It’s time for some leadership from the State Committee and Executive Committee of the DPG. When we were elected to these position we accepted a responsibility to our party and it’s membership.
23 Executive Committee members agreed last week on some important next steps to take to assure a thriving and transparent Democratic Party of Georgia. We did nothing wrong.
Since then, Chairman Berlon has fired the fundraising staff at the party, threatened party leaders and members with lawsuits and other repercussions, overstepped his authority concerning affiliate organizations, and has shown disrespect for the party and it’s membership.
When Mr Berlon ran for DPG Chair he outlined a number of ideas that he would implement to assure a strong and dynamic party. Check out what he wrote. Aside from offices in Augusta and Savannah, we have not seen these ideas come to fruition.
I am heartbroken over these recent events. I have been a devoted Democrat since the time I could stick a stamp on an envelope (my mother had me started at the age of 4 or 5). I supported Mr Berlon in 2007 and in 2011. I worked closely with him to help fashion his campaign, and counted him among my friends. I was on the ED Selection Committee and thought that with Page and Mike leading our party we would move forward with vigor and vision.
After 14 months at the helm of the party, it’s clear that Chairman Berlon is not prepared for the work ahead. Below the fold is the text from an email that went out this morning to all State Committee Members. It went out anonymously for fear of repercussions from Chairman Berlon and other party members. I helped craft that email. I am not afraid. We have done nothing wrong. Our consciences are clear.
TO: DPG State Committee Members
Since his election 14 months ago, Democratic Party of Georgia Chair Mike Berlon has violated multiple sections of the DPG Charter and By-Laws, circumvented the the authority of the State and Executive Committees, and put our Party in serious financial peril.
HERE ARE THE FACTS:
The State Chair has failed to provide a budget to the State or Executive Committees during his 14 months as Chair.
The State Chair has failed to take the necessary steps to raise sufficient funds for ongoing activities (call time, one on one donor contact, etc) despite the strong recommendations of the Executive Director and Party employees.
The State Chair made hiring and compensation decisions, a responsibility granted only to the Executive Director, without the authorization or approval of the State or Executive Committees (BL1.6.4 , BL1.6.5).
On Monday, February 27, the State Chair fired two Party employees, a responsibility granted only to the Executive Director, without the authorization or approval of the State and Executive Committees. These employees were fundraising staff (BL1.6.4 , BL1.6.5).
The State Chair denied, from the outset of her employment, the Executive Director’s enumerated responsibility of “hiring of qualified staff members for all budgeted and other approved or temporary positions and institute dismissal or other disciplinary actions as necessary against such employees”, severely restricting her ability to successfully perform her role as Executive Director. (BL1.6.2 ).
The State Chair brought disgrace upon the party by discussing internal Party matters with the media and jeopardizing the fundraising apparatus of the Party (BL2.8.2 ).
The State Chair has threatened (with lawsuits, and other repercussions) multiple members of the State and Executive Committees merely for speaking out against him in legitimately called meetings and in email exchanges, bringing disrepute upon the Party (BL2.8.2 ).
Mike Berlon has forgotten that the ultimate authority in our Party belongs to the State Committee, not the Chair.
It’s time to remind him.
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