Damián Preciado: Setting a Collaborative Future for MCDP
By: Ryan Boyd
Tags: Politics, Candidate Profile, Democratic Party

Three years ago, I met Damián Preciado. A visionary who saw the challenges that faced Democrats in Arizona and saw solutions in the hard work of growing community power one precinct committeeperson (PC) at a time through a grassroot organization he founded, the White Hat Democrats.

This ambitious faith in people and his insatiable work ethic made me a believer then, and he continues to impress me as he now runs for the Maricopa County Democratic Party (MCDP) Chair on December 19th.

That’s not to say I didn’t question him. Back in 2017, I only had memories of my first visit to a Legislative District (LD) meeting in which a heated argument over accepting a budget report lead to an obscure parliamentary move that took over an hour to resolve.

How was this the work that would make a change in my neighborhood? Could I really recommend my friends spend hours in these meetings instead of working in the advocacy groups and campaigns actively aiding our communities?

But Damián saw these as opportunities to expand who the party works with and to bring more people who care in. He knows the pressures people face every day. Born in Mexicali and the son of a migrant worker family, he knows the intersectional challenges many Arizonans overcome every day in their survival.

Perhaps this is why when running for Affirmative Action Moderator after serving as Second Vice Chair of LD24 Damián told me that nothing worth doing comes easily. He, his family and his community had risen to so many challenges that the critical work to diversify the membership of the Democratic Party wasn’t as daunting.

Now, after four years of experience and serving as a Vice Chair in the State Party, Damián comes with a vision for expanding and strengthening the groundwork laid at the MCDP.

2020, for all the challenges it provided, saw some success for Democrats. But that success did not find its way to local races as much as many had predicted.

Damián, a technology consultant in his day-job, knows the value of looking at the data. He wants to commission a study and review the results as a party and not just jump to conclusions based off of intuitions without seeing the full picture of what happened this year.

And it speaks to Damián’s leadership style as well. While running, he has invited comments from the PCs in the various areas the MCDP is responsible. He understands that the party is only as strong as its members and they should guide the leadership of the MCDP.

Meanwhile, there is certainly a lot to discuss. Fundraising experienced a boom this year with the Presidential race and the cataclysmic stakes of the federal election. How will MCDP maintain that or adapt as we enter a midterm?

Enthusiasm was similarly record-breaking and the turnout extraordinary, but we all know that performing this well is a challenge in 2022. Volunteer programs, support for the LDs and for candidates must all be increased with a human touch as well.

The stress of elections is heavy on us all. Damián believes in the importance of the human element in all of this. He wants to be a caring, servant leader. To empower our members and to show how we similarly will empower our communities in office.

Damián knows this will take time. He is committed to multiple terms, should the MCDP elect him. He will work hard to connect with the advocacy groups and clubs that are doing amazing work in our communities and be present with them. He tells me that it does not matter who gets credit as much as it is that we come together and support and elect quality candidates.

Ultimately, elections are choices between various futures. The MCDP Chair at minimum does some administrative things to organize the resources and the goals of the party. But if you believe in a broader, stronger and more diverse MCDP, then those actions that go beyond the job title are exactly what you will get by electing Damián Preciado.

Convinced? You’ll like Tristan Topps who is running alongside Damián Preciado for First Vice Chair. Learn more about her here.