Democrats elect new chairman, end Ceasar reign

The reign of Ceasar is over, and Broward is now Busch country.

The Broward Democratic Party voted for new leadership Saturday, and as expected, vice chair Cynthia Busch was elected chair of the county party. Busch replaces Broward Democratic Party Chair Mitch Ceasar, who led Broward Democrats for two decades.

Ceasar was not present at the meeting at the Signature Grand in Davie, where more than 600 local Democratic activists and politicians cast their votes. He had stepped down months before to run for Broward County clerk, a race he lost in the August primary. Busch has served as interim chair since August 2015, when Ceasar began his county clerk campaign.

In her two-minute speech before the voting, Busch said the party had doubled its fundraising over the last year while she served as interim chair, increasing phone banking to minority communities. She called for the formation of committees and clinics that would bring in new members and train activists and potential candidates.

Busch had faced competition from Christine Jones, a retired Broward transit worker who helped organize a union during her time there. In her own comments, she said: “We are at a crossroad in this party and things need to be done differently.”

She called for greater transparency and for members to feel they can run for any leadership role.

Further down the ballot, the Broward Democrats voted into office:

For first vice chair, Rick Hoye;

For second vice chair, Ricky Nettina;

For state committeeman, Kev Evans;

For state committeewoman, Grace Carrington; For treasurer, Seth Platt; For recording secretary, Stacey Boegem;

For corresponding secretary, Joshua Simmons.