So… there’s been a lot of conversation regarding the chairmanship of the OC Democratic Party. And one of the central figures in every conversation has been Melahat Rafiei. I’ve known Melahat for 4 years now, you see Melahat gave me my first political job when I was a high school senior. So, since I actually worked for her, I can tell you first hand what a tenacious, intelligent, politically savvy person she is. Anyhow I decided to just ask her about this whole blogosphere rumor that she hates Barbaro and wants him replaced as Chairman. She was kind enough to respond to three questions I sent her in a single statement which I am posting here. I am excluding other comments she made about the integrity of the posts made by Marc Sussman (OCShadow) over at OJB, and other things of that nature.
My questions exactly as they were written to her were;
Are you supporting anyone for OC Dem Chair?( I don’t know if you are even allowed to, but if you are who is it and why?)
What are your career plans for the future?
What direction do you think the OC Dem. party apparatus should take now that we have the white house?
To the Readers of The Liberal OC,
County Central Committees “re-organize” – otherwise known as electing new officers – every two years. The Democratic Party of Orange County hold their re-organizational meeting on the 2nd Monday in January of odd calendar years. Members of the committee are elected during the primary of the previous year, so for this term, members were elected in the June 2008 primary. Two important things happen at the re-organizational meeting: (1) elected members will be sworn in and (2) DPOC officers are elected. Only elected members can participate in electing the officers. The vote is a public vote.
Since I am not a member of the DPOC CC, I will not have a vote.
As far as I’m aware, Frank is the only person who has announced candidacy for the the DPOC Chairmanship – everything else is just heresay and rumors. Frank and I have a great respect for one another. We work well together. I’m sure he would say the same thing, but you are more than welcome to ask him for a quote. He loves giving interviews.
As for my career plans – for now I’m just trying to help put together a successful Truman dinner and hope that the Inaugural Bash at Original Mike’s goes well. I don’t have commitments to any one (or any organization) other than the DPOC. Regardless of what I do in the future, I hope to still participate and help out in OC.
And to your last question, the goal of the DPOC in 2009 in to strengthen our Democratic base. Lindsay Hopkins and I unveiled a “34 City Strategy” for the county at the November central committee meeting. Most, if not all, of our 30 interns are all working on projects relating to that and we hope to increase Democratic registration through out the county and win more seats. This will also help us garner more competitive seats after redistricting. It’s a “big picture” plan and we need all hand on deck to accomplish our goals.
Thanks again for the message.
Happy blogging!
Melahat
So there you have it.
WOW Steve you have connections everywhere!
Good reporting Steve. Thanks.
a classy statement from Melahat. No doubt, she has her detractors (don’t we all?).
Is Sussman really OC Shadow? And we know this, how, exactly?
Steve-
Thank you for this. I spoke with Melahat last night at DFA. She told me those accusations from Crazy Juice are completely untrue. She doesn’t hate Frank Barbaro, she doesn’t have an eating disorder, & her only focus at DPOC is strengthening the party, not tearing it down.
So there, your story has been confirmed. You’ve done a far better job at getting to the facts than those other “bloggers” at you-know-where.
OC Shadow’s postings, often malicious and filled with childlike, mean-spirited commentary, are clearly the result of someone very unhappy and with TOO much free time on their hands. I’m not saying it is Marc Sussman but I wouldn’t be shocked. As he started to unravel last year (and those who witnessed it, know how out of control he got), his rep quickly went down the drain. I heard that he was even caught lying about being currently employed by a legislator. Is that true? How pathetic! Melahat: Keep up the fantastic work and ignore the loser! And Marc, if it is you, instead of picking on others, use the time to get help!
It is Marc Sussman. He is trying to get in on the special campaign to fill the seat being vacated by Hilda Solis.
Unfortunatey, no matter what goes on in the personal politics of these two individuals…The DPOC is still not an effective force in Orange County. The DPOC did almost nothing in the past election, I mean they didn’t do anything but help corrupt losers like Gary Miller, Dana Rohrabacher, and Ken Calvert stay in office not to mention the assembly races. The DPOC needs a complete overhaul and shake up of basically everyone and everything. Bring in some new blood and re-vitalize the dead horse that we keep flogging, or else nothing will happen next election cycle except the same b.s. party politics that are suppressing democrats all throughout the county. As for Marc…we all have a rough time sometimes, and this stupid name smearing politics will only come around to bite everyone in the @ss, hopefully the heads of the DPOC, except for Lindsay (no beef with her…yet)!