Wednesday, June 08, 2005
Democrats still trying to solve the puzzle
The Seminole Democrats continue to realign their leadership, announcing they have selected a new Vice-Chair to replace Carol Cox, who has moved to the helm of their party as Chair. The Dems announced they have elected George Curcio as their second-in-command and from the emails and communication the party and its members have sent Slats, they seem pretty excited about it.
For the rest of Seminole, however, outside of the Democratic Party, this is essentially a non-event. The question remains as to whether the Democrats are capable of their claim to finally mount a serious challenge to Republican dominance here. Those of us who have been around Seminole a while have heard these claims before, yet they have unfortunately failed to materialize.
As we have said before, if the Democrats can mount a legitimate challenge, the county's voters will benefit, theoretically at least, from the heightened competition at the polls. Keeping it in perspective, though, one only has to remember that others were writing similar comments a decade ago, such as Don Boyett in the Orlando Sentinel.
So the Democrats now again have new leadership. Will this be simply the continuation of their long-term trend, or an actual new beginning for the party? Will they solve this puzzle or continue to be mystified by it?
Those of us who would like truly competitive elections in Seminole are keeping our fingers crossed. But at the same time, we are certainly not holding our breath.
For the rest of Seminole, however, outside of the Democratic Party, this is essentially a non-event. The question remains as to whether the Democrats are capable of their claim to finally mount a serious challenge to Republican dominance here. Those of us who have been around Seminole a while have heard these claims before, yet they have unfortunately failed to materialize.
As we have said before, if the Democrats can mount a legitimate challenge, the county's voters will benefit, theoretically at least, from the heightened competition at the polls. Keeping it in perspective, though, one only has to remember that others were writing similar comments a decade ago, such as Don Boyett in the Orlando Sentinel.
In a 1996 column, Boyett wrote:
It's not good that the electoral power is concentrated in the hands of one group.Here we are, almost a decade later, and the same still applies, including the poor leadership that has continued in the local Democrat Party.
Worse, it is not good for government. Hey, it's not even good for Republicans.
Why is there this imbalance of party power?
There was a time in this county when the same situation existed in reverse. But that was when the South was solid Democrat. When being a Democrat was more tradition than philosophy. When people registered Democrat just to have a vote.
Perhaps it is because so many Democrats around here are only lukewarm Democrats. Or is it that the national party has left them, philosophically speaking?
At least part of the reason is poor leadership in the local Democrat Party.
I had hoped Seminole Democrats . . . would rise above the mediocrity that has for so long characterized them.
So the Democrats now again have new leadership. Will this be simply the continuation of their long-term trend, or an actual new beginning for the party? Will they solve this puzzle or continue to be mystified by it?
Those of us who would like truly competitive elections in Seminole are keeping our fingers crossed. But at the same time, we are certainly not holding our breath.
hy