2-2-2
For a few decades, this has been the formula used by the HDTC for endorsing candidates: two whites, two blacks, and two Latinos.
This outmoded system might be moving into the past as people realize that conditions have changed. For one, the racial/ethnic makeup of Hartford is radically different than it was when this tradition began. An increasing number of people identify as biracial or multiracial, and would have difficulty checking just one box. There are also other races/ethnicities not represented with the 2-2-2 model which are essentially pushed out of politics — at least as far as this party goes: Asians, Amerindians, Alaska Natives, Pacific Islanders, etc.
What we saw during Thursday’s convention pointed to other concerns: women were entirely excluded, for one. In the lead up to the convention, three women had declared interest for City Council positions: rJo Winch, Andrea Comer, and Kathleen Kowalyshyn. Comer dropped out of the race earlier this week, saying in an email that she was under the impression that she was close to receiving the nomination, only to hear days before the convention that she would not be likely to receive it after all. Kowalyshyn and Winch were both nominated at the convention, but failed to receive enough votes for the endorsement. In the mayoral race, Rev. Patrice Smith, the only female running with Democrats, could not get a nomination. No females were running or nominated for the position of treasurer.
Emily, of Live in Hartford, has an analysis of how districts determined votes.
See more posts on Real Hartford about the Hartford Democratic Town Committee convention.
Gideon
I have no problem with women being excluded if they’re not worthy candidates, just as I’d have no problem with the field being entirely women if the men were worthless candidates. There should be no requirement that a woman – regardless of her ability – must get a nomination. Same goes for race.
If, however, there was a systemic effort to exclude women – all women – and that was achieved through backroom wheelings and dealings, then I definitely have a problem with it.
Kerri Provost
I question how someone who has experience on the job, and who has demonstrated at least the ability to run a meeting, was ignored, while some who have no measurable recent involvement in the community received the nomination.
I absolutely agree with you. But there is no legit way to say that out of all the women in the city, not a one is worthy of an endorsement from the Democrats.
The Republicans, however, endorsed Sweets Wilson on Wednesday evening.
Gideon
I don’t know anything about any of the candidates, so if, in fact, worthy women were left out while unworthy men were nominated, solely because of gender, then obviously that’s troubling. I don’t know how one can prove that, though.
Kerri Provost
Also note — and this is even less surprising — there’s little diversity in terms of economic status.
Check out this if you’re curious about how/why votes were cast: http://www.liveinhartford.net/2011/07/22/the-hartford-democratic-town-committee-convention-a-hot-mess/
Real Hartford » Behind the Scenes at the Hartford Democratic Town Committee Convention
[…] an HDTC member, stopped over and we chatted about the waves he made when he publicly questioned the 2-2-2 strategy days prior. In the audience was a young man, a teenager about to enter Hartford Public High School […]
Richard
I suppose Gideon its a crap shoot if any of the men who have been nominated are worthy or not. The way things are going now-a-days it probaly doesn’t really matter who sits on the council. We are stuck with what a few political hacks give us. Backroom dealings (?) the statement by Ms. Comer says it all. As a good friend of mine says so well, “You can vote all you want but the outcome is the same.”
Kerri Provost
I regret not having the sense to capture a little video from the convention. It’s public, and yet the general public (not the political insiders) does not ever get access to what goes on. When the public relies on the media to provide them with this information, they are left with a rather flat understanding of the process. Sure, they will say who got the endorsement and maybe get a few words with whomever was endorsed or who was upset, but there is little beyond that. This seems to be true everywhere…not just in Hartford, not just with this particular political party.
So, the result is a public who might believe that endorsements actually go to those who are best qualified. It’s reasonable to think that during such conventions, the skill sets, resumes, and experiences of candidates are discussed in detail. But there is very little of that.
I mean, during roll call, one committee member actually said he was casting a vote for his “friend” _____. That was the most descriptive anyone got when voting, and we should take pause when “friend” is the description used instead of “this candidate has served the public for ___ years doing ___” or even “Candidate X because she has strong support from people in the community.”
What’s almost as interesting as the convention is how defensive people have become after being critiqued. I’d be curious to see if the political antics would change if many more residents just showed up for these conventions. Accountability.