Doors could close at historic NC Dem HQ

[supernova]

Source: WRAL

By Laura Leslie

Greensboro, N.C. — State Democratic Party leaders attending a meeting in Greensboro on Sunday were told the party might move out of its iconic Raleigh headquarters, the Goodwin House, due to anemic fundraising.

An Executive Council member who attended the meeting said embattled party Chairman Randy Voller told members the party is "broke," with only $60,000 in the bank.

According to the attendee, Voller told party members he may have to let some staffers go, and is even evaluating whether the party should continue to operate out of the Goodwin House, a historic house from 1903 on Hillsborough Street in downtown Raleigh.

Party communications director Marjorie Fields Harris confirmed the $60,000 figure but said Voller neither predicted layoffs nor used the term "broke," instead saying only that the party funding is "below budgeted staffing levels."

Read more: http://www.wral.com/doors-could-close-NC-Dem-historic-hq/13464096/

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Video at link. I'm sorry to hear this. We can't afford to have a weak state party.

For the record, this is Goodwin House:

[iamthebandfanman]

1. well thats depressing

and I sure hope not a sign of how the midterms are going to go ..

Why isn't the national party helping out with funds??

also,
I know times are still tough for a lot of folks, but its time to start looking into house and senate candidates to contribute to around the country....

just because the chances of a take over of the house are slim doesn't mean you just sit on your hands and ensure that's the case.. or god forbid republicans GAIN seats because of our inaction..

www.actblue.com is a great way to find candidates to donate too!!!

lets have a strong mid term and show them what they are in for in 2016!!! we cant be so passive for 2014!!

[bigdarryl]

9. The national party lead by Debbie Wasserman-Schultz is incompetent

[former9thward]

2. The house may be historic but it looks like it would cost a lot to maintain it.

It is better to be in a modern office building with little maintenance so the funds can be used for candidates and GOTV.

[supernova]

4. I'm hoping that's what they'll

do, move to a more modern building with less upkeep. The article says the mortgage was paid off recently, so it isn't an issue of paying for a huge mortgage.

But it does illuminate how badly the state party is dealing with the republican take over. It would be great if progressives could find a way to work this to the benefit of turning the NC party to the left.

[blm]

5. Maintenance would be far less with updated windows and a few solar panels on back roof

.

[supernova]

6. Would be a great start,

but a house that old, 1903, is bound to need plumbing and electrical updates, not to mention modern electronic, CAT 5 wiring of the kind of network you need. That could really cost the big bucks on a house that size.

[onehandle]

3. Democracy Accomplished!

I remember when the party gave up a lot of offices in Georgia when the racists took over the government.

Democrats are a faint shadow of themselves in the rising Confederacy.

[MADem]

7. If they can get some Big Money for that thing they need to sell it.

If they can't get big money, rent it out to someone else until things pick up, and move into smaller digs.

Then, they need to get some "name" Dems to come on out and rile the base. Maybe do a deal with someone with a lot of starpower who has a good PAC; an Elizabeth Warren, for example, and find a way to split the diff.

[Triana]

8. It has always seemed to me like there is essentially no Dem Party in NC

It's never been particularly prominent or active, it seems like.

I agree though that they need to move to more modern, smaller digs if necessary.

I'm sure the Koch/Pope/McCrony contingent are just giddy over this development.

[supernova]

10. Oh you know it!

The Repub party IIRC doesn't have as "nice" digs for their HQ. I could be wrong. But this house would be so much like them.

[Bandit]

11. We used to refer to a house like that as a mansion

Why is the local Democratic Party operating out of a mansion? Just what are they trying to portray themselves as? Democrats are supposed to be the Party of the people not the Party of the wealthy. Republicans have that honor nailed down.

[bread_and_roses]

12. NC is the state where thousands have been out protesting

- for Moral Mondays - against the radical right currently governing the State .... that the Dem party cannot even raise aquequate funds would seem to show a total inability to connect with or seem meaningful to the real concerns of the people who seem to be willing to put themselves on the line for change

[Jane Eyre]

13. Internal turmoil is story behind this article

The reasons behind the possibility of losing the state party headquarters is attributed more to internal conflicts. Most recently, there was a brouhaha over the potential hiring of Ben Chavis as the party's Executive Director. Chavis is one of the Wilmington Ten. He also has had issues at previous employers over sexual harassment claims against him.

Here's another article that goes into more detail:

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2014/03/07/4749675/seeking-new-direction-nc-democratic.html#.Ux4E4diYaM8

[seveneyes]

14. Might move out of the Mansion?

That Mansion can not be needed for any serious party needs. Sell it and use something basic and functional. Something like that is just pissing away hard earned money.