THERE'S SOME CHANGES COMIN' ABOUT

Friday I mentioned the election the Polk County Democratic Executive Committee had for it's new officers. It went very peaceful, with no controveresy whatsoever. According to Steve Boursquet in the St. Petersburg Times, other local Democratic leadership bodies had the same experience, but not all. At least several party chairs were ousted, a couple in rather heated races. The new leaders have to speak out and take a active role in getting our party back on track; the same for those elected to the State Executive Committee.

Speaking of which, the State Executive Committee members will gather this weekend at Lake Buena Vista and elect a party chairman and representatives to the Democratic National Committee. Party Chariman Scott Maddox needs to make a decision ASAP: If he is serious about possibly running for statewide office in 2006, he needs to abandon running for reelection to his party leadership seat and begin planning for his run NOW. Maddox's only real exposure to the electorate has been as Mayor of Tallahassee and in a failed run for Attorney General in 2002. While he is obviously well known to the Democratic faithful, he needs to begin building name recognition among Republicans as well as rank and file Democrats throughout the state. And being party chairman is a 24/7 job, being the primary fundraiser and cheerleader for all of our candidates and focused for a full four year period. We simply cannot afford to have a chairman for a year; maybe a year and a half and resign. We need someone who we can rely on for the full term.

Don't get me wrong. Scott's been good. But Scott needs to choose one direction or the other...but he can't have it both ways.