Ron Rice, Jr. gets national DFA endorsement

by: Rosi Efthim

Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 06:07:09 PM EST

(Could not have happened to a better guy. Ron is the real deal. I am so proud of DFA's endorsement. - promoted by noweeman)

Next Wednesday night, when Ron Rice, Jr. walks into Essex County DFA's Candidates Forum, he'll be walking in the door as a nationally-endorsed DFA candidate.

In an announcement entitled "Six Rising Stars," and sent across the country this morning, national Democracy for America Chairman Jim Dean, wrote this about Rice, a candidate for Newark City Council in the West Ward:

In 2002 he ran for councilman-at-large and received more votes than any previous first-time candidate in the history of Newark. His campaign is about changing the culture of city politics, empowering residents through education, and community control of all city development.

More after the jump...

Rosi Efthim :: Ron Rice, Jr. gets national DFA endorsement

These are the first national endorsements from DFA in this very political year, and they're a big, big deal because each one of the half-dozen is a long-time member of DFA where they live. Ron, the only candidate from NJ named in this round, is a member of the Essex DFA Steering Committee and is one of the people who built it into the largest DFA in the state.

This is a guy with a long record of serving his beloved Newark in a lot of ways, some of which you can read on his campaign website

But anybody who knows Ron knows that he shows up not only for efforts he leads, but to support good work wherever he finds it - in Newark, in his region and statewide. I've seen it.

Ron is warm, intelligent and engaging. NJ for Democracy (the state DFA) is privileged to claim him as our own, and delighted DFA is shining a national spotlight on a tremendous talent.

Ron would want me to point out the Newark election is May 9, 2006, so there you go, Ron! And here are Ron's words of thanks upon hearing the news:

... I could not be more humbled by the support from both national DFA, my state "family" here in NJ, and my "homeboys and girls" in Essex DFA. I thank you all for the honor, look forward to the coming war that has to be waged for the soul of Newark, and for your continued support in that endeavor. It will not be easy, but you all have helped to make it a little easier.

Hey - Did I mention? May 9.