Breach of Ethics in Nye County Democratic Party Politics?

I detest unethical behavior. This post is going to be about what I perceive as unethical conduct by the former Chairman of the Nye County Democratic Central Committee.

To understand it a brief summary of the history of what happened is necessary.

Two members of the Nye County Democratic Central Committee told me on Election Day of 2008 that they did not intend to remain in their offices beyond their current terms. I was told that the election to fill the seats of the vacating officers was expected to be set in the spring of 2009. When I inquired about what would happen if no one ran for election to fill the vacated seats, they shrugged their shoulders. I was told the rules governing conduct of the spring election would be the by-laws of the Nevada State Democratic Party, “with some exceptions.” (To my knowledge, at that time there were no Nye County by-laws in existence.)

I published a blog posting about the upcoming election for members of the Central Committee. I knew several people had expressed an interest in running for election to the Committee. These people were Democrats who had worked tirelessly in both the Clinton and Obama Presidential campaigns. They had engaged in voter registration drives, door to door canvassing, phone banking, get out the vote, and the like. They were out there doing the hard dirty work required in campaigns. They were fired up and ready to go.

One endeavored to make a motion at the January 2009 meeting of the Central Committee. The motion sought to set the election on March 30, 2009 at the Ruud Community Center in Pahrump. Robert’s Rules of Order notwithstanding, the Chairman summarily refused the motion announcing the election would be held Saturday, April 4, 2009 in Tonopah. Further, that only persons who had attended four Central Committee meetings or had been a volunteer for the Central Committee in the preceding year would be eligible to vote or even run for a Central Committee seat. He then produced what he said was the Nye County by-laws as prescribing the qualifications of who could vote or run for a seat on the Central Committee. The reason given by the Chairman for holding the election in Tonopah rather than Pahrump was to include Democrats in the other regions of Nye County in the election.

Available attendance records at Central Committee meetings revealed that of the 7,400+ Democrats in Nye County, only 28 could possibly satisfy the 4-meeting rule by April 4. None of the 28 lived outside Pahrump. The round trip distance for Democrats living in Pahrump to Tonopah is 320 miles. Thus, the Chairman wanted Pahrump Democrats to drive that 320 miles distance to vote when the attendance records clearly showed no one living outside Pahrump would be eligible to vote.

The rules of eligibility to vote or run for a seat on the Central Committee excluded those that toiled diligently during the Presidential campaign. The excluded Democrats were justifiably furious.

The Chairman stated those who intended to run for a Committee seat must file a notice with the Secretary of the Committee no later than February 19, 2009.

A vocal number of excluded Democrats formed their own organization dubbed Nye County Grassroots Democrats. They prepared a petition to the State Democratic Party seeking redress over the autocratic handling of the election on April 4. The NSDP declined to intervene.

At the February 2009 Central Committee meeting the Chairman announced the names of the qualified candidates for Committee seats and permitted each to make a brief campaign presentation. He announced there were 128 Nye County Democrats eligible to vote.

I made a motion that the names of those 128 eligible voters be provided by the Central Committee. The motion was seconded and passed by unanimous vote. The Central Committee promised to have the list of 128 ready the following Friday, four days later.

I wanted to know why 128 people did not show up on the attendance records to meet the 4-meeting voter qualification rule. I also wondered why it was necessary to wait until the following Friday to get the list, since it obviously already existed else the Chairman could not know there were 128 potential voters. When Friday arrived, I was told there was no list at the Democratic Headquarters because the Chairman had been ill. I was told that they “would work through the weekend” so that the list would be ready the following Monday. No list was available that Monday either. That list has never been produced.

On March 25, 2009 the Central Committee sent the following letter to Democratic voters. (I assume the letter was sent to the 128 “eligible voters.”)

“Dear Mrs. XXXX (I have redacted the name for privacy reasons)

“The upcoming election is getting close. The central committee decided to meet and discuss which candidates would best serve our party over the next two years. We chose to endorse these candidates based on the following: Experience, education, political interest, and involvement. A willingness to stay in contact with all party members including those that live in the most remote areas of Nye County was also considered. There are no expendable democrats.

“Chair: Bonnie Swadling

“Bonnie is certainly well qualified, definitely up to the task, and willing to make the commitment necessary to see that the Democratic Party becomes the dominant one in Nye County. She would be an exceptional chairperson.

1^st Vice Chair: David Bennett

“David has been a loyal supporter of the party for years. Because of his continued help and support we have been able to keep our office open since 2004. David’s involvement has enable us to continue our growth at a faster pace.

“2^nd Vice Chair: Cynthia Ross

“Cynthia was a very reliable volunteer at our office during the very busy 2008 campaign season. She has stated her interest in fundraising and has contacts through work which would be very beneficial in raising money.

“Treasurer: Joyce Smith-Call

“Joyce has been involved in politics since she was a teenager (not old enough to vote, she helped campaign) and she’s never lost interest. Ask Joyce anything about politics and she has the answer. She has a strong work ethic and is very detailed. Good attributes for any job. She is our choice for treasurer.

“The candidates we have endorsed are very strong democrats. They want the same thing we all do—to see Nye County turn blue. I sincerely believe that if the candidates we have endorsed are elected our chances of seeing that happen are excellent. I hope you will agree with me by giving them your vote.

“Sincerely,

/s/Loyal R. Watkins

Chairman

LRW/dh”

At the March 30, 2009 Central Committee meeting nothing was disclosed that the Central Committee had made endorsements, though all candidates were allowed to make campaign speeches.

Saturday, April 4, 2009 the election of the Central Committee members was held. Each of the endorsees won election. Some 33 persons attended, with maybe 1-3 residing outside Pahrump.

The list of eligible voters had swelled to 184 from 128 at the time of the April 4 election. That list has never been released by the Central Committee.

So what is unethical? It is the arbitrary manner in which the election has handled. The exclusion of Democrats from the electoral process. The effort to discourage eligible voters from voting by setting the election in Tonopah, 320 miles drive away. The virtual secret endorsement of som
e candidates by the Central Committee. The refusal to disclose the list of 128 or 184 “eligible” voters to each of the candidates so they could identify those from whom they needed votes to win the election.

The Democratic Party is renown for it’s inclusion rather than exclusion of people. The entire method with which this past election appears to have been designed to only include those the former Central Committee deemed acceptable. The perpetuation of a clique.

I lay the blame at the feet of the former Chairman. There is no apparent indication to include any of the four officers elected with complicity in the exclusion of Democrats.

I do not seek to stir up this can of worms to feed divisiveness of the party membership. I do seek to inform the membership with what occurred so that the membership can take appropriate steps to prevent it’s recurrence. The prevention begins with the by-laws which should preclude such methods in future elections. Prevention is also fostered by members being involved with a watchful eye for signs of repetition of such back-door activities.

The strength and power of the Nye County Democratic Party is rooted in the rank and file membership—not the five-member Central Committee.

Related posts:

1. Where is the list of the 128 “anointed” voters who the Nye County Democratic Central Committee has deemed eligible voters for members of the Central Committee?
2. The Nye County Democratic Central Committee ballot
3. Clark County Democratic Party Website
4. Washoe County Democratic Party’s Website
5. New Nye County Democratic Central Committee Members Elected