Marin Democrats critique needs detail, misses mark

I am responding to a commentary by IJ political columnist Dick Spotswood (“Party central committees continue to highlight ideological fringes,” Jan. 22). Marin Democrats are composed of local community leaders. Most serve, or served, as city council members, school board members, college board trustees, planning commissioners, state legislators and county supervisors. This is hardly the “ideological fringe.”

While electoral offices are nonpartisan in Marin, voters are not. Voters should be informed in their choices. With 62% of Marin voters registered Democrats, having a trusted source to make distinctions is important. For example, we exposed candidates affiliated with the Marin Freedom Rising group Spotswood refers to. None won their races, whereas 80% of our endorsed candidates succeeded.

We provide strong outreach. Before the last election, we visited 12,000 homes, sent 50,000 emails and 20,000 texts for local candidates. Consistently, our candidates win. We are not lacking power or relevancy in local, statewide or national elections.

Anyone who follows election outcomes, as posted by the state, knows that Marin County consistently has the top voter turnout statewide. The Marin Democratic Party registers voters, supports candidates, keeps voters informed and gets people out to vote.

In saying Democrats have “lost touch,” Spotswood wrote, “the two general identity categories mentioned on the explanation page at adem.cadem. org are `self-identified female' and `other than self-identified female.'”

These changes may seem awkward to some, but we should all remember that, at one point in our history, using the title “Ms.” or calling people African American or Black was also considered awkward. The evolution of language is important. By embracing diversity, equity and inclusion in our

“big tent,” we are simply respecting the values of our community and times. It is good that we are evolving as a party.

Spotswood's piece required better research. His opinion fails to depict the work of Marin Democrats or reflect changing 21st Century norms. — Pat Johnstone, San Anselmo