Jeff Latas Becomes Chairman of Sonoran Progressive Democrats of America

Jeff Latas has accepted the position of Chairman of the Sonora PDA. In recent years, southern Arizona Democrats has spawned a litter of competing, and often mutually antagonistic, progressive organizations. It is the classic pattern of American progressive politics becoming so fractious and divided by ideoogy and personality that the entire movement is mooted as a political power.

It is to be hoped that a powerful personality with a strong political profile like Jeff can start healing some of those petty rifts and turn Sonora PDA into a regional political force to be reckoned with. I predicted that Jeff would become a viable candidate for Chairman of the Arizona Democratic party. It could be that leading the Sonora PDA will be the perfect training ground and launching pad for a budding Arizona Democratic Party Chairman (look at the example of Howard Dean, and Jeff begins to look like an Arizona phenotype). It could also be that Jeff and his organization will fall victim to the same divisiveness that has plagued progressives for over a century. I hope he can rise above that legacy, in which the Sonora PDA was founded.

Here is his press realease:

            Dear Friends,

Over the past few weeks, there has been a considerable amount of
activity relating to our Congressional campaign. I know we had great
influence in advancing our progressive message to promote clean
energy, end the occupation of Iraq, and make health care affordable
to all Americans, as well has many of our other issues. I know
because Governor Janet Napolitano called me and told me so, as did
many other political leaders.

It gives me great pleasure to announce that the Progressive
Democrats of America and active progressives in the Tucson area have
founded a new PDA chapter, the Sonora Progressive Democrats of
America. Also, I am honored to have been asked to chair this new
organization, and I have enthusiastically agreed. It is my vision to
make this group a powerfully politically influential organization in
the next two years. To do this, I need your help. I’m asking you all
to join this organization and make your progressive voice heard.
Membership is only ten dollars a year. With 75 members, we’ll have a
seat on the Pima County Democrats Executive Committee. This will be
our first step in building a coalition with other progressive
groups. We will have a web site in the next few days where you can
join, however until then, please contact Steve McClure at
stvmcclure@aol.com. He will be very happy to help you join.

I also want to inform you about a short notice fund raiser for US
Senate Candidate Jim Pederson. The Pederson campaign and Max Cleland
have contacted me about Senator Cleland’s visit to Tucson. He will
be at the Pederson Campaign headquarters Tuesday morning, October
3rd,  and then at Café Terra Cotta for a luncheon fund raiser. It is
vitally important that Jon Kyl be defeated this November. If you are
interested, here are the details.

Tuesday, October 3rd
9:45 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Pederson Southern Arizona HQ
2432 E. Broadway
(Intersection of Broadway & Tucson)
Free

Tuesday, October 3rd 11:00 a.m. at
Café Terra Cotta
3500 E. Sunrise Drive

Suggested Contribution:
Platinum:  $1,000.00
Gold:  $500.00
Silver:  $250.00

To RSVP please email vgonzalez@pederson2006.com or call the Pederson
2006 Southern AZ Headquarters at 520-903-2006.

I hope you can help elect Jim Pederson, and I highly encourage
joining me as a founding member of the new Sonora Progressive
Democrats of America.

Sincerely,

Jeff Latas
Chairman
Sonora Progressive Democrats of America

I must say, raising money for Jim Pederson (arguably one of the least ‘progressive’ Democratic candidates in Arizona) in conjunction with that Democratic icon of military heroism (and GOP perfidy) Max Cleland, is a good place to start if you want to create a big tent and prove your bona fides as a rainmaker and coalition-builder to the wider party. Clearly, Jeff is not allowing the best to become the enemy of the good, which is a very good sign indeed. On the other hand, Jeff and his organization will need to guard against becoming just another Democratic clubhouse that seconds everything any Democratic candidate says or does.

For what it’s worth, I’m going to join the Sonora PDA, and I hope you will consider doing so, too.