Frank Eaton, a leading filmmaker for Democratic candidates, joined the race for party chairman Thursday.
In an email, Eaton said he was asked to run for the post but didn't suggest who pushed him into the three-way contest. State Sen. Don Vaughan and Raleigh councilwoman Mary Ann Baldwin also are competing for the post. The election is Saturday.
(Then again, some Democrats want embattled Chairman David Parker to remain in office.)
Eaton, of Winston-Salem, produced the "war on women" Web video series for the state party, developed the "Restless Energy" mantra for Walter Dalton's campaign and did work for state Sen. Eric Mansfield's unsuccessful campaign.
As an indication of his approach, he pointed Democrats to a video he released the morning after Tuesday's election that called for aggressive action to keep Republicans from winning in November 2012.
Here's his letter to the state executive committee:
“Friends,
I don't believe in being coy about a subject as important as the leadership of the North Carolina Democratic Party, so I'll tell you that I've been asked to run for Chairman on Saturday, and that I'm deeply honored. As a member of the State Executive Committee, I know most of you and consider you all friends and fellow Democrats of sound judgement. So I'm going to run a very simple campaign and leave the difficult job of making this decision to you.
The video you just watched (embedded video - http://bit.ly/JfnEOz) was released yesterday morning, and immediately exploded to viral proportions. Folks have responded to it because it's aggressive-- and arrived at precisely the moment Democrats needed it most. To me, defeating Pat McCrory is the penultimate goal of our party and our next Chair needs to engage voters across North Carolina with this level of energy and clarity.
If nominated from the floor, I will be honored to speak and welcome your support if you find me to be the best candidate for the job. As of this writing, there are two other excellent Democrats in this race: Greensboro Senator Don Vaughan and Raleigh Councilwoman Mary-Ann Baldwin. Please get to know them. I hope that we will be joined by others, and trust that each of us will continue to serve this party in our own remarkable way.
Thank you,
Frank Eaton”
