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It's Longo -- in a knockout
In what was likely the most contentious race for a volunteer Democratic party regional director position since a tiff between the Lancastrians and Yorkists touched off the War of the Roses, incumbent August Longo on Saturday fended off Chris Daly via a one-sided 77-28 vote at the state party convention.
While Daly framed his decision to run as a move i
nspired by the euphoria of Barack Obama's ascent to the presidency, Longo and his allies claimed it was part of an e
laborate power-grab meant to shore up votes within the local party -- and accused Daly and Aaron Peskin of threatening to dredge up Longo's extensive criminal past if the incumbent didn't step aside (both Daly and Peskin denied this).
We may never know the truth behind all of these accusations. But we do know this: August Longo knew all along where he stood in the eyes of the party delegates who cast their votes overwhelmingly for him Saturday, and he managed to lock up the endorsements -- with office-holders and organized labor -- that earned him two more years as regional director.
