Wisconsin: Mike Tate to step down as party chief

[Scuba]

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/news/288669731.html

Mike Tate, the face of the state Democratic Party for the past six years, will step down as party chief at the end of his current term. “This is not a job you do for a career, but one you have the honor of holding for a short period of time where you try with all your might to do everything you can to grow the party and help elect Democrats,” Tate wrote in an email obtained by the Journal Sentinel. “Accordingly, today I am announcing that I will not seek another term as chair at our convention in June.”

...

A little more than two months ago, Tate’s team suffered major losses up and down the ballot, failing for the third time to defeat Republican Gov. Scott Walker, who is now considering a presidential bid in 2016. All three branches of state government are now firmly in GOP control.

...

Tate’s announcement is expected to set off a battle between a veteran party official, a relative newcomer and perhaps others at the summer convention. Former state Sen. Joe Wineke, a 58-year-old Verona Democrat who led the party for two terms prior to Tate, confirmed that he is definitely running for the job he held from 2005-'09. He said he held off making an announcement until Tate decided wheter he would run again. "I didn't agree with everything Mike did, but I respect him," Wineke said. He said as many as nine people are weighing a bid, but he expects only two or three to actually follow through and make a formal bid.

Also considering a run is Jason Rae, a 28-year-old Democratic National Committee member and campaign strategist based in Milwaukee.

Good riddance. Tate's record is so poor one wonders if he's merely incompetent or working for the other side.

[Ed Suspicious]

1. What an absolute failure.

[AllyCat]

2. Really hope we do better.

What a mess the state party is!

[midnight]

5. Interesting comment, do you care to share what/why that is?

Members get to vote these people in right?

[AllyCat]

10. Guess we voted in the wrong people, then didn't pressure enough

To keep them doing their jobs. Maybe once in office, they listened too much to the national party on how to lose elections. Maybe the Koch Bros just put us in their sights and they had the money that everyone wanted. Dunno exactly. I was not a member when these folks came into power. But I hope we make a change for progress and liberal values brought to the forefront.

Guess I don't see why this is such an interesting comment but I seem to have drawn skepticism for a couple of recent posts questioning the Dems.

[midnight]

16. Thanks for helping me understand about why our Dems may not be doing their jobs.

If the race where Kathy Nicholas was using her own computer resulted in the Attorney General getting more votes than people in that county I would say its more nonsense like that, but our leaders seem to keep moving along as if it's all alright.

[ewagner]

3. Rumors running rampant...but...

I've heard a couple of pretty good names mentioned for the position...and no...Joe Wineke isn't one of those I'm referring to.

[Jackpine Radical]

8. Nice to know there are some alternatives.

Do I recall correctly that Jeff Smith has been mumbling about running for the job?

[ewagner]

11. Here are a couple of the names I'm hearing

Former Assemblyman Jeff (?)Smith

Paula Zellner...former aide/rep to Russ Feingold and immediate past Chairman of the Board for Emerge.

Saw the note about our 7th CD rep to the DNC, Jason Rae....his bona fides as a dem are excellent...don't know about fund raising and organizing.

Paula is extremely skilled!!!...and focused like you wouldn't believe..we could do (and have done) MUCH MUCH worse

I have a couple of friends who speak very highly of Smith also. he would be pretty good.

[Jackpine Radical]

13. It would be interesting to hear what the Eau Claire Dems have to say about Jeff.

Jeff is well-liked, I think.

[ewagner]

14. Yes...

Jeff is well liked by the whole 3rd CD and beyond that....

[PeaceNikki]

4. Good, he and Graeme were a colossal failure. I wish it were sooner

[dragonlady]

6. Now is a good time to join the party

This our golden opportunity to get control of the party if we have some good candidates for these state offices--chair, vice chair, second vice chair, secretary, and treasurer. And it's just as important to get the county parties back on track too.

You can join now for as little as $10 (limited income) or $25 (general) and will be eligible to vote at the convention in June. (The convention this year will be in Milwaukee at the Potawatomi Casino Hotel.) Go to the next meeting of your county party and join. To find a contact person and learn where and when, see wisdems.org/OurParty/countyparties. Just be aware that some information is outdated--that's one of many things that have to change. If you can't find what you need there, ask somebody. (Milwaukee County DUers should go to the events calendar at milwaukeedems.org.) Soon thereafter they will announce sign-ups for delegate spots at the convention. Only registered delegates can vote at the convention, but there will probably be plenty of spaces available. There's a small fee to attend the convention (about $25, if I remember) and your travel and lodging, but if you can swing it, this seems like the best chance we've had for a while.

[dembotoz]

7. at potawatomi--after the anti kenosha commericials where they blame doyle they can kiss my ass

[AleksS]

9. Thank goodness. Though I feel sorry for the poor person

Thank goodness. Though I feel sorry for the poor person that has to dig us out of the hole Tate's leaving.

I honestly wonder if he could have done any worse?

[Jimbo S]

12. So far the only ones disappointed with the news

our opponents on the other side of the aisle.

[ewagner]

15. Jason Rae made it official yesterday

He announced his candidacy on Facebook yesterday afternoon.