FDP to allow Tim Canova access to voter file in race against Debbie Wasserman Schultz

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Score one for the little guys.

After being denied access to an important voter file that could help his campaign, Democrat Tim Canova, who is challenging CD 23 incumbent Debbie Wasserman Schultz this August, will now get access to a campaign tool called the Voter Activation Network (VAN).

Canova is a first-time candidate running against Wasserman Schultz,  chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee. He complained last week that he needed access to the important voter file controlled by the party for outreach efforts, but was being unfairly denied that list by party officials

The VAN is the Democratic Party’s proprietary data tool that helps candidates access voter information and manage data produced by voter contacts throughout the campaign.

But after the Florida Democratic Progressive Caucus wrote a letter directly to Wasserman Schultz calling on her to allow Canova access to file, Florida Democratic Party president Scott Arceneaux called Canova and let him know that an exception to the VAN access policy would be made in his case.

“We’re glad to see that Canova will be given access to the voter file, but our broader concern about fairness and a level playing field for Democratic candidates still stands,” said Susan Smith, chairwoman of the Florida Democratic Progressive Caucus. “Inconsistent and non-transparent VAN access policies have been an ongoing issue in the Democratic Party.

In her letter to the DNC chair, Smith wrote that, “We should not discourage candidates from running against incumbents any more than we should discourage those incumbents from explaining to voters why they deserve another term in office. I believe that if you ask the Florida Democratic Party to allow Mr. Canova access to the voter file, they will do so.”

The issue isn’t unique to Canova or Democrats in Florida. The St. Louis American reported last month that three challengers to congressional incumbents were also denied access to the VAN by Democratic Party officials. A similar situation played out in January in New Jersey, where a challenger to an incumbent was denied access to the list and said he would pay $7,000 out of his own pocket for it.

A spokesman for the DNC would not comment to FloridaPolitics.com, but instead forwarded a Miami Herald article that reported on the incident.

Here’s the original letter sent by the Progressive Caucus to Wasserman Schultz:

Dear Congresswoman Wasserman-Schultz:

I am writing on behalf of the Democratic Progressive Caucus of Florida, an official charter of the Florida Democratic Party, with concerns expressed to us by your primary opponent, Tim Canova, that he is not being treated fairly by our state party. Our caucus has not endorsed any candidate in your race, but we do have an interest in ensuring that the public perception is that all of the Party’s candidates have been treated fairly. We’re sure you will agree.

Last week, Mr. Canova informed us that he was denied access to the shared Democratic voter file controlled and maintained by the DNC and the Florida Democratic Party. It is my understanding that Mr. Canova is more than willing to pay the standard fee paid by other candidates for the use of that voter file, the VAN.

As you know, the VAN is a necessary tool for any Democrat running one of today’s data-driven campaigns. The Party has been encouraging all candidates to use the VAN for some years now to avoid fragmentation of campaign data across a number of platforms. The VAN not only aggregates information that may be publicly available, but hard to find, it also provides a way to manage the data generated by campaigns as they make contact with voters. Because each campaign feeds data into the VAN, each candidate who uses it helps to make it stronger for our party and for future candidates.

Simply put, the Florida Democratic Party’s decision to restrict access to the VAN hurts not only Mr. Canova, but it robs the Party itself of the benefit of any data his campaign would input to enrich the statewide voter file and is likely to lead to a breakdown of discipline on VAN use by our Democratic candidates and increased fragmentation of data.

We view this issue as larger than just the voter file, however. Due to issues arising out of the Presidential Preference Primary, the Democratic Party has already been subjected to accusations of being undemocratic because of the so-called super delegates. I’m sure you will agree, additional negative attention, which might reinforce that theme, should be avoided if possible.

When the official organs of the Democratic Party give the appearance of preventing free and open primary contests, it sends a dangerously discouraging message to grassroots Democrats, on whom the Party depends for volunteer support, and to qualified Democrats who might consider running for office. It benefits the party to expand the Democratic talent pool in Florida, by not excluding or disadvantaging qualified candidates. We should not discourage candidates from running against incumbents any more than we should discourage those incumbents from explaining to voters why they deserve another term in office.

I am writing to you today because I know that you care about fostering an open and transparent Democratic Party that allows talented leaders to percolate up through the ranks. Assuming you do prevail over Mr. Canova in this primary, I am sure that you would not want that victory tainted by this misguided attempt by the Florida Democratic Party to put their thumb on the scale of the democratic process on your behalf. I believe that if you ask the Florida Democratic Party to allow Mr. Canova access to the voter file, they will do so.

Thank you for your time, attention and consideration of this request.

Sincerely,

Susan Smith, Chair

Democratic Progressive Caucus of Florida

Mitch Perry

Mitch Perry has been a reporter with Extensive Enterprises since November of 2014. Previously, he served five years as political editor of the alternative newsweekly Creative Loafing. Mitch also was assistant news director with WMNF 88.5 FM in Tampa from 2000-2009, and currently hosts MidPoint, a weekly talk show, on WMNF on Thursday afternoons. He began his reporting career at KPFA radio in Berkeley and is a San Francisco native who has lived in Tampa since 2000. Mitch can be reached at [email protected].


6 comments

  • sandra

    March 24, 2016 at 7:02 pm

    Just make sure if you put info in you do not have it stolen.

  • dee

    March 24, 2016 at 7:57 pm

    Vote Bernie Sanders. The only clear path to America’s success. The only candidate who has been fighting for you for over 30 years. The only candidate who is looking out for your interest more than any other candidate … & doesn’t talk or act like a child, doesn’t lies or is not bought into and who doesn’t break the 150 ft polling rules. The only candidate who has a bright future for America. Bernie Sanders – for America by the people.

    • Caryopteris

      March 25, 2016 at 7:32 am

      Tom can ova is running against Debra Wasserman in Florida. Debra Wasserman is trying to get her boss, Hillary Clinton, elected. Debra Wasserman is chair of the DNC, and she is biased and as big a problem as Hillary. Tim is more progressive.

  • Linda Rock

    March 24, 2016 at 11:28 pm

    Come on Florida get this one right and come out in force for Tim Canova . Debbie Wasserman Schultz is a corporatist shill who only cares about gaining power and money not the people of Florida !

  • florida

    March 25, 2016 at 1:25 pm

    hmm..was has schultz really done hmm about as much as rubio

  • Jo Bresher

    March 26, 2016 at 1:40 pm

    When I try to post this article challenging DWS by Tim Canova by getting voter files, it says F’bk is trying to close page, so I can’t post.

Comments are closed.


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