George,

One must pick one's battles in life, and I hadn't particularly planned on making this one of mine. But I cannot leave Camille Cooper twisting in the wind when I know full well that she's right.

I, too, believe that it was inappropriate of Lloyd Snook to endorse candidates prior to the Democratic nominating convention.

I wish that Lloyd had not endorsed candidates because his leadership role within the party gives his opinion considerably more weight than many other people's. The purpose of the nominating convention is to allow Charlottesville Democrats to select who they would like to lead the city over the next four years. When Lloyd expressed a preference for two candidates over the other four, it preempted that decision-making process. As one of the two leaders of our party, it is important that he rely on the nominating process to select the most fit candidates, as opposed to publicly making that decision on his own.

Though I cannot suppose what Alexandria Searls thinks of this (as the only nominee that Lloyd did not endorse), I must say that had I been nominated, I would be hesitant to fully commit myself to trusting Lloyd's leadership within the campaign, knowing that he did not support my election to Council.

I propose that the party rules be changed back to how they read prior to the 2001 alterations. The 1988 version read:

"13.03 Endorsement for Appointive Office: In matters of patronage, the Committee will use its influence as a committee to secure the appointment of qualified Democrats. No member of the Committee may, as an individual sign a petition or letter of endorsement for any person seeking the endorsement of the Committee; but such Committee members may urge the Committee to endorse any Democrat."

But, unless I'm mistaken, they were modified in June of 2001 to remove the second sentence, which explicitly barred the Committee from making endorsements. I'd like to see that sentence added again.

When party leadership selects candidates, it smacks of good-old-boy isn't-it-your-turn-to-be-on-Council? politics, regardless of whether that's the intention. I do not accuse Lloyd Snook of acting with malice, or anything approaching it; I simply believe that his endorsement was an unfortunate oversight. In the future, I would like for the party to respect the nominating process. Let's permit the people select their candidates, and then the party and its leadership can get behind those candidates, without any apologies necessary.

I suggest that those who are inclined to disagree with me look no farther than Rus Perry, Maurice Cox, Kevin Lynch, Meredith Richards and David Toscano. Every one of these highly-respected, influential, elected, Charlottesville Democrats decided not to endorse candidates.

Best,

Waldo Jaquith (electronic mail, March 25, 2002)

Editor's Note: While it is clear that Rus Perry chose not to make endorsements in the recent race for the Democratic nomination for city council, the actions of Maurice Cox, Kevin Lynch, Meredith Richards and David Toscano are somewhat less clear.

Maurice Cox and Kevin Lynch are both members of Democrats for Change, an organization that did not make official endorsements but did announce which candidates supported DFC's Priority Action Agenda [Joan Fenton, Waldo Jaquith and Alexandria Searls].

Meredith Richards signed a letter authorized by Alexandria Searls and by Joan Fenton, which was not a formal endorsement but asked that individuals consider voting for one or both of them for the Democratic nomination for city council.

I believe, at some point in the campaign, David Toscano said that he would support Blake Caravati. A variety of members of the Charlottesville Democratic Committee (along with other members of the community) also made endorsements. And I, of course, offered a chance for a free lunch and a piece of apple pie for individuals who wished to place endorsements on my web site. [Susan Payne, who had endorsed Joan Fenton, was the winner of the free lunch and apple pie.]

Do you believe members of the Charlottesville Democratic Committee should be allowed to make endorsements? When is an endorsement not an endorsement?

Please send your thoughts to george@loper.org where the most representative comments will be placed on my web site with full attribution.