In late 2003, Kevin Farmer bet a friend that if Nancy Pelosi became minority leader, he would organize his precinct. He lost that bet, and over the next twelve months, Farmer's precinct committee, based in Durham 03, near the 9th Street Business District, produced a 31% jump in turnout over 2000, raised hundreds of dollars, and became a force in the community.

Farmer, a baker by trade, had no experience in politics. “Fortunately I'm a quick learner" he says. He recruited people to get flyers announcing the annual precinct meeting to every Democrat in the precinct. That effort brought 25 people to the meeting, where they performed all the usual business, and then some. “The most important thing" Farmer adds, “is that we agreed to keep meeting."

Later meetings solidified the organizing plan: the committee recruited block coordinators to knock on doors, keep track of turnover, and distribute literature. The committee also held an “I Scream for Democrats Ice Cream Social" which raised $400. They canvassed the precinct three times, distributed a newsletter and a new voter kit, and then, to build team spirit, organized an “October Surprise" party where neighbors got together to make homemade yard signs.

These experiences taught Farmer two important lessons. First, he says, “one of the ways to get momentum is to be a source of neighborhood pride. Second, you've got to provide a service." True to that philosophy, this year Farmer's committee will clean up ten acres of local green space.

As he looks to the future, Farmer has put together a precinct web site, and is planning an e-mail newsgroup where the state's precinct chairs could share their successes. Ideally, come the next election, every precinct could say to the Coordinated Campaign what Farmer said last year: “Don't worry about it, we're covered, spend your resources elsewhere.

If you're interested in becoming part of the statewide precinct chair newsgroup, e-mail Kevin Farmer at kfarm@britsysdsl.net

Note: This is the debut of a new feature to celebrate those people throughout our state who have given their time and energy to the Democratic Party. Thank you to Doug Gibson of Asheville, who will write the column. Click here if you have a suggestion for a future column.