The Vermilion County Democratic Party has filled two key leadership roles. Cari West has been picked to be the new party chairman, and Frank Hoskins will assume the treasurer’s post. Both are members of the Vermilion County Board.
The positions of chairman and treasurer had been vacant because of the recent resignations of Democratic Party Chairman Lori DeYoung and Treasurer DeeAnn Ryan.
West is entering her new position with a positive outlook for the party. ‘’Our vision is to move forward, to be unified to be stronger – and to just do what we need to do to get the job done,’’ said West.
And West also hopes to get more young people involved in the local Democratic Party. ‘’My focus will be just reaching out. We’ll use social media a lot. That’s very popular with the younger generation, so we’ll use social media a lot. And just try to get them in the doors. And once we get them in the doors – then they can see what we’re about – and we can encourage them and move forward,’’ added West.
DeYoung and Ryan resigned in early January in an uproar over some within the party supporting the Presidency of Donald Trump. In a joint statement DeYoung and Ryan said they were stepping down ‘’knowing that many of the local party voted against the values and platform of the Democratic Party by supporting Donald Trump, it has become our conclusion that we cannot participate in leading a party that works against itself locally.’’
And West says she realizes there is work to be done. Republicans currently hold all of the countywide offices in Vermilion County. And Republicans also hold many key positions in Springfield and Washington.
The new Vermilion County Democratic Party Chairman, is thirty-three. Frank Hoskins – the new party treasurer – is her uncle. Elected Democratic precinct committeemen and women approved the new leaders during a meeting held Monday night at the Vermilion County Democratic Party Headquarters.
