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SD Progress Makes Friends with State Dems; SDP Meets in Sioux Falls Jan. 10

Unlike Pat Powers, who gave us nothing but press releases yesterday, I will indulge in one press release from newcomers South Dakota Progress, as it contains some real news. Specifically, SD Progress answers a key question we've had on this blog: will the South Dakota Democratic Party recognize SD Progress as a useful ally in the war on Republican ignorance and one-party rule?

So far, the answer is yes. SD Progress reports that new party chair Ann Tornberg and influential Democrats Nick Nemec and Mary Perpich are giving the new candidate support group thumbs up. Here's SD Progress's report on its first contact with the state Dems at last Saturday's Central Committee meeting in Oacoma:

OACOMA, SD - December 12-13, 2014 - During the SD Democratic Central Committee Meeting in Chamberlain, SD, the South Dakota Democratic Party (SDDP) and South Dakota Progress (SDP) began measures to coordinate efforts.

Newly elected Chair, Ann Tornberg, stated, "We welcome the endeavors of South Dakota Progress, the enthusiastic group working to recruit candidates at the grass roots level. National politics are based on division; local politics need to be based on inclusion."

After a presentation on the potential of SDP to become active in 2015 local elections by Acting Steering Committee Chair, Katrina Wilke, DNC Committeeman, Nick Nemec said, "I think that's a place where this organization can make real progress; finding progressive people to fill non partisan races, because that's the pool for legislators. Their candidates will have a step up in legislative races."

Brookings County Democrats Chairperson, Mary Perpich, "There is new blood with members of South Dakota Progress joining forces with the state party to recruit candidates and help them get elected. We are fired up and ready to go."

SDP will hold its next meeting in Sioux Falls on January 10, 2014. Persons interested in attending should contact SDprogressUS@gmail.com for more information [South Dakota Progress, press release, 2014.12.16].

South Dakota Progress members are also planning to attend Democratic Forum at the Sioux Falls VFW on Friday, January 9. East River folks interested in learning more about the group and signing up to help win local and legislative races are welcome to attend.

31 Comments

  1. larry kurtz 2014.12.16

    So, SDP would theoretically lobby the legislature to reverse the chilling effects on woman, especially those at lower incomes, seeking a D & C because SDDP's chair doesn't support reproductive freedoms, right?

  2. Nick Nemec 2014.12.16

    It's important that SD Progress not reinvent the wheel. The SDDP exists and as an organized party has advantages that a new party doesn't have. Where SD Progress can shine is in recruiting candidates and especially candidates to non-partisan races. Those under the radar, down ballot races are where the farm team must be built for the higher profile legislative races.

  3. Bill Fleming 2014.12.16

    Good grassroots, ground-up strategy, Nick. All hands on deck, right? Is there a new SDDP platform in the works?

  4. tara volesky 2014.12.16

    The SDDP could really get those pro-life Democrats back by adopting Patrick Duffy's eloquent and educational statements concerning abortion. Mr. Duffy's evaluation concerning this topic should be part of the Democratic platform.

  5. Bajun Mavalwalla 2014.12.16

    There still seems to be some confusion of what SDP does. We identify and recruit viable candidates for local offices up to the state legislature, and provide them with funding and mentorship.

    Full stop. We aren't in competition with the SDDP. We don't lobby. We don't make policy or platform decisions try to. We get Democrats elected.

    Please see our Facebook page and our mission statement.

  6. larry kurtz 2014.12.16

    So, Family Heritage Alliance is not an analog: right?

  7. Nick Nemec 2014.12.16

    BF, the party platform is drafted every two years at the party convention, next time it will be drafted is 2016.

  8. larry kurtz 2014.12.16

    Is SDP a non-profit and will officers be paid salaries?

  9. larry kurtz 2014.12.16

    What are Tornberg and Lowe's salaries?

  10. tara volesky 2014.12.16

    Larry, Family Heritage Alliance is part of the Republican Machine. They only support big money insiders. The word Democrat is synonymous with Devil. They will never endorse a Democrat or a Gordon Howie for higher office. God told them the party needs to vote for Rounds, and they did just that. Maybe the Democrats need to check out what brand of Kool-Aid they drink.

  11. deb 2014.12.16

    I can speak from experience....the salary for the chair and vice chair is $0. Nothing for expenses or travel. Some states pay salaries, but there are those that don't.

  12. Bill Fleming 2014.12.16

    Yeah, I saw that one, Larry. Is that the overarching platform, or are those just resolutions based on it?

  13. larry kurtz 2014.12.16

    I can't recall from the convention, Bill: Nick and Deb know.

  14. Nick Nemec 2014.12.16

    Bill go to the web site: http://www.sddp.org/, across the top of the page there is a tab "what we stand for", click on it and a menu drops down, the options on the menu are the various major subjects the platform covers and the text you read is the platform as adopted by the convention.

  15. Nick Nemec 2014.12.16

    In short, from home page > what we stand for > issues > the issue you are interested in.

  16. Bill Fleming 2014.12.16

    Yes, Nick, that's what I suspected.

    I think I posted that same link above, right?

    Thanks!

  17. jerry 2014.12.16

    I missed the condemnation of the Keystone XL on the SDDP website. What is the party's position on that issue and on that issue alone? Does the Democratic Party support the Keystone XL or not?

  18. Bill Fleming 2014.12.16

    p.s. Nick, did you know that if you click on the word "issues" you get a summary of the whole list with an accompanying paragraph summary of each section all on one page? Then, to go deeper into that section you click on the hot link section title. Pretty good interface, but for luddites like me, it might be nice to also link to a PDF download where someone could grab and print out the whole document all at once. Old school, I know, but that's how some of us old farts still roll.

  19. jerry 2014.12.16

    Thank you Bill Fleming, I did not see this in my searches. This makes me feel much better.

  20. jerry 2014.12.16

    But, I wonder, why the resolution is not more prominently displayed?

  21. caheidelberger Post author | 2014.12.16

    What Deb said: elected party officials are paid zip. Staff (currently Zach Crago, Ryan Rolfs...) get paid.

  22. Deb 2014.12.16

    Don't get me wrong....you do these things because we are on the right side of the issues. And we want South Dakota to be in a better place. We are dedicated democrats. It's not about getting paid.

  23. caheidelberger Post author | 2014.12.17

    I don't think we're getting you wrong, Deb. Being a party official is not and should not be a moneymaker. (Of course, you shouldn't go broke doing it, either!)

  24. leslie 2014.12.17

    SDP members attended december PenDems monthly-very well attended and cooperative, productive.

  25. grudznick 2014.12.17

    Ms. Volesky, I am confused that "god" is telling these family heritage people to vote for Rounds while "god" is also telling people to vote for Mr. Howie. Or at least "god" is telling Mr. Howie and his Howinators to run for offices. And "god" is also whispering things in the young Dr. Bos' pretty little ears. Are these all the same god that is just confused, or are there multiple gods that are meddling in politics?

    Maybe there isn't any God at all, or maybe if there is s/he/it really isn't interested in the politics of people who are insaner than most.

  26. tara volesky 2014.12.17

    Well Grudz, you needed to go to the FHA website. The FHA said they prayed and God told them to vote Rounds. I would Like to ask FHA, if Gordon Howie was backed by millions of special interest money, would God tell them to support Gordon? Money talks......... My God says....if you want to know what God thinks of money, look at the people he gives it to. Christians will eventually figure it out. I BELIEVE THEY WILL!

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