The Arkansas Democratic Party held its State Committee meeting Saturday to elect officers and talk about a path forward after November elections in which Republicans made historic gains.
"We had a very difficult year this past November. We can give you many reasons for it," returning party Chairman Vince Insalaco said. "But one thing you can be absolutely sure that we have learned is that what [U.S. House] Speaker [Tip] O'Neill said so many years ago, that all politics is local is no longer true. That has been dead and buried now."
Insalaco, who rallied Democrats into applause several times during his speech at the Argenta Community Theater in North Little Rock, said Republicans across the South had success by making local races about national politics.
He said there also is a larger history lesson and context to be added to the November elections, in which Republicans took all seven of the state's constitutional offices for the first time in history as well as three contested U.S. House seats, and unseated Democratic U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor. Republicans also bolstered their majority in both chambers of the Arkansas General Assembly in November, with 24 of 35 Senate seats and 64 of 100 House seats.
Insalaco said no party holds the majority forever, noting that the U.S. congressional majority has switched six times since 1990.
"History teaches us not just here in Arkansas but in America as well, that from time to time, there are people who are elected and who win because they appeal to the worst angels of our nature," Insalaco said. "They pit good people against each other, and for a time it seems as if they will be victorious.
"But in the end, they always fail. Even though they ran a corrosive, incendiary, racially charged, divisive, misleading and in some cases, outright lying campaign, this too shall pass."
Insalaco said the party's base values were morally, ethically and intellectually correct, noting that the state's private-option Medicaid expansion program would not exist without Democrats. He also said voters would not have had the opportunity to approve the largest minimum-wage increase in Arkansas history if Democrats hadn't helped put it on the ballot in November.
Insalaco said the state party must modernize and find a way to revitalize. He outlined a five-point plan for the party:
• Making electing Democratic candidates a priority.
• Rewriting the party's rules to represent the 21st century.
• Rebuilding the party's county committees.
• Revamping the party's auxiliary arms.
• Finding a way to stand on its own financially.
"We must finally and once and for all put together a well-oiled political machine that is designed to fight like hell," Insalaco said.
Other speakers, including First Vice Chairman and state Sen. Joyce Elliott, D-Little Rock, noted the importance of local party organizations. Elliott urged members to not just join the state party but to also participate at the county level where the party can mobilize voters and grow membership.
John Burkhalter, who ran unsuccessfully for the lieutenant governor's office in November, addressed the party and spoke of better times in the past that he said can be resurrected.
"The days of [former Gov.] Dale Bumpers, [former U.S. Sen. David] Pryor and [former Gov. Bill] Clinton, they were strong. They were very strong, but they had to run against many, many people," Burkhalter said. "We had it our way, and we knew how great it felt. Can you imagine how the Republicans felt back then? Well, that's kind of how we feel today."
Burkhalter agreed with Insalaco, reiterating that the Republicans had success nationalizing local elections.
"Folks, we have got to start running multiple candidates in all of our races," he said. "We should not be picking and choosing who we think should run for those offices."
Several speakers challenged members to donate money to the party, noting that without popular, statewide-elected officials to help with fundraising efforts, the party was going to need every small donation members could offer or solicit from others.
The party met at the same time the Democratic National Committee was holding its annual meeting in Washington, D.C. National committee officials had said they planned to release a comprehensive look at what worked and failed on the state level in Arkansas and other targeted states where Republicans made gains. That report had not been released as of press time Saturday.
All but one of the state committee's officers ran uncontested in Saturday's vote, including Insalaco, Elliott, Treasurer Tyler Clark and Second Vice Chairman Janet Johnson-Henderson.
The roughly 150 members from around the state elected Karen Sealy Garcia of Hot Springs as the party's secretary. Garcia ran an unsuccessful campaign for state treasurer in November.
"It was an honor and a privilege to be your nominee. We were not successful in November, but we will never rest on the work we have already done in the past," Garcia said in her pitch for the position. "We will continue to work for today and for the future."
Former party Chairman Jason Willett and member David Sims both put their hats in the ring for the secretary's position. Insalaco quickly named the two to leadership positions in his reorganization plan.
Willett will be co-chairman of the committee that will rewrite the party's rules, and Sims will work with the party's auxiliary organizations to help create a cohesive message and mission.
Metro on 02/22/2015