“I’m humbled and grateful for everyone’s support and trust in me. I’m excited to do everything I can as VC2 to make MultDems the model and subject of envy of every local Democratic Party in the country. I will partner with the rest of our county leadership and the DPO to ensure we’re electing Democrats who are aware of the pivotal moment in history in which we stand. Thank you!”
— Angad Singh Guliani

The following is a slightly edited transcript from a MultDems Central Committee meeting on May 4, where PCPs elected our new Vice Chair 2, Angad Singh Guliani. Here are Angad’s responses to two questions from PCPs.

A primary role of the Vice Chair 2 is to work with the Multnomah County Elections Division to make sure we have the appropriate information for folks seeking to be Precinct Committee Persons (PCPs) and to verify the current status of Dems in Multnomah County. How will you work to build a relationship with Multnomah County Elections?

First, I’d rely on our outgoing Vice Chair 2 to talk with so I can pick their brain and learn from their experience. I’m certain that they would have a wealth of experience and knowledge to share with me. Then, I’d use that information to forge my own path forward, whether an email relationship or personal relationship you rely on frequently. Whatever the situation requires and demands, I’m willing to do. 

So long as you lead from a place of kindness and empathy, most people are happy to work with you, help and offer assistance. That’s the basis of how I operate in everything I do, and that’s exactly how I’d work as Vice Chair 2.

Although the MultDems espouse wanting to be a welcoming and inclusive space for folks of color, young people and people with disabilities, we do not see that reflected in our membership and sometimes in our leadership. In your role as VC 2, who often is the first person that connects with individuals looking to become PCPs, how will you reflect that value in how you engage and talk to individuals interested in becoming PCPs or getting involved?

Ultimately, kindness and empathy are always the two best tools in your toolbox. That means simply listening to someone, letting them speak, not dismissing them, making sure you’ve heard them and then knowing you’ll make an effort to help.

I’ve learned that apathy isn’t real. It’s about finding what that person cares about and how you can offer them a space to express that care and feeling in a way that makes them feel empowered. If you can do that you can increase membership. 

Second, most of us who can spend the time to do this have lives that allow us to be present on a Sunday,Monday or Wednesday… but there are structural barriers preventing some individuals from joining because of our economic system. People need to work multiple jobs, they have children, they have elderly parents, they have responsibilities and obligations that prevent them from being part of this. 

As VC2, I recognize that and I want to work with our party to eliminate those barriers so we can have a representative party, a representative government and a representative system of law for all persons irrespective of gender, creed, race, ability, and sexuality. We need to make space for everyone and that’s done by making a more inclusive world, not just Democratic Party.

Contact Angad at vicechair2@multdems.org.