The Annapolis Democratic Central Committee (ADCC) supports a strong and viable Democratic Party in the City of Annapolis through voter registration campaigns, promoting the election of the Democratic nominees, fund raising, and encouraging broad participation in the Democratic Party. It provides leadershipfor Democrats in Annapolis through the work of its members who are elected at regular city elections held every four years. We have vacancies in ADCC leadership positions now. Would you like to become more involved in local Democratic politics? We'd love to welcome you. Please introduce yourself to the ADCC. |
ADCC Regular Monthly Meeting
Fourth Tuesday of each month, 7:00 pm. If you are a registered Democrat and are interested in attending a meeting as an observer, please contact Chair Josh Falk, contact info listed on the "About" tab. |
PRESS RELEASE: UKRAINE
March 29, 2022 Annapolis Democratic Central Committee Passes Resolution Supporting Ukraine, Calling for Russian Boycott Annapolis, MD - At its regular monthly meeting, the Annapolis Democratic Central Committee unanimously adopted the following resolution condemning the Russian invasion of Ukraine, standing with all Ukrainian people, and calling for the city of Annapolis to not authorize any contracts with Russian entities. WHEREAS Ukraine is the second-largest country in Europe by land mass, with a population of 43.6 million residents, and has a long and rich history with its own unique language, literature, and cultural identity; and WHEREAS on August 24, 1991, Ukraine declared its independence from the Soviet Union and became an independent, sovereign nation; and WHEREAS Ukraine is a democratic republic with a constitution that provides for a directly elected president; and WHEREAS on December 5, 1994, in return for its nuclear disarmament, the United States, the Russian Federation, and the United Kingdom signed the Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances, whereby each country pledged to respect the independence and sovereignty of Ukraine's borders; and WHEREAS on February 23, 2022, the Russian Federation launched an unprovoked and unjustified attack on Ukraine; and WHEREAS the United States and nations around the world have condemned the invasion and have levied sanctions against Russia and its financial institutions; and WHEREAS Ukraine is on the front lines of the battle for freedom of democratic countries around the world – and the fight against the evils of dictators; and WHEREAS the people and leaders of Ukraine have demonstrated incredible resolve, tenacity, and bravery in the face of the Russian invasion; and WHEREAS Annapolis Mayor Gavin Buckley has stated that the people of Ukraine are "unimaginably courageous in the face of a threat that few of us could fathom -- an invading Russian army, armored vehicles rolling down city streets, artillery fire, missile strikes into residential neighborhoods,” and that “the fight Ukrainians are waging is heroic.” Now, Therefore, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE ANNAPOLIS DEMOCRATIC CENTRAL COMMITTEE: SECTION 1. That the ANNAPOLIS DEMOCRATIC CENTRAL COMMITTEE condemns Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and stands with the Ukrainian people and with the Ukrainian community that now calls Annapolis home. SECTION 2. That the ANNAPOLIS DEMOCRATIC CENTRAL COMMITTEE supports the coalition of nations imposing sanctions on Russia and encourages the city of Annapolis, and its business, civic, and philanthropic communities to support the Ukrainian people in their fight to retain their freedom. SECTION 3. That the ANNAPOLIS DEMOCRATIC CENTRAL COMMITTEE calls upon the City of Annapolis to not authorize any city contracts with any entities with significant ties to Russia. SECTION 4. That the ANNAPOLIS DEMOCRATIC CENTRAL COMMITTEE resolves its support for our candidates who support the principles stated above. ### |
Approved 26 January 2022 |
PUBLIC HEARING - WARD 5 VACANCY ON THE ANNAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL
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Insights: How the ADCC Helps Candidates, and More As I thought through it I came to a better understanding of the purpose of both the central committee and party affiliation in general. For example, what is the purpose of parties? Candidates for office in our system run with a party affiliation because they believe in the general values espoused by the party. The party, in turn, supports all of its candidates. Voters choose parties and candidates for the same reasons. Speaker Bush addresses Democratic values very well when he describes the difference between Democrats and Republicans. Democrats believe the the government can play a productive and supportive role in peoples lives. Republicans don't. Candidates affiliate with the Democratic party because they support that belief AND they want to support other Democrats. At the city, county, and state level, central committees and political clubs will broadly support candidates not just as individuals, but as members of the party. This usually happens through party centered, multiple candidate advertising or through GOTV efforts, but there are many other forms that broad support can take. A symptom of a breakdown of party contiguity is a candidate that says they will run with a particular party affiliation, but will not support the party in general. This suggests that that candidate doesn't support the party's positions, is running on a single issue and party affiliation is incidental, or they are simply taking advantage of the broader efforts of the party and the other affiliated candidates that ARE supporting the party's positions and outreach efforts. Such a candidate will invariably fail to broadcast the party's message along with their own. As this breakdown spreads it infects the electorate in the form of a distortion or usurpation of the party's message. The electorate begins to focus on specific issues that can be easily manipulated by the opposition in individual races. The result is a voter that has lost touch with the reason they became a Democrat in the first place. The inevitable next step is a change in party affiliation. This is happening now in Annapolis and all across Maryland as voters chose to become independents or cross party lines. A breakdown in party contiguity on the part of both candidates and the electorate is part of the reason that both Josh Cohen and Anthony Brown lost their respective elections. The 2017 election will not be a normal city election; quite possibly in a significantly more contentious way than in 2013. We are expecting the Republican party to give record breaking support to candidates in Annapolis. They consider Mike Pantaledes' win a foot in the door that they will not give up without a bitter fight. Council candidates who ran unopposed should not expect the same luxury in 2017. We need to coalesce as a party - as Democrats - and begin preparing for that fight. A key component of this is abandoning the idea that only individuals are running in a particular ward or district and recognizing that we are members of a team. In this election, that may be the difference between winning and losing in the big picture. |
