For the record, I'm all in for current vice-chair Daraka Larimore-Hall, an unabashed Democratic Socialist from Santa Barbara, a professor and progressive activist, who has moved up through the ranks, not got there through cronyism or privilege. If anyone can unify the Party, he can. He's been elected twice as Secretary and as Vice Chair. He knows his way around Party politics and the grassroots. He's smart and accessible. He will listen.
Folks, if you are being pressured or threatened to vote a certain way, you need to speak out now. No more hiding in the shadows, allowing rumor and innuendo to grow. This is how we got where we are today. A new chair was elected last year, amid rumors that he bullied and harassed people into voting for him. If those rumors were true, taking a stance and telling the truth would have made a difference. As it happened, that Chair lasted only a short time before he was forced to resign because even worse stories came to light. We would likely have a different chair today, instead of an acting one, holding office only until the June election. We would be focusing on winning races, raising our credibility among voters and recruiting new Democratic voters.
People who are bullied, harassed or threatened must always speak up. It's not easy, but it's right. You may lose your position (probably not, if you are truthful), but you will gain respect, your own and others.
