The new chair of the Monroe County Democratic Committee says his first priority is to bridge a divide in the party.
Dave Garretson was elected to that post last night. But the election did not include all party leaders and members. Some, including City Councilman Adam McFadden and State Assemblyman David Gantt, staged a walkout. Gantt told the Democrat and Chronicle that he left the session because of his dissatisfaction with the party, but did not elaborate.
There were divisions in the party last year after some prominent Democrats continued to support Mayor Tom Richards after he lost the primary election to Lovely Warren.
Garretson said he reached out to Gantt and McFadden this morning. "Our party is composed of so many diverse types of people; rich, poor, all ethnicities, all religions, and we disagree every single day. And unlike other parties, when we disagree every single day, everybody knows about it,” Garretson said. "There are some divisions. Some of it's racial, not all of it. We have a number of different factions. Job number one for me as the new chair is to listen to all Democrats, to focus not on our disagreements, but what we do agree on and where we can work together."
Garretson said after getting through the November elections, the his top agenda items for next year will be to get a Democrat elected as Monroe County Executive and to win a majority in the County Legislature. He said county government under Republican leadership is "in a shambles".
Garretson, who has worked in sales and marketing and is a former retail store owner , replaces State Assembly Majority Leader Joe Morelle as chair of the local Democratic Party.
Mayor Lovely Warren says she had a prior commitment and was not able to be at the Democratic Committee meeting Tuesday night. But she told WXXI News that she is ready to work with Garretson.
“I am thankful that the Democratic Party was able to choose their chairman and we’re going to move forward. When asked whether she supports Garretson as the new chairman, Warren said she would.
“Oh yes, the Democratic Party chose who their chairman was and of course I’m going to work with him to make sure that he’s successful and our party moves forward”
Warren declined comment when asked what she thought about party members staging a walk-out at the meeting just before the vote.
