For Full Disclosure in Campaigns

My name is Lauren Trendler. I use she/her pronouns and live in Oak Park. I am the Wine Director for Corner Shop. Why am I providing this information? Because this is how I would introduce myself if I was motivating a campaign resolution. Socialists believe in organizing workers. Sharing one’s occupation and city of residence connects comrades to organizing opportunities in their industry and community. It is also important in assessing one’s motivations when proposing that Metro Detroit DSA endorse a campaign or join a coalition.

Our chapter has long been recognized for having a strong ground game. We show up in force to picket lines, anti-war and anti-ICE protests. We have prominent, outspoken elected officials as members like Rashida Tlaib, Dylan Wegela, and most recently Denzel McCampbell, whose recent win was a big victory for the chapter.

Over the years as a DSA member and former chair of the Electoral Committee, I have seen candidates come to us seeking endorsement, eager for our labor but hesitant to publicly identify as socialists or organize with us. Many organizations want us to pound the pavement but will not offer us a seat at the table. The disclosure of personal and professional connections to a campaign will provide membership with objective information in order to make informed decisions.

I wrote R10-26 to promote transparency in our democratic decision making process. This resolution aligns with DSA’s Code of Conduct Section 3: Recognize and avoid possible conflicts of interest, which states “I will disclose any financial, personal, family, or close intimate relationship interest in matters of official DSA business which may impact on the work of DSA.”

R10-26 would amend Article III of the chapter bylaws to include: Authors and signers of resolutions and amendments proposed in working groups, at chapter general meetings, and at local conventions will be required to state personal and professional affiliations related to the subject matter of the resolution. It makes sense that if a chapter member is promoting a particular organization to work with, the chapter should know the promoter’s relationship to that organization. If a candidate has staff on their payroll organizing within the chapter for their endorsement, R10-26 would require them to disclose that to members during the endorsement process.

The 30 comrades who signed the amendment listed their occupation and location, including Amazon workers, union staff, and rank and file. The chapter Logistics & Planning Committee removed this information. According to the Groundwork caucus’ voting guide, such disclosures will make comrades vulnerable to doxxing. However, the very people they seek to protect willingly volunteered this information.

I encourage anyone who values transparency, democracy, and aligning our standards with the requirements of the national organization to vote “yes” on R10-26.

Lauren Trendler is a member of the DSA National Electoral Commission’s Steering Committee. She is also a member of the national Bread & Roses caucus and the local Democracy Coalition, a new self-organized, cross-tendency formation.