Van Parish Named State Director of California Democratic Party

Van Parish, State Director of CA Democratic Party

Oakland, CA - California State Democratic Party Chairman Art Torres recently named Van Parish the new State Director of the California Democratic Party's "Every Vote Counts" 2004 campaign.

"I've been impressed with Van's political acumen during his tenure with the Democratic Party and know he will continue to be a tremendous asset to the Party's efforts to engage California's voters and leaders," says Democratic Party Chairman Art Torres.

Serving as top strategist for the party's electoral operations, Parish is charged with designing and implementing the state's blueprint strategy to ensure a Democratic victory in November, 2004. Parish is headquartered in the Los Angeles office and leads an executive staff including the campaign's political director, field director, targeting director, communications director and controller.

"Throughout the state democratic activists are preparing to execute our campaign plan to deliver successful outcomes for California's Democratic ticket, including John Kerry for President, Barbara Boxer for United States Senate, and our Congressional and state Legislative candidates," explains Parish.

A native Californian, the veteran campaign consultant and strategist has over 25 years of experience in electoral campaigns and public affairs. As staff and advisor to numerous policymakers, elected officials, and political candidates, Parish has worked with leaders throughout the country, at every level of government, from city council to Congress.

Parish has served in various capacities with the Democratic Party over the past two decades.  He served as the Party's Political Director and was the youngest, as well as the first African American to do so. In 2000, Parish returned to the Party as the Northern California Political Director for the State Coordinated Campaign.

A seminal moment in Parish's career was in 2000 when Chairman Art Torres invited him to serve on a team of six Californians to work with the Gore/Lieberman recount effort in Florida. Over the course of 36 days, the California team traveled throughout the state of Florida, training volunteers in recount procedures and overseeing efforts in Miami Dade, Broward, and Volusia Counties. "It was in Volusia County that the team was lauded for its identification of 98 previously uncounted votes for the Gore/Lieberman ticket," explains Torres.

Dating back to 1978, Parish experienced his first electoral campaign working for the late California Congressman Julian Dixon. This experience was followed up with an internship in the Carter White House in 1979. Thereafter, in 1982, Parish served as Alameda County Regional Director for Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley's momentous attempt to become California's first African American Governor.

A graduate of the University of Southern California's School of Public Policy, Golden Gate University's School of Law and the prestigious Coro Fellowship in Public Affairs, Parish is one of the field's foremost experts in the design and implementation of voter contact programs.