Glen Maxey for Texas State Democratic Party Chair

[sonias]

Matt at Just Another Matt blog posted this item

Chair?
http://justanothermatt.blogspot.com/2006/01/glen-maxey-as-state-democratic-party.html
The rumbling have started and the drum beat is getting louder. The State Democratic Executive Committee (SDEC) met in Galveston over the weekend, and the word on the street is that former state rep and Democratic political consultant Glen Maxey is considering running for State Party Chair.

Very good news. I had heard over the weekend that Dennis Teal, the only other progressive in the race had decided not to run. I also heard that the TDP anointed Boyd Richie was withdrawing as well. Rumors as to the reasons for his withdrawal are still swirling.

I think Glen would be great. We the people can make this happen if we choose.

The bigger problem of course is making sure there is money for a salary. Glen can not take this position without a salary.

The only other person I know is in the running is Charlie Urbina-Jones from S.A.

Sonia

[GOPisEvil]

1. Now THAT would be interesting.

It would be nice to see Glen's GOTV and other organizing efforts go statewide.

[crispini]

2. YEAH!

It's nice to have good news.

[Melissa G]

3. Glen for Chair with salary! YESSS!!! n/t

[Dora]

4. I don't know much about how party financing works...

Would this be the kind of local support that Dean and the DNC have been fundraising for? Salary support?

[sonias]

5. Possible ideas Dora

Right now the TDP is too broke to make that position a salaried position. They have relied on the person taking the job in the past, to be self sufficient. Sort of like working at the Lege - no money for the job. Anyway there are no set rules that say we can't pay the Chair, but obviously we have to have some money in the TDP budget to pay his or her salary. The only way to make this happen is
1) raise enough money up front from TX party members to allow for that Chair position to draw a salary
2) have the position subsidized by outside party interests.

The Dean and DNC could fall into the second option. Keep in mind that Texas is just one of 50 states; and if the DNC were to say we're going to pay for the Chair's salary in Texas, why wouldn't the other 49 states I want a piece of that? Dean's 50 state strategy has meant we have been able to hire 4 field organizer positions at the TX state party which the DNC is paying for.

Other outside party interests, also mean the lobbyists and other corporate financial fat cats, including the trail lawyers. I don't think Glen would want to be beholden to the likes of them. Plus I'm sure the money bags want someone they control, like a Boyd Richie. It's not over for them, they will be proposing a new candidate from their ranks.

Sonia

[Dora]

6. Thanks for the explanation.

I didn't know that's how the DNC money was being used. It would be great if they could provide some kind of support for Chair salary, but that could also suggest a sense of beholdenment.

It's apparently time for some knocking on doors.

[meg]

8. Where are you getting your info on Boyd Richie?

I was particularly interested in the statement "Plus I'm sure the money bags want someone they control, like a Boyd Richie. It's not over for them, they will be proposing a new candidate from their ranks."

And, what do you mean here? Do you have some examples?

[sonias]

15. I understand that at the last SDEC meeting in Galveston Jan 7th

Boyd Richie was introduced as the next party chair i.e. anointed as the successor. This was before the entire meeting of the SDEC membership and of course before an official election which does not happen until the State Convention in June.

It's been conventional wisdom for a while that the TDP is largely being run by outside money interests. That's what happens when you need money to run a party and the majority of the membership does not contribute to the overall budget of the party. The leaders dance with who brung them.

Sonia

[meg]

7. Glen would not be my first choice

I was at a rally for Gore, I believe, when I tried to approach Glen about an issue important to workers. Glen had his nose in the air and blew right by me without bothering to acknowledge my existance, let alone the issue. I will never forget the attitude Glen gave me. I don't want that in a state chair.

On edit: I tried to approach Glen several times and the rally was fairly small.

[johncoby2]

9. I had the same experience

I felt like I was intruding on his time. He would look past me when talking with me.

It was strange. Now, I wouldnt base my vote on that just one datapoint.

