A rift in the Franklin County Democratic Party appears wider as various factions vie for seats on the party’s central committee.
Central committee candidate Dale Snyder, a self-described life-long Democrat, says the Franklin County Democratic Party is becoming more of a dictatorship than a democracy. He’s upset the party endorsed his opponent in next month’s primary.
“We’ve got to stop this fighting,” Snyder said. “We’re Democrats and we’re being treated like we’re Republicans you know we’re not being treated like Democrats and it’s offensive to me as a life-long Democrat as much as I’ve fought for the party not to get the endorsement is offensive.”
Party chairman William Anthony shrugged off the criticism. He says the Democratic Party is diverse and says the bickering is the result of “natural evolution.”
“Our party is made up of folks with a lot of different ideals and agendas so we are a very diverse party. And what you’re seeing now is part of that diversity. Folks who would like to have some say-so in the party and would like to be a part of the party are fighting to become part of the party,” Anthony said.
Factions formed last year when mayoral candidate Andrew Ginther received the Democratic Party’s endorsement over fellow Democrat Zach Scott. Franklin County Commissioner Paula Brooks threw her support behind Scott. Now Brooks has lost the party’s endorsement which has gone to her primary opponent Kevin Boyce.