Rowhouse Logic - Breathtaking Inanity

Chris Bowers:

It is one thing to say you want to reform the Democratic Party. It is quite another thing to realize that you can just take it over because you realize very few people are participating within it. This is, indeed, something that we need to do, because a lack of a vibrant party structure has very real consequences at the ballot box.

In case you missed it, Chris Bowers announced on Friday that he’s running for Commiteeperson from in Ward 27, Division 23 and will be filing early this week. Even though Ward 27 is something like the tundra of Philadelphia ward politics, due to the transient nature of its population (read: Penn students), I’m excited nevertheless. If the Philadelphia Democratic Party is going to be reformed into a party that actually represents and serves this city in the best way possible, it’s likely going to happen at the ward level first. It can only help that somebody with a decent sized megaphone, like Chris Bowers, is throwing himself into the thick of it.

Clearly, there has been an unusual amount of interest in the ward structure of late, with Neighborhood Networks representing the most visible sign of the growing rumble. Replacing the current structure, where needed, would provide the progressive and reform minded the best way to get a seat at the table. A Commiteeperson, if effective, will have real and regular contact with the people who live within their district. They will go door to door discussing the mundane, but vital topics of potholes, trash pickup, police and fire service, nuisance bars, street lights, etc, and act as advocates with the ward leader or appropriate agency. If truly committed, they will develop a report with the citizens in the community, become a trusted source of information about candidates and issues, and become a small cog in making this big town a better place. In doing so, a committed, reform minded Committeeperson will go a long way in helping to build a Philadelphia Democratic Party we can be proud of.

A very tall order, I know. Lend Chris a hand if he needs it, and think about getting involved with Neighborhood Networks. There is no time like the present.

Update: While I share Chris’ first name, I do not share his last. This, among many other things, makes us different people.

This entry was posted on Sunday, July 24th, 2005 at 6:48 am and is filed under Philadelphia, Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.