THE LEXINGTON DEMOCRATIC CLUB – A BRIEF
HISTORY
The Lexington Democratic Club has every reason to be proud of its many accomplishments.
It has made a large and telling contribution to Democratic politics in New York
County.
First Reform Club
Founded in 1949, Lexington was the first Reform Club, serving as a model for
the movement that came to dominate Democratic politics in Manhattan. The
Lex Club was largely the result of the experiences of a group of young college
and law school graduates who wanted to get involved in the Democratic Party,
and had their eyes opened – fast – about politics at the local level.
They started by joining the Grover Cleveland Club, the “official” club
for the Upper East Side Assembly District (then known as the 9th) where most
of them lived. The people who ran it were happy to take their dues. But
that was about it. They were “allowed” to campaign for Democratic
candidates. Most disturbing to the newcomers was that the average
member was totally unaware of how any decisions were made. This was a prerogative
of the leaders, who made all the decisions. The rank and file need not
ask questions.
Different Kind of Political Club
This experience convinced the young people that the Grover Cleveland Club
was totally out of step with the times. They were determined to create
a political club that would be completely different, both in concept and in operation. Openness
was the key ingredient of the Lexington Democratic Club - and its sister clubs
that sprouted up in other parts of the county. Membership was open to all. Decisions
were made at open meetings of the membership.
Better Way to Choose Judges
Since most founders of the Lex Club were lawyers, they were particularly appalled
by the way judges were selected in old-line clubs. Once again, the modus
operandi was selection by political leaders in a back room. It was a way
to reward people who had served the party faithful, not a way to improve the
quality of justice administered in the county.
From the beginning the Lex Club involved its members in the selection of judicial
candidates. In time Club leaders were in the forefront of the creation
of the panel system, which became the accepted Reform approach to judicial selection. Under
the panel system a group of independent experts is put together – outside
the clubhouse – to screen applicants. The panel then recommends candidates
(three for every opening) to the participating clubs, who proceed to meet – openly – and
make endorsement decisions.
Eventually the panel system became the vehicle for judicial selection, not
only in reform clubs but for countywide seats as well. Certainly a major
accomplishment of the Lex Club – and the Reform Movement – has been
the improvement in the quality of the judiciary in
New York County.
Taking Over Leadership
Lex Club’s membership in the early years burgeoned, but the members
understood that the Club would not be able to effect real change until it became
the “official” club in the Assembly District. That meant that its
candidates for District Leader were successful at polls. The Lex Club,
therefore, had to field candidates for District Leader and beat the old-line
incumbents. Unlike today when District Leaders are elected directly by
the voters, in 1949 they were elected by the local county committeemen. In
order to take over, then, the Lexington Club had to elect enough County Committee
members, election district by election district within the Assembly District,
to seat their District Leader candidates.
In the 1953 Primary, its third attempt, the Lex Club became the first reform
club in New York City to elect District Leaders. In 1955, The Lex Club
was instrumental in changing the procedure for electing District Leaders from
election by the County Committee to direct election by Democratic primary voters. The
Lex Club also led the way by not allowing District Leaders to serve on the State
Committee.
Electing Democrats
[ Pictured l-r: Assemblyman Jonathan Bing, Congressmember
Carolyn Maloney ]
The Lex Club did more than pave the way for the Reform Movement. It
registered significant successes at the polls. In 1949 the Upper East Side
was essentially a Republican fiefdom – and had been for decades. We
had a Republican Congressman, a Republican State Senator, a Republican Assemblyman
and a Republican City Councilman.
Today there isn’t a Republican in sight. In fact, the East
Side is Republican free in 2003.
Carolyn Maloney, a product of the Lexington Democratic Club,
is in her seventh term as our Congresswoman. Council Members Dan
Garodnick (District 4) and Jessica
Lappin (District 5) now serve as our representatives in city government. Liz
Krueger is our State Senator and Jonathan
Bing, a long time Lex Club member, is our Assemblymember.
Looking back The Lexington Club has every reason to be proud of its many accomplishments. It
has made a large and telling contribution to Democratic politics in New York
County.
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