To the editor
I recently resigned my elected position with the Jefferson County Democratic Party, as a precinct chair and member of the executive and central committees. Those who know me as a lifelong Democrat will realize something has to be seriously amiss in the party for me to take such a drastic step. I've always been proud to carry on my family's tradition as active Democrats, working to improve our area and in support of party values. Recent events have shown me things that one would never have expected from Democrats.
The Jefferson County Democratic Party started down the road to political crisis when its party chair, Robert Martin, decided to resign in January. The first Black man to lead the local party was at odds with some in the old guard. The party machine thought that the intended successor to Martin was someone who they believed was not interested in moving up to that office.
They were mistaken. Barbara Baird was Martin's vice chair and was out of the country when he resigned. She came back just in time to ascend to the chairmanship. This did not sit well with some and they worked on claiming as much power as they could to render Baird invisible. It only took them four months to succeed. The efforts included isolation, disrespect, harassment and even threats toward her. It appears no one realized the impact of the optics of ignoring, demeaning and canceling the first female chair of the executive committee.
They thought no one would say a word about tactics used against a decorated military veteran, a senior citizen, a lifelong dedicated Democrat. Instead they found ways to succeed in handing complete control over to a man who had only been involved with the party for several months, all while Baird was dealing with attempts to intimidate her behind closed doors at every opportunity.
The state Democratic Party has now designated Jefferson County's chapter as "dysfunctional." That sad turn of events has been marked by anonymous phone threats, demeaning e-mails and less-than-savory details about the past activities of some of the players in this sorry game.
My parents raised me as a good Democrat -- a Democrat who embraces all of our party values. That means I do not stand for abuse, intimidation and sexist behavior toward any woman, especially one that should be shown respect for the office she holds.
There is an office that I still hold. As president of Ohio Valley NOW, a local chapter of the National Organization for Women, I have a professional, ethical and moral obligation to speak out against misogyny and work to end that behavior. My goal is a positive one: To tell my story, to be heard and to do the right thing. For that, I have been called a traitor, lost friends and been accused of hurting the party by not staying silent. I guess it's easier to kill the messenger rather than addressing the dysfunction.
Marjie DeFede
Rayland