Chip for TN
A gathering place for supporters and endorsers of TNDP Chairman Chip Forrester, as he continues his work for the Tennessee Democratic Party.
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Thank you!
Friday, January 7, 2011
Dan Lawson, Democratic Executive Committee Member, District 8
Jeanette Jackson, Democratic Executive Committee Member, District 18
I support Chip and I believe that he will bring some new blood into the party and hopefully our other two candidates will be willing to put their experience to work with the TNDP if they do not win the chair position. Unity can be achieved and I'm certainly willing to do my part to make sure that it is attained.
Janet Moore, Vice-Chair Putnam County Democratic Party
How can we hope to build a strong party if we don't stand by our principals and show supporters that they can trust us to be on their side? The Republicans will always be better at courting the wealthy, our strength and moral certitude comes from representing those who aren't wealthy, those who have no other source of power. We need to communicate clearly that we are on their side and that we will work tirelessly on their behalf to make their everyday lives better and then convince them to get out and vote. That's the Democratic Party I want to belong to.
Janet Moore
Vice Chair, Putnam County Democratic Party
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Melissa Javors, TN Democrat
Melissa Javors
Krissa Barclay, Former DCDP Chair
I attribute much of the operation improvements to Jennifer Buck Wallace and her larger team who were pulling 20 hour days making sure all the volunteer walking and calling data was uploaded daily. During early voting, early voting data for over 50 counties was removed daily helping us to narrow our focus. Volunteers and TNDP employees were loyal to her because she was always in the middle of the grind with them and made sure they understood that their efforts were important. Jennifer was excellent at identifying the abilities of volunteers and then soliciting additional hours of assistance from them with her kind words and efforts.
The fact that Tennessee Democrats were surprised to lose so many seats is undisputed. It is also undisputed that most mid-term elections after a Presidential Election are almost always detrimental to the party in the White House. Add the Tea Party and a well-meaning but weak Gubernatorial candidate at the top of the ballot to the mix and its a recipe for disaster. Maybe the improved data operations and volunteer efforts didn't help but the current blame game over the losses is hindering productive dialogue about what did and did not work better than in previous election cycles.
I support any and all efforts to find and promote democratic candidates, develop additional funding to democratic candidates, determine an effective message and improve the operations and available data to help elect more Democrats statewide. I am not sure what the answers are but I hope Sunday, January 9, everyone involved in this debate will put their differences aside and focus on how to turn the tide back in Tennessee Democrats favor in 2012.
Barbara Wagner, Democratic Executive Committee Member, 8th District
T. Robert Hill, Madison County Democratic Party Chair
I wish only to say, amen and amen! Thank you Mike [Hampton] for speaking out for all Democrats who have felt displaced by the pro-business agenda. We can start the recovery in Tennessee only by being real Democrats for the first time in three decades and winning the hearts and minds of Tennesseans. I encourage the Party leaders to unify behind Chip Forrester as our Chairman and you’ll see what this man can do. Thank you, Democrats.
Robert Hill, Madison County Democratic Party Chairman
Chris Anderson; Executive Committeeman District 10, Former President TN Young Dems
Fellow Executive Committee Members:
After serious consideration of all of the candidates for Chair of the Tennessee Democratic Party, I have decided to cast my vote for Chip Forrester. We as a party are fortunate to have several qualified candidates to lead us. They each possess different and complementary skill sets; these should be utilized to further our successes no matter who is elected in Nashville. However, I believe that retaining Chip is in the best interest of our party at this time.
I supported Chip’s election last time, though I was not a member of the Executive Committee. He has always been someone I respect and admire as a role model and party leader. Like all of you, I am extremely dismayed at the 2010 election results. It would be easy to blame our chair, but that would lack a lot of critical insight. In relation to other states, Tennessee was about average. Some states saw more Democratic losses; some saw less. We cannot fully combat a national ideological movement, but we can solve issues that hold us back in Tennessee. Those include inconsistent messaging, party unity, & stability. Simply choosing someone new as Chair will not change our situation.
It has become popular to state that we lost because of message. That is fairly agreed upon, but there is no consensus for how to be more effective. I believe that our message must be more universal. We often fail to see the difference between governing and communicating with voters. The average voter does not have time to keep track of bills in Congress and complex issues. Instead, they vote for the candidates that most closely reflect their personal values. According to their propaganda, Republicans support families, freedom and prosperity. We of course know that they only really support families who look like theirs, a few cherry-picked freedoms from the constitution, and prosperity for the upper class.
