Tom Perez elected as first Latino leader of Democratic Party

[OKNancy]

Source: Washington Post

ATLANTA — Former Labor Secretary Tom Perez was elected as the first Latino chair of the Democratic National Committee on Saturday, defeating Rep. Keith Ellison at a contentious party meeting in Atlanta.

“With hard work and a hell of a lot of organizing, we will turn this party around,” Perez said before he had locked up enough votes to win 235 to 200 votes on a second ballot.

As Perez’s victory was announced, nine Ellison supporters chanted “power of the people, not big money,” then stormed out of the room.

“Someday they’re going to study this era of American history,” Perez said after his victory. They’re going to ask the question of all of us: Where were you in 2017, when we had the worst president in the history of the United States? We will be able to say that the Democratic Party led the resistance, and made sure this was a one-term president.”

Onstage, Perez gave Ellison the symbolic role of deputy chair, and the Minnesota congressman gave a short speech asking his supporters to stay with the party and avoid recriminations. “We don’t have the luxury to walk out of this room divided,” said Ellison.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/tom-perez-elected-as-first-latino-leader-of-democratic-party/2017/02/25/1fd76f52-fad7-11e6-9845-576c69081518_story.html?utm_term=.c0a8a7bc4e36

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rest at the link

[iluvtennis]

1. Like tha Perez made Ellison deputy chair to show the repugs that Dems are united. nt

[JudyM]

2. Yes. Hopefully Perez will seek to integrate some of Ellison's best ideas, that will help.

As Hillary did with Bernie in developing the platform.

[SunSeeker]

3. Perez will be a great DNC Chair.

He already made a smart move, uniting move by making Ellison the Deputy Chair.

Perez wants to reinstate Dean's 50 state strategy, indeed he wants a Dem party presence in "every zip code." Plus he has the experience as Secretary of Labor to lead a large organization. I would have been fine with Ellison too, but that would have meant him resigning his House seat (he promised to do that if he became Chair, to asdure we had a full-time Chair, unlike DWS). We can't afford losing Keith's seat in the House, we need Keith in the House.

[Synecdoche Trope]

4. Good

I was hoping it would be Perez.

[Kath2]

5. This is a good thing.

[moonscape]

6. Great news! And great things ahead with them working as a team. n/t

[Paladin]

7. Glad to hear it. (nt)

[Rex]

8. A happy K&R!

[Cha]

9. So happy!

[ailsagirl]

10. Excellent!!

[Tarheel_Dem]

11. Yes!!!!

[concreteblue]

12. Not my first pick, but.....

I am sure he will be competent. Of the debates I watched, I would have picked the Indiana mayor, the SC chairman, the NHJ chairman, the lady from Iowa (idaho?), ahead of Mr Perez.
That being said, he supports the 50 state strategy, which is a good start. Now, he needs to confer with the other candidates and take their good ideas and formulate a plan to implement them. Discarding the corporate and Identity politics should be the first item of order.