For those of us in Arizona, we've had reason to be proud of one thing about our local politics and that's the Clean Elections Act. This act keeps special interest money out of political campaigns and allows people who are NOT millionaires to run for office.  Well, you can guess, it's under attack.

Below the fold is the email I just received and what us Arizonans (Zonies for you Californians) can do.  This is important.  Please take time to fight for this.

This morning was our county democratic party elections (rural Arizona county).  As a member of the nominating committee I pushed to get some DFA and progressive types on the slate.  Sure enough, they were voted in this morning. Whoo hoo!

Not only that, I am now one of 22 new state committee members of the Democratic Party.  At least six of us are DFAers.  Though, to be honest, our county party in Arizona is made up of progressive sorts, so this was incredibly easy to do.

If you are interested in achieving something like this, please, please, please, pleeeeeeease become a precinct captain/committee person. I got myself elected this last year and that put me in position to volunteer to be a candidate for the state party. I wouldn't have been able to do this without having that elected PC status.

January 22 is the first meeting of the state party down in Phoenix.  I do hope that a lot of the new members come from the DFA.  Anyone here planning to be at the meeting?

I had forgotten about the Democratic Party meetup until someone mentioned there was some kind of meeting scheduled for tonight. As the person who started the group and was the "host" I felt I should show up, but didn't expect anyone. Well, imagine my surprise when nine people showed up. Some of them new to any local meetup.

I am amazed. A week after the most demoralizing election in our lifetimes and people showed up, ready to do something. It's finally happening for the party. An infrastructure is being built at the local levels. Supporters and volunteers for the party are ready to work, and not just in an election year. We're ready to do what we have to do now.

We discussed Gov. Napolitano's re-election bid in 2006, the CD-1 race, and what we could do.  I shared all the good info that Chris Bowers is giving us about negative messages against conservatives.

We are trying to figure out what we can do regularly to help reframe how people think about the parties. People are motivated to find something that works. We also decided that we were willing to lose battles (if Arizona puts up an anti-gay marriage amendment, which we will fight) as long as our fight helps change a few minds. It's worth it. We also need some battles that we could win. It all comes down to how to persuade people to our side.

Anyway, I was excited that this interest in the party and in the political situation will not die down until the next election. People aren't giving up.