Joe Morelle will step down as chair of the Monroe County Democratic Committee when his term expires in September.ย He announced his decision at a press conference this morning.ย
“It’s really time to allow this organization to grow in a different way,” Morelle said.
A new leader will be chosen after he steps down.ย
Morelle became party chair in May 2005. At the time, Democrats were struggling financially and bitterly divided among different factions, he said. A viable county party is necessary in order to win races, Morelle said during his remarks this morning. And as chair he said he tried to bring a sense of purpose and direction to the organization, worked to improve fund raising, and moved the party into a new headquarters.
And Democrats’ countywide enrollment advantage has grown, he said. State Board of Elections records show that in Monroe County, Democrats had an enrollment advantage of approximately 8,000 in 2005, but as of April 2014 that advantage had grown to 46,000.ย
“Our party is on the ascendancy,” Morelle said.
Morelle said he’s stepping down because of his new duties as the State Assembly’s majority leader. His decision is not the result of the 2013 mayoral election, where he backed incumbent Tom Richards over eventual winner Lovely Warren, he said.
Morelle also wouldn’t speculate on who the next leader might be, and said he isn’t aware of a shortlist since he hadn’t talked much about his decision.
“I don’t think anyone has had an opportunity to think about that,” he said.
This article appears in Apr 16-22, 2014.
Can’t say I’m sad to see ole Joe D-Insurance Co. leave. Only dismayed it happened about three years too late. Except for the odd village board seat here or there, the only victories Morelle has achieved is turning the party into a cult of personality centered on him and his hand-picked cronies. If you aren’t on his staff or formerly served (Justin Wilcox, Dave Seeley, Lorie Barnum and Adam Bello come to mind), you have rarely had a prayer of getting elected. In 8 years, the best he has done is held Rochester, Brighton and Irondequoit for the Democrats (not hard to do, esp. since it’s his political base). Yes Louise was re-elected over Maggie but more due to Brooks being a paper tiger than Morelle’s strategic genius. Ted O’Brien did win a state Senate seat despite being outspent and outhustled but there was a slight Democratic enrollment edge, not a stroke of Joe’s genius. Joe was unsuccessful in contesting a county executive’s race in 2007, when Maggie may have been vulnerable and only gave Sandy Frankel the opportunity to end her 20-year political career swinging in the wind with a 14-point loss. Since 2007, when the Democrats were on the verge of seizing control of the county legislature from Maggie’s clutches, they have gone from 14 seats to 10. The only new blood in the Democratic caucus was Morelle’s 24-year-old pride and joy, Joseph Morelle Jr., who’s sole reason for the position it seems, was his first name and last match his father’s. If you aren’t already part of the mutual admiration society over at 1150 University Ave, good luck getting in the “Democratic” Party. Good luck being Silver’s whipping boy, Joe. I can’t think of a more deserving Democrat.