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D.C. Party Is Resistant To Audacity Of Change
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Jocelyn Nieva, a member of the new slate, said the ward structure is old-fashioned: "It's not activism; it's just a bunch of meetings."
Some party leaders have also questioned the newcomers' sincerity, casting them as pawns in a master plan hatched by other old guard members to overthrow Democratic Party Chairman Anita Bonds, 63, and replace her with Jeffrey Richardson, 30, a lawyer. In fact, the Obama4UnityBeatsMcCain slate includes two dozen party stalwarts, among them former D.C. Council member Arrington Dixon, 65, and activist Philip Pannell, 57.
Bonds, who counts among her achievements retiring $45,000 of state committee debt and relaunching the annual Kennedy-King banquet, has created her own slate called Obama For Change, composed of nine older activists. Bonds worked in city government and served as Ward 5 party leader before taking over the committee two years ago, and said the newcomers should concentrate on ward issues.
"It's not about paying dues," Bonds said. "It's about staying committed."
So far, the newcomers remain determined -- and on the ballot. Kreitzman withdrew his petition challenge of Palmer, but three others -- Nieva, 48, law professor Frank Wu, 40, and Obama volunteer Shana Mosher, 30 -- successfully defended their petitions against challenges.
"I saw e-mails go back and forth with people saying, 'Who are these people? We don't know them. They're too young, they're not involved, it's not their time,' " Mosher said. "That almost motivates me more. I have friends who are among the new crop of younger voters. I do not think what is in place now represents those of us looking to get more involved."
An incident this week speaks to the recent tensions. During a candidates forum, Nieva was hit in the face by a rival gesturing to make a point. Nieva said yesterday it was an accident, but her supporters say it looked as if she had been punched.