How do Republicans convince voters of things that are not true? Because they are better at having a consistent, coherent message than we are. “Democrats are for jobs.” It has to be that simple in order to gain back the power we need to improve this country and this state. We cannot change it to “Democrats are for jobs, provided that A,B, & C…” I believe that Chip Forrester has provided the leadership and framework to get out our message. We simply need to be a unified force in order to get that message to the people. There is too much division within our shrinking ranks. If you run as a Democratic candidate, you should act and speak like one. If you are a Democratic donor, you should support the party and ideals no matter who is Chairman. And if you are an Executive Committee Member, you should support the winner of this race regardless of how you voted.
Reelecting Chip will give us greater stability by ending the practice of near-total turnover every two years. We reinvent the wheel every other January and then expect the new chair to instantly turn things around. That is not an effective way to run an organization. I would like to see Chip and his staff continue in their roles. They will then have the opportunity to learn from our missteps and build upon our successes.
I look forward to working with whomever is elected chair on January 8, but I sincerely believe that Chip is the best person for the job. Please consider joining me in my support for him. But more importantly, please support and work for whomever is chosen for the sake of our party and for Tennessee.
Respectfully,
Chris Anderson
TNDP Executive Committeeman, District 10
Former President, Tennessee Young Democrats
Former National Executive Vice President, Young Democrats of America
Beth Thompson, Putnam Co. Democratic Party Chair
My name is Beth Thompson and I am the Chair of the Putnam County Democratic Party. I would like to take a moment and voice my support for the reelection of Chip Forrester as TNDP Chair. Chn. Forrester has always shown himself to be a sincere Democrat with the best interests of every Tennessean at heart. He has been instrumental to the success of the County parties; Putnam County now has a beautiful permanent office and a colorful, user-friendly website due to the support and encouragement of the State party under Chn. Forrester. Our party officers have had the opportunity to attend invaluable trainings sponsored by the TNDP and have come away with helpful information on Votebuilder, fund raising, media, candidate recruitment, etc.
I would like to see Chn. Forrester have more than 2 years at the helm.
Thanks!
Beth Thompson; PCDP
Sylvia Woods; Democratic Executive Committee Member, 6th District; TNDP County Development Committe Chair
Sylvia
Ben Vos, Citizen
Sincerely,
Ben Vos, an unimportant nobody in Nashville
Tracey Wilkes, Hickman County Democratic Party Chair
Todd Sharp, Williamson County Democratic Party Chair
Dear fellow Democrats,
I have held the Chairman’s position in Williamson County for a little more than four years and have been an active member of the Williamson County Democratic Party for about seven years. I offer these observations along with my full fledged endorsement of Chip Forrester for TNDP Chairman.
Naturally, after the beating we suffered on November 2, 2010 there would be talk of changing the guard. But can we place blame on state party leadership? I believe that we have seen a trend in Tennessee which has been a long time in the coming. November 2010 was a nationwide catastrophe for all Democrats. It would be unfair to lay blame to Chip Forrester’s chairmanship for the Tennessee result. On the contrary - I believe that under Chip’s guidance the Tennessee Democratic Party has begun a metamorphosis – and it is time. Not to take anything away from the previous TNDP administrations, the progress made in the past two years is considerable.
Considering the past two years; we should all examine what we did right and what we did wrong. In all honesty, I see where our state party did a great deal right and not a whole lot wrong. In fact, I think we all learned something new this year – All Politics is National. I do hope that all politics will become local again - and soon! Because this is our work and we must continue to build our Party – locally.
I believe that Chip Forrester’s leadership of the TNDP offers all of us the best opportunity to continue the mission. Chip has brought the ground up community organizer model of Respect, Empower and Include to the TNDP. The growth and quality of staff: Devin, Ben, Jennifer, Kate, Elisa, Matt, Lee, Janet, Keith, Kathy, Claudia, Cyrus, Jack (and others whom I have less regular contact with) represent a dynamic team of progressive, smart, hard working people. The effort put into this past election – under Chip’s chairmanship was extraordinary. I am proud of all of them for their dedication and for the progress our Party has made.
