Political groups merge

By Mary Daly

Published April 15, 2008

Youth political organizations made Missouri history this past weekend at the Missouri College Democrats 2008 state convention.

The convention, held at Webster University, drew members of the Young Democrats of Missouri and the College Democrats of Missouri from across the state.

In what the groups called a historic moment, members from both CDMO and YDMO voted unanimously to approve a new constitution that reorganizes the CDMO under the YDMO as the Young Democrats of Missouri College Federation.

Missouri politicians, including representatives Jeff Harris, D-Columbia, Margaret Donnelly, D-St. Louis, and Sam Page, D-Creve Coeur, as well as Sen. Jeff Smith, D-St. Louis, spoke at the convention about the importance of young Democrats within the Missouri Democratic Party.

Former CDMO president Nate Kennedy was elected as Young Democrats of Missouri College Federation chairman. He said the merger restructures a lot of similar operations between the groups.

“It’s really a way to streamline the organizations working for the same goals here in Missouri,” Kennedy said. “It cures a lot of redundancy in our efforts to reach out to young voters, so we’re all for it.”

The Young Democrats of Missouri College Federation will still be a part of College Democrats of America and the Young Democrats of America, Kennedy said.

He also said there would not be a great deal of change seen on the local level.

“Before the merger, the College Democrats and the Young Democrats were already working together locally,” Kennedy said. “Even though I have a new title, it is essentially the same job coordinating the college chapters.”

The new executive board for YDMO includes President Rick Puig, Vice President Chris Miller and Secretary-Treasurer Aimee Koon.

Puig said he saw the convention as a chance to foster the growth of the organization.

“Our convention was a great opportunity for young Democrats across the state to reorganize and re-energize before the 2008 election,” Puig said. “We have sown the seeds of change and are excited about the challenges and opportunities that lie before us.”

A YDMO news release stated the merger would allow the organizations to operate more efficiently.

“This merger will allow Young Democrats organizations to economize their efforts and reduce unnecessary redundancies created as a result of parallel operation,” the release stated. “Moreover, the merger allows individual chapters to simultaneously have access to the resources available at the national level through the Young Democrats of America and the College Democrats of America.”

Kennedy said now that the organizations have merged, the Young Democrats would be more effective.

“Now that we’re in a cohesive single statewide structure, things are really going to start moving here,” Kennedy said. “Be ready to see a lot more young voters get out to the polls and get involved in the Democratic Party.”