Dean for DNC Chair

On February 12, the Democratic National Committee will elect a new Chair, and it should come as no surprise to anyone who knows me that I endorse Dr. Howard Dean, former Governor of Vermont for that post.



Dean, who was also my first choice for President, has been making a very strong showing with the grassroots and as of today, with the State Party Chairs.



Now, Dr. Dean specifically asked his supporters to refrain from bombarding the DNC voters with our urgings to support him, so I limited my campaigning to the one DNC member I actually know - fellow southern Oregon educator Gail Rasmussen. I was unaware, as I wrote, that this morning, over on American Street, Jenny Greenleaf reports the bulk of the Oregon DNC delegation is going for Dr. Dean.

Most Oregon DNC members have agreed to support Howard Dean for chair of the Democratic Party, including Committeeman Wayne Kinney, Oregon Democratic Party chair Jim Edmunson, vice chair Meredith Wood Smith, and (yours truly) Committeewoman Jenny Greenleaf.

So I wrote to Gail this evening and got an immediate response, the most key detail of which was noted in Jenny's morning post (which I hadn't yet read): Gail had given her proxy to Wayne Kinney, as school scheduling was not going to allow her to take part on the 12th.



Within minutes of my note going to Gail, not only did I have her response, but I had Wayne Kinney calling. It was a great conversation, ranging over several facets of the Chair race, Dean's Presidential bid, and the Super Bowl. I assured him I won't be disclosing the gritty details of the call on my blog until it was public knowledge, but after a bit of Google time and finding Jenny's post from this AM, I think I am safe with what is now up here. Minus the Super Bowl part :).



So as we go forward, I have high hopes for the good Doctor - and I am thrilled to see Oregon's DNC voices are largely going his way!



UPDATE, Feb 1 - You can find the press release over on Blue Oregon this morning.