John Loughlin

November 19, 2023

Who are the officers of the San Diego County Democratic Party who want to 'suspend' a member?

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Francis Carney writing about "The Rise of the Democratic Clubs in California" in 1958 noted: (emphasis mine).

California closely regulates its political parties. The only legally recognized party organs are the state conventions, the state central committees, and the various county central committees. The state central committees are cut off from both the party voters and the county central committees. Only members of the latter are elected by the voters. 

California Election Code governs the organization and makeup of the County Committees — so it provokes some wonderment and concern, to learn that (some of) the officers of the San Diego County Democratic Party are looking to 'suspend' an elected member — whose only 'wrongdoing' appears to be asking questions, that (some of) the officers don't like.

The California Election Code allows the committee to make rules for removal of officers — and there is a specific section regarding the removal of a member. But, as you can read below, neither of these sections apply to the action that these officers want to take against former Assemblymember Lori Saldaña.

As we now have one party rule in the state, county and city — it is more important than ever to police ourselves, and hold ourselves accountable. Suspending members for asking questions? — that way lies ruin.

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If you're called to vote on the 'suspension' — please ask for it to be ruled out of order, as against the California Election Code. If that fails and a vote is called, please vote No —  and then consider calling for a vote of no-confidence in the offices of the committee who have set themselves up as 'better' than other Democrats. You deserve to have officers who are not afraid of legitimate questions from members.

And, if the officers announce they have already suspended Lori and instead offer the chance for you to reverse that decision, please vote for sanity and vote Yes to reinstate her.

The irony that tonight an elected official indicted for felonies gets to address the full committee, but Lori doesn't, is beyond parody.

And consider that the former chair was never suspended despite allegations of sexual assault.

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Oh, and coincidentally today you can watch NBC 7’s political reporter Priya Sridhar as she takes a look at the Cardenas siblings allegations of money laundering and fraud impacts San Diego County’s Democratic Party — with one central committee member asking the questions we should all be asking.

https://www.nbcsandiego.com/videos/calls-for-audit-of-san-diego-county-democratic-party/3362056/


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California Election Code — URL

DIVISION 7. POLITICAL PARTY ORGANIZATION AND CENTRAL COMMITTEE ELECTIONS [7000 - 7928]  ( Division 7 enacted by Stats. 1994, Ch. 920, Sec. 2. )
PART 2. DEMOCRATIC PARTY [7050 - 7244]  ( Part 2 enacted by Stats. 1994, Ch. 920, Sec. 2. )
CHAPTER 4. County Central Committee [7200 - 7244]  ( Chapter 4 enacted by Stats. 1994, Ch. 920, Sec. 2. )

ARTICLE 1. Members [7200 - 7216]  ( Article 1 enacted by Stats. 1994, Ch. 920, Sec. 2. )

7215.
A committee may remove any member, other than an ex officio member, who during his or her term of membership affiliates with, or registers as a member of another party, who publicly advocates that the voters should not vote for the nominee of this party for any office, or who gives support or avows a preference for a candidate of another party or candidate who is opposed to a candidate nominated by this party.
(Enacted by Stats. 1994, Ch. 920, Sec. 2.)

ARTICLE 4. General Business [7240 - 7244]  ( Article 4 enacted by Stats. 1994, Ch. 920, Sec. 2. )

7241.
A committee may make rules and regulations providing:

(a) How officers of the committee may be removed.
(b) How meetings may be called, and any provisions so made shall supersede anything in this chapter to the contrary.
(c) Whether or not proxies may be used and the conditions under which they may be used.

Any rule adopted prior to statutory authorization by any committee by majority vote of the members elected to the committee is hereby validated and made of the same effect as if subsequently adopted.
(Enacted by Stats. 1994, Ch. 920, Sec. 2.)




About John Loughlin

Technology Prognosticator
uk > physics > explosions > electronics > california > telecomm > med  device
board member with Partnership for the Advancement of New Americans (panasd.org)
looking to build greater union between immigrant tech workers and refugees