A look at local Democrats

Recently, the Register editorial board contacted local officials of the Democratic and Republican parties to find out more about the work they do here in Napa County.

On Tuesday in this space, we conveyed some of the observations of Napa County Republican Central Committee leader Janet Kirtlink. Today, we address the meeting with members of the Democratic Central Committee and a related organization, the Democrats of Napa Valley.

Four Democratic activists attended the meeting. Tracy Krumpen, a Napa delegate to the state party convention; Charles Gravett III, an attorney and member of the Napa Sanitation District board; Sharon Macklin, vice president of Democrats of Napa Valley and a former lobbyist; and Matthew Pope, a security consultant who is on the American Canyon Planning Commission and president of Democrats of Napa Valley.

The Democrats have an ambitious vision, and many of their goals take them well beyond county lines.

Within the county, the group engages in voter registration efforts, trying to get new voters -- Democratic or not -- on the rolls. The group emphasized that it is a big task to coordinate volunteers and staff events such as the Napa Town & Country Fair, and that they felt they've been successful. Krumpen said the group has signed up 230 voters since June.

On the broader stage, Pope referenced a Democratic plan to try to win over the Central Valley and other California districts that have become reliably Republican in recent years. He said the focus is on "staring at the ceiling" issues for middle-class voters, matters such as health care and financial security. Pope said "a lot of people are feeling like the middle class in this country is almost actively under attack."

The local party is also active in other regional races in California. Macklin said Napa Democrats are volunteering in efforts to topple three California Republicans in Congress: Richard Pombo, R-Tracy; John Doolittle, R-Roseville; and Dan Lungren, R- Gold River.

They also said they are working hard to have Democratic nominee Phil Angelides replace Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Krumpen trumpeted Angelides' strengths as a legislative veteran and a man who "truly wants to fix California."

Others expressed skepticism about Schwarzenegger. Gravett noted Schwarzenegger "governs as a conservative and runs as a moderate."

All in all, the local party efforts seem closely tied with statewide party priorities.

Both Gravett and Pope have surfaced in the local rumor mill as possible candidates for public office.

In response to questions about their ambitions, Gravett said he has no plans to run for elected office soon. Pope acknowledged that he has been approached and has considered a run, possibly for a seat on the city council in American Canyon. However, he said that he would have to be in it "100 percent" if he were to run, and right now he feels he can best be of service in his roles on the Central Committee and the Democrats of Napa Valley.

One theme that Pope returned to borrowed from the Ronald Reagan playbook. Regarding the congressional races, he asks if voters feel they are better off then they were six years ago. As for California voters, Pope says the question is whether you feel you are better off than you were three years ago.

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