I like the other guy from the Corpus area. He seems to have the complete package. Cant remember his name at this moment.

[meg]

10. Yes, exactly

"I felt like I was intruding on his time. He would look past me when talking with me." and "Now, I wouldnt base my vote on that just one datapoint."

That's why I said Glen wouldn't be my first choice.

[crispini]

16. Wow, that's interesting, that's totally not my experience.

Of course I've only interacted with Glen a couple of times, but I always felt he was very competent, very put-together, and very affable.

[jobycom]

18. My experiences with him were much worse. I won't support him.

I've watched him destroy good liberals to promote his favorite candidates, so don't claim he's a progressive. Maxey does what is best for Maxey. I've seen him set up his own assistant to take a painful fall so that Maxey wouldn't get dirty. I've watched him put recently converted Republicans into office over life-long Democrats because they paid him more. I'm seen him sabotage local Democratic clubs to get his way. His Rovean tactics are centered around Maxey's ego and Maxey's motivations, and anyone--progressive or otherwise--who gets in his way will be run down. He'd be the type of strong-arm boss we are always opposed to, and not always for the progressives.

He's not a good Democrat, or a good person, in my opinion. Ask around Austin to people who have worked with him. He's got supporters who will right off his tricks as "tough politics," but you'll find a lot of people who have seen his dark side.

[crispini]

19. That's quite a litany of failings.

I'm not quite sure to think, because honestly, I don't know you, and you obviously have your own viewpoint. I would ask you for links to substantiate your allegations, but this isn't the kind of thing that tends to get written up in the paper, although we had a pretty public airing of our dirty laundry up here in Dallas, ;) when the county party chair got kicked out last February.

And if there's one thing that our bloody little vendetta taught me, it's that there are several sides to every story. For one thing, I don't see anything wrong with Rovian tactics. Sometimes politics gets dirty, ugly, nasty, and mean. That's reality. I'm sure you could find people here in Dallas who would label others "not a good Democrat or a good person." But you know what? Those "Rovian" activists managed to pull off a pretty incredible feat, getting rid of a chair who really wasn't measuring up, and I think our county party is the better for it. I'm ready for us Democrats to have our own Rove, at a state or federal level. I'm sick of losing elections. What, exactly, has our "taking the high ground" and our "moral purity" netted us? Bupkis. We don't control ANY of the branches of goverment around here. I'm sick of it. Let's play hardball.

(Edited to add: I really hate that whole BS game about "who's a good Democrat and who's not." If we don't have people who come over from the Republican party, how are we gonna gain votes? Someone is trying to run that shindig against one of our elected judges because she used to be a Repub. As far as I can tell, she is a fine judge and a supportive Dem now. Which makes her OK in my book.)

[nick_DFT]

20. Huh?

I would be very interested to hear about specific circumstances that you allege.

Strong-arm boss? He encourages innovation in people.

It owould be interesting to see what people who have worked directly with him have to say about his leadership qualities. For me, it's never been about "maxey's ego." The first time I ever worked with him, he let me know that provided I got the job done in a healthy way and made what I needed to make happen, that I could use my own methods. As a matter of fact, I have a clip of an email he sent me:

From 2004:

"You've asked for help in looking for paying gigs to do this kind of work. I will have some opportunities in the near future to hire some folks to do specific jobs, such as blockwalking coordinator, or phone coordinating, etc...I've always let those working with me take their jobs and run with it..and even change the scope and direction of the projects IF the underlying job got done."

Some strong arm boss.

Most people who don't like Maxey are either homophobes or people who are upset that he didn't recognize them in an elevator. Talk about irony in blasting someone for having an ego, *because that person didn't recognize or say hello to YOU!" Lol.

[meg]

21. Maxey is not my first choice for good reason

Mr. duh said "Most people who don't like Maxey are either homophobes or people who are upset that he didn't recognize them in an elevator. Talk about irony in blasting someone for having an ego, *because that person didn't recognize or say hello to YOU!" Lol."

