COALITION ANNOUNCES CANDIDATES FOR PARTY LEADERSHIP

For Immediate Release NOV. 25, 2008 Contact: Robin Rorapaugh Robin@BrowardForChange.com 954.261.0032 COALITION ANNOUNCES CANDIDATES FOR PARTY LEADERSHIP A coalition of Democratic Party activists known as BROWARD FOR CHANGE announced its slate of candidates for the upcoming Democratic Executive Committee organizational meeting on December 7. "The Obama campaign proved that neighbors talking to neighbors is the key to electing Democrats," said Ron Mills, a Democratic area leader and member of the Broward For Change coalition. "We are working to elect new leadership that believes in this model and will continue building a local party that will be an asset for local and national campaign efforts," Mills said. President Elect Obama's campaign efforts in Broward County delivered a record-breaking plurality for the campaign. Broward For Change candidates hope to build upon the grass-roots gains made by the Obama organization through better transparency, more aggressive outreach to potential Democrats and and expansion of the club system to bring the Democratic Party back to the neighborhood level. The coalition includes activists from organized labor, the Democratic Executive Committee, the Obama local organization, the GLBT community and former candidates. The Broward For Change candidates are: CHAIR: Peter Deutsch, former six term Congressman from the 20th Congressional District and five term state reprsentative. Peter is also the founder of the Ben Gamla Charter School in Hollywood Florida. VICE-CHAIR: Marta Prado, Former Chair of the Broward County YMCA an acknowledged expert on health care delivery issues. Marta served on President Clinton's Commission on Quality Health Care and Governor Lawton Child's Medicaid Reform Commission. SECOND VICE-CHAIR: Ron Mills, current Democratic Area leader, Fort Lauderdale and Dania Beach and co-founder of Progressive Democrats of America. Founder Of Democracy For America- Broward STATE COMMITTEEWOMAN: Linda Bird, former candidate for State Senate seat 25 and advocate for women in business and child protection issues. TREASURER: Valerie Pigatt, Controller for the National Federation of Public and Private Employees and treasurer for the National Black MBA Association. SECRETARY: Alexander Johnson, an attorney and founder of Broward4Obama, a local Obama support group that sponsored over 90 events during the '08 campaign. RECORDING SECRETARY: Donna Greenberg, former Executive Director of the Broward Democratic Executive Committee and Chair of the Florida Chapter of Leadership for America's Children and Families PAC. BROWARD FOR CHANGE MOVING OUR DEMOCRATIC PARTY FORWARD 1. INCREASE VOTER ENGAGEMENT Build on the model of the Obama Campaign by registering voters, reactivating voters, and reaching out to the forgotten corners of Broward with a Democratic community organizer in EVERY neighborhood. The Broward Democratic Party must be accountable to ask for a vote every two years by being visible, accessible and responsible to all democratic voters in the county. 2. EARN THE TRUST TO EARN THE VOTE Instill transparency and accountability at all levels of the DEC through written minutes and Treasurer's reports available to DEC members, a functioning committee system, access to the bylaws, a member directory and clear rules of ethics. The Broward Democratic Party must do a better job of listening to those it wishes to lead and it must lead by good example. 3. SERVICE MEMBERS, CLUBS, AND AREA LEADERSHIP Better assist Democratic Clubs, Area Leaders, and DEC members by making available centralized data services for dues notices, bookkeeping, member tracking, calendar of events, and voter files. With all the technology available, the Broward Democratic Party must step into the 21st century. 4. ENCOURAGE GRASSROOTS LEADERSHIP Establish a training program to mentor potential Democratic candidates, appointees, activists, and future Democratic leaders in organizing and campaign winning methods. 5. RECONNECT WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS Re establish the DEC's relationship with local and state elected officials by engaging them on the issues with the DEC membership.