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The Aug. 6 letter authored by 22nd Ward committeeperson Gloria Gilman was inspired by a City Paper story on the ouster of 40th Ward committeeperson Tracey Gordon. The letter references stories in the Inquirer and the Local, which detailed a fight that erupted during a contested organizational meeting in May that pitted one-time council candidate Cindy Bass against Ron Couser for Ward leader.
From the letter:
Articles about these meetings in the Inquirer and Chestnut Hill Local have reflected poorly on the Democratic Party. Our concern is that, in a city where many people do not vote, these instances will further alienate the public and erode their trust in the DCC. An open, transparent review process would help the DCC regain the public's faith and will ultimately strengthen the Party.
Gilman's letter is available here:
Chair Robert Brady
Democratic County Executive Committee of Philadelphia
1421 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19102
Re: Party bylaws and procedures
Dear Chairman Brady,
All of the signatories to this letter are registered Democrats who vote in the County of Philadelphia. Many of us are elected committeepeople and others are community activists signing on their own behalf as well as on behalf of their organizations. We are writing to you to express our concern about the issues arising out of the reorganization of several Wards--the 40th, the 22nd, and the 2nd. We feel that these issues can be avoided in the future if the Democratic City Committee would endeavor to clarify and remove the ambiguities of some of its rules.
In particular, as described in a City Paper recent article, we found the "unelection" of Tracey Gordon to be problematic and contrary to the ideals of the Democratic Party. Although the rules (Section VII, 1 E) may state that a Committee person may be removed when they "neglect to work in harmony with the Ward Committee," we feel that this rule was used in bad faith.
Clearly this rule should only be invoked in extreme cases when the offender is significantly disrupting the business of the ward. Debate and disagreement are an inherent part of the democratic political process. If ward leaders remove all Committee people who are in dissent, the voices of many people in the minority will be forever silenced. The end result would be decidedly un-democratic, and our Party would be the worse for it.
This is only one example of a DCC rule that could be improved. It is our belief that the reorganization meetings of the 22nd and 2nd Wards would have elicited less rancor if the procedures for reorganization were more clearly elucidated and communicated. In both cases, the lack of a clear process gave the impression of a tainted process and has led to continued feelings of divisiveness.
Therefore, it is our recommendation that the DCC convene a special committee to review and update its bylaws. The process of updating bylaws is normal for any organization and should be done periodically.
Articles about these meetings in the Inquirer and Chestnut Hill Local have reflected poorly on the Democratic Party. Our concern is that, in a city where many people do not vote, these instances will further alienate the public and erode their trust in the DCC. An open, transparent review process would help the DCC regain the public's faith and will ultimately strengthen the Party.
If there is any way we can help this process, please let us know and we will be happy to lend our assistance. We are committed to working with you to build the best possible Democratic Committee.
All of the signatories to this letter are registered Democrats who vote in the County of Philadelphia. Many of us are elected committeepeople and others are community activists signing on their own behalf as well as on behalf of their organizations. We are writing to you to express our concern about the issues arising out of the reorganization of several Wards--the 40th, the 22nd, and the 2nd. We feel that these issues can be avoided in the future if the Democratic City Committee would endeavor to clarify and remove the ambiguities of some of its rules.
In particular, as described in a City Paper recent article, we found the "unelection" of Tracey Gordon to be problematic and contrary to the ideals of the Democratic Party. Although the rules (Section VII, 1 E) may state that a Committee person may be removed when they "neglect to work in harmony with the Ward Committee," we feel that this rule was used in bad faith.
Clearly this rule should only be invoked in extreme cases when the offender is significantly disrupting the business of the ward. Debate and disagreement are an inherent part of the democratic political process. If ward leaders remove all Committee people who are in dissent, the voices of many people in the minority will be forever silenced. The end result would be decidedly un-democratic, and our Party would be the worse for it.
This is only one example of a DCC rule that could be improved. It is our belief that the reorganization meetings of the 22nd and 2nd Wards would have elicited less rancor if the procedures for reorganization were more clearly elucidated and communicated. In both cases, the lack of a clear process gave the impression of a tainted process and has led to continued feelings of divisiveness.
Therefore, it is our recommendation that the DCC convene a special committee to review and update its bylaws. The process of updating bylaws is normal for any organization and should be done periodically.
Articles about these meetings in the Inquirer and Chestnut Hill Local have reflected poorly on the Democratic Party. Our concern is that, in a city where many people do not vote, these instances will further alienate the public and erode their trust in the DCC. An open, transparent review process would help the DCC regain the public's faith and will ultimately strengthen the Party.
If there is any way we can help this process, please let us know and we will be happy to lend our assistance. We are committed to working with you to build the best possible Democratic Committee.