I'm not a homophobe. I wasn't after any recognition in the elevator or otherwise. I was trying to get his support on a workers issue. Your defense of Glen by attacking those who question Glen's people skills isn't working. On the contrary.

We now have 3 people posting about their negative personal experiences with Mr. Maxey. Each of us spoke sincerely. Sonias spoke sincerely in defense of Mr. Maxey while agreeing that some found him 'stand-offish'

I welcome sincere debate. Cheap shots are counter-productive.

[NoPasaran]

22. Glen turned me into a newt!

Not really. Although we do disagree over who is the better candidate in HD-47.

We're talking about picking a party chair, not a best friend forever. I have found Glen to be totally dedicated not just to winning, but also to training a new generation of activists in acquiring the skills and savvy to run and win campaigns of their own in the future. No doubt along the way he has stepped on some toes. I think that's in the nature of the political consulting business.

In 2004 we saw a huge number of new people come into the party. The task of the next chairman has to include retaining those people and giving them the tools we need to turn the party into a winning concern statewide. I happen to think that Maxey could be that person.

And I think it's great that we're actually having this conversation. I'm sure that whoever we select for the next chair will turn out to be will be the better for it.

[crispini]

26. ROFL!

:loveya::loveya::loveya:

What, you mean Glen's not gonna be my BFF even if I vote for him? :cry: :evilgrin:

Completely off topic, did you see that South Park episode where they were doing the Terri Schiavo takeoff and everyone was talking about their BFF's? Too. Damn. Funny.

[nick_DFT]

23. Not a cheap shot..

It isn't a cheap shot. You're complaining that he didn't address you at some sort of event with a low turnout-could it be possible that perhaps he wanted to enjoy the event?

Did you call? Send a letter?

Did you try to get in touch with him on a business level with some sort of request and proposal?

You know, I've seen the guy work literally from 9am to 4am.

So I wouldn't really blame him.

[meg]

24. I'm glad you like him

But, don't make up a scenario for him. Unless you are Glen, you don't know about my 'meeting with Glen'. Even if you are Glen, I doubt very much you would ever remember me or the incident.

Evidently, I am not the only person who finds Glen lacking in people skills. So, instead of trying to rewrite our experiences of Glen to YOUR liking, why not focus on other positives for Glen?

[nick_DFT]

25. no scenario..

Did you try to make an appointment?

[meg]

28. You miss the point

What happened with my worker issue is irrelevant. How Maxey makes a first impression is very relevant. How Maxey treats people is relevant. Just as a contrast, Soechting was in my town last week for a rally. Soechting went out of his way to say hello and shake my hand. Now, I am NOT particularly a Soechting fan, but do you see a difference?

You suggest that in order to talk to Maxey you have to make an appointment? Write a letter? Quit trying to change the subject. Stop trying to cover what I have to say with a smoke screen.

If you have something positive to share about Maxey, do it.

[crispini]

29. Well, I know you didn't ask me...

but I have only had fairly casual meetings with Glen, at Dem Fest and at a DFA Leader's meeting, and he made a fine first impression with me. He struck me as just another activist, a down-home sort of guy, albeit one with interesting stories to tell.

And, when I met Soechting last year, he didn't go out of his way to say hello and shake my hand.

Honestly, this all strikes me as a bit shallow. Yes, public speaking skills and being affable is very important, but we're discussing how someone handles a passing encounter as the most important factor about who should be the next TDP chair? I'm more interested in their political savvy (of which Glen has a TON), their organizing ability (of which Glen has plenty), and their intelligence (ditto).

[Czolgosz]

30. That's odd. Soechting introduced himself to me at a rally. He knew my name

beforehand. He solicited my thoughts on what we could do to smooth things out both statewide and locally. Some people forget that Soechting inherited a party that had completely flatlined, and he's increased the staff five-fold. He's not completed the job, but he's taken some good first steps. I think Soechting's been doing a really good job.

