Kat Overman is passionate about rebuilding the Washington State Democratic Party through grassroots organizing. She links the necessity for optimal voter data information with active on-the-ground recruitment. She is the second of the four candidates for Party Chair whom we recently interviewed.
Read on for the full interview. Or you can check out our recent interview with Greg Rodriguez. Stay tuned for upcoming inteviews with Bill Phillips and incumbent Chair Paul Berendt.
Q: What have you been doing to revitalize the Democratic Party in this state?
KO: I've been involved in the Party from many angles. I've managed campaigns; I've done media coordination, political consulting, lobbying, fund-raising, mass mailing and volunteer coordination. I co-founded a political club, the Possession Sound Democratic Club; I've been the Political Organizer of the King County Labor Council and most recently I walked 21 precincts to get Mike Sells elected Representative to the Legislature from the 38th District.
Q: How would you sum up what you did or learned?
KO: I learned how little we know about voters in this state. The lists were terrible; the information was no good. The technology for this state has to be updated.
Q: What would you do as State Chair?
KO: I plan to do one-on-one rebuilding. There is a lot of grunt work that needs to be done. We need to make use of the lists from the Kerry and Dean and Kucinich campaigns and everyone else. We need to give individuals their own "garden to tend", a small chunk where they can get to know the people and knock on their doors when they are home and talk with them and see what is important to them.
I want to be able to take the issues and information and get it out to people across the state. We need to keep those new people involved and active. There were 1000 people working Snohomish County this time out. If they stay active, when the next election comes around, we will know who's out there and what they think.
We also need to get funding to have an office in Eastern Washington. I think it should be in Moses Lake - that's the heart of the Hispanic Community. We have to reach out to that community. We need be bilingual; to have all our literature translated into Spanish and printed so people can use it.
Q: Why should you be the Chair?
KO: I am passionate about rebuilding the Party here. I am willing to listen and work with people all over the state.
Q: How would you involve the other candidates if you win?
KO: I've got a good picture of what each of the other candidates is most interested in and I would utilize their knowledge and passion.
