New National PAC Launches to Support Democrats with Public Service Backgrounds
Milford, CT (May 19, 2021) – Today, a new national political action committee (PAC) is being launched to support Democrats running for office – at the federal, state, and local levels – with civil and public service backgrounds.
The overall effort will include recruiting, training, and supporting Democrats with backgrounds serving communities in government, including police officers, firefighters, first responders, social workers, judges, prosecutors, public defenders, educators, and more.
Brett Broesder, the committee's executive director and a veteran communications strategist, said that Democrats with public service backgrounds connect strongly with voters but often lack access to the built-in fundraising networks of other candidates.
"For public service pros, strengthening their communities isn't just a job; it's a way of life," said Broesder. "Their first-hand experience with the real-life impact of policies makes for compelling campaign narratives and effective legislation. Unfortunately, Democrats running for office with these backgrounds often fall short due to a lack of financial support and strategic guidance. That's why we're launching Democrats Serve: to help recruit, train, and financially support candidates with public service backgrounds."
Broesder spent over a decade working for Democratic campaigns and elected officials with public service experience, including serving as campaign manager and then chief spokesperson for Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Kilmartin, who had been a police officer before winning a competitive campaign.
Prominent current and former elected Democrats from across the nation are backing the effort, including retired North Carolina Supreme Court Justice Pat Timmons-Goodson, who lost a close race for Congress in 2020, and current Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón, a former LAPD officer.
"To get better policy, we need to elect more people who have seen and felt the human impact of government," said Timmons-Goodson, who was the first Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court of North Carolina. "As a judge, I saw it all. My judicial experience helped me to see what should be done differently. Supporting non-traditional candidates who have served their communities will bring change."
"From beat cop to top cop, I spent decades in policing before I served as an elected official," said Gascón. "That experience shaped my service and gave me insights into the criminal legal system that I lean on every day. Front line workers have first-hand expertise on the most challenging problems facing our communities. To turn that experience into positive change, they need support, expertise, and access to resources."
Broesder noted several candidates who meet the criteria for Democrats Serve support and are running in high-profile races this year and more who are running or preparing to run major campaigns in 2022.
"We will be taking a hard look at the New York City mayoral race as Eric Adams, a former NYPD captain, and Kathryn Garcia, who began her career as an intern at the NYC Department of Sanitation and worked her way up in the NYC Department of Environmental Protection, each have deep backgrounds in civil service," said Broesder.
Broesder added: "Democrats like former North Carolina Supreme Court Chief Justice Cheri Beasley running for US Senate in the Tar Heel State, former police chief and current Congresswoman Val Demings considering a run for US Senate in the Sunshine State, and former federal prosecutor and current Congressman Conor Lamb who reportedly is likely to run for US Senate in the Keystone State, have proven records of civil and public service and are strong contenders."
Democrats Serve will soon announce details about a summer training program for candidates and potential candidates for all levels of public office, and the organization posted an application for the training program here.
Achim Bergmann, a top Democratic strategist and founding senior advisor to Democrats Serve, said that the group will make a concerted effort to recruit diverse candidates with experience in public safety and the justice system.
"Republicans have a habit of using scare tactics to claim Democrats don't support public safety, then turning their backs on law enforcement officers as most congressional Republicans have by refusing to hold Trump accountable for the January 6 insurrection," said Bergmann. "They have done the same to our military and veterans for years, yet that hypocrisy has been exposed more often by Democrats with military service backgrounds. There are so many outstanding public servants out there who will make great policymakers, and with more public safety officers and justice system professionals stepping up to run as Democrats, the effect of Republican scare tactics will be weakened."
Democrats Serve is structured as a Carey Committee (also known as a hybrid PAC). It contains two accounts: a traditional PAC and a super PAC. Therefore, the group can raise and spend funds, coordinating with and contributing directly to Democratic candidates.
What current and former elected Democrats are saying (Re: Democrats Serve)
In addition to the current and former elected Democrats supporting Democrats Serve mentioned above – retired NC Supreme Court Justice Pat Timmons-Goodson and Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón – additional backers of the PAC and its mission include:
West Sacramento mayor and social worker Martha Guerrero (CA) said, "Social workers often interact with people at their most vulnerable moments and that experience has given me tremendous insight into the impact of policy, both good and bad. We could use more policymakers who have worked directly with people in their communities, and these are the types of candidates Democrats Serve will help."
Former Bridgeport mayor, state senator, city councilman, director of NY State Thruway, and director of Bridgeport's emergency services department Bill Finch (CT) said, "Trump's war on public service was a disaster. As a former emergency management administrator, I know first-hand what it takes to mitigate the impact of natural disasters. That's why I'm supporting Democrats Serve and their mission to support candidates with public service backgrounds. Because the best and most responsible policymakers are often public service pros, who have seen first-hand how policies directly impact folks in their communities."
State senator, former teacher, and research specialist at the Broward County Sheriff's Office Shevrin Jones (FL) said, "Teaching high school chemistry at a public school gave me a unique perspective on the challenges our young people face and solutions needed to improve education. Democrats Serve will help more educators get elected to public office so we can create more opportunities for our future."
Former Nevada Assembly Speaker, congressional candidate, and fire captain John Oceguera (NV) said, "Serving as a firefighter motivated me to step up and serve my community, and made me a better legislator. I'm enthusiastic about Democrats Serve because our frontline public servants make great community leaders, and often need the help to make the leap."
Suffolk County legislator and former social worker Kara Hahn (NY) said, "To be a social worker, first responder, or educator means you've devoted your life to making a difference in your community. We should be helping these kinds of service-oriented people get elected to public office. I'm excited that Democrats Serve is stepping up to do this because the result will be good policy."
Former Portland mayor, police officer, and police chief Tom Potter (OR) said, "We need more elected officials who know what it means to serve the public and deliver results. I'm looking forward to helping Democrats Serve recruit and support a diverse field of public servants ready to step up to elected office in their communities."
About Democrats Serve
Democrats Serve is a political action committee (PAC) that supports Democrats running for office – at the federal, state, and local levels – with civil and public service backgrounds. The group does this by recruiting, training, and supporting Democrats nationwide with backgrounds serving communities in government, including police officers, firefighters, first responders, social workers, judges, prosecutors, public defenders, educators, and more.
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