Practical leadership. A stronger foundation for our party.
Our Party depends on people who volunteer their time to lead county committees, organize their communities, train members, and help Democrats run for office. They deserve dependable support.
I’m running for CADEM Vice Chair to be a resource for those leaders: someone they can call, someone who follows through, and someone who helps turn shared challenges into practical solutions.
My priorities are straightforward: expand training, strengthen county parties, work closely with regional directors, and preserve the knowledge that keeps our organizations functioning.
People often step into Party leadership with enthusiasm and a willingness to work, but limited guidance about what comes next. We should make it easier for them to succeed.
I want to expand access to practical training on Party structure, governance, officer responsibilities, meeting procedures, and organizational operations.
Training should come with useful materials: sample documents, checklists, recorded sessions, and clear instructions people can return to when they need help.
County parties need basic resources to sustain their work between elections.
I will advocate for a County Party Partnership Program, based on the DNC’s 50-State Program, that combines dependable financial assistance with shared services and training. Developing that program will require collaboration, a realistic budget, transparent criteria, and approval through the Party’s decision-making process.
Every county should have an opportunity to build a functioning, sustainable organization.
Regional directors connect the state Party with local Democrats. They should have regular opportunities to share concerns, exchange ideas, and obtain assistance for the communities they serve.
I will work with regional directors and county leaders to identify common needs, connect people with useful resources, and follow up on unresolved problems.
Strong organizations develop the people who will lead them next.
That includes helping prospective candidates understand public office and prepare for the responsibilities of running. It also means mentoring new Party officers, sharing institutional knowledge, and making leadership transitions easier.
As a CADEM Regional Director and former chair of the Democratic Party of Contra Costa County, I understand how much local Party work depends on volunteers—and how difficult that work becomes when support is hard to find.
I have served my county party in various capacities since 2010. I have also developed CADEM training to help members understand the Party and participate more effectively. Most recently, I organized the Regional Directors’ Statewide Candidate Forums to inform delegates about the positions of the statewide candidates seeking our endorsement at the 2026 Convention. In addition, I was one of the first to raise the alarm about our decimated platform and fought alongside grassroots partners across the state to restore some of the most egregious cuts.
These experiences shape what I would bring to the vice chair role: practical assistance, clear communication, and respect for the people doing the work.
Together, let’s build an organization that supports its people!
A CADEM Vice Chair has few responsibilities actually defined in the state party bylaws, but all good leaders do more than just what is required of them. There are myriad opportunities to bring the various communities across the state together to collaborate and develop best practices. The business of politics shouldn’t get in the way of doing our work and electing Democrats.
Democrats across the state need to know information about the party, including dates and deadlines. Most importantly, our leaders need to LISTEN!
Regions, committees, and clubs throughout the state have people doing the same type of work, but we should be sharing best practices.
A CADEM Officer must be available to provide coaching assistance or just listen when committees encounter difficult political or organizational issues.
The CADEM Vice Chair does not just represent grassroots Democrats across the state but should be their biggest champion in Sacramento.
Current CADEM Region 3 Director and former Contra Costa Democratic Central Committee Chair Jeff Koertzen has been involved in California politics since he moved to the Bay Area in early 2010. Through the ADEM elections, he became involved in the local central committee where he was an elected Ballot Member for several years and served in several positions including Chair and Past Chair, Treasurer, Bylaws Chair, and Parliamentarian, among others. He was also the founder of the local Roosevelt Dinner (now called the Solidarity Gala) which brought local politicians and activists together for a night of socializing while raising money for the county party and future elections. Jeff has served as a delegate to the CADEM convention since 2011 and has a central committee delegate, an appointed delegate, and as an ADEM delegate and E-Board Rep representing his Assembly District. He was selected as the (former) Region 6 Democrat of the Year in 2013.
Learn how Jeff took on Microsoft and Bill Gates… and WON!