Gilroy
– Congressman Mike Honda, D-San Jose, has been elected
vice-chair of the Democratic National Party, a position that places
him at the heart of the party’s fund-raising and organizational
apparatus.
Gilroy – Congressman Mike Honda, D-San Jose, has been elected vice-chair of the Democratic National Party, a position that places him at the heart of the party’s fund-raising and organizational apparatus.
Honda and four other prominent Democrats were elected in mid-February to four-year positions as vice-chairs.
“Historically, fundraising has been a function of the chair,” said Honda, referring to newly elected DNC chair Howard Dean. “I decided to run for that position, for one, to help the chair do his job, and also to help go around the country to organize the grassroots from the local level up to the national.”
A chief duty will involve traveling the country to address ethnic and racial minority groups, Honda said, especially Asian and Latino populations.
On May 18, for instance, Honda will host ceremonies during the DNC’s celebration for Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. In his role as vice-chair, the congressman will also speak on several national radio programs, including Air America, a liberal talk show hosted by comedian and political pundit Al Franken.
“It’s a high-profile position so there’s a role in policy leadership, but probably more important is fund-raising and organizational leadership” said Terry Christensen, a political science professor at San Jose State University. “It’s important for Silicon Valley and California to be well-placed in party leadership, which we haven’t been for a while.”
Christensen said the last local congressional member in a top party position was Norman Y. Mineta, who rose through the Democratic party hierarchy to serve as Secretary of Commerce under President Bill Clinton, and now as Secretary of Transportation under President George W. Bush.
In 1971, Mineta, then mayor of San Jose, appointed Honda to his first political position on the city’s planning commission. Honda went on to serve on the San Jose school board and later as a Santa Clara County Supervisor, before winning election to congress in 2000. He now serves as vice chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, a group co-founded by Mineta during his 20-year tenure in congress.
Christensen said Honda will be well-positioned for a cabinet seat or some other top slot if Democrats regain the White House in 2008.
The congressman said, however, that he does not regard the position as “a stepping stone.”
“I view it more as an opportunity for service,” Honda said. “Other than helping set the course for the Democratic Party, there are not many tangible benefits to the position. To my knowledge, the DNC Vice Chair position has rarely served as a spring board to any higher office. The position is a chance to give back, and try to make a positive mark during the term of office. After that, it will be someone else’s turn.”
