An open letter from a red county Democratic Chair

Like many of you, I am a Democratic Party Chair in a very red rural county (Huron, Ohio) where just getting a Democrat to run for office is almost impossible.  But, I look at my grandkids and think I have to do something.  Something to begin the necessary conversations to raise awareness of the dangerous times we are in.

Those conversations cannot begin with policies.  We have to reach common ground first.  Freedom, Justice and Opportunity are values that are difficult to claim as belonging to only one party - they belong to all of us, Democrat, Republican, Unaffiliated.  Defining Democrats as having these values is critical to having our views listened to and having credibility.  

Having credibility will open doors to getting Democrats elected.  To do that, we cannot continue to just speak to Democrats.  We must reach out to those who have been drawn into the negativity of the moment, demonstrate that we are capable of enacting policies that have, and will continue to make their lives better.

Democrats 101 is not the entity that will enact those policies. It is the entity that can redefine who we are.  I use the Democratic Creed to inspire others to join in the effort, join in the conversation, join in the action. 

Being a county chair, an activist, a volunteer, is hard work .. especially in a red county .. and it can be emotionally draining. Know that we can win this battle for the hearts and minds of the American voter, and we can do it by sharing the values and vision of Democrats 101. This is more than a fight to win the next election, it’s a fight to save Democracy. Please join us.

Karen Prelipp

Chair, Huron County Democratic Party (OH)