From someone who interviewed both Ellison and Perez

[ehrnst]

Some insight as to why this at large DNC member from Virginia had to say about the process (posted with permission from the author):

https://www.facebook.com/steven.cochran1?fref=nf&pnref=story

For those who are not on FB:

My friend Golde Holtzman posted this article (linked below) to our local MCDC page. I hope you'll take some time to read Corn's article from Mother Jones and learn more about Perez's background. What follows below is how I arrived at my personal decision to support Perez.

Some of you may know I work in Human Resources, and as Corn puts it in his article, I truly did approach my decision as a job interview. I had the chance to meet with both Perez and Ellison at the regional candidates' forum in Baltimore two weeks ago when I was still undecided on who to support. The time I spent with each of them was very different, much like a job interview experience can be with an applicant.

Keith Ellison spent 30+ minutes selling himself. Granted, he has a great story to tell and a list of accomplishments of which to be proud. He talked about the voters he had registered, the money he had raised, and how many people he had helped get elected in Minnesota. He promised he would do the same thing as DNC Chair.

My 45 minute meeting with Tom Perez was a little different. He also took some time explaining his reason for wanting the job. But then, he went on to ask about my role as a local chair and a grass roots activist. He wanted to know what I thought was important for the new chair of the DNC to do. He wanted to know what resources we need in VA this year to win the statewide and legislative races.

I cannot help but think my conversation with these two otherwise very similar progressive Democrats was very much like the way they met with other members. There is certainly nothing that made me special or different from any other member they were attempting to convince.

My conversation with each of them is what pushed me toward supporting Perez. Much like hiring the job candidate who expresses an interest in the company and asks a lot of good questions, I felt Tom Perez would approach the job not thinking he had all the answers. I thought he would continue to utilize that same collaborative, approachable style of leadership which I have seen pay long term dividends. He was willing to sincerely listen, not just talk to me.

I am glad Keith Ellison ran. He and many of the other candidates brought a lot to the conversation. He has a lot to offer the Party and I am excited that Tom offered, and he accepted, a leadership role as Deputy Chair - a position Tom created which did not previously exist. I think he adds to a dynamic team of officers we elected in Atlanta which is already working to oppose the radical Trump agenda.

My apologies for the long post, but this excellent article by David Corn really caused me to reflect on my own decision. I wanted to give folks some insight into how I finally came to support Tom Perez as I drove to Atlanta last week. When Tom called me on my drive, I told him he had earned my vote and how he had done so.

Much like when I have offered excellent applicants a job and they have excepted, I felt a great sense of relief when I got off the phone and finished my drive.

The link Golde posted on Montgomery County MD Democrats page:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/MontgomeryCountyDems/permalink/10158445492925121/

Direct link to the Mother Jones article that Golde posted on the MCDC page:

http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2017/01/why-tom-perez-strong-competitor-against-keith-ellison-democratic-party

[calimary]

1. This is MOST illuminating!

Thank you for posting this, ehrnst!

[Blue_true]

8. The DNC Chair must react out to and get local committees involved

from all over the country. What works for the Comittee dominated by New York City doesn't work for the Comittee dominated by Billings Montana. The local people know their area, we need to build from the local level upward and get more young people starting to run for office earlier.

[a kennedy]

2. Very insightful.......thank you for posting.

[Cosmocat]

3. Honestly, this kind of fits my sense of it

I think Ellison has a lot of heart, but wasn't sure he had the administatrative chops.

[ehrnst]

4. Exactly. The job of the effective legislator, and the job of party chair are different.

As are the jobs of activist, organizer, state politician, congressperson, and senator.

The metrics are different - and the ideal candidate for one isn't necessarily the ideal candidate for another.

[Demsrule86]

5. Very interesting...gives me hope for the future...

That is exactly what we need. Rec.

[Rex]

6. Is Perez the first consumer rights advocate we've had as DNC chair?

Both come from working class backgrounds, so I really don't care what anyone else says - that alone should help with fixing our depressing wage inequality.

How they sell themselves is not my concern, how they will lead us against Trump and his destruction of our system is. Both are in charge now, so people will have to adjust to a new way of thinking from the DNC leadership.

I love the fact they are going to work together to lead the party. Me personally, could not wish for more.

[ehrnst]

10. It's important to have someone who does listen - and can indeed do the administrative work

No matter the background.

That's why I'm glad to hear the background on this interviewer.

[joshcryer]

7. This is pretty much the Obama/Clinton style of leadership.

Just go back and watch any CSPAN roundtable with Clinton. She spent a lot of time listening and a lot of time trying to figure shit out. Not saying she knew all the answers.

But apparently people want some god-head who knows everything and does whatever the fuck they want without actually thinking ahead.

That's not how the real world works and that's why Trump's administration is a fucking disaster.

[sheshe2]

9. This

Much like hiring the job candidate who expresses an interest in the company and asks a lot of good questions, I felt Tom Perez would approach the job not thinking he had all the answers. I thought he would continue to utilize that same collaborative, approachable style of leadership which I have seen pay long term dividends. He was willing to sincerely listen, not just talk to me.

^^THIS^^

[ehrnst]

11. My thoughts as well. (nt)

[SleeplessinSoCal]

12. some in my neck of the woods are pissed.

I don't know if this will help or not, but I'll share.

Thanks.

[IronLionZion]

13. Our party made the correct choice

Plus Ellison is still in Congress and has a role in the DNC as deputy chair. Win Win

The Republicans are the establishment that we need to beat