Ujdak resigns as chair of Monroe County Dems after 3 1/2 months, calls for 'direct action' to improve lives of others

On Sunday afternoon, in a message sent to the Monroe County Democratic Party's email list, party chair Samuel Ujdak announced his resignation. It's effective at the end of the day on Monday (June 23) at 11:59 p.m.

Ujdak was elected county chair about three and a half months ago at a reorganization caucus held on March 1. The other officers elected at the time were: Chrissie Geels (vice chair); Gloria Howell (secretary) and Susan Luther (treasurer). The choice of Ujdak, and the rest of the slate, was uncontested.

In his emailed announcement as well as the letter he submitted, Ujdak points to the circumstances of his personal life as the reason: "Developments in my personal life over the course of this year have weighed heavily on me for some time now. It is clear to me that I do not at this time possess the capacity to continue to serve you in this role with the commitment and clarity necessary to honor the gravity of the position."

Ujdak describes the work he has done over the years: "I have given MCDP a great deal of my blood, sweat, and tears over the last eight years, much of it held in stories you'll likely never hear. I have preferred to stay in the background and do the work for much of that time."

"At this time, I am exhausted," Ujdak declares. His message continues, "I have a lot of healing to do. In one way or another, I have been around or directly involved in politics in Indiana for 27 years."

Ujdak's resignation message also signals the end to his public involvement in politics: "Please consider this my retirement from public life within that body politic." He adds, "I am still here for advice, to be a sounding board, or just a listening ear."

In his announcement Ujdak says that "tangible, material direct action that immediately improves the quality of life of our neighbors" is more important than strategic political messaging. He calls on members of the party to act in specific ways: "Feed the hungry. Clothe the naked. Shelter the unhoused. No matter what creed you profess or God you worship, these all are demanded of us."

In his message Ujdak also addresses the U.S. bombing of Iran on Saturday night: "American bombs fall on yet another country, one of dozens to experience America's true foreign policy since the end of World War II. They will fall on still more."

Ujdak warns against "circling the wagons" and gives recent activity by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as an example of events that require facing outward: "Do not despair. Do not turn inward. ICE's masked police are increasingly present in more and more American cities, stealing fathers and mothers and brothers and sisters and sons and daughters off of our streets. They are ripping our neighbors out of their homes. Do. Not. Turn. Inward."

In his resignation message, Ujdak also calls for support of the gay and trans community: "America's highest institutions are ripping life-saving gender affirming care away from trans teens and smothering the very social resources that have kept hundreds of thousands of queer children and young people alive over the last decade by removing the ability to speak to queer counselors on suicide prevention lines. They have loudly declared they want us dead. Do. Not. Turn. Inward."

Under party rules, a meeting of precinct chairs to elect a new county chair meeting has to be held within 30 days of the vacancy. The notice of the meeting has to be issued not more than 10 days after the vacancy. Under party rules it is the vice chair (Chrissie Geels), who chairs the meeting to elect a new chair.

Responding to an emailed question from The B Square, Geels wrote that a news release from the party would be sent on Monday or Tuesday.

In Sunday's email message, there's no indication of whether Ujdak has resolved the issue of the party's appointment to the three-member county election board. The board is composed of the elected county clerk, one appointee from the Republican Party and the Democratic Party. It's the party chair who makes the election board appointment.

Ujdak initially indicated that he would be appointing former county commissioner Penny Githens to the board seat, which became vacant after John Fernandez resigned. After some internal party discord on the topic, Ujdak instead appointed himself to the seat, but just for a one-month term through the end of June.

Depending on when the meeting is held to fill the vacancy, the election board seat might be vacant at the board's next regular meeting. Election board meetings are typically held on the first Thursday of the month. For next month, that would work out to July 3.

There are a few different ways that events could unfold for the election board appointment. One is that in the day or so that he has left as chair, Ujdak could make a long-term appointment. Another way is that he could extend his own appointment for an indefinite period. Or he could leave things as they stand, and allow the election board seat to become vacant until the new chair makes an appointment.