The Bexar County Democratic Party in Dire Straights?

Greg Jefferson of the San Antonio Express-News wrote the following article, exposing the Bexar County Democratic Party's woes:

Carla Vela, the incoming chairwoman of the Bexar Democratic Party, isn't getting a set of office keys because there's nothing to unlock.

For the second time since last fall, the party has landed on the streets, without a headquarters. That's one reason Vela's swearing-in ceremony Tuesday night will take place in a union hall. (more)

The thing is, Jefferson is largely correct in the entire article. I spoke with Carla Vela this evening, and her assessment was largely the same.

However, this is no reason for alarm – the Party has always been cash-strapped. It has lived from hand-to-mouth as long as I have been involved, and I am certain it had been doing so loooong before I ever showed up.

Chairman Gabe Quintanilla (the Chairman before out-going Chairman Rudy Casias) left his successor in a relatively worse situation: no money but WITH an office (with a $1600.- monthly rent bill and a lease ‘till August 2004 – the May rent due immediately.) The point of this: It could be a hell of a lot worse. At least Carla Vela’s new Democratic Party isn’t starting off $1600.- in the hole.

The Bexar County Democratic Party needs to be built back up from scratch. That has basically been the case every time a new Chair takes office. Why is this sad situation thus? Because previous county chairs have incapacitated the CEC, filleting the party of any continuing structure – think of what happened to Saddam Hussein’s Iraq without Saddam Hussein – There really was no Iraq without Saddam Hussein – the same has held true for the Bexar County Democratic Party, but then every 2 or 4 years.

Carla Vela is already doing extraordinary things. She has convened a Steering Committee, consisting of the serving SDEC members, the Deputy Chairs (appointed by their constituencies), and the Chairs of the major Democratic clubs (The San Antonio Young Democrats included). Though presiding over this committee, Carla has entrusted this body with actual decision-making for the transition to building the new Bexar County Democratic Party within which the County Executive Committee will play the legitimizing role.

If you don’t realize how extraordinary this is, you have not been paying attention.

If the different grassroots factions can suspend their doubt about this working, if Carla can continue her trust in this institution she is re-building, and if the Party money and power elites are willing to invest in this Party, then the Bexar County Democratic Party can grow and become the institution it is supposed to be.