By Philip Marcelo
Journal State House Bureau

The Providence Democratic City Committee is looking to hire an executive director.

The city committee, with about 165 members, wants a full-time employee to work with Providence residents, Democratic committee members, and the city's elected officials to "push a pro-Providence agenda at the State House, enact important policy changes at the city and state level, and help elect Democrats to political office," according to an ad posted in Craigslist this month.

The individual would be responsible for recruiting volunteers, engaging residents and encouraging them to become more active in their community, the ad says.

Providence Democratic City Committee Chair Kenneth Richardson, who took helm of the party in January, says this would be the committee's first executive director and only staffer.
He said the idea came from a desire to make the city committee, which has not had a strong record in backing winning mayoral candidates in recent years, more "relevant."
That, he says, requires having the city's 15 Democratic ward committees working in closer concert.

"At the end of the day, it all amounts to endorsements. We have to make an endorsement that means something," Richardson said.

The ideal candidate would be a city resident with a minimum of two years experience in organizing or advocacy, strong communications skills, and, among other things, adept with social networking tools like Facebook and Twitter, according to the ad.

The job's salary runs from $35,000 to $45,000, with health insurance benefits.