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---------- Forwarded message ----------


From: Javier Bailey State Democratic Committee - Shelby County <jaybaileydist28@cs.com>
Date: Fri, Jan 7, 2011 at 9:20 AM
Subject: We need a chair with no conflicts
To: exec@tndp.org

Javier (Jay) Bailey


State Executive Committee Member
District 28 - Shelby County
An open letter to the State Democratic Executive
Committee and Leadership
Javier
Bailey

Why Mr.Kuhn appears to have conflicts


Why the attacks on Chairman Chip Forrester are unfair and unproductive

Greetings! As Shelby Chair Matt Kuhn invited


Republican Nominees to the Annual
Kennedy Day Dinne
Being from Shelby County I would
normally be inclined to support the This would be like Haslam
local candidate for Tennessee being allowed to attend Jackson
Democratic Party Chair. In this instance Day last year
I can not. Mr. Kuhn came to visit me
recently. He is a true gentleman and a link to story
fine individual. Like mine, his father and _________________________________
family has been DEMS GIVE CHAIRMAN ULTIMATUM:
involved in Shelby County Politics and DISINVITE GIBBONS, LUTTRELL
By Jackson Baker
Government for many years. I supported
The Memphis Flyer May 20th
him for Shelby County Chair in 2005 The latest controversy in local Democratic
and my wife served on the local Party ranks concerns efforts by several of
Committee. the party's nominees on the August 3rd
general election ballot to prevent the
I can not support him at this time for appearance of some notable Republicans
the following reasons: at the Democrats' annual Kennedy Day
Dinner on Monday night, May 22nd. Local
Democratic chairman Matt Kuhn, who has
1) Conflicts that may constrain. Matt's experienced several thorny issues during
wife Mrs. Heidi Kuhn - who apparently the course of his chairmanship (not yet a
has an excellent record of public year old) has been given, in effect, an
service, has recently been accepted a ultimatum of 5 p.m. Sunday to decide
political appointment as a Director for whether to uninvite District Attorney
newly elected Republican Shelby General Bill Gibbons and Sheriff Mark
Luttrell, both Republicans, to the annual

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newly elected Republican Shelby


Luttrell, both Republicans, to the annual
County Mayor Mark Luttrell. This is not
fundraising dinner at the Holiday Inn on
a civil service job but a apparently " an Central Avenue.
will and pleasure" full time political The issue of Gibbons' and Luttrell's
appointment. They were both appointed attendance at the Democratic affair -
officials in the Democratic Joe Ford indicated on these officials' Web sites - has
Administration and after the been the subject of intense debate in
Republican Mayor won, she was party ranks and on the local blogosphere.
reappointed and he was not. Apparently Both Gibbons and Luttrell command
significant support from some well-known
she worked for the Republican Luttrell
local Democrats, and both have attended
when he was Sheriff. This is not other events on the Democratic calendar.
uncommon in Shelby County. In the Governor Phil Bredesen, himself
1990's I worked for a short time in something of a political middle-of-the-
corrections in an appointed job,under roader, is the scheduled keynoter for this
the administration of Jim Rout, a fine year's Kennedy Day Dinner. As it happens,
man and Republican Mayor. Everyone both Luttrell and Gibbons were attendees
knew I was a Democrat, may dad was a at Saturday night's "Tennessee
County Commissioner. While I was Homecoming Dinner," an event sponsored
by the Shelby County Republican Party
never asked to not participate in
and featuring TV actress Dixie Carter,
Democratic politics, There is no former governor Winfield Dunn, and
question about it, I would have never singer Kellye Cash.
have made a public statement against The two took diametrically opposite
my boss or his politics while in this attitudes toward the emerging controversy
position. I could have been fired no over their potential appearance at the
questions asked. Kennedy Day Dinner. Luttrell said he
had decided not to attend, even
though, as recently as Saturday
If half of my household income came afternoon, he had received a
from the political appointment of a
Republican official, it could have a voice-mail message from Kuhn
chilling affect on my public statements. urging him to do so.The objecting
Democrats were being "too partisan," said
We are all in politics, lets not be Naive.
Luttrell, but he said he had no desire to be
We need a State Chair that can be the focus of a politically divisive issue.
publicly critical of any Republican in Gibbons, though, said he had every
the State, including the Republican intention of being on hand Monday night.
Mayor of Shelby County. These "I have a lot of Democratic supporters," he
said. Like Luttrell, he said the partisanship
simple circumstances convince me
of the protest was uncalled for. "And
that Mr. Kuhn does not have that type besides," he said, with the beginnings of a
of freedom. smile intruding on his deadpan, "I've paid
my $250!"
2) Matt Kuhn has taken public
positions that are conciliatory to The Letter
Republicans and blur the lines of
"As nominees, we believe the Republican Party
party politics. He has a history as a relies on lies, deceptions, and dishonesty in
compromiser rather than a fighter. manipulating public opinion. The inclusion of
these Republican officials in one of the seminal
Kuhn recently published an "Op-Ed" Democratic events held in this county lends such
an air to the Democratic Party itself.
piece in the Memphis Flyer advocating "Accordingly, we will not cease our efforts to
the abolishment of Partisan Primaries oppose this hypocrisy and the cowardness [sic]
and going back to non-partisan local of these elected Republican officials to our party
government, where candidates can as a whole."
avoid their Republican histories. At its conclusion the letter says, "A prompt
Shelby County gave Obama a 100,000 response from you is essentially being demanded

