by Rob Taylor Jr., Courier Staff Writer
The New Pittsburgh Courier has learned that state Rep. Austin Davis, of the 35th House District, has abruptly resigned as vice chairman of the Allegheny County Democratic Committee.
Representative Davis made the announcement on Monday afternoon, Feb. 24, publicly expressing his displeasure with ACDC chairwoman Eileen Kelly, and the stances she’s taken publicly in recent days.
The ACDC recently endorsed Heather Kass over Jess Benham in the state House’s 36th District race. Kass wrote on social media in past years that she was no fan of what’s commonly known as Obamacare, along with showing public support of the current president, Donald Trump, a Republican. Kass also referred to recovering drug users as “junkies,” which didn’t sit well with Allegheny County Councilwoman Bethany Hallam, a Democrat, who is a recovering addict.
But Kelly, during a press conference last week, confirmed her stance in standing by the Committee’s endorsement of Kass and not the progressive Benham, and defended the Committee’s endorsement of Chris Rowland, a North Braddock councilman, over the incumbent, Summer Lee, an African American woman who became the first Black woman elected to the state House from Western Pennsylvania. Currently, Rep. Lee represents the state House’s 34th District.
“Since the election of Eileen Kelly as Chair, I have struggled with the decision to stay in my position as vice chairman,” Rep. Davis told the New Pittsburgh Courier on Feb. 24. “I understood then, as I understand now, how essential it is for historically underrepresented voices to be in a position of power in order to create systemic change that is needed within our system. However, it has long been clear that there is no seat for any voice different from Chair Kelly.”
Representative Davis continued: “The events of the past weeks have crystallized that we don’t share the same vision and values. So it was time for me to focus my efforts elsewhere to elect Democrats in 2020.”
Representative Davis told the Courier he did not agree with the ACDC’s decision to endorse Rowland over Rep. Lee. He, along with state Reps. Jake Wheatley and Ed Gainey, all African Americans, have publicly denounced the ACDC for not endorsing Rep. Lee.
Representative Davis has called for Kelly to resign as Democratic Committee Chairwoman…as has U.S. Rep. Mike Doyle, who wrote on Feb. 20 in a statement: “It is clear to me and many other leaders and stakeholders in the Democratic Party that the Chair must resign to ensure that Democrats across the county have faith in our Party and remain unified. It’s time for fresh new leadership and to re-examine our bylaws to ensure we unite our party around our common values in this vitally important election year.”
Just how does the Allegheny County Democratic Committee select its supported candidates? Representative Davis told the Courier that there are roughly 2,400 committee members throughout the county. Roughly 70 to 80 members out of the 2,400 represent a certain part, or district, in the county. In the area that both Rep. Lee and Rowland are located (North Braddock, Braddock, etc.), Rep. Davis told the Courier that the majority of those members endorsed Rowland over Rep. Lee.
But Rep. Davis also said the committee members throughout the county traditionally skew older and are from the “old Democratic Party,” he said. That’s why Rep. Davis, he told the Courier, is always advocating for younger, more diverse people to get more involved in local politics, specifically organizations like the Allegheny County Democratic Committee.
(ABOUT THE TOP PHOTO: STATE REP. AUSTIN DAVIS)
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