Meet the New Chair, Same as the Old Chair

by: Zelph

Sun Mar 08, 2009 at 23:20:48 PM MDT

Bivens captured over 80% of the vote Saturday with the final vote:

Don Bivens, Maricopa County - 482
Ted Downing, Pima County - 96
Michael Mandeville, Yavapai County - 7  

Word has it that Bivens folks did an admirable job of lining up the roughly 300 proxy votes before the meeting so the result was pretty much baked into the cake.

After You, My Dear Alphonse

Some amusing gamesmanship took place when nominations for State Chair were opened.  Apparently Bivens didn't want to speak first in order to be better able to respond to opposing candidates. Being nominated first meant that he would have to speak first. There was an awkward silence when no one came forth to nominate a candidate, each camp waiting for the others to go first.

Then someone apparently nominated Bivens who was not part of Team Bivens.  Another person seconded the nomination, but the Chair claimed that that there had been no nomination yet, so the second was out of order.

Finally Team Bivens decided they may as well nominate their candidate before someone else did, so Bivens wound up speaking first after all.  Ann Wallich, Maricopa County Chair, nominated Bivens and Paul Eckerstrom, who had defeated Bivens in the previous election, seconded Bivens nomination and gave a speech backing him.

OK, But This Time We're Not Kidding

by: Zelph

Fri Mar 06, 2009 at 18:41:32 PM MST

At this point, the only announced candidate is previous State Chair Don Bivens.  It had previously been speculated that Bob Lord might throw his hat in the ring, but Lord has decided not to do so.

Bivens was defeated in a previous election by Paul Eckerstrom of Tucson, but Eckerstrom resigned after only two short weeks, concluding he could not handle the duties of State Chair from Tucson.  Eckerstrom was a candidate drafted at the last minute by some dissatisfied with Bivens, and Eckerstrom unexpectedly won.

Will there be another surprise last minute candidate?  Will this one stay for a while, if elected?  Stay tuned.  You sure can't say that Arizona politics are boring.  Bring some popcorn, this should be a good one.

Lord for State Party Chairman?

by: Zelph

Fri Feb 06, 2009 at 22:20:52 PM MST

Lord recently challenged John Shadegg for a Congressional seat in CD-3. Now Bob does have a talent for raising money, as did Don Bivens, the previous state chairman before Eckerstrom.  Fund raising is extremely important, but spending the money you raise effectively to win races is equally important.  Many believed that Bivens failed to do that part of the job.

IMHO, we need someone who is not afraid to take it to the Repubs hard on their recent state budget cuts.  Someone who will make sure our messaging is effective and that we give adequate support to Democratic candidates in ALL races. Who might that be?  Any suggestions?