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Shelby County gave Obama a 100,000 response from you is essentially being demanded
by us by Saturday 5:00pm."
vote margin. Democrats should be
elected to every County wide office here Instead of saying "NO" Kuhn had a policy to
. Unfortunately we have not been able allow the Republicans to crash the dinner but
to get Democrats consistently united not be recognized from the podium . This was
together around tickets that can win. negotiated with the Republicans - see below
One day we will, and it will help the
Kuhn said he had twice last week discussed with
entire State. In 2008, we had a clean fellow Democrats the issue of a Republican
sweep and elected all 3 Democrats presence at the dinner. This was after rumblings
running countywide. In 2010, the had started among Democrats in the
Governors race August turnout killed us. blogosphere. The matter came up on Wednesday
We lost every race. When most of the night at a planning session for the dinner and
again on Thursday night at a meeting of the
Shelby County Leadership was party's steering committee. By then, Kuhn had
regrouping and planning to reverse evolved a policy, which the committee gave its
this course in 2012. Mr. Kuhn was unanimous backing to.
joining the new Shelby County
Republican Mayor Luttrell in his oft In essence, the party would not obstruct the
attendance at the event of Gibbons and Luttrell,
stated position that local primaries who had purchased tickets online and not by
should cease. (See articles)>>> anybody's invitation.

3) As Shelby County Chair in 2006 Kuhn and the committee members agreed
Matt Kuhn was going to allow that the two GOP officials would not be
recognized from the dais or be allowed to do
Republican nominees -running any electioneering. Kuhn called Luttrell and
against our candidates to come to the Gibbons on Friday, briefing them on the
Kennedy Day Dinner ,our local ground rules. Neither objected.
version of Jackson Day. The local
Democratic nominees had to hold a But the party nominees did, and the brouhahas of
the weekend ensued. Luttrell bowed out, and an
press conference and send him a
intermediary prevailed on Gibbons to do the
hand delivered letter to uninvite same. (Gibbons issued a formal statement to that
Sheriff Luttrell. See articles to the effect on Monday, pointedly appending to it a
right> lengthy list of his Democratic supporters.)
The Memphis Flyer Aug 19 2010
5) Party Building : The Party in
*********************************
Shelby weakened while Kuhn was ***************************
Chair.

When Kuhn took over in 2005 we had End County Primaries


a Shelby County headquarters. It
closed soon afterward. We have been
the only one of the big 4 counties that
does not have a headquarters for the by Matt Kuhn
last 5 years.
In 2006 with popular A.C. Wharton at They limit the public's will and don't
serve the political parties' interests.
the top of the ticket, Matt was unable to
field a successful ticket of candidates.
link to story
We lost every other countywide election.
Despite Kuhn having an entire year to There is not a Democratic or Republican
recruit candidates and put together a way to answer a 911 call, fight a fire,
winning coalition, It was a republican arrest a criminal, educate a 4-year-old,
sweep. Popular Mayor A.C. Wharton administer a federal grant, or provide an
was re-elected winning almost every air conditioner to someone less fortunate.

