Hilary Crosby, candidate for Controller of the California Democratic Party of California, met with regional Democrats for lunch on Wednesday, February 11, 2009 at My Florist Winecafe and Bakery in Ventura. Sue Broidy, who is running for the position of Region 10 Director for the the tri-county region, arranged this opportunity for us to meet the candidate and get a better understanding of what’s at stake in the election of a Controller.
Crosby has over 30 years experience as a finance professional. She has been a Certified Public Accountant who has worked with non-profits, unions, and social justice groups. Also definitely to the point are her plans for a new statewide fundraising strategy and for encouraging a network of county and club Treasurers. All this is to support local and statewide Democratic Party fund-raising efforts and to support all Treasurers with their efforts to comply with the finance laws. Crosby emphasized the need for implementing a 58 County Plan, observing that Republicans are running unopposed in counties where no one is available or qualified to make the financial arrangements for Democratic campaigns.
The discussion emphasized the complexities of campaign finance and the necessity of having a qualified expert to master the legal intricacies. Money donated to State Democratic organizations by corporations or unions, for example, cannot be used to fund federal elections in any way, not even for voter registration or for slate mailers on which a federal candidate is listed.
Sandra Kinsler, Treasurer of the Ventura County Democratic Party, spoke with the candidate about the need for clear procedures and accurate record keeping so that subsequent Treasurers and e-board members receive a legacy from current office holders. The legacy that must be passed on needs to be an efficient and practical system of record keeping and procedures—not a shoe box full of tattered receipts and figures scrawled on the backs of used envelopes. Kinsler determined that because of Crosby’s thorough financial background, experience with the finance laws, focus on consistent record keeping and reporting, statewide focus on cohesiveness, participation with the Progressive side of the Democratic Party, and willingness to speak face-to-face with central committees and clubs, that she would endorse her. Brian Leshon, Sue Broidy and Helen Conly have also endorsed Hilary Crosby
Crosby emphasized the need for transparency at all levels of the Democratic Party in California, state, counties, and chartered clubs. “We have to know where the money is coming from and where it is going. And we need a strong individual donor program,” stated Crosby. Currently the county gets 80% of its funding from institutional donors—and of course large donors have undue influence on important legislation. If we want to change the game, we have to pay to play like unions and corporations do. We cannot, of course, contribute thousands of dollars, but if enough of us contribute small amounts monthly—a couple of our notorious liberal latte’s worth—we can and will make the changes we must make.
Hilary Crosby is running against CDP Controller incumbent Eric Bradley from Long Beach, California.
Hilary Crosby has good ideas, and the practical know how and financial experience to implement them. She would make an excellent Controller for the California Democratic Party. We will get change when we elect the people who can make change happen.
