David Hadley (Inadvertently) Condemns the CAGOP Establishment

David Hadley sent out another eblast, and he insisted on sending it out with his masthead "David Hadley for CRP Chair".

Seriously?

In the email, he announces a whole series of problems with the three remaining candidates running for CAGOP Chairman.

Really?!

Sounds like someone is bitter. I can understand why there would be hurt feelings. After all, he helped swing a seat which had not been in Republican hands for twenty years and brought it back into the GOP fold for one term.

His decision not to support President Trump did hurt him, and his very public voting and rhetorical record did cost him significantly, too.

Check out his snarky comments going after Travis Allen for being late all the time — you know what? David Hadley is right about that. He was often late to events, and he would routinely blame something else, like the traffic or other issues.

Granted, the traffic in California is terrible, but in the meantime, as an elected official, it is essential to make it on time, not just make excuses.

As for what David Hadley had to say about Jessica Patterson — well, she is Establishment with a Capital E!

(Note: I’m using my old email template but I have NOT resumed my campaign for CRP chair)

The First Sixty Days After the CRP Convention

After we elect the next CRP chair, what is he/she going to do? Unfortunately, less than one month before the convention, I don’t know.

Travis Allen’s supporters tell us he has the “energy,” the “bold vision,” the “volunteer army” and the fundraising ability to rebuild the CA GOP. I have no idea what Travis would do as CRP chair, except that he’d be late for a lot of meetings. The only specific idea I’ve heard from Travis is the “California 100,000,” to which I suggest you google “Youtube Kramer levels” and watch the top video.

Jessica Patterson says she is going to “take the fight to Democrats,” “execute aggressive programs,” and bring the CRP the "operational excellence" that wins elections. I consider Jessica a capable staffer and she has announced her candidacy for chair recently, so maybe there is more “there” coming. But right now I have no idea what her plan or vision are.

To his credit, Steve Frank has released a blizzard of plans, programs and goals. I consider some of them worthwhile. But Steve’s plans fail to address two key issues:

Planning and leadership are about setting priorities with limited time and resources. Steve and the CRP staff cannot possibly execute on most of Steve’s plans, which really means Steve doesn't have a plan until he sets priorities and focuses his resources.
Steve has no serious plan for fundraising, and the financial agreement between the CRP and the legislative caucuses that today provides most CRP funding (“One Ask”) will probably not be renewed if Steve is chair. So within 60 days of the convention, CRP will likely have little money and a skeleton staff. Which means that the CRP could mostly be Steve traveling the state giving talks and training volunteers (which he has been doing for years).

To be fair to Steve, I think the CRP will also have a financial crisis promptly if Travis is elected. Given the support Jessica has received from GOP elected officials, I suspect she expects to renew One Ask.

So what would be my sixty-day action plan if I were chair?

I would spend time before February 24 preparing the February 24 CRP board meeting agenda. I would seek input on that agenda, especially from existing board members who remain. We have no “transition period” for our new officers, it would be irresponsible for any chair candidate not to be prepared to lead an effective board meeting upon his/her election.
The most immediate question to address is whether the legislative caucuses and the CRP will renew One Ask. If the terms of such an agreement can be negotiated before the February 24 CRP board meeting, that would be most efficient. But clarity is essential, because the new board has decisions to make.
I personally believe there is value in One Ask, for all parties, if the party is well led. Having three groups competing for Sacramento funds would hurt our cause. I would reframe One Ask as a “services agreement,” in which the caucuses specify what services they want the CRP to provide and the revenue shares depend on that.
Whether One Ask is approved or not, the incoming and outgoing treasurer (thank you Mario Guerra!) should provide a status report to the new CRP board. Cash on hand and debts, burn rate at current staff and program levels, revenue from CRP programs. How much time does CRP have to execute the vision of the new board while aligning expenditures with revenues?
The new chair should ask Cynthia Bryant (CRP executive director) to provide a confidential (no staff) board briefing on the programs the CRP executed in 2017-18 and on the staff that executed them. While our 2018 election results were catastrophic, it would add insult to injury not to learn the appropriate lessons and who our most effective staffers were.
The new chair and the CRP board also need to reach an understanding with Cynthia. Whether the plan is to retain her on a transitional or indefinite basis, or not to retain her, is a decision that should be made on February 24.
On February 24 or soon after, the CRP needs to actively manage its small dollar donor programs (direct mail, telemarketing and email) and launch a mid-tier member/donor program outside Sacramento. Regarding the latter, I have already advocated for a California 5,000 type-program modeled on my successes in AD66. With or without One Ask, the CRP’s revenue from Sacramento is likely to decline materially – building the party outside Sacramento will be critical for the CRP to succeed.
Based on the February 24 treasurers’ report, the renewal (or not) of One Ask or a successor services agreement, the near-term revenue and expense trends and the ramping up of new fundraising programs, the second meeting of the new board will be even more important than the first. The board will need to make crucial decisions about its priorities and what programs to fund given the resources of the CRP, the services the caucuses will pay for and the priorities of the chair and the full board.
I am talking mostly about money and staff not because the priorities and programs of the new chair and the full CRP board are not important – the new board will set our path going forward. But virtually everything the CRP does requires some staff action and money (even recruiting and equipping volunteers). The CRP is in a sufficiently precarious place that the new board must husband resources and make decisions about priorities and staff quickly.

The new chair will have a lot of other things to do during this period too, it will be incredibly busy. The chair’s job comes with fires to put out and opportunities to pursue every day. But within 60 days of February 24, the new CRP chair and board should have established their strategic priorities, and a staffing plan and budget that are consistent with financial reality.

David Hadley
Vice Chair, California Republican Party (appointed July 2018)
Former State Assemblyman (2014 – 2016)
Former Chairman, 66th AD Central Committee (2012 – 2013)

I urge every delegate in the California Republican Party to support Steve Frank for Chairman.

He has substance, and he can build on the strengths for style for every candidate running for office. He has not just talked about the issues plaguing the Republican Party, but he is fully committed to doing something about these problems.

As I write this blog post, and as you are reading this post, rest assured that he is already working on doing something about these issues. Steve Frank is reaching out to different communities to get them involved in voter registration and candidate outreach. He has helped other candidates win elections, and he has even prepared manuals to help these candidates.

He has worked with grassroots leaders, and he has offered help and advice for other projects relating to accomplishing conservative ends.

We need Steve Frank to be the CAGOP next state party chairman. Please join me in supporting him!