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was re-elected winning almost every air conditioner to someone less fortunate.
precinct in the County. It would be So then why put so much emphasis on
unfair to blame him for all of this, having primary elections with the main
focus being whether a candidate is a
however If the Party under Kuhn's Democrat or a Republican, not necessarily
leadership was not able to be a good candidate?
successful in winning races or "party The two parties think it's a good idea to
building" in " Big Blue" Shelby , How spend a million dollars every two years on
can he succeed at this in " Big Red" partisan primaries for local county offices.
Tennessee. Is this a good idea? This is a question the
body politic should answer, and the
answer should be a resounding no.
We also had a controversy where a I must agree with local Republican
local attorney Richard Fields was hired leadership, which has recently indicated a
by the State Republican party to willingness to dispense with local
represent Terry Roland to overthrow the primaries for county office. As a former
election of Senator Ophelia Ford. This chairman of the Democratic Party, I'd
had State wide implications as they implore both parties not to request a call
were fighting for control of the Senate. for primaries for local county office. It isn't
mandated, and 43 of 95 counties in
Mr. Fields was a Shelby County
Tennessee do not conduct county
Democratic officer and Mr. Kuhn primaries. Shelby County needs to join the
could not get his own committee to list.
remove him. That may be an inconceivable statement
for a former Democratic Party chairman to
Bob Tuke had to intervene and settle make, but local partisan primaries in a
state that has an open primary system
the problem by getting Fields to
just doesn't work. Even if we had a closed
resign. primary system, partisan primaries for
local office are an inefficient way for
political parties to select candidates.
Please don't misunderstand me. We don't
need to return to the smoke-filled
backroom to choose our candidates. What
is important is that spending roughly a
Why the criticisms against million dollars every two years to allow
five to 10 percent of the voting public to
Chip Forester are unfair. decide the two parties' candidates is a
waste of taxpayers' money as well as of
1) No Chair in History has been held local political leaders' time.
to this much blame before because Without partisan primaries, local political
they are not in control of all the parties could have more control, not less,
campaigns. when selecting qualified leaders to
endorse in an election. We need to hold
When Doug Horne was chair in 2000 and the executive committees of both parties
we lost the State for Al Gore and therefore more accountable for their party's
the Presidency, no one called for him to nominees by giving them an opportunity
leave because we knew that the Chair is to demonstrate to voters that their
not in complete control of the campaign. candidates are truly qualified and
People appreciated his service and efforts prepared to run. I believe that a voter
towards party building.These candidates would rather have a good candidate who is
stand and fall on their own. The Chair can a Democrat or a Republican rather than a
not control the House and Senate good Democrat or Republican who is a
Caucases or the candidates for Governor, candidate.
Congress or the top of the ticket. That's It is time to adjust our thinking to the new
why it is unfair for the good former Chair age of the political process. We need a
and his supporters to lay all this blame on process that will allow local political
Forrester. Despite losing State House and parties to interview candidates and then
Senate Seats for the last 20 years, we decide through their executive committees

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Senate Seats for the last 20 years, we decide through their executive committees
have never made the Chair take the who the endorsed nominee from the party
blame. will be for each elected position.
Doug Horne,Dick Lodge, Buck Lewis, The inefficient spending for a primary
Houston Gordon,Bill Farmer,Jane Eskind, election is money that could be reallocated
Gary Ledbetter,Gray Sasser, Will Cheek, toward crime reduction efforts, teachers'
Randy Button... none of them were held to salaries, school funding, and hospitals.
this standard of blame. If any of them had A candidate currently needs to raise
served when the Republican Governor's money for a primary and a general
Association spent 1 million dollars in the election. Think about it, Democrats: In
last 3 weeks to defeat 20 House this cycle, you had two viable candidates
candidates, they would have had similar for mayor who had to raise money for a
losses. primary election, which ultimately resulted
in neither having funding for a general
2) Sabatoge by Democratic "staffers" election.
of our party, like "kids in a sandbox" . Therefore, I pose this question: Do you
think it is possible to do with one less
The immediate call for the removal of Chip election every two years? We already
primarilly came from individuals and have at least two and sometimes more,
staffers who opposed him 2 years ago. with municipal elections in Shelby County.
Back then they had launched a two year We could change the county charter to
"jihad" against our party. This effort came permit the calendar for local elections to
immediately without any analysis or be in accord with that for state and federal
review of what happened. One of these elections. This option could prove to be
former Bredesen " staffers" Will Pinkston, mutually beneficial for the parties.
reportedly urged donors to not give to the Since the inception of local primaries in
Party for almost a year. He gave negative 1992, when the Republican Party
statements to reporters and bloggers. He exercised its right under state law to hold
eventually went to work for the Frist a primary election, very rarely have more
Foundation. than one out of 10 voters participated.
That results in the parties receiving
This went unchecked until Chip and Ned direction from less than 5 percent of the
McWherter brought Bill Clinton for Jackson voting public in deciding on political
Day. It took Mike Turner and Ned leaders.
McWherter to intervene and stop this Can any leader afford to charge ahead and
sabatoge of our party by these "staffers" then look behind to find no one following?
These individuals lost us valuable time and General George Pickett's men were willing
energy and contributed greatly to our to follow him on an ill-advised advance at
losses in November.In the future self Gettysburg. Do you think Pickett would
serving "staffers" should be fired have uttered "Charge!" if he knew only 10
immediately. percent of his men were behind him?
If you agree that we need to put an end to
The disrespect that these "staffers" have partisan primaries, contact your local
displayed by starting an "Anybody but executive committee of whichever party
Chip" facebook page is intolerable. you belong to and encourage them to put
Chip's re-election should end this type of an end to primary elections - thereby
behavior permenantly. assisting in stopping this outrageous waste
of taxpayers' money.
3) Under Chip TNDP Fundraising Matt Kuhn, former Democratic Party
increased! chairman, has been serving as adviser to
Under Chip the Democratic Party interim Shelby County mayor Joe Ford.
increased it's fundraising while the funding
to the caucases and top of the ticket was
down. Despite pledges from impudent
Congressional and Gubnatoral "staffers" to
dry up the funds, Chip and the Committee
brought in more money than the previous
2 years. Not being in the majority hurt
contributions to the House and Senate

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