Peter Rousselot: “Contest Every Seat!”

From the Peter Rousselot for DPVA chair campaign:

Dear Fellow DPVA Central Committee Member,

By now, I hope you have read my plan for DPVA. More importantly, I now have had the opportunity to talk with more and more of you individually. You have been telling me how dissatisfied you have been with what you see as the lack of sufficient help and encouragement from DPVA to recruit and encourage candidates to contest races for the Virginia Senate and House of Delegates.

Your message is clear. It’s great to have a fair process to choose certain races for special attention and targeting. But DPVA is leaving Virginia Democrats in all the other races to fend for themselves, sink or swim.

I realize that DPVA has to set priorities and allocate its resources accordingly. Right now, until it raises a lot more money, neither DPVA nor the Democratic Senate or House caucus leadership can provide significant financial assistance to candidates in non-targeted races.

But here’s what DPVA can and should do for all official Democratic Senate and HOD candidates:

Before the primary date:

*Loudly and publicly declare that Democrats should contest every Senate and HOD race.

*Provide technical advice to prospective Democratic candidates.

*Work with the House and Senate Democratic Caucus leadership to take a look at the criteria currently used to target races, and revise the criteria as appropriate.

After the primary date:

*Arrange one high-profile fundraising or political event with a prominent statewide or regional Democratic leader as the “draw”.

*Ensure that any “Coordinated Campaign” effort in the candidate’s district will include her or him in Voter ID, Voter Persuasion and GOTV.

*Drastically cut the current voter database access fee for all Democratic candidates in races with an incumbent Republican or an open seat, and make up the lost revenue by improved DPVA fundraising.

*Provide pre-packaged technical help so candidates can have their campaigns using DPVA’s online resources effectively, as quickly as possible.

In order to qualify for DPVA’s help, Senate or HOD candidates must commit to the following:

*Support publicly DPVA’s Party Plan;

*Provide a written political and fundraising campaign plan;

*Obtain Local and Congressional Democratic Committee approval;

*Hire a Professional Campaign Manager

Let me know what you think about these ideas, and any others. I want to hear more of your feedback. Take a few moments to give me your suggestions – you can email me or call me at (202) 285-5365.

And don’t forget to visit my website http://www.peterforchair.com to read my plan and learn more about why I am running for DPVA Chair.

Best regards,

Peter Rousselot