By Sue Wolinsky

I take politics personally,” said Dan Ohiri, the Coordinated Campaign’s 2020 organizer for the West Side in a recent interview.

A LOCAL RETURNS HOME: The 21-year-old Albuquerque native comes by his political passion naturally.  His family has always been politically active.  “My mom took me campaigning for (John) Kerry in 2004.  I was in a wagon with a stack of John Kerry flyers”, he shared. “Having a toddler with you while you canvass is a great way to get people to open the door!” 

Dan is the son of Uche and Manny.  He grew up on the West Side of Albuquerque, near Coors and Ladera.  He attended The Bosque School for middle and high school. He was involved in debate and speech, Model UN, and high school musicals at the Bosque School. 

IMPRESSIVE RESUME: He got a solid start in political organizing and fundraising while a student at George Washington University in Washington, D.C.  (He graduated in May.) While at GW, he joined the College Dems, but that didn’t suit him.  So he became advocacy chair for the Roosevelt Network, a group that advocates for policies modeled after FDR. A proven multi-tasker, he also interned as:

•   A legislative fellow at the Consortium for Universities;
•  A staff recruiter for the Polaris Charity, a human trafficking hotline;
•  An intern with then- NM CD1 Congresswoman Michelle Lujan Grisham;
•  A fundraiser for the NM Democratic Caucus, raising money for the NM State House candidates, including the West Side’s own NM State Legislator  (HD29) Joy Garrett (who is up for re-election now and needs your support!)
•  A fundraiser for the Democratic Attorney Generals Association; and
•   An intern for NM Senator Martin Heinrich, supporting the (US) Senate Majority PAC – focusing on ousting Republican senators and replacing them with Democrats.

ORGANIZING ON THE WEST SIDE: The reserved, extremely polite young man with his wide grin and empathetic attitude has already dug his political organizing heels into the West Side, where ~one-fifth of the county’s approx. 200,000  voters are registered as Democrats.  Many West Side Democratic volunteers have “met” Dan in virtual meetings: training sessions, weekly virtual volunteer events, and the candidates huddles that have been held over the summer. And he’s been growing the number of West Side Democratic volunteers since his first day on the job.

“I like the sense of community on the West Side,” he said, adding that it is difficult to maintain that during the pandemic’s social distancing restrictions.  “Many people are passionate about this election. People here are concerned, very concerned about this election. And they should be. Many people are supporting Biden and Harris.  But do you know that some Democrats don’t know that they have Republicans representing them in Santa Fe? That’s why we emphasize voting Democratic from the bottom up, starting with judges,” he said.

“I try to build on personal relationships,” he said.  Having lived on the West Side while growing up, he feels he knows his area, the West Side part of Congressional District 1.   

Dan is working hard to pool the local resources and the “passionate” CC organizers. “The party’s county officials, ward and precinct chairs and their volunteers are ‘the bread and butter’ of the work we are doing….We are working hard to fight for all New Mexicans.  We can only be successful if we work together.” He sees the CC team as being very focused in working with the local party infrastructure.

“I will do whatever you need,” he said.  “I’m hosting trainings and virtual events.  I’ll be happy to cut targeted lists for your neighborhoods, precincts, and wards.”

Dan pointed out that the CC is hosting a Weekend of Action on September 12-13. “I am hoping to use it as an event focused on getting voters to return their ballot request application and making a personal “voting plan”. Watch for more details soon.