Alicia Reece to DNC chair Tom Perez: Include black women

Alicia Reece is joining a nationwide group of prominent African-American women leaders calling for a meeting with Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez to discuss the role black women play in the party.

The veteran state representative from Roselawn had a one-on-one chat with Perez on Thursday night before he headlined a fundraiser in Downtown, believed to be his first visit to Cincinnati since becoming DNC chairman in February.

“I asked him, ‘Where do we fit in in this new national Democratic party? He didn’t have an answer, but wants to follow up,” Reece said.

DNC spokesman Michael Tyler told The Enquirer that Perez had a productive meeting with Reece, who is exploring a potential run for Congress.

“They discussed at length the DNC’s new voter protection initiatives and how Democrats must do more to empower black women and make sure they have a seat at the table,” Tyler said. “Rep. Reece expressed a desire to learn more about the DNC and to brainstorm about how she can assist the DNC in carrying out its mission, so Tom invited her to come by and visit with staff while she’s in D.C. next week to continue that discussion.”

Reece is scheduled to be in Washington to meet with the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which is recruiting and vetting candidates for 2018. She faces being term-limited out of the statehouse next year, and in recent months has been considering a run against Republican Steve Chabot in Ohio’s 1st Congressional District.

Reece’s discussion with Perez came two weeks after 31 African-American women wrote an open letter to Perez, expressing frustration over what the group said is a lack of a plan to strategically include black females in the national party.

Reece was not part of the letter, which was signed by The View co-host Star Jones, Ohio Congresswomen Marcia Fudge and Joyce Beatty and several education and political leaders.

“This February, in the DNC elections, we saw an increase in overall diversity within the officer ranks, but no increase in leadership representation…

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