Chandler Shipp is 24 years old and Jean Cross is a 69-year-old retired teacher; and on the surface they seem to have little in common. But, together the two of them are trying to breathe life into local democrats.
“I actually didn’t start thinking about politics really, until I was a sophomore in high school,” Shipp explained. “It was because of my government teacher that I started to think about it.”
Shipp went on to explain it was during the 2016 general election, and he was paying attention to the Democrat primary.
“I was a supporter for Bernie Sanders, but then the nomination went to Hillary (Clinton), so it was interesting for me to follow at that point,” Shipp noted. “It was interesting to me because she was favored to win. And I continued to pay attention after that.”
Shipp noted by the time of the 2020 primary season, it seemed that the Democrat party was simply doing what they wanted.
“For me, it was the knowledge that the establishment — either right wing or left wing — can simply just do what they want,” Shipp explained. “But then I started to wonder about the establishment locally.”
Shipp said it didn’t take much investigation to become aware the Democrat party wasn’t really established in Butler County.
“I got to talking with Jean Cross and realized there wasn’t anything happening locally with the Democrat party,” Shipp noted. “It was kind of sad to think nothing was being done at the local level.”
Cross, who is 69 and is a retired teacher, said she has thoroughly enjoyed working with Shipp.
“Chandler was active in politics before I ever asked him about working with me to organize Democrats in this area,” Cross explained.
Both Shipp and Cross felt the best first step would be through social media. Together, they started actively posting on a Facebook group named “Indivisible” in an effort to reach out and mobilize area Democrats.
“I’m more of an independent, really,” Shipp explained. “But out of the two main political parties, my beliefs are more closely aligned with the Democrat party. And I feel like a lot of work needs to be done within that party at the local level.”
Shipp explained an interest in fairness and equality is what is most compelling.
“I don’t think there are really any radical ideals on the left,” Shipp noted. “I think wanting to control a whole group of people’s health care through the legislature is radical. I think trying to force personal beliefs on a society that may not share those beliefs is radical.”
Although society seems to regularly hear about Generation Z having problems with the older generations, Shipp and Cross defy the stereotype as they are regularly in contact and planning for what will come next.
“I have discovered that if you just sit down and have a normal conversation with someone, you’ll find you have a lot of things in common with them,” Shipp explained. “I just feel like it will take more education to help break so many prejudices and help society move on.”
Currently, both Shipp and Cross are focused on strengthening the local Democrat committee; and they both realize that they need to actively work with the future in mind.
“Chandler has not only given me a new perspective on the thinking of our younger generations, but also another perspective on the LGBTQ+ community,” Cross stated. “He really gives me hope that our younger people are ready to fight the good fight.”
Shipp and Cross have both decided it will be best to move forward with a combination of in-person and online meetings for the Democrat party as they plan for future election cycles.
“It would be nice to have some local candidates running now in this election,” Shipp noted. “But we know we need time to continue to mobilize and organize, because the super-majority is out of control with their outrageous legislation. We have a lot of work to do together.”