Lang: For the good of the Dems, Susan Gwinn should step aside

By Patrick Lang
Athens City Law Director

It's not much of a stretch to say that I have grown up in the Athens County Democratic Party. As a boy in Albany - before I was old enough to vote - I volunteered on local campaigns. When I began my college years at Ohio University, the first meeting I attended was a meeting of the OU College Democrats. And during that time "“ before I was old enough to buy a drink "“ I ran for and was elected to Athens City Council.

Today, my wife and I have chosen to make Athens our home, and I am honored to serve as the city's law director. I still work on campaigns when I can. And now, as then, that means working with our party chair, Susan Gwinn.

Susan has made a lot of headlines over the past 18 months.

Many Democrats, including a majority of the county central committee (the party's governing board) have been steadfast in their support, insisting that she continue to serve in the face of a prosecution that they see as unfair. It is a remarkable demonstration of loyalty, and Susan should be honored by it. Other Democrats, however, have expressed confusion, amazement and outrage that party leadership continues to stand behind her even when, in their eyes, it is obvious that she has become a liability.

It can be easy to condemn people we don't know personally, and this is surely the case with some of Susan's critics. Many may not know about her capacity for kindness, generosity and charity, or about the many sacrifices she has made for the party. And like her or not, no one can deny the electoral success that the local party has enjoyed on her watch.

But sometimes being a friend requires telling the truth even when it hurts. Perhaps especially when it hurts.

I will not rehash the charges, counter-charges and counter-counter-charges that have been lobbed back and forth. Susan has a right to due process and a presumption of innocence, and the system will ultimately bring the facts to light.

But I do believe that what is best for the party and what is best for the party chair are sometimes two separate questions. And I hope I am not alone in believing that the former is more important.

As someone who cares about Susan personally, I think she is being hurt by her decision to remain on as party chair in the midst of felony charges. And I believe the party is being hurt by it. It has not yet cost us an election, but that is by no means the only measure of success for a party. Or at least it shouldn't be.

At its best, our party can energize people. We can reach out to new voters with a hopeful message: Opportunity for those willing to work for it and a shared commitment to lifting up the least among us. Affordable health care. Sustainability. Equality. In short, the values we share as Democrats.

Doing that becomes harder when seemingly every week brings new, depressing headlines about local party leadership, including this from Tuesday's Columbus Dispatch: "Possible Voting Bounty in Athens County Probed."

Now Susan told the Dispatch that nobody has been paid to vote. However, she admits in the article that the idea of paying college students to get their friends to vote was "discussed" with members of the College Democrats. Ohio Democratic Party Chair Chris Redfern called this "a stupid idea." The county party treasurer told The Athens NEWS, "It doesn't pass the smell test." I agree. These talented, energetic young people are trying to improve their community and country through the political process. They are the future of the party. The fact that the party would even discuss such a cynical idea with them gets my blood boiling. And it demonstrates a stunning lack of judgment.

Let me be clear: I write today as a member of my party, and not as a law director. A city law director's office does not investigate or prosecute elections complaints. So I don't know if any laws were broken. But the fact that we even have to ask the question is pretty depressing.

Now is a good time to be a Democrat; the party has never been so well stocked with dynamic, innovative people. Its leadership should aspire to our party's highest ideals, worthy of the people who vote for us.

We are as far away from the next general election as we can get. Now is the right time for a selfless act for the party, like so many Susan has made in the past. She should step aside, at least until such time as her name is cleared.