The Reform Party's 2002 National Convention, held in a suburb of Denver, Colorado, culminated with plans to reorganize, revitalize, and return to its roots.

According to David Collison, newly-elected Reform Party national secretary, the convention exceeded all expectations.

The Atascocita resident is elated about his position and the new direction that the Reform Party is taking.

"There has been a complete sea change since the last convention. I think we have seen a dramatic shift in the makeup of the national officers," said Collison.

"All those elected spoke extensively about the need to serve the membership, not lead it."

Collison, a mechanical engineer and training consultant, explained that the Reform Party attracts a diverse group of people.

"…I was a registered independent. I am what you'd call a radicalized centrist."

According to Collison, once the veneer of social issues is