I'm asking for your vote on June 3rd.

If the Democrats are going to regain power, change is more likely to come from the state and local end than from the party's central command in D.C.  And for the new movement populists, taking over the state parties is a good place to start.

--Crashing the Gate, p. 166

A coordinate deffort by the netroots and grassroots movement...could help democratize and reform Democratic Party committees at the state and local level.

--Crashing the Gate, p. 169

I realize that I haven't been around on the blogs that much lately.  It's true that a lof of that has to do with actually being busy with work, but that's certainly not all of it.  A lot of my time has gone into working under my more common name--Dante Atkins--to improve the way the Democratic Party does business out here in California, to the best of my abilities.

You've helped me before, but on June 3rd, I'll be asking for it again.

Crashing the Gate has been a bible of sorts for me.  It is a concise, though quite detailed, accounting of the the problems within the Democratic Party, and how best to fix them.  It served to amplify my desire to get involved the Democratic Party at the local level, rather than continuing to focus exclusively on activism concerning national issues.

It is why, last January, I ran for--and,with the huge help provided by members of this community, was elected to--a delegate position within the California Democratic Party.

I hope that that investment has paid off.  During my time as a delegate I have tried to do everything in my power to advance the causes of a Democratic Party that is unafraid to stand up for its values.

During my tenure as a delegate, I led a fight to get the Party to pass a resolution calling for the impeachment of Alberto Gonzales.  I served on the Platform Committee of the Party, where I helped write and pass the most progressive platform in the history of the state party--a platform that includes a stronger stance on the environment, a call for withdrawal from Iraq to begin without delay, and--something that should be very important to this community--strong support for bloggers' rights and net neutrality.

Well, on June 3rd--the day of California's Congressional Primary--I'm actually on the Democratic Ballot for Los Angeles County Democratic Party Central Committee from the 42nd Assembly District, and I'm asking for your vote.

So, what the heck is that, anyway?  Basically, it's an election for who gets to be on the committee that votes on all business related to the Los Angeles County Democratic Party, including endorsements, bylaws changes, and all other party business.

So who can vote for me?  If you're a registered Democrat in California's 42nd Assembly District, I'm on the ballot, and this is what page 2 of your ballot will look like:

I'm Dante A. Atkins--second from top! (on this ballot, anyway--others may be in different order!)

These Party Committee races are obviously low-turnout (people may show up to vote on other races but leave these blank) because they're so low-information--which means that every vote counts!  So if you live in the 42nd Assembly District--which include basically midtown LA, Beverly Hills, Brentwood, Studio City, and Sherman Oaks--and you're planning on voting June 3rd in California's Congressional Primary, please consider casting a vote for Party Central Committee too.

As far as organizations, I've been endorsed by the Democratic Party of the San Fernando Valley, The San Fernando Valley Young Democrats and the Los Angeles County Young Democrats (of which I serve on the Executive Board, for full disclosure).

If you're not sure what Assembly District you live in, just use the tool on the California Democratic Party website.

Thanks for your help and support!