The Tennessee Democratic Party is growing into the 21st Century. We have a plan in motion to put virtual headquarters in all 95 counties – and it is time! 95 party connected interactive websites with RSS feeds, data collection and sharing capabilities. In my view this is huge – by Chip’s leadership.
The S.O.S. and on-line trainings that have taken place in the past 2 years are unprecedented to my knowledge. The tools available to all of us with interactive technology are tremendous. Understanding their capabilities and using them is another story. Votebuilder is a national party project, but the ramp up to bring all 95 counties on board in Tennessee has been much accelerated in the past two years – by Chip’s leadership.
The monthly conference calls have not always been terribly exciting – but terribly necessary. We Democrats need to be better organized and synchronized. And we are getting there – by Chip’s leadership.
The Monteagle Summit marked a new direction for all of us. Chip spoke at our WCDP Potluck Dinner last month and laid out a vision for expanding that model. Bringing the entire party together; chairs, activists, executive members, DNC members, candidates and elected Democratic representatives. Holding a summit possibly a few times a year – maybe even quarterly? Great idea – a Chip Forrester idea.
Chip Forrester has proven himself to this county chairman. I have found him to be well experienced, well capable, focused, reasonable and available when I have a concern or an idea to discuss. I believe he has made an effort to travel the entire state, and get to know every county chair and committeeman. His fundraising abilities and the Jackson Day events speak for themselves.
What a great amount of progress we have forged in the past 2 years. As all of us know - building a Party takes time - certainly more than two years. I appreciate that Chip Forrester gets this. Chip has seeded a great deal of growth and it seems to me that we are just getting started. Chip Forrester deserves another term as TNDP Chairman and I do hope that the State Executive Committee agrees.
Doug Veum, Knox County Democratic Party Board of Governors
Party Chair. I am a member of the Knox County Democratic Party Board
of Governors and spent many hours this fall knocking on doors and
making phone calls for the campaigns of Mike Dockery, Randy Walker and
Sam Alexander.
The State Party officers provided us with exactly the kind of support
we needed to effectively organize and implement the canvas methods
that will make possible the election of Democrats again to the county
offices as well as to the State Legislature. I am concerned that any
change in leadership will result in a change in focus away from the
ground level support that Chip and his staff have provided over the
past two years and which I believe to be the most important role for
the state party to be doing. I have never had support for this kind
of activity from the Democratic Party since I worked precincts in Cook
County Illinois in the 70’s. Chip Forrester has figured out how to
build a strong base of precinct support for the Democratic Party but
that effort is only beginning. To change the focus of the State Party
at this point makes no sense to me from the perspective of a precinct
worker. I don’t hear a commitment to that focus from any of the other
candidates.
I also committed to joining the Finance Committee for 2011. I am
holding my commitment until I know the results of Saturday’s election.
When Chip is elected I will go forward with the commitment to join
the Finance Committee. Should you elect another chair I will wait to
implement my commitment until I see tangible evidence that a different
chair is committed in time, resources and leadership to building a
state wide organization that provides leadership and resources for a
broad and deep voter canvas and who will spend his/her time helping
County Democratic Party Officers recruiting, training, motivating, and
supporting them with the voter canvas. Force me to keep my commitment
by electing Chip on Saturday.
I know I can count on my 5th District representatives on the Executive
Committee, Sylvia and Harold Woods, to make the right choice here. I
plead with Gayle Alley and Bill Owen to make that same choice for Knox
County and urge the other 62 of you to also vote for Chip so that he
can continue with the party building he has started so effectively in
the past two years. .
By the way, I am 68 years old and am interested in the under 40
involvement in the party. My suggestion to the younger generation is
to make sure that your first involvement in politics includes actually
voting and if you want to work in the Democratic Party as leaders to
then vote exclusively in the Democratic Party Primary as well. I am
only going to be doing the canvas for a couple more election cycles.
However, I am concerned that the generations behind me are not taking
the responsibility to vote in each election seriously and I am also
concerned with those who wish to lead the party to be supporting
people for office through contributions and votes who are not
Democrats. The other party does not need us to either stay at home or
vote in their primary or for their candidates to receive votes from
those who aspire to leadership in this party.
