Claim Democracy
Claim Democracy encourages networking and collaboration among national, state and local democracy groups in order to build support for and strengthen a national infrastructure for a pro-democracy movement within the United States.  Its most significant accomplishment thus far has been our November 2003 and 2007 Claim Democracy conferences, which brought together representatives of more than 100 organizations and more than 500 people for intensive private meetings and public dialogue inWashington, D.C. In light of recent election administration problems and high-profile obstacles to fair elections in the public interest, its major goal for 2008 is the Democracy SoS (Secretary of State) project, designed to develop a comprehensive agenda for action by Secretaries of State and other elected officials who influence election policy.

The vision for Claim Democracy is to help create and support a network of state-based organizations that work to secure, enhance and exercise the right vote through a range of reforms and activities. Rather than exclusively focus on one particular reform or another, these organizations would be able to coordinate and pool resources to advocate one of a number of reforms that meet clear pro-democracy goals. Examples include: expanding the electorate, increasing citizen participation, providing fair representation, promoting better political debate, freeing voters to support their candidate of choice and supporting equality in the political process. Potential activities include plans to:
  • Establish a new website with a range of information about pro-democracy issues, blogs from several leading pro-democracy advocates and easy means to find pro-democracy advocates in one’s state or locality. An internal invitation-only set of pages would facilitate communication among leaders of pro-democracy groups.

  • Promote creation of and support for a network of state and local groups working to promote participation and reform in their state – ideally seeking to integrate efforts to boost citizen participation with reform efforts and seeking to establish lasting relationships with elected officials able to enact change.

  • Coordinate regular meetings of a pro-democracy roundtable of national and local groups, designed to promote strategic thinking, greater communication and coordination in the pro-democracy movement and support for state/local efforts.

  • Develop a “war-room” communications ability able to spotlight deficits in our democracy and work being done to address those efforts.

  • Develop and work with caucuses of pro-democracy elected officials, at local, state and federal levels – coordinating strategic initiatives that can be carried out at different levels.

  • Develop curriculum about the history of expansion of democracy in the United States as a whole and individual states to be used in K-12 schools.


 
Lt. Gov. Novoselic? Rocker likes how it sounds

By David Postman
Published November 20th 2003 in Seattle Times

Grunge-rock pioneer Krist Novoselic says he may run for lieutenant governor in what would be the next step of a transition from rock star to politician.

Novoselic, a founder and bass player of the seminal band Nirvana and more recently an activist Democrat, is enough of a politician already to be wary about facing off against fellow Democrat Lt. Gov. Brad Owen, a two-term incumbent. But he's thinking seriously about the intra-party challenge, is talking to party leaders and says he does not want to go through 2004 as a spectator.

"I've been really contemplating how I want to get involved next year and make a contribution," Novoselic said this week. "It's going to be a big year and I'm trying to find a way to fit into it."

The office has few required duties. In the past, celebrities have been successful at winning the post.

"I don't go around encouraging primaries against incumbents," said state Democratic Party Chairman Paul Berendt. "But we've had a big-band leader and a University of Washington coach in that job. What's to say that a member of Nirvana wouldn't fit right in?"

Novoselic, 38, formed Nirvana with Kurt Cobain in the late 1980s while both were living in Aberdeen. The band defined the Seattle sound that became known as grunge and was one of the country's most popular acts until the suicide of Cobain in 1994.

After Cobain's death, Novoselic had several music projects, including his band Sweet 75.

But he became more involved in politics after working in Olympia to stop a bill that would have restricted minors' access to some music, and led the Joint Artists and Music Promotions Political Action Committee.

His passion is now electoral reform, which he says would make voters feel more connected to their government. He created a Web site, www.fixour.us, and is promoting a plan for "Super Districts" in the state.

Rather than the current 49 state House districts, which have two representatives each, nine large districts would each elect 11 House members under the plan. Voters would cast ballots for a party's slate of candidates, not the individual candidates, and the seats would be apportioned based on each party's percentage of the vote total.

The state Senate would not change, having one member from each of the 49 districts.

Novoselic said it would help minor political parties, which might only win a small percentage of the vote, attain seats in the Legislature.

While Novoselic says he is done with the music business, there are ties between his music and his politics.

"Nirvana was a political band," he said. "And we were the prophets of the disenfranchised. We spoke to the disenfranchised because we ourselves felt that way."

He promoted Super Districts in a speech earlier this month at Portland State University.

"Once democracy becomes predictable and a formula to sustain the establishment, people become cynical, stop voting and tune out," he said in the speech. "The time has come for the new wave in American politics. The time has come for a 'Full Representation' democracy."

Given his interest in elections, Novoselic said some people have suggested he consider running for secretary of state instead. The office is currently held by a Republican, Sam Reed.

But Novoselic is attracted by what he sees as the bully pulpit opportunities of lieutenant governor, a job whose biggest public role is presiding over the state Senate during the legislative session.

Owen is a former state legislator and convenience-store owner. As lieutenant governor he has promoted an anti-drug program and performs at schools in a rock 'n' roll band.

The longest-serving lieutenant governor was John Cherberg. After being fired as the UW football coach, he was elected to eight terms in office and served from 1957 to 1989. Orchestra leader Vic Meyers was lieutenant governor for 20 years, in the 1930s and '40s, and later served another eight as secretary of state.

Owen was out of town yesterday and unavailable. But his chief of staff, Glenn Dunnam, said Owen will soon announce he's running for a third term.

Dunnam said Novoselic would be mistaken to think it'd be easy to carry out the duties of lieutenant governor.

"You can't walk in and be CEO of a corporation if you don't know anything about the corporation," Dunnam said. "I'd say to Krist, 'Everyone should look to see where they want to get involved, and if it's lieutenant governor, power to you. But you need to know what the job encompasses before you jump in.' "

Democratic Party officials are excited about the prospect of a Novoselic candidacy.

"I think he has a lot to offer," said Senate Minority Leader Lisa Brown, D-Spokane. She and Novoselic spoke recently about the possibility of Novoselic helping with fund raising for Senate Democrats.

"I did warn him that would be difficult if he actually engaged in a primary battle with the current lieutenant governor," she said.

Berendt was trying to reach Novoselic yesterday.

"This just tickles the hell out of me," Berendt said. "Someone who breaks the mold, someone who brings new people into the party, someone of that stature, someone who has a different voice. I think that helps the democracy, helps the debate."