Young Dems Break Out
The Young Democrats’ bold entry into the Frederick city election didn’t go unnoticed by candidates and Frederick politicos. The group’s leaders defended the decision to rate Democratic primary candidates before the primary as a way of attracting young people to local politics. They also want to send a message to candidates that their issues matter more to them than partisan politics. [Photo right, Kavonte Duckett and Gayon Sampson]
The revitalized professional group, ages 18 to 40, sent out a candidate questionnaire recently that raised its own questions. The action was the club’s first foray into the local political scene since it regrouped in January. Some candidates were confused when asked if they would consider running on a slate, or dropping out to help a slate’s chances of getting elected. Aldermanic candidate Derek Shackleford said he didn’t understand the point of the slate questions and answered “no” to both, as did others who spoke anonymously.
More concerning though, to some, is the Young Dems’ plan to rate the candidates’ positions on challenges facing young people. The goal, leaders said, is to prepare members and colleagues for primary election day. That move flies in the face of tradition – in both parties - of not publicly endorsing candidates until after the primary. Both parties pledge allegiance to that guideline, but never get 100 percent compliance. Still, some candidates were initially taken aback by the unconventional plan, but of the six candidates The Frederick Extra spoke to, none considered ignoring the questionnaire.
One candidate asked if the Young Dems’ Chief of Staff Kavonte Duckett would recuse himself from the rating process since he is a member of Shackleford’s campaign team. Duckett said there was no need, and that if his candidate didn’t do a good job on the questionnaire, he will have no problem letting him know.
The group devised the questionnaire without input from Duckett or President Gayon Sampson, both of whom were out of town, they said. But they were proud of the work done by the members, not only on the questionnaire, but since the Young Dems began rebuilding. “We have made it a solid organization, and organization that the Democratic party can benefit from,” Sampson said.
Eight of ten Democratic aldermanic candidates and both mayoral candidates returned the questionnaire, Sampson said. All thanked the group, he said, and said they looked forward to filling it out.
Although Duckett said he understands the reaction of some to the YD’s approach, he would prefer to hear about problems first hand. He and other members heard reports of some grumbling about the questionnaire, but nothing directly from those doing the grumbling, he said.
As for the question about running on a slate, or dropping out to help a slate get elected, Duckett said the issue came up during the 2016 Board of Education election, and that raised the possibility of a similar situation in the city race. Although the BOE race is nonpartisan, a group of three Democrats banded together, and two dropped out of the general election, to block a conservative candidate’s victory.
Sampson, a political science major, said the group’s primary objective is to motivate people to be active in the political scene. “Our purpose as Young Dems is to build interest in city politics . . . because what affects us the most is local politics,” Sampson said.
He admitted that “older folks may get upset with us, and think we are looking out for ourselves.” But instead of fracturing the party, Sampson and Duckett believe that everyone in the party benefits when more people participate, especially on a local level. “If 100 percent of Democrats turned out for every election, we’d win them all,” Sampson said.
But Sampson makes it clear that he won’t vote for a candidate simply because of the letter behind his or her name. “We want to make sure not just that Democrats are elected, but that the right Democrats are elected,” he said.
Any consternation surrounding the decision to rate candidates, however, could be much ado about nothing. The ratings could potentially embrace all Democratic candidates, and if so, the group will make it clear that all are worthy of your vote. The questionnaire is wide ranging, covering issues from diversity to affordable housing to trash pickup.
A few questions go to the heart of the YD’s agenda, however, including, ‘What are your specific steps to attract and retain young people to the city Frederick?’ and ‘What are some of your accomplishments that show you can be an effective advocate for issues relating to young people (18-40 years old)?’
To see the full questionnaire, responses and ratings, you will have to ask. The Young Dems don’t want passive readers. They want people to engage, and to be able to track interest, and ultimately, to recruit new members.
If the Young Dems, chartered through the Young Democrats of Maryland, rack up a success with their multi-pronged approach, it could become a model for other Young Democrat clubs around the state, Sampson said. When Sampson contacted the president of the state organization, the Rev. Joseph Lynn Kitchen, Jr., he shared the club’s plan for the city election.
“Not only does he [Kitchen] support it, he will look at it as a model for Young Dems across the state, if it works the way we want it to,” Sampson said. “We are not trying to tear down Dems, we are just reviewing all candidates to see who really supports young people, and give them a boost.”
“Our hope is in our young people,” Duckett said.
Contact Young Dems via the website and Facebook page. Young Dems meet the fourth Sunday of the month at 1 p.m. at Clagett Enterprises Inc., 7540 N. Market St., Frederick, MD 21701.
