County Dems Reform

The Problem

Under the leadership of Party Chair Rich Schaffer, Suffolk Democrats have suffered year after year of losses: losing the majority on the County Legislature, repeatedly failing to flip two Congressional seats, and failing to recruit candidates, build the party or stand up for our values. It is long past time for new leadership.

• While Suffolk County residents continue to struggle under the weight of the cost of living, rather than fighting for them, Schaffer is fundraising for his own reelection campaign at twice the rate he is fundraising for Suffolk County Democrats.
• While the Republican party hijacks the Working Families Party line in Huntington, costing the Town a Democratic Supervisor, Schaffer colludes with Republicans and Conservatives
• While Rich Schaffer donates to the Conservative party, the Conservative party runs direct attack ads against Democratic candidates for County Legislature.
• While thousands of volunteers across Long Island work tirelessly (for free) for Democratic change, the County Democratic Chair is taking full time salaries as both the Babylon Town Supervisor and the Democratic Party Chair.

Suffolk County is more populous than 11 U.S. states! Protecting democracy and fostering opportunity here starts with bold, accountable, and trustworthy leadership. If we want to recruit the strongest candidates, we have to build the strongest organization.

Immediate priorities

• No more Conservative Party deals — run as Democrats and win as Democrats.
• Recruit and run as many viable candidates as possible, no more paper candidates.
• Support all 10 towns with resources, training, and professional support.
• Build the infrastructure for year-round organizing, not just in election season.

Party values I will stand by

• A Democratic Party that is fearless in its pursuit of truth and justice.
• A party that embraces empathy as a core value and strength to build a better nation.
• A party that proudly recognizes and advocates for the right to dignity, safety, and humanity for all.
• A party that proactively prioritizes the economic needs, rights, and dreams of the many over the greed of the richest few.

My commitments

If we’re going to start winning, the Suffolk County Democratic Committee needs to rebuild and rebrand. The Team KCQ campaign will guide this reform. As we create change, and people re-engage, our party will strengthen and grow, with greater resources, and we will win elections.

As your Party Chair I will commit to:

Building and Sustaining the Town Committees: the Grassroots of the Party

• Strengthening Organizing Efforts
  • Assist the Town Committees in organizing and strengthening their membership, outreach and management practices, especially outside of campaign season.
  • Implement a strategic, consistent, dedicated, year-round fundraising strategy that cultivates a collective commitment to success from the grassroots up to the Chair.
  • Provide benchmarks, support goal-setting and accountability (voter registration, outreach, communications, data collection, etc)
• Providing Training & Tools for Town Committees
  • Provide regular training in processes, best practices and strategies in areas such as using data and software systems, recruitment and screening, social media/communications, campaign management, fundraising, and volunteer management.
  • Provide access to software, templates, training guides.
  • Hold regular in person meetings & visits with SCDC leadership and staff.
• Strengthening Engagement Strategies
  • Implement sustained strategies in areas of social media and digital outreach, campus engagement, deepening collaborations with grassroots groups, advocacy organizations, coalitions, unions, chambers, civic associations and more

Recruiting, Developing & Supporting Candidates

• Running Minimally-Viable Campaigns:
  • Ensure every candidate has a digital presence, outreach strategy, and a platform to avoid being labeled a "paper candidate."
• Being a Hub for Campaign “School”:
  • Host periodic candidate trainings, such as “intro to campaigning,” “identifying win numbers" and “managing press”
  • Provide access to tools such as software, templates, training guides
• Building the "Bench":
  • Build a potential pipeline of candidates across multiple channels, such as engaging volunteers and interns by helping them to join local committees, boards and commissions to build experience as potential future candidates.

Strengthening Branding, Messaging & Practices

• Ending the Conservative Party Coordination
  • End this ongoing collaboration, given the lack of alignment with Democratic Party values, and its lack of recent success. Ending this will strengthen the Party’s integrity and brand.
• Messaging & Communicating
  • Collaborate and coordinate with the Party at all levels to develop and distribute consistent messaging through committee, digital channels, and press
  • Ensure distribution of information is frequent, updated, and accurate through all mediums.
  • Stay current and, as possible, a step ahead as issues, policies, campaign strategies and tools evolve
• Building Community & Assisting in Mutual Aid
  • Improve and deepen outreach to communities of color, young people, and vulnerable communities
  • Support those in need in our communities through activities such as food distribution, connecting individuals to services, or blood drives.
  • Host regular events and activities for all ages such as picnics, bowling outings, or beach clean-ups, not just fundraisers.