How to Pick a District Leader
A few years ago I got a call from a friend running for district leader. I don't want to mention names or even genders, as it's not important to this post. S/he was concerned that s/he would lose because the opponent was well-known for an annual turkey giveaway in the community, and other social service related activities. My advice was to not run for the "Community Social Worker" but to educate the masses about what a district leader does, and make sure they remember who helped them understand what exactly they were voting for. (and by the way, that's not a pot shot at social workers; I love them and they do much-needed work) Fast forward a few years and as I read literature and speak to candidates running for district leader, it seems that a lot hasn't changed. So as my first non-comment blog post on Room 8, I thought I would share some of my thoughts about how to pick a district leader, and hope others will contribute to my list and share it with others. FULL DISCLOSURE: I originally compiled a version of this list for the Democratic Club of North Brooklyn. I altered it to be non-party specific so it can have broader use. WHAT IS A DISTRICT LEADER? The District Leader is an un-paid elected official who performs a valuable set of duties on behalf of his or her political party. Each district gets to elect two district leaders, one male and one female, with the same responsibilities. The district leader serves a two-year term. WHAT ARE THE DUTIES OF THE DISTRICT LEADER?
WHAT QUALITIES AND RESOURCES DOES A DISTRICT LEADER NEED?
He or she:
Here are some of the most important ones to ask:
WHY DON'T I SEE "DISTRICT LEADER" ON THE BALLOT IN THE PRIMARY OR GENERAL ELECTION? For starters, the term district leader is a nickname. You have to look for “Candidate for (Male/Female) Member of the (party name) State Committee” on the ballot when you vote in September. You won’t see it in November’s general election—you’ll only see it on the ballot every other year (the even years) in the September primary election. Manny Burgos, Welcome.........
![]() Welcome to Room Eight New York Politics. I hope to see more solid contributions from you big guy; and I am looking forward to reading your columns. Take your time and slowly work your way into it; enjoy and do it at your liesure and pleasure.
In 2002 the technicians put 'district leader' on the petitions and a few of us (myself included) were thrown off the ballot for this. LOL
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Does a District Leader have an office? staff? is there an official job description? Is there a salary? Like you said, there is an amazing void when it comes to finding information about this position. It sounds like a liason between the residents and all of their elected officials. That can be a great resource, if taken seriously.
Although I'm not a district leader myself, I do have some answers for your questions, keep in mind some of my answers are observation. I was courious myself as to this, so I asked someone a while back, and it happends to be the person Manny was talking about. Let me start off by saying that many district leaders are elected officials, and most are assemblymembers. There are councilmembers as well, but the district that the district leaders represent are Assembly districts. Does a District Leader have an office? staff?District Leaders opperate from clubs, like a Democratic Club.Sometimes they are the president of the club, but not always. is there an official job description? I think that Manny has that nailed down. I have also been told that you can get recomended to work at the BOE by district leaders, but I'm not 100% on that. Is there a salary? A smile. LOL. But no actual cash, sorry. District Leaders shine during election time most, because they tend to help candidates by doing things like joint petitions. I've found it to be pretty hard to find information about district leaders, but the BOE and an assemblymember's office may be your best bet. I hope this helps. Thanks. So, it looks like a position aspiring politicians would go for as a stepping stone to me (no salary!). Why else would anyone spend their money to run for a position that doesnt pay? Still, I can see it being useful experience and something to add to the resume of an aspiring politician. You can keep your 9 to 5, do very little work except for election years (who even knows their dsistrict Leader?), get connected, and eventually move on. While I can see that an Assemblyperson could theoretically do the job, I wouldve thought that a different person altogether would make more sense, since he/she is expected to connect all of the dots for constituents. Anyhow, thanks for the info. I saw Walter Mosley campaigning recently. I wondered why. Know I think I know. Yes, Walter and his mother are running as district leaders. But district leader is a great position to have. Mainly because when you move up, you will already have plenty of endorsements from electeds. Plus they will know you at the Board. And most importantly: YOU CONTROL INSPECTORS AND COORDINATOORS!
The District Leader also controls the County Committee that is made up of non-paid citizens who represent an Election District (each machine is an election district). If an elected official dies or resigns and the Gov. calls a Special Election, the County Committee selects the Democratic candidate in this Democratic city. The District Leader also select the County Leader of each borough.
Very, very powerful position.
WOW Rock. If anyone knows what "district leader" is it's the BOE. That really stinks to be knocked off a ballot for that type of technicality. Thanks for the warm welcome to Room 8. You can definitely expect more posts from me over time, and most will focus on civics. Everyone else: Great additions. I hope we get some more! As for benefits of this unpaid position: yes it is a very powerful position within the party. But if you're in business, the networking opportunities are fantastic too. Consider that you are one of the principal fundraisers in that district. Lots of donors come out to your fundraiser (you hope at least!). You're right there in front, doing the meet-and-greet. I'm not a district leader, and when I come home from fundraisers I have a big stack of business cards. I can imagine a district leader wearing out a biz card scanner from all the use! :-) Thanks again everyone!!! Manny Burgos, While county won at the game, I remain a leader for my public. A true leader does not need a tittle to lead. <>Look for me in 2009."Leader form your intro" you are not the person I am talking about. I altered a few bits of information purposely to keep people from thinking that they can narrow it down to someone specific. Your statement says you're a leader, so perhaps lead with an entry that contributes to the topic at hand? There's penty of room for improvement and additions. Thanks. Manny Burgos, 1) Only in Brooklyn are District Leaders also the State Commitee members; in the other boroughs, they are separate offices. 2) To whoever said DLs control the couty commitees in their ADs--usually true, but not invariably so---county commitee is separately elected, and it is at least theorectically possible that one faction may control the leader or leaders, but not the county commitee--in fact, it has happened sometimes.
Gatemouth: any more info on what the title is other parts of the city and state? A very bad assumption on my part to think that the title was the same. I'd have thought that at least in the given boros it would be uniform but wow, not even that is true! Manny Burgos, Each county's ballot status parties makes their own rules, which are required to be filed with the Board of Elections for public inspection, though if you ask, the parties might send you a copy. In the Brooklyn Democratic party, there is no office called Distirct Leaders--State Committee members (one male and one female) fulfill the fuctions traditionally associated with District Leaders. In the other counties, the offices are separate, although some people hold both jobs at once, by separate election. In the Bronx, there is one male and one female leader per AD (I think the Riverdale AD is actually divied in two, with each part having a pair of leaders---this is a legacy from the old days, where no one was expected to get up a steep hill to visit their area's clubhouse). I believe Staten Island also has one of each gender per AD, but I might be wrong (in which case, each AD is divided in two parts). In Queens, each AD is divided into two parts. In Manhattan each AD is divided into two to four parts. Don't even get me started on the other parties---each has its own structure. Outiside the City, there may be town leaders or, in the big cities, a city leader and ward leaders--sometimes these offices are elected directly, sometime by the County Committee members from each ED. In Westchester, the county committee members from each ED are actually called District Leaders.
In the Bronx Republican Party, How to pick a district leader is like HOW TO PICK YOUR NOSE.
Mr. Mosley is the only candidate running for State Committeeman / Male District Leader in the 57th District. If you have any further questions, please email our campaign at friendsofwaltertmosley@hotmail.com. For more information on the candidate go to Youtube, Facebook, or Myspace - key words: Walter T. Mosley. Thank you. Mr. Mosley is the only candidate running for State Committeeman / Male District Leader in the 57th District. If you have any further questions, please email our campaign at friendsofwaltertmosley@hotmail.com. For more information on the candidate go to Youtube, Facebook, or Myspace - key words: Walter T. Mosley. Thank you. Walter T. Mosley If Wally were the only candidate, he wouldn't be posting spam because there would be no election. Walter is running against bill saunders, a community institution
Bill Saunders, WHO? Oh yes the gay old man who has the District Leader seat in Brooklyn but yet hasn't done anything for Brooklyn. Funny?! Funny that you read Saunder's literature and he has contributed nothing to the improvement of the 57th District or he would have stated it in the materials. Change for USA and change for Brooklyn is much needed! And I believe that WALTER MOSLEY is exactly that...CHANGE! Not only is he young and innovative, he also has an extensive political career and can be readily seen walking the streets of Brooklyn meeting and serving his community. Can Bill say the same??
Bill Saunders, WHO? Oh yes the gay old man who has the District Leader seat in Brooklyn but yet hasn't done anything for Brooklyn. Funny?! Funny that you read Saunder's literature and he has contributed nothing to the improvement of the 57th District or he would have stated it in the materials. Change for USA and change for Brooklyn is much needed! And I believe that WALTER MOSLEY is exactly that...CHANGE! Not only is he young and innovative, he also has an extensive political career and can be readily seen walking the streets of Brooklyn meeting and serving his community. Can Bill say the same??
that last comment makes me pretty glad i voted for saunders, though i thought both candidates seemed fine. being nasty about your opponent --and especially using "gay" as a bad attribute -- doesn't make me want to vote for your guy. that's one to grow on. Thank you for your comment. My stomach turned when I read Mr Saunders being referred to in such disparing terms. Here I am siting at a position Bill Saunders help me acquire. And wehat is that buig monthly meeting I attend that the man was running.. Lastly how did he recruit me to volunteer to work for the club he ran. Who in his day and age uses words like -old gay man. If he is gay and I do not know or care either way- that's a leap in deed to refer to him that way. Who writes such garbage and then is afraid to stand up and say they wrote it. I have never heard Bill Saunders declare he is gay. i 100% beleive that folks who have gay issues are latent homosexuals --come out my brother come out my sister we will not hate you the way you hate yourself. I'm as nosey as the next person - were you one of this man's lovers. Scorned lover I should say. I met Walter Mosley and he seems like he will be good in the position of District Leader however I cannot say that i wouyld feel the same way about him if i find out uhe or his people posted this trash about Saunders. To say that Bill Saunders has done nothing for brooklyn is an outright lie.Even the coward that wrote this knows that is a lie. Post new comment |