Just weeks after the elections that saw a GOP majority retake the Westmoreland County leadership, county row offices and most of the open judge seats where Democratic candidates were not listed on both tickets, the county Democratic Party is posting about the impeachment trial and Donald Trump Jr.’s book tour and mocking Trump supporters.
What its leaders aren’t doing is finding out why voters rejected their party’s candidate. They’re not focusing on the issues that directly affect Westmoreland County residents. There is no effort to reach out to their constituency to find out what residents want, no communication about what steps they’re taking to rebuild, and no effort to rebuild their message so it aligns more with the attitudes and values of the local voters and not national talking points.
This county was a Democratic stalwart because so much of it benefitted from Democratic policies like the New Deal, which built many local communities. But the current leadership of the county party doesn’t seem to care about the residents or the issues needed to rebuild this county; they care about only taking down Trump and tying themselves to national politics to climb the DNC ladder.
The people of Westmoreland County spoke on Nov. 5 and sent this party a rejection letter. When will the committee members realize their leadership is leading them into political obscurity and demand new blood who can do what it takes to win seats? It’s time Rachel Shaw and Paul Adams do the right thing and step down.
Bill Marx
Delmont
The writer is vice president of Delmont Borough Council and a member of the Westmoreland County Democratic Committee.