Paige Burcham Carlton, Obion County Democratic Party Chair and Executive Committee Member, District 24
Mike K. Hampton; Executive Committeeman District 1, Tennessee Democratic Party; Chair, Unicoi County Democratic Party
For the last two years, and the first time since I can remember, the State Party, under the leadership of Chip Forrester has provided everyone (including east Tennessee) with the tools we need to build strong county parties. He has done this across the state. Anyone willing to work for the Democratic Party has exactly the kind of support and technology they need to effectively organize the counties and implement a strategic plan to spread democratic principles. President Obama taught us this winning strategy and Chip was wise enough to embrace it. The foundation has been laid.
I am friends with several of the candidates running for the office of chair, but I am concerned that a change in leadership now, without any justification, at this critical time, will result in a change in focus away from a strong foundation that I believe has been laid and will rebuild our party stronger.
The middle class and poor of Tennessee need a champion, historically it has been the Democratic Party and it will be the Democratic Party again. There are many good men in this race but there is only one strong proven candidate for state chair and that person is Chip Forrester.
Democratically yours,
Mike K. Hampton
Executive Committeeman
District 1, Tennessee Democratic Party
Chair, Unicoi County Democratic Party
Dixie Damm, Chair, Loudon County Democratic Party
As a first time county chair I have been given information, training, and support every time I phoned or emailed Nashville.
Either Chip or one of his administration took the time to support me. What they have done in training is remarkable!
I can not vote for Chip, but I surely would if I could. I feel he has done well and has the skills needed to continue our uphill climb.
Unity can only be accomplished if all Tennessee Democrats support the elected Chair, not just your chair-of-choice.
Dixie Damm, Chair, Loudon County Democratic Party
A.D. Maynard; Secretary, Putnam Co. Democratic Party; President of Tennessee Tech's College Democrats chapter
I know messaging has been a problem for the state party, and I do agree with those that say we need to focus on a unifying message. However, Chip knows this as much as anyone. I believe firmly in his statement that his plan is a 4 year plan instead of a 2 year - we need to continue off the groundwork that has been put in place and use it to help communicate together and shape a message.
It is time that the Tennessee Democratic Party remember that it needs to stick with the working people of our state. Speaker Pelosi said it well today: “We extend the hand of friendship to create jobs, grow the middle class and reduce the deficit. We look for common ground to solve the problems of the American people: their health, their housing, their jobs, their savings, their children’s education.” “But where we cannot find common ground we must stand our ground on behalf of the pledge we take every day – ‘for liberty and justice for all’ – and that includes economic justice for all.”
I believe Chairman Forrester can continue his 95 county strategy and build up the Tennessee Democratic Party. We can continue going after small-donor dollars, as well as receiving the sustainable large dollar donations. Chairman Forrester has shown that he can do this, and I hope he gets at least another two years to expand his vision.
Alvis "A.D." Maynard
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Gloria Johnson, Chair Knox County Democratic Party
Jeff Brown, Chair, Hamilton County Democratic Party
Bill Lusk, Mayor of Signal Mountain, TN and former Democratic Candidate
Good evening,
I am pleased to endorse Chip Forrester and ask for your support of his re-election as chairman of the TNDP. As Mayor of the Town of Signal Mountain and a former Democratic candidate for State Representative for District 27 in 2006, I know the importance of having a strong party at the state and county level and the result when leadership fails.
Chip Forrester is the only party chair in my experience to promote a 95 county strategy for our state. He is the only party representative to call not just for money but for input. He is the only chair to actively visit each county to meet with party activists to discuss our party’s direction and seek advice. He is the only party chair to unabashedly promote true Democratic values. This is the kind of chair we need to bring unity to the party and rebuild a Democratic majority in the state.
Our party’s decline has been measurable over the last ten years, but most significantly from 2000 to 2008-the 2010 election cycle was a train wreck in waiting. From losing the state for Al Gore in 2000, to losing our majorities in the General Assembly, we have endured party chairs and functionaries who promoted only targeted races at the expense of some very capable candidates and thus we find ourselves in the minority. To rebuild our majority will take a capable party leader with a solid vision, a commitment to the values that make Democrats great, and the willingness and experience to do the hard work necessary to get us there. We need to recruit great candidates for every race in our state, from school board to town council to county commission to the General Assembly and show everyone in the great state of Tennessee that Democrats know how to govern, and with the well being of our residents in mind.
Republicans made this same kind of commitment some ten years ago and it may take us as long to accomplish our goals. It worked for them and it will work for us; but not without the kind of leadership offered by Chip Forrester. Please give Chip your support this Saturday.
Best regards,
Bill Lusk