See comment by M. Jenson SEC Member.
Today I had a flash back from attending the African American Caucus of The North Carolina Democratic Party meeting that I attended in March. What a damn mess because they didn’t follow their own policies and procedures.
The Democratic State Executive Committee meeting turned out just like I knew it would. What a damn mess.
The tone of the meeting was set by David Parker Chair on today as far as the Agenda.
Rule 1. Chair The state Chair or his designee shall have general direction of the State Executive Committee (“SEC”) meeting on May 12, 2012 (the “Meeting” and shall be authorized to take such action as is necessary to maintain order. The Chair, with the guidance of the Parliamentarian designated at the convening of the Meeting by the Chair, shall decide all questions of order, subject to an appeal by any member. Order of priority of Rules shall be the Plan of Organization (the “Plan”), (b) these Standing Rules as adopted by the State Executive Committee, and (3) Robert’s Rules of Order (Newly Revised, 10th Edition). Courteous respect for one another will be the standing order of the day.
Rule 8. Presiding chair of elections. The Presiding Officer shall not preside over his or her own election in which case the parliamentarian designated at the convening of the meeting shall preside until such election is concluded.
The Democratic Party Plan of Organization Section 4.02 Elected officers reads: Vacancy and Succession for Elected State Executive Committee Officers. Vacancies occurring among the elected officers of the state executive committee shall be filled within sixty (60) days following the creation of the vacancy. The state chair shall call a meeting of the state executive committee to fill that vacancy and any other vacancies that might be caused by the action of such committee in filling the vacancy. If, for any reason, there should occur a vacancy in the office of state chair, the first vice chair, the second vice chair, the third vice chair, the secretary or the treasurer, in that order, shall preside and in the absence of all of the foregoing officers, any member of the state executive committee may preside.
Rule 8. was voted down and eliminated from the rules. Rightfully so should never had been there. But the tone was already set by this time.
After David took care of the preliminaries it was time for Election of Officers. David said he wanted to give his remarks. And yes he had a powerful speech. We received some rules today and I am going to point out 2 of them. However I believe the tone was already set before the meeting because it was reported online that he was going to run for the Chair position. David left the room after his remarks and his wife but not without much applause and greetings from folks as he and his wife walked passed them. Someone told me late in the evening that he had gone to Statesville.
Now it was Show Time. Gwen Wilkins 1st Vice Chair was not presiding. I have never seen a bunch of adults disrespecting someone chairing a meeting like I witnessed today. However the tone was set when David Parker put Rule 8 in place. This shows he has no respect for the vice chair Gwen Wilkins because if he did why did he attempt to silence her. It was no doubt that she would not be at the meeting today and he knew that so therefore he didn’t want her to preside obviously because the plan of organization clearly states who is to preside.
Since I was sitting on the back row I could not help but notice that the Pitt County Democrats had stickers on them saying support keeping David Parker. I was tickled to death at some others whom I know was in support of keeping David.
I have come to the conclusion that this meeting was a damn waste of time because if David was going to go out gracefully then he would have stated that he was not interested in staying on as chair but it is obvious that his intentions were to stay on. So if that be the case why didn’t he just wait until the June regularly scheduled Democratic Party State Executive Committee meeting to do what he did today. He didn’t give a damn about this was Mother’s Day Weekend nor Graduation Weekend. And obviously he didn’t give a damn about dividing the party.
Okay let me make myself clear. I am more interested in how the meeting process was carried out today. Although I attended the meeting as a Proxy I was going to attend the meeting anyway to see how the meeting would be carried out. Rule 8 set the tone of the meeting because again it is obvious that there is some beef between David and Gwen in my opinion.
I have much respect for Gwen Wilkins as it relates to this meeting because I read somewhere that Gwen Wilkins stated that she would not announce running for the Chair position until David actually stepped down. She said she would be willing to seek the nomination if she was nominated.
There was a motion put on the floor to accept David’s resignation and then it was a substitute motion put on the floor to reject. There were a voice vote for both and they both failed for the lack of division. So there was a ballot vote to reject David’s resignation but not without much discussion. Some folks claim they didn’t understand the motion. Damn it was simple as hell but they didn’t understand it because they didn’t want to understand it because their main concern was to make sure David was still the party’s chair at the end of day.
Well the people who came to keep David Parker in office got their wish at the end of the day. When we finally voted for the last time and when the tally came back the vote was 260 to reject his resignation and 203 to accept. So what is so hard about voting on a motion to reject or accept or reject his resignation? Gwen Wilkins 1st Vice kept trying to explain to us what was going on but they just didn’t want to accept it saying they were confused.
In conclusion I learned something today about the meeting that was called with the State Executive Council of Review with David Parker. I was told it was a quorum that attended this meeting via telephone and my source said no one said they wanted David to step down. However Gwen Wilkins reported that was not totally true. So now I wonder if she may have spoke to some whom were not on the conference call that didn’t support David.
I assume that David was trying to show Governor Perdue and the others whom called for his resignation that he had the support of the Executive Council. But the Governor and the others still didn’t accept that and wanted him to resign.
So I guess today this is why the special call meeting was held to prove to Governor Perdue and others that he had the support of the State Executive Committee.
So I wonder will Governor Perdue and the others accept what was done today? I wonder how will our President feel about what happened today especially with the Democratic National Convention being held right up the road in Charlotte.
Well again my main concern is how the meeting was carried out today and it was not pretty. I hate that it shows that the State Executive Committee is divided when it comes to David being our Chair.
I wish he had not stepped down and stood his ground and then we would have had to gone through this mess today.
David came back to the meeting and the meeting ended around 5:45 PM.
See Pictures as they download and video coming soon!
Note: Originally posted Sunday May 12, 2012.
See related:
GREENSBORO — Hundreds of North Carolina Democrats are gathering to choose a new state leader following the fallout over allegations of sexual harassment at party’s headquarters. – 11 WTVD
Parker says he’ll stay as chairman after NC Dems reject resignation – News & Observer
Will Democrats accept Parker’s resignation? – WRAL
After Attending The African American Caucus Of The North Carolina Democratic Party, It Is My Opinion That It Needs To Be Shut Down Because It Is Dividing Black Folks