Sincerely,
Gloria M. Gilman,
Committeeperson
Ward 22 Division 1
Chair Philly Neighborhood
Networks and all those whose names appear below
Nina Ahmad, Committeeperson, Ward 9, Division 2; willresearch@yahoo.com
Dave Bell, Ward 9 Registered Democratic voter; Board member, Philly Neighborhood Networks
Conni Bille, Germantown Registered Democratic voter; Board member, Philly Neighborhood Networks; cmbille@aol.com
Kathy Black, Vice President, NOW Phila. Chapter; kblackphilly@yahoo.com
Karen Bojar, Committeeperson, Ward 9, Division 2; Democratic State Committee Representative, 4th Senatorial District; kbojar1@verizon.net
Andre Butler, Ward 22, Division 2 Registered Democratic voter; 2-38@inbox.com
Polly Davies, Ward 15 Registered Democratic voter; Board member, Philly Neighborhood Networks; pollydavies@comcast.net
Sean Dorn, Philly for Change Steering Committee; sean_dorn@yahoo.com
Phyllis Gilbert, Registered Democratic voter; phyllis.criswell@gmail.com
Gloria M. Gilman, Committeeperson, Ward 22, Division 1; Chair, Philly Neighborhood Networks; gmgilman@igc.org
Mary L. Goldman, Committeeperson, Ward 27; marygoldman@verizon.net
Tracey Gordon, Ousted Committeeperson, Ward 40; reachingback@aol.com
Jean Haskell, Board member, Americans for Democratic Action; jean.haskell205@gmail.com
Jovida Hill, Committeeperson, Ward 8, Division 24; jovidahill@comcast.net
Caryn Hunt, President, NOW Phila. Chapter; carynhunt@gmail.com;
Anthony Ingargiola, Community activist and Registered Democratic voter, Ward 15, Division 13; aingargiola@gmail.com
Dee Johnson, EVP NOW, Phila. Chapter; djohnson@prisonsociety.org
Ann Kirkpatrick, Committeeperson, Ward 49, Division 14
Marcia S. Kung, Committeeperson, Ward 8, Division 8; mekung@comcast.net
John Landreau, Ward 15, Division 16 Registered Democratic voter; landreau@TCNJ.edu
Margaret Lenzi, Ward 9, Division 12 Registered Democratic voter
Brett Mandell, Committeeperson, Ward 8, Division 28; brett@libertynet.org
Glenda Marshall, Board member, Americans for Democratic Action;
Bill Marston, 8th Ward Registered Democratic voter; Board member, Philly Neighborhood Networks; arfitact@me.com
Andrea Missias, Ward 5 Committeeperson; Board member, Philly Neighborhood Networks; Missias@siam.org
Charles Moleski, Committeeperson, Ward 2; cmoleski@yahoo.com
Amy Noroski, 15th Ward Registered Democratic voter; amynoroski@gmail.com
Glenavie Norton, Chair, Americans for Democratic Action, Southeastern PA Chapter; gunorlickton@mac.com
Anthony Oliver, Registered Democratic voter; President PA CURE; aeoliver46@yahoo.com
David Rose, Committeeperson, Ward 8, Division 16; davidrose1919@comcast.net
Harold Rosenthal, Retired Committeeperson, Ward 58, Division 24 (now 58/29); Vice Chair, Americans for Democratic Action; halsue1@verizon.net
Sue Rosenthal, Ward 58, Division 29 Registered Democratic voter; Board member, Americans for Democratic Action; halsue1@verizon.net
Maurice M. Sampson II, Committeeperson, Ward 22, Division 6; msampson@nicherecycling.com
Peter Schneider, Committeeperson, Ward 22, Division 1; pschneider@igc.org
David Schogel, Committeeperson, Ward 13 Division 5; Board member, Philly Neighborhood Networks; davidschogel@yahoo.com
Wendy Sedlak; retired Committeeperson, Ward 15, Division 18; wsedlak@gmail.com
Bill Sensiba, Ward 15 activist and Registered Democratic voter; Board member, Philly Neighborhood Networks; Sensibaw@stockton.edu
Stanley Shapiro, Ward 9, Division 12 Registered Democratic voter; Vice Chair, Philly Neighborhood Networks; shapsj@comcast.net
Heidi Siegel, Ward 15, Division 18 Registered Democratic voter
Marc Stier, Committeeperson, Ward 21, Division 24; Board member, Philly Neighborhood Networks; marcstier@stier.net
Lauren Townsend, Registered Democrat; ltownsend4@gmail.com
Andy Toy, Board member, Americans for Democratic Action; atoysrus@comcast.net
Rosa Woods, Board member, NOW Philadelphia Chapter
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