ODP Reform Promised

Poor l'il feller.








Thank you to MTB for organizing yesterday's event. Here's a run down of my notes. Please check the podcast at Meet the Bloggers for the first hand material.

First, Redfern let the entire High & Broad controversy hang on John Kohlstrand. His explanation was that Kohlstrand, not employed by the ODP, was in the ODP building using wifi. Kohlstrand's actions were his own, and Redfern believes in personal accountability. So his defense comes down to a 1st Amendment, "I own the theater, but I didn't know that guy was going to shout 'FIRE!'." Unless Kohlstrand has something to say, it sounds like he will be given all the blame.

Redfern also replied to Tim Russo's questions on the race for Erie County Democratic Chair, saying that he'd tried to work with David Giese, but been rebuffed. He posed the slate to unseat Giese as a "more in sorrow than anger" measure that had been forced upon him.

In reply to Psychobilly's (Red? Pale? Famine?) question about mending fences with Hackett supporters, Redfern assured that everything was good. He says Hackett will be traveling the state in support of candidates this year. As they say in the stable, they're going to need a lot of duct tape.

I asked about what will be done to give meat to the base. Redfern spoke about the ODP blog being used to bring their legislative ideas to voters. Good idea, wait for the follow through.

Terra spoke about her frustration with the ODP's response to volunteers, an issue I've posted on below. Redfern talked more about the ODP's web presence being built up. Yet again, he's playing catch up after years of mismanagement.

In response to a question from BSB, he talked about the need to ridicule and attack Ken Blackwell, instead of being drawn into wedge issues. That would be a change for Ohio Dems.

I asked about the ODP's co-existence with activist groups. Redfern said the groups have shown ODP areas that need to be worked on. He emphasized the need to increase grassroots presence in the rural counties. Given their capitulation of Delaware County, I wish Eric had been there.

He told OH2nd that the ODP, with 100K from the DNC, is creating voter rights teams to get out in front of Republican suppression of elections.

My overall impression is that Chris Redfern is well spoken and agile. The answers were good. Democrats are now locked in with Redfern's candidates for 2006: Strickland and Brown. This election will prove if he represents an actual change, or is a continuation of the institutional failure of Ohio Democrats. And questions linger about what methods were taken to shape the '06 ticket.

I'll post again about Joe Sulzer and the downticket Dems. For more competent discussion, check out BFD, BSB, Ohio 2nd, and Gloria Ferris.