Published in our November 21, 2024 newsletter
In January 2024, Chair Gwen McFarlin stated she would retire after the 2024 presidential general election. During Saturday’s Executive Committee meeting it was announced Chair McFarlin will step down on January 31, 2025.
Chair McFarlin has lead incredible growth and success of the Hamilton County Democratic Party. This past election, Hamilton County had higher voter turnout than Franklin County (Columbus) and Cuyahoga County (Cleveland!) And, locally we elected many Democrats to countywide offices and judicial seats.
Chair McFarlin has set the party in a financially stable situation, moved HQ to a safer, more modern office space and built an incredible team of volunteers and committees. She has positioned the party well to make sure the change in leadership is open, fair and transparent.
The process to replace the chair is dictated by HCDP’s By Laws which can be found on our website and read here. A vote to replace the chair will take place at the February 1st Central Committee meeting at 9:30 am. The location is TBD and will be announced soon. The Central Committee consists of all elected Precinct Executives as well as appointed Precinct Executives who live in the precinct they were appointed to.
Anyone can be nominated for Chair by a Precinct Executive. Persons interested in this role or who have questions should contact Chair McFarlin. Chair McFarlin will share candidate information with the Central Committee before the February 1, 2025 meeting.
The By Laws detail the Chair’s responsibilities, summarized below:
- Call and run meetings. Designate a person to run meetings in her absence.
- Resolve, decide, and determine any disputes about the legality of the election of County Central Committee Persons, Ward, City, Village and Township Chairs.
- Appoint Nominating Committees to screen candidates for office.
Employ an Executive Director and other staff, such as a fundraising consultant or legal counsel. - Serve as an ex-officio member of all standing committees and create additional committees as needed.
- Make an Annual Report on the state of the party.
- Appoint facilitators to annual summits
In addition, the Chair has responsibilities not outlined in our By Laws, including;
- Fundraising, meeting with donors/potential donors, and make fundraising calls. The funds are used to pay for staff, rent, office expenses and event expenses.
- Supervise the Executive Director and volunteers. Coordinated campaign staff ultimately report to the Chair.
- Manage HCDP’s budget and serve as the party’s fiduciary agent.
- Represent HCDP to the media, serving as spokesperson, and on the party’s social media platforms.
- Ensure HCDP committees are working towards goals and objectives established in the HCDP Strategic Plan.
- The Chair is not paid at this time. However, the Chair serves on the Hamilton County Board of Elections, which is a part-time, paid position with health care and retirement benefits. In this role the Chair approves the hiring of Democratic staff at the BOE.
A message from Chair Gwen McFarlin
Teamwork makes the dreamwork. And what a team we have become!
There are so many people I want to thank for Hamilton County’s great performance in November. Our county led the state in Democratic voter turnout! This is a result of our teamwork this year. We had great candidates for countywide offices and the judiciary. They worked together, led by Macie Grisemer and Erik Topham, on a coordinated campaign to reach Democrat voters with canvassing, mail, early vote, paid advertising and election day poll working. Our volunteers filled the pen at Early Vote and we had all of our key precincts filled with poll workers handing out our slate card on election day.
The Judicial Committee had great success electing most of the judicial slate and recruited Rich Moore to run who is the first African American elected Judge of the Court of Appeals, First Division.
Our office volunteers got thousands of yard signs out the door, answered hundreds of phone calls, compiled and counted out sample ballot kits and election day materials. Their organization and dedication was invaluable.
Thanks to our excellent fundraising team led by Eric Cook, HCDP is heading into the winter financially stable to get us to our next fundraiser the Spring Gala.
Our Communications Committee kept the website and social media updated to reach voters with persuasive and educational messaging.
Thank you to all who volunteered and supported a campaign.
It has been an honor to serve as your Democratic Party Chair. I pledge we will do everything in my power to ensure a smooth transition to the new Chair.