanation, it is complex and multi-faceted.
Russian interference; demand a deep and true investigation, more for national sovereignty than for blame.
Voter behavior:

2012-70.5% voter turnout, Dems carried 17 counties and 46 counties by more than 40%
2016-71.5% voter turnout, Dems carried 8 counties and only 13 by more than 40%
Cuyahoga county was slightly less democratic in 2016 than in 2012.
The 3 largest Democratic counties (Cuyahoga, Franklin, Hamilton) had similar numbers from 2012 to 2016 whereas the 2 largest republican counties (Delaware, Warren) had a decrease from 2012 to 2016.
The GOP outperformed the DNC in the smallest 50 counties. In 2012 Cuyahoga county was able to cover the loss in these counties but wasn’t able to in 2016.

This was the pattern seen in many of the midwest states: a surge in the smaller counties that large cities were unable to cover.
National Landscape:

Industrial midwest wave of GOP voting along the Ohio River
People wanted change and saw Trump as that change whereas Clinton was the status quo. Democrats did not have a clear economic plan.
Voter Suppression also play role, Voter purge in Ohio led to 200,000 struck from Ohio voter rolls.

Current supreme court case, Husted v A. Philip Randolph Institute: will review how a name can be removed from voting list

Caused late deciders to go with Trump by 5 points
Analysts believe it was a direct result of Comey announcement
Clinton was constantly fighting email controversy and had a hard time getting her message out.

Division of Labor
Ground game does matter, but in 2016 it was not put to good use
Do political advocacy instead of voter registration, let non-profits do the voter registrations
Registering voters did not leave enough time to reach undecided voters via door to door
2016 had no persuasive canvassing, only on TV and Direct mail.
Need an 88 county strategy in 2018
ODP, raised own money and tried to do persuasive canvassing in fall of 2016 and did own minority engagement
Dems rarely vote down ticket, especially for judges. ODP will do state wide sample ballots with judges and supreme court. Asking Democratic candidates to include “vote for Judge1 and Judge 2” on mailers.
Main street initiative, ODP boot camp on how to run for office.
Diverse Candidates: Aftab Pureval, Tibetan/Indian. Hamilton County Clerk of Courts

Independents like balance
New Energy, started first day after the election, building since President Trump’s EOs
Obama’s data on who was involved with the campaign was never shared with party

Clinton campaign has given Party information on campaign volunteers for use in future elections

Combine digital activism with political activism to hold republicans accountable
ODP Truth Team, in every district.

Partners with other advocacy groups to rally participants to swell events and increase press coverage.

Sherrod Brown
Govenor: Betty sutton, Connie Pillich, Nan Whaley, Nina Turner?, Joe Schiavoni, Rich Cordray, Jay Williams, David Leland?, Kathleen Clyde, Zach Space,
Chase Ritenauer, auditor?
Strong down ticket for 2018
Party of change, first time since 2006
Kasich= fend for your self localism
In 2010 under Strickland Ohio schools was ranked 5th in nation now 22nd
Heroin epidemic, Ohio #1 in country for overdose deaths. Why? Cities, front line in dealing with it, have had money taken from them making them cut counseling and drug prevention.
Dems have Vetting committee for 2018
Kitchen table convos through out Ohio with people that are not that involved in politics.
Gerrymandering, Fair Districts Ohio, petitions now being signed for inclusion on the 2017 ballots.

Text 90975 the word “fair” fill in zip code signature pledge. You will receive info on how to get involved in petition signing.

South Euclid Democrats