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Be a Neighborhood Leader
Can you spare an hour a week to change the future of America?
The stakes in the 2008 elections have never been higher. By electing Democrats in November 2008, we can turn around America; create good, high-paying jobs; improve education; make health care affordable and accessible to all; and create new opportunities to restore the American dream. But this change won’t happen unless you get directly involved – starting right now.
By joining the Ohio Democratic Party’s Neighborhood Leader program, you can help bring meaningful change to your community and our county in less than an hour per week.
The job of a Neighborhood Leader is straightforward. You agree to take responsibility for contacting your friends and neighbors in your immediate area and talking to them about our Democratic nominees and the issues that matter most.
Making the now commitment to take part in this program is the single most important thing you can do to ensure a Democratic victory in November.
Neighborhood Leader Flier Word Document PDF
To Sign Up Contact:
Russ Balthis at russ@summitdems.org
Megan Joyce at megan@ohiodems.org
Russ Pry retires as Chair of the Summit County Democratic Party
Russ Pry announced earlier
today that he will retire as Chair of the Summit County Democratic Party
on Thursday, January 10, 2008 at a scheduled Democratic Central
Committee meeting. First Vice-Chair of the Party, Madeline Bozzelli,
will be sworn in as the Party’s new Chair.
At a press conference held
earlier today, Pry read from a 1998 Beacon Journal story written after
he was first elected Chair.
“Ten years ago, the Beacon
wrote a story about me becoming chair, where I said I planned to spend
at least five successive two-year terms as the unpaid chairman of the
Summit County Democrats to get the rebuilding job done,” Pry said.
Pry went on to praise the
Summit County Democratic Party Officers he served with throughout his
tenure. He gave special thanks to fellow Democrats who worked with him
to make the party a strong and cohesive organization. And he spoke of
his respect for the great Democrats that mentored and encouraged him
throughout his career.
Pry said he made his
decision after the filing deadline last week and acknowledged the
difficulty in remaining Chair since he now has primary opposition for
Executive.
“Quite frankly, it would
not be fair to me or my opponent. I plan on running a very strong race
in the next 50 days, while continuing to give over 100% to the people of
Summit County as their Executive”. Pry said, “Leaving the job as Chair
just 6 weeks early will not jeopardize any of the work I have done.”
Russ Pry got an early start
in Democratic politics when he was elected to Mogadore Council at the
age of 19 years old. Later, Pry spent his last semester in college in
Washington in an internship program where he came in contact with
Congressman John Seiberling. He then worked for the Congressman as his
Field Representative.
“When I took over as Chair,
our Young Dems did not exist.” Pry said, “Getting our youth involved in
local races was one of my top priority.”
Summit County now boasts
the largest and most active Young Democrat organization in the State of
Ohio. From that organization, many young people have been elected to
public office throughout Summit County.
When Pry took over the
Democratic Party as chair ten years ago, the party had only $700 in the
bank. Pry knew that in order for the party to succeed, it would need to
be competitive with the Republican’s party fundraising efforts. Pry
immediately appointed Wayne Jones as Finance Chair and formed a Finance
Committee to assist. Over the past 10 years, the Summit County
Democratic Party has raised enough money each and every year to be not
only competitive, but highly successful in key races.
Under the party umbrella,
Russ Pry has welcomed and worked with the Young Dems, Federated
Democratic Women, Summit County Progressive Democrats, Stonewall
Democrats, individual community Democratic organizations, Ward Clubs and
hundreds of campaign committees at the local, state, and federal
levels. His congenial and inclusive personality, along with his
ability to bring different factions together, has solidified the Summit
County Democratic Party organization.
Russ Pry came into to
leadership with several stated goals; uniting the party, providing
opportunities for young candidates and building the party’s financial
resources. Russ Pry successfully reached his goals and in the time
frame he set for himself.
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