By Eli Valentin
Chair, GCDP
Greenville Democrats,
Our collective strength as Democrats comes from our commitment to others, knowing how each of us can have an impact on someone else in our community. I hope you and your families are staying healthy and safe by practicing social distancing, washing your hands thoroughly, wearing masks when you must go out in public, and being kind to others during this difficult time.
Our collective strength as Democrats comes from our commitment to others, knowing how each of us can have an impact on someone else in our community. I hope you and your families are staying healthy and safe by practicing social distancing, washing your hands thoroughly, wearing masks when you must go out in public, and being kind to others during this difficult time.
I am so humbled and honored to be elected as the chair of the Greenville County Democratic Party. I look forward to meeting each and every one of you as we band together to make a statement in 2020.
The newly elected leadership team would like to thank our outgoing Chair, Kate Franch, and her leadership team for their tireless work in advancing our values as Democrats. I am personally grateful to Kate for her guidance, wisdom, and leadership. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank YOU for the trust you have placed in me over the next two years.
As our team transitions, we want to be intentional in our effort to continue to focus on growing the party. With a keen eye on building the best resource we have as a party: PEOPLE! It should come as no surprise people are also our most significant need. Bringing in bold energy, new faces, cutting-edge technologies, and creative ideas are ways to continue our progress as Democrats, building on the tremendous foundation in place.
Being a Democrat means being confident in the knowledge OUR investment over time will pay off. It’s time to move past the fear of failure and look for ways to magnify our effort. Let’s all strive to move forward, taking time to be present at this moment—a moment where Greenville will become the county representing the interest and concerns of all Greenvillians. To harness the effectiveness of the party, our motivations must be fueled by more than anger and rage. We must be willing to reflect on our aspirations, hopes, and ideals and work harder than we ever have before to see them put into action. It takes all of us doing our part.
United, our message is more robust; and together, we have accomplished some amazing things. But if each of us increases our efforts and pushes ourselves, we will reshape leadership in the Upstate, and change our state’s outcomes in health, education, environment, racial inequality and gender equity.
Your role in making sure our Democratic message resonates louder depends on your level of commitment. To compete with deep-pocketed Republican incumbents, our candidates need resources, so maybe you can donate a bit more. Remember, to fulfill our mission to get Democrats elected up and down the ticket, the GCDP needs resources as well. Become a 10 percenter: If you have $50 to give to a candidate, move 10 percent to the GCDP. It will come back to your candidate tenfold in our assistance and support.
Take our “Advocacy Challenge” this month and commit to calling your state legislators to demand they protect the general election by extending no-excuse absentee voting to all South Carolina voters.
When it is safe to do so, we’ll be back in your communities, knocking on doors, talking to and registering voters. And we’ll want you with us.
We have a great team in place powered by volunteers who care deeply about our values, our party, and our community.
I challenge you to step up your level of engagement with us!
Respectfully,
Eli