Jamie Romeo said last night that her first move as the new chair of the Monroe County Democratic Committee will be to reach out to party “stakeholders,” from the volunteers who go door-to-door on behalf of candidates to the donors who provide the cash the organization needs to run. Many Democrats may not know her well, she said, and she wants to change that.
Romeo, who’s been MCDC’s executive director since January and was chief of staff for former State Senator Ted O’Brien, starts her new role today.
Democratic committee members from across the county met last night and voted for Romeo, who lives in Irondequoit. She was the sole chair candidate for the job. Romeo received enthusiastic nominations from the floor; Irondequoit Town Board member David Seeley called for a unanimous ballot for “one of Irondequoit’s finest.”
“There’s no doubt there will be challenging days ahead,” said Alex Hipolito, vice president of the Monroe County Young Democrats and MCDC’s political director, during his speech nominating Romeo. “But if you’ve known Jamie, she’s not one to shy away from challenges.”
And there are some major challenges facing the party. It’s heading into a big local election year, and the county party’s bank account is very low. Privately, some Democratic leaders worry that means headquarters won’t be able to help much with Sandy Frankel’s campaign for county executive, or with potentially competitive County Legislature contests.
The party also has internal divisions, power struggles, and personality conflicts, which often materialize in primaries. There were subtle signs of the division last night; some key black city committee leaders who are aligned with Mayor Lovely Warren and State Assembly member David Gantt didn’t show up for last night’s vote.Â
Romeo said that the county party has come out of much tighter spots, and that it has good candidates and campaigns for a critical election year. And as executive director, she’s already had some involvement with those campaigns, she said, so the transition should be smooth.
“Part of my nature is to find a solution to problems,” Romeo said after the meeting.
But Romeo, who is 30, also sees her election as a chance for the next generation of Democratic leaders to step up, take on some responsibility, and be held accountable for their decisions. Last night, she wasn’t the only one thinking that way. Several committee members of varying ages approached her and told her that they’re excited to have a young person at the helm.
Romeo replaces Dave Garretson, who is stepping down as chair for health reasons.
This article appears in Jul 29 – Aug 4, 2015.
Wherefore art thou, Romeo?
Lets not beat around the bush here. The division in the party is along racial lines. After Lovely Warren won the primary against Tom Richards, the Joe Morelle faction of the party tried to beat her with “Turn out for Tom”, supposedly an idea of the Independence Party but tracked back to Morelle.
There will never be peace in the party as long as Morelle is the puppet master pulling the strings…and he is! The Warren faction not showing up illuminates my point.
It is a shame that a talented young lady like Ms. Romeo has to fight a battle like this when her intention is to unify. I wish her luck.
I would agree that Jamie Romeo has a difficult road to travel. One thing in her favor, youth. That segment of time in life where you have, at the very least, the drive, the energy and the stamina to take on the most difficult of challenges. I hope, for the democratic party constituency represented, that she can unify the mission of working for the people. That, in the end, is what the people trust that their elected official will have mind, representing them.
As far as Mr. Morelle is concerned, he has lost sight of the people he represents. He is a party man first in the political arena. Party, party and party. He has proven that over and over. His statement relating to poverty comes to mind,” we are really going to solve this poverty issue this time”. Anyone care to check how we are doing in that effort? The list of very successful business people, clergy, and politicians that have been assembled is amazing. Well over a hundred representing millions of dollars in personal wealth. That poverty progress has to date cost more than it has delivered.
Jamie Romeo, I wish you all the strength you need to address not just party unity, but solving the issues of the day. I would focus on poverty, which the main culprit and the main reason for its growth? Our urban educational failure. Education is the antidote to poverty, not a big pot of handouts. Wishing you strength.