I've not been impressed with Maxey in person (far from it), but I've been impressed with his voting record. I think Maxey's got a brilliant future, but not necessarily as party chair (he's more a base-motivator and less of a big-tent unifier which I think is more important for a state party chair).

[crispini]

32. IMO, the party members ARE the base.

I think the big-tent stuff and the outreach stuff needs to be done outside the party. And I'm just not sure the state party chair isthe person to do that job, because obviously the average voter doesn't know or care who that person is. Although I'm not sure who is the person to do that job. :shrug:

[jobycom]

27. You demonstrate EXACTLY why I won't support him.

That's exactly the tactic Maxey would use, smearing someone you have no knowledge of because they are in your way.

As for the specific incidents involved (more than one), I want lay them out because that would reveal specific identities that might not want me to reveal them. I don't trust that those people wouldn't be retaliated against in some manner, like, oh, I don't know, one of Maxey's agents spreading slanders that they are homophobes or egomaniacs...

I won't support him. If you do, more power to you, but watch your back. He's stabbed closer allies than you.

[nick_DFT]

31. ...

for the amount of complaining about the malicious rumor that boyd richie (gasp!) was out of the race, it's amazing you could make allegations about glen "screwing over true progressives" for republicans. it's laughable.

if you'd prefer the current state of the party because soechting shook hands with you...

and how am i "smearing someone"?

we are talking about vision and future. and you're talking about alleged incidents that you cannot speak of at all? hmm.

too funny.

[jobycom]

34. Actually

I've shaken hands with Glen, and I've never met Soechting. To the best of my knowledge, Glen has never snubbed me.

Again, you're attempts to belittle what I said through cheap smears is exactly the kind of attitude I don't want to see head the party. Losing is better than losing that which made you deserve to win in the first place.

[meg]

33. Well said. (eom)

[sonias]

14. Glen is not the most friendliest person, but he's good

I understand how you feel. It's not that he's really dissing you, he sometimes is just so busy that a lot of people think he's stand-offish. Once you get to know his persona, you'll get him and learn to work with it. There is no doubt however, that Glen knows his stuff. He is a progressive grassroots organizer and he's very successful at recruiting, educating, and motivating his volunteer base. He has decades of experience and he is willing to listen to ideas. In fact one of his best qualities is when you say something like "Glen, I think we should do this" and he says "great, go get it done". He's a very bottom up approach type of person.

While Glen has not filed there is a very serious effort to draft Glen i.e. force him to run by showing him he has the grassroots support.

Sonia

[TexasLinda]

11. Boyd Richie is not withdrawing

Where did you get your information, Sonia? South Texas Chisme is reporting that Boyd in not withdrawing and is in fact actively running.

[sonias]

13. Some SDEC members told me this

It is rumor and speculation at this point, but they seemed to think it was pretty solid. i.e. there was a personal reason he would be withdrawing. Yes I understand he has filed officially but this was information I heard this weekend.

If he is campaigning maybe something changed over the weekend once again.

Sonia

[TexasLinda]

17. Most likely a malicious rumor from an opponent

It happens way too often in politics. Boyd reads DU and the blogs, but is out of town and unable to post at this time. I called him and read the DU posts to him. His reply follows:

"I was NOT introduced to the SDEC in the manner she
(Sonia) states. I was introduced to a rally during
the noon break by a supporter-Judge Susan Criss-as
the next chair. She also introduced Bob Gammage as
the next governor of Texas. And I am amazed that
some folks think they know something about my personal
life that would cause me to withdraw from this
race because I don't have a clue about it."

Perhaps you should question your source. It appears they may have a hidden agenda.

Linda

[CoolOnion]

12. YES!!!!

[Independent_Dem]

35. progressive?

Please forgive my ignorance :dunce: how is it that Dennis Teal
is considered a progressive? I'm not being sarcastic. Maybe I
should rephrase, and ask what is the criteria to be considered
a progressive democrat?