Henry for DNC

Name:	Henry for DNC
Office:	California Democratic National Committee Delegate
Website:	henryfordnc.com

Background:

Born in Munich, Germany, the son of an Army sergeant, I spent my childhood on military bases around the world. I received my Bachelor’s Degree in Business from the University of Maryland and a Master’s in Computer Information Systems from Boston University.

After receiving my Master’s degree, I taught computer science for the University of Maryland’s European Division traveling throughout Europe before settling here in California.

As an independent contractor, I taught computer application software for a variety of corporate clients and training organizations before my wife and I started our own computer courseware company.

My political involvement began in 1992 phone banking for then candidates Clinton/Gore. Like many folks, my interest in politics had cycled every four years during presidential campaigns and even though I considered myself a strong Democrat, I left politics to the professionals.

However, that all changed by 1996 when the Republicans had continuously attacked President Clinton. I realized that Democrats needed to become more involved if they were going to beat back the wave of conservatism that was rising in the country.

I found my local club in Orange County, attended my first-ever Democratic club meeting, and left as vice-chair. From that point on, there was no turning back!

I went on to become a 73rd AD delegate and board member on the Computer & Internet Caucus.

After moving to Big Bear Lake in 2003, I was elected president of the Big Bear Democratic Club, San Bernardino Democratic Central Committee member, 65th AD Delegate, State Secretary for the California Democratic Council and Chair of the CDP Computer & Internet Caucus.

I have now returned to Orange County where I've been elected as a 71st AD delegate, is the Southern Vice Chair of the Orange County Democratic Central Committee and board member of the CDP Computer & Internet Caucus.

In August 2007, I was elected President of the California Democratic Council and serves on the executive board of the California Democratic Party.

I have worked on a variety of campaigns over the years including Field Director for the DFA-endorsed Bill Hedrick for Congress campaign (CD-44).

I'm very excited and honored to be working with the new state party administration as I travel across California helping the CDP roll out their new “Learn to Win 2010” campaign training program!

Goals:

During my many years working as an organizer/activist, a sad fact I’ve come to realize is that California is not nearly as blue or progressive as the rest of the country thinks we are. We seem to always be playing defense rather than offense.

Despite outnumbering Republicans by over two million registered Democrats:

We've had a Republican governor for the past 6 years

We still can’ t get decent health care passed

Our unions are continuously under attack

We haven’t been able to pass clean money

We allow rural blue counties to continuously vote red

Over half our counties are Republican controlled

And while more traditionally conservative states like Iowa legalized gay marriage, we here in California took a huge step backward and allowed Prop 8 to be passed!

Given those facts, those of us who are DFA graduates will agree that having more voters obviously isn’t all there is to winning elections. You have to organize those voters.

Had our party been better organized in all 58 counties of California, Prop 8 would never have passed.

We need the Democratic Party to understand that it must stop relying on expensive commercials and fancy mailers and, instead, have a permanent field team in place to be activated when important issues/races are at stake.

This is the one area in which I feel our party, both on a state level and nationally, has failed. Although the 50 state strategy is a great idea, I know from personal experience that it has yet to become a reality.

One of my major goals as a DNC rep is to push for Howard Dean's 50-state strategy to become a true reality, not just a great concept.

I also feel strongly that our DNC delegation needs broader representation from red and rural areas – where the help is needed most. Of the current 19 California delegates, only one that I know of actually lives in a red county - and he works for the party out of Sacramento!

And the two candidates running against me? Both from deep blue counties.

As president of the California Democratic Council for the past two years, I have focused on bringing training and much-needed services to all areas of our state by providing both blue and red counties with free organizing tools, products and services so that they can do their job more effectively.

Although I am confident that California's new state party administration is headed in the right direction, I want to see these same types of free trainings and tools brought to Democratic leaders nationwide and I feel the DNC is the perfect environment for me to advance that agenda.

Issues:

Ensure that training and organizational resources are a priority on a national level!

Turn Howard Dean's 50-State Strategy from a concept into a reality!

Be a voice for truly progressive grassroots Democrats from both red and blue counties!

Grassroots Support:

As a field director myself, I will do what I do best - work the field.

I will personally speak with each and every voting member on the California Executive Board, telling them my goals, explaining why I'm running, and asking for their vote and their endorsement.

I will not rely on fancy mailers but instead on personal interaction to win the votes needed in this election.

DFA Values:

I have always supported socially progressive issues, such as a single payer health care system, clean money, same-sex marriage equality, civil rights, and First Amendment rights.

I have stood on street corners voicing my support of those issues and have organized precinct walking/phone banking for candidates/causes I believe will advance those same progressive issues.

I am fiscally responsible because I believe that public funds should be spent wisely and used responsibly for the purpose they were originally intended for: to support the basic needs of the community and to care for those who need it the most.

During this economic crisis, it has unfortunately become much too easy for conservatives to blame and cut essential social services - at the expense of our most vulnerable.

Budgets can be met without devastating our educational and social programs as long as legislators truly work together for the common good rather than for political rhetoric.