Publication Date: Wednesday, January 21, 2004
Our Town: Simitian scores a victory
Our Town: Simitian scores a victory
(January 21, 2004) by Don Kazak
All they needed was a band playing "Happy Days Are Here" again, the long-ago theme song of the Democratic Party of FDR and Great Depression days.
The state Democratic Party held its annual convention in San Jose last weekend, complete with some big names preaching to the choir, like presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich. All the relatively big names in the California Democratic Party were there -- Sen. Barbara Boxer, Rep. Nancy Pelosi, Oakland Mayor Jerry Brown, Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamonte, and a fellow named Gray Davis.
I wasn't there for the former governor's speech, which won a standing ovation from the 1,500 delegates, but I found out first-hand that the recalled governor is still revered among the party faithful.
When I arrived Saturday afternoon, I had to go to a basement room to get my press credential. The room was staffed by a half-dozen people. I gave my name, showed them my press card -- and was surprised when everyone stood up and applauded.
Davis had walked in behind me.
Upstairs, the real action of interest to people there was the state party's endorsement in the 11th state Senate district race between present Assemblyman Joe Simitian and former Assemblyman Ted Lempert.
Walking into the Simitian crowd before the vote made me feel right at home in Palo Alto. Four City Council members -- Jim Burch, Judy Kleinberg, Dena Mossar and Vic Ojakian -- were among Simitian's delegates.
In the somewhat arcane voting process, the Senate district was allotted 149 voting delegates, some picked by each candidate, others by the county Democratic Party. A candidate needed 60 percent of those voting, so the race was on between Simitian and Lempert to win votes.
Just before the vote on the floor, Simitian said he had 90 votes, exactly 60 percent of 149. But that meant he couldn't afford to lose even one vote. He exhorted his delegates to be there and vote a half-hour later, at the showdown.
Lempert was playing a holding action. He knew he couldn't get to 60 percent, but he might get enough to block Simitian from getting the state party's endorsement.
"I know we have been nagging you for weeks," Simitian told his delegates. "If you can last through the end of the day, we'll only nag you for six more weeks."
Everyone filed into the convention hall at 5 p.m. The local delegates first voted on the local state Assembly race to replace Simitian. Four Demoracts, including Palo Alto School Board member John Barton, split that vote. No endorsement.
Then came the state Senate endorsement. A leather-lunged guy bellowed that everyone voting in the 11th state Senate race should be in a corner of the convention hall.
Then Lempert and Simitian gave 2-minute speeches, half-shouting in the noisy convention hall, without the aid of microphones, competing with other local caucuses being held simultaneously.
"I respect everyone here," Lempert said. "We're all working for the same thing."
Simitian noted he had been endorsed by a majority of the city council members in all 13 cities in the 11th district.
This was a fight between two highly regarded candidates, each of whom would be a plus in any other state Senate district but who happen to be running against each other
This was clipboard democracy for Simitian, who kept a careful tally on his clipboard.
The votes were open and public. Each of the 149 delegates from the 11th state Senate district had his or her name read by a party official, called out "Simitian," "Lempert," "not voting," or "abstain."
It was personal in that way, unlike marking a ballot.
Would Simitian get all 90 votes he needed?
He didn't. But enough delegates chose not to vote that only 83 votes were actually needed, and Simitian got 88 votes -- well over 60 percent of the 137 who actually voted.
Wild cheers ensued when the announcement was made. Hugs were hugged.
"We wanted it," Lempert admitted after the vote. "We wanted every endorsement. But we held our own, since he is a sitting Assemblyman."
And the band that wasn't there continued to not play "Happy Days Are Here Again."
Don Kazak is the Weekly's senior staff writer. He can be e-mailed at dkazak@paweekly.com.
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