Deb Melton
On Aug. 19 at 3 p.m., the Democratic Club of Quail Creek’s speaker will be Tucson attorney and AZDems 1st Vice Chair Paul Eckerstrom. Paul was recently elected in tandem with AZDems Chair Yolanda Bejarano. Paul has previously served the Democratic Party as AZDems Chair, Pima County Dems Chair, and a frequent spokesman for the party and debate partner, butting heads with various Republicans.
Paul will be discussing his ideas and the state party’s plan for getting more Democrats elected in Arizona. When I spoke with Paul by phone a few weeks ago, he told me, “Candidate recruitment is key. We have a plan to recruit Democrats to run. We also have a plan to train them on how to run and get elected. But it takes all of us working together. For example, maybe you are a retired accountant and don’t want to run for office yourself, but you might be willing to serve as a candidates’ campaign treasurer.”
Paul will also talk about the state party’s plan to register more people to vote, especially in rural areas, and once registered, getting them to actually vote. “Rural areas need some special attention,” Paul told me. “We know that there were a significant number of people who are upset with what’s happening in our country and in our state who didn’t vote in the last election. And many of them are Democrats. We need to change that.”
In his role as Pima County chairman, Paul was instrumental in getting more Democrats elected to office in Tucson. “Right now,” Paul said, “we need to focus on electing Democrats to County Commissioner positions and the State Corporation Commission. These are races that don’t get a lot of attention and are crucial to running things locally.”
If you have been wondering about what is happening at the state level and what the Arizona State Democratic Party is planning, you will want to attend this meeting. In addition to learning more about the state party’s plan, you may gain some ideas on how you can help get Democrats elected in Arizona. Either way, the Aug. 19 meeting in the Mesquite Room at 3 p.m. promises to be an exciting and information-packed session that you won’t want to miss!
Following the meeting, there will be an informal, no-host social hour in the lounge at the Grill.
For more information about the Democratic Club of Quail Creek, please visit our website at www.dcqc.page.