We’re excited to share more of the California Democratic Party’s work under Chairman Burton from 2009-2017: The Burton Legacy: Empower the Grassroots, Build for the Future. You can view the full report here, and this second message will highlight the section on “Rebuilding Trust: Transparency & Accountability.”
When Chairman John Burton ran for office in 2009, the one thing we heard repeatedly at every grassroots event was: communicate with us. So we did.
Rebuilding voter trust in the California Democratic Party through transparency and accountability is central to Chairman Burton’s legacy as California became a leader in progressive electoral success and grassroots activism.
Here are some of the ways Chairman Burton has restored trust in our party through increased transparency and accountability over the last eight years:
CDP Leadership Organizing Calls: Monthly calls with Statewide Officers, Regional Directors, Caucus Chairs, and County Committee Chairs with staff from all departments on hand to answer questions and receive feedback.
Election Organizing Calls: During election season, we hosted at least two monthly organizing calls in addition to the regular call.
Resolutions Transparency: Instead of a paper system for submitting resolutions, we democratized the process by creating a webpage with all committee rules and regulations, as well as an online form for submission.
Committee Appointments: Instead of an insider process for committee appointments, we created an online form for members to request appointment, and included specific answers for diversity and home residence, so we could make committees as diverse as possible.
Tips and Tools for County Chairs: Regularly emailed e-newsletter with essential information for County Chairs and officers.
County Chairs Dropbox: To help County Chairs keep up with current information on party activities, filing deadlines and more, we created a County Chairs Dropbox. This was less expensive, more timely and more accessible for Chairs, as well as providing an online Bookkeeping Best Practices Manual.
Revamped the CDP Website: Allowing for easier staff access and an understanding of where to get answers, as well as providing a CDP Menu of Services for County Chairs and activists.
Answering Questions: At every meeting, CDP Controller Hilary Crosby held an open Q&A with the membership for financial transparency questions.
Level the Playing Field: To ensure fairness, Chairman Burton instituted a party policy not to donate to candidates who are not yet endorsed for the position which they seek, and not to donate in support or opposition of state measures unless the membership has endorsed the corresponding position on it.
Convention Accessibility: CDP general session is always captioned and includes sign-language interpretation; all speeches added to our YouTube site.
Reporting our Achievements: After each election, we produced a report on our work for increased transparency, available at www.cadem.org/BurtonLegacy.
As we approach our convention, we’ll be sending messages on Boosting Our Field Advantage, Rebuilding and Amplifying Our Communications, Fiscal Stewardship: A Sustainable Future, and Proof is in the Pudding: Election & Policy Success.
Thank you for being a California Democrat,
Angie Tate
Chief Financial Officer
California Democratic Party
Pitch in $10 or whatever you can to help elect Democrats:
DONATE
Today is the day, Michael! Bernie Sanders and I are headed to Portland, Maine where we’ll kick off our big cross-country tour tonight.
We’re covering a lot of ground this week, and I couldn’t be more excited to talk to Democrats all across the country about how we’re coming together as Democrats and fighting back.
We know we’ve got some tough fights ahead of us, Michael. Donald Trump’s administration has been an unmitigated disaster, and we’re still not even 100 days in.
Hours after being sworn in, Trump made it harder for first-time homebuyers to buy a home. Days later, he made it harder for families to save for retirement.
He’s targeted immigrants and torn apart families, and he tried to ram through a health care bill that would have kicked 24 million Americans off their insurance.
Donald Trump is shaking American families down, and we’re not going to let him get away with it. It’s going to be hard work, but if we each stand up and do our part, I’m confident that we can stand up to Donald Trump and his lackeys in Congress.
But we can’t do it without you. So before I take the stage tonight, I’m asking you to step up today by pitching in $10 or whatever you can to help Democrats fight back against Trump and the GOP.
If you’ve saved your payment information, your donation will go through immediately.
Far too often, California votes too late to matter in presidential primaries. It’s time to move our primary to prime time.
That is why I am calling for California voters to have an earlier say in the Presidential Primary process with our Prime Time Primary Bill, SB 568, authored by Senator Lara. SIGN HERE if you agree we need to move our primary to prime time.
In 2016, too many Californians were left feeling like their votes didn’t matter in the Presidential primary. That’s why I’m asking for your support to move up California’s presidential primary to just after Iowa and New Hampshire.
We are California, the most populous and diverse state in the nation. And we’re also the largest economy of any state. We should not be an afterthought in the presidential nomination process. Moving up the California primary in future presidential elections will give California voters more say. And by holding our primary earlier, we will ensure that Californians and our issues become priorities for all presidential candidates. SHARE this petition with your California friends and family to make sure our voices will be heard loud and clear in the White House.
Next week, Bernie Sanders and I are hitting the road to meet with Democrats around the country and talk about how we’re getting the Democratic Party back on track.
Michael, you’ve already done so much this year to stand up to the Trump administration and fight for the values we share.
You’ve marched at airports to stop an immoral Muslim ban, called your members of Congress and showed up at town halls to protect every American’s right to health care, and stepped up to help Democrats win elections in states from Delaware to Alaska.
You’re an important part of everything our party does and who we are as Democrats. This is your chance to get the VIP treatment you deserve.
If you win, we’ll fly you and a guest of your choice out to Las Vegas, put you up at a great hotel, and give you VIP passes to Bernie’s and my last big rally.
All you have to do is get your name in the hat. Chip in $10 or whatever you can to continue supporting our party, and you’ll be automatically entered for a chance to win.
If you’ve saved your payment information, your donation will go through immediately.
Today marks the 82nd day since Trump was sworn in. So much has happened in that time: his Muslim ban has stalled in the courts, we’ve stopped Republicans from repealing the Affordable Care Act (for now), I’ve personally grilled Administration officials on issues like climate change and immigration, our country has engaged militarily in Syria after a vicious chemical attack, and so much more.
So I thought this would be a good time to check in on your priorities and thoughts as we approach the end of Trump’s first 100 days. We’ve done this about once a month since I was sworn in and your feedback has been invaluable.
If you can spare a minute, please take my short issues survey today:
Thank you for taking a few moments to make your voice heard. My team will be compiling the results for me later this week. Your thoughts will be taken seriously as we continue to advance the cause of justice and equality.
what I’m about to share with you is shocking and tone-deaf.
During today’s press briefing, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer casually dismissed the history of the Holocaust, denying that Hitler “gassed his own people” and claiming that he “didn’t even sink to using chemical weapons.”
Even if this was a case of simple ignorance, there has been a vein of anti-Semitism running through the Trump administration since Day One.
Denying the atrocities committed by Adolf Hitler and the Nazi regime is a tried-and-true tactic used by neo-Nazi and white supremacist groups that have become emboldened since Donald Trump first announced his campaign for president. Some of those groups were quick to heap praise on Spicer for his comments today, just as they did when the White House failed to mention the Jewish community in their statement marking Holocaust Remembrance Day.
The Trump administration has similarly dismissed the rise in hate crimes since Trump was elected and, the increase in bomb threats against Jewish community centers, and the desecration of Jewish cemeteries. At a recent press conference, Donald Trump personally called the Jewish reporter asking about these acts of hatred a liar.
And Trump has elevated white supremacists to senior positions in his administration. At one point, he even rearranged the National Security Council to include his white supremacist chief strategist, Steve Bannon.
Rejecting and denouncing anti-Semitism from the White House is a low-enough bar that even this administration can clear.
The Trump administration must apologize for this outrageous statement and their pattern of anti-Semitism, and fire white supremacists like Steve Bannon. Now.
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.
