This morning Alan Clendenin sent out a press release stating he had increased the fundraising for his Union PAC by almost 900% when he led the operation. The PAC went from raising about $200 k per election cycle to raising millions. The release included a letter from the former legislative director of the NACTA union. This is an interesting development as Clendenin’s critics have claimed he had no fundraising experience. This letter clearly contradicts that narrative.
Release and letter below.
Tampa, FL – Alan Clendenin Candidate for Florida Democratic Party Chairman today received the strong support of Randy Weiland, the former Chairman of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) National legislative Committee. Under Clendenin’s leadership the NACTA-PAC grew its fundraising numbers by nearly 900%. Clendenin created a comprehensive program and plan which increased fundraising from less than 200 thousand dollars to millions of dollars per election cycle.
In the attached letter Weiland describes the nationwide infrastructure that Clendenin developed for the NACTA-PAC to support legislative activity from the ground up. Under Clendenin’s leadership as Weiland discusses NACTA-PAC was able to forge a body of informed motivated and highly functional citizen lobbyists. Creating a grassroots army of this size also required NATCA PAC to grow a sufficient size to command respect from all members of Congress and significant fundraising base to sustain its legislative activities.
“It was solely through Alan’s campaign of building legislative activism and raising funds that allowed the legislative activism of the union to grow from a mere afterthought to a fighting vibrant force on the Hill. Alan has a strong record of taking an organization in need of building or rebuilding and making it a highly competitive legislative force,” Weiland said
Mr. Weiland’s letter of endorsement is below.
ENDORSEMENT LETTER FROM RANDY WEILAND:
January 13, 2013
My name is Randy Weiland and I am a former Chairman of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA), National legislative Committee. Alan Clendenin held this position prior to me. I am endorsing Alan Clendenin to lead the Florida Democratic Party. I have known Alan since 1997, and I served under his leadership in various positions for many years. As he moved up through the ranks of leadership I had the distinct privilege of assuming the positions he vacated.
I strongly endorse Alan due to his proven track record and demonstrated skills in not only fund raising (raising over four Million dollars) but also creating grassroots legislative activism. Alan designed a nationwide infrastructure to support legislative activity from the ground up. Alan was able to create a volunteer workforce that was active in every congressional district in the United States. Under Alan’s leadership we were able to forge a body of informed, motivated and highly functional citizen lobbyists. Creating a grassroots army of this size also required Alan to grow NATCA PAC to a sufficient size to command respect from all members of Congress. Alan is an incredible fundraiser.
Under his leadership he grew the NATCA PAC into one of the most successful PACs in the federal union sector. When he started, our PAC was raising less than 200 thousand dollars a cycle. Alan implemented a strategic plan for growth. During his tenure he increased the fund by nearly 900%. The program he implemented continued to grow the PAC long after he left office. Using the foundation he left behind, today the NATCA PAC has grown to over 8 million dollars a cycle. When I assumed the chairman position from Alan, NATCA PAC was sought after by many members of Congress on a daily basis for political financial support. NATCA PAC was seated at the table with major party contributors and was continually relied upon by many campaigns to maintain a democratic presence both in the House and the Senate.
It was solely through Alan’s campaign of building legislative activism and raising funds that allowed the legislative activism of the union to grow from a mere afterthought to a fighting vibrant force on the Hill. Alan has a strong record of taking an organization in need of building or rebuilding and making it a highly competitive legislative force.
Why didn’t Clendenin get this information out sooner if it is so fantastic? On the surface it appears big but who knows considering many have already been swayed to Tant based on fundraising.
As a Clendenin supporter I am also a bit confused as to why this wasn’t played earlier. But political campaigns are about timing and perhaps Alan and his crack team felt this was the right time?
Still on the substance this should end any and all discussion of the party going broke if Tant loses. Clendenin has actually put together an impressive list of potential financial backers in south Florida who aren’t controlled by DWS.
DWS the big loser in this chairs race even if Tant wins. Her private behavior towards activists has made even those who like her cringe.
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Game changer.
I think shows a real understanding of fundraising and how grassroots networking contributes to fundraising that has been lacking from Allison Tant.
All we hear from Tant’s side is outrageous claims as to how much money she can raise even though he fundraising experience is either hosting house parties for the President or writing checks herself often to Republicans.
We see nor hear ANYTHING about building a long term infrastructure or organizing a mechanism to sustain fundraising after she’s gone. Alan Clendenin has walked the walk. His plan is not just talk or something created by a slick PR consultant. It is based on his success as a grassroots organizer both with his union and the Democratic Party.
The choice is even clearer this morning than before. Anyone who votes for Tant is voting merely on self interest and not for the greater good.
Joe Abruzzo who is an excellent fundraiser endorsed Clendenin also today.
Really with this fundraising revelation the case for Tant is gone. That is unless you feel we must have a women whose world view does not extend the lobbyist and cocktail party circuit in Tallahassee.
+1 . Truer words never spoken on this site. Fundraising argument now gone for Tant.
Tant raised $300,000 for Obama by being a socialite, NOT A PROFESSIONAL FUNDRAISER!! If she were a professional fundraiser, then I think her “fundraising skills” would come into play. But she isn’t!!!! And, honestly, raising $300,000 is nothing. People all around the nation raise that much for Obama every single day during the election. I bet even people in South Florida raised more in one day for Obama than Tant did in an entire election year.
Tant is going to ignore the unions, who are the only ones that actually organize and try to win elections for Democrats. She gives money to Republicans, very recently as well, she helped put in a system that disenfranchised black voters and has hardly been a loyal Democrat.
Honestly, if people vote for Tant, they truly have to ask themselves if they are Democrats. Honestly, I think if you vote for Tant, you are an absolute fraud, or been paid off!!!!!!! I hope this site calls out these FRAUDS and SELLOUTS once the election is over because they f*cking deserve it! So please TPH, find out who voted for Tant on the 26th and expose these people as absolute sellouts to the Democratic party!!!
Randy Weiland just opened a pathway for Palm Beach County delegate John Ramos to re-affirm his support for Alan Clendenin, per the document he signed last week.
We’re counting on you, John, to do the right thing. We know you are under tremendous pressure by one of the state’s/nation’s ‘power peeps’ to rescind your support for Alan Clendenin.
John, I encourage you to read the ‘plans’ submitted by Alan Clendenin and Allison Tant.
I encourage you to read this article again.
After studying both plans and comparing the fund-raising history of Mr. Cendenin and Ms. Tant, and after the PB DEC which you represent clearly stated the preference of PB Dems, I know you will faithfully reflect your base of support and will reach a decision your conscience will allow.
Your choice is clear…Tant who gets her money from Crist or Abruzzo who get his money from mafia and Jeff Greene.
Fucking idiots.
Allison Tant was led into this misadventure by Michael Adler and Christopher Findlater. The latter two demanded DWS support her or else. She was not DWS’ first choice. Tant probably now realizes that she was ill-advised.