Jaxon Ravens, Tina Podlodowski Appear In Snoqualmie

Washington State Committee Chair Jaxon Ravens and his opponent Tina Podlodowski spoke at the 5th District Democrats executive board meeting yesterday at the Snoqualmie Public Library.  Ravens has been under fire for what many considered a poor Democratic showing in this election cycle. 
Ravens said that lack of leadership in the Democratic National Committee was partly to blame although the party was able to keep it ground.  Podlodowski said that state Democrats had been steadily losing ground since 2010. 
The Washington State Central Committee will pick one of these two candidates at it's reorganization meeting on January 28th in Olympia.

Tina Podlodowski Seeking Top State Democratic Post

Tina Podlodowski, a former Seattle City Councilwoman who ran for Secretary Of State this year, has announced she is running for chair of the Washington State Democrats.
  Designated as the Democrat's candidate of the year, she fared poorly in the general election against incumbent Kim Wyman.  She reportedly was angered at what she felt was lack of support from the state party organization.
Podlodowski is a former Microsoft manager. Her platform is to reorganize the party at the grassroots level.  She will be challenging incumbent State Party Chair Jaxon Ravens, who has come under fire for a disappointing Democratic showing in this year's general election. 
The election for chair will be at the state party reorganization meeting in January.

Democrats Meet In Pasco

Rob Dolin calls roll as the Washington State Democratic Central Committee convenes it's spring meeting in the Tri Cities.  Chair Jaxon Ravens was pleased by the upstart Small Business Caucus that met in the morning, where the attendance jumped from 2 at the winter meetings to 15 at this one.  The body also strategized on how to win in traditionally Republican districts and of course, fundraising.

Jaxon Ravens Will Lead Washington Dems

State Democratic Executive Director Jaxon Ravens will now be Chair of the Washington State Democrats. Dana Laurent, a successful fundraiser for Democratic causes was runner up.  Ravens was chosen by the Democratic State Committee, which consists of a combinations of two representatives, from each county in the state as well as 2 reps from each of the state's legislative districts.  The committee meets quarterly at different venues throughout the state, this time it was at the Hilton in Vancouver.
Ravens had a commanding lead after the first ballot, but with 3 other contenders, failed to amass a majority.  Bottom two candidates Jay Clough, an Eastern Washington former congressional candidate and Jim Kainber, a former party executive director, were dropped and a second ballot was taken. 
The excitement of the Seattle Seahawks advancing to the Super Bowl was not lost on the group as committee members were clad in blue and green, and many answer the role call with "Go Hawks!"