Doing it the Right Way
Feb 01, 02:54 PM CST
State Chair Steve Achelpohl recently took a few moments to reflect on his nearly seven years of service to our Party. The Omaha Daily Record has the story about that conversation.
State Chair Looks Back on Record Years Of Volunteer Service to Democratic Party
By Lorraine Boyd
The Daily Record
For more than seven years, he’s had two full-time jobs, one that brings in income and one that does not.
Steve Achelpohl, an Omaha trial attorney, has been the Nebraska Democratic Party chairman since his appointment in 2001 to fill the position vacated by Anne Boyle. He was re-elected by acclamation in 2002, 2004 and 2006. He recently announced that he will not seek re-election at this summer’s convention and will step down at the end of 2008.
Why step down now?
First of all, he pointed out, “I’ve already broken the longevity record [as chairman] times two. I’m the longest-serving state chair in anybody’s memory.”
He didn’t set out to break records. It was just that there was much work to be done when he took the position.
“When I started in 2001, the state party was underwater financially. We were about $150,000 in the hole, and we were facing a $91,500 disclosure fine, one that we successfully negotiated down. We were laying off people in the middle of the 2002 election.” It was grim.
Then, “from 2002 to 2004, we righted the boat,” Achelpohl said. “We hired Barry Rubin, a very effective executive director. There are now four full-time employees. That’s a sea change for states like Nebraska.
“Early in 2003, we hit on a strategy to (re)build the foundation,” he said. “We would concentrate on the lower ballot races. We became a candidate services organization.
“The strategy is attracting young people into the party. We help get them elected, and by so doing, we are making an investment in the future. We are building candidates for bigger offices. I felt we needed to make that investment.”
The strategy appears to be working. Democratic mayors have been elected in the state’s two largest cities and the party’s only statewide officeholder, Sen. Ben Nelson, won re-election in 2006. The Democrats gained both local and state seats in the 2006 elections.
“The Democrats will be able to start setting a good part of the agenda in the state legislature [with the added seats now], and will be able to override some vetoes,” he said.
“We had to come to grips with the fact that change is incremental, but had to do it the right way.
“My opinion is that we are doing it exactly the right way.”
National Front
On the national front, he said there was a revolt in the party after the 2004 elections. “We were very dissatisfied that only 21 to 25 states were targeted. The Democratic National Committee (DNC) is primarily [interested in] presidential campaigns. Everything is targeted at that, leaving state chairs like me unhappy. They raised hundreds of millions of dollars [in the 2004 elections] and Nebraska got $12,000!”
The National Democratic State Chairs association got active and formed a committee of about a dozen chairs to change things, he said. “In early 2005, the committee concluded if we could keep our ranks together and get about 100 more DNC members, our group could dictate the next chair. The effort gained momentum … it began to look doable.”
Howard Dean, who has been a friend to their cause, was chosen chairman. “Now we have a true 50-state strategy, not just in name-only. It was a remarkable change in the DNC. … I’m very proud that Nebraska now has a national presence. We are very active in DNC affairs.”
Let’s Caucus
In 2006, the State Central Committee, led by Steve Achelpohl, Vince Powers and Kathleen Fahey, voted to hold a presidential caucus in 2008 so that Nebraska could have an earlier say in the presidential candidate selection. They chose February 9, avoiding the crush of Super Tuesday on February 5, when 24 states will hold primaries or caucuses.
The media had been reticent about reporting on the plans until a couple of months ago. “Now there’s a story about it virtually every night. It’s catching fire,” Achelpohl said.
The new caucus is very important; it determines the allocation of the state’s delegates for the Democratic president candidates. The primary election in May will continue to be held and will select the candidates for all other offices, but the presidential delegates will already be committed as of next week.
Voters can get more information about the caucus, being held by state legislative district, at www.NebraskaDemocrats.org.
Change Is the Word
“It’s one way of stimulating politics in the state. We are seeing Republicans and Independents registering as Democrats to participate statewide. We’re seeing new voters coming out of the woodwork,” Achelpohl said.
The Nebraska Democratic Party has been organizing activists through a neighborhood leader program. They are pushing voter registration.
“We’ve finally gotten the attention of the media. But we’re not trying to create high expectations [for this first caucus]. Our turnout will not be as high as Iowa’s. But we expect, for instance, hundreds in North Platte alone. And people are coming to county party meetings.
There’s a renewed interest in the Democratic Party. So it’s working.
“Nebraska has had no say in the democratic process. The caucus is one way to give Demo- crats a voice at a time when a voice may count.”
He predicted that Nebraska could see candidates coming to Nebraska, wanting to set up shop. He was somewhat prophetic, as Barack Obama just announced the establishment of an office in Omaha Tuesday.
“Nebraska is on the radar screen for the first time in half a century. Calls are coming in regularly. [The caucus] is stirring interest among young people.”
He said people have expressed a deep dissatisfaction with the way the country has been managed for the past seven years, none more so than young people, who are interested in education and health care issues as well as the war.
“A wide group of people is dissatisfied with the status quo. Change is the word. It is motivating people to get involved. I’ve been actively involved for about eight years and I can’t remember a time when the Democrats have been more active,” he said.
More Reasons
Now is a good time to step down, Achelpohl said, because the Democratic Party apparatus is stronger now and there are a lot more young people involved. There are capable people who can do the job today.
“I have a tremendous interest in politics, but I’m a full-time practicing trial attorney. The chair position is a volunteer position. There are other things I’d like to do; other volunteer work I want to do. For one, as a member of the American College of Trial Lawyers, there is pro bono litigation. And I’d like to spend more time with my family.”
Achelpohl has been recognized by his peers, receiving the Omaha Bar Association’s Robert M. Spire Public Service Award in 2006. He is a former chair of the bar’s Law Day activities. His wife, Sara, a very active member of Democratic Divas, was also honored by the bar, with the non-attorney public service award.
“I never had any idea what I was getting into,” Achelpohl laughed.
– by Eric Fought | Send this to a friend
— Luke Peterson Feb 02, 01:48 PM CST #
— Robin Quarles Feb 04, 11:17 PM CST #
— Doug Finch Feb 06, 06:09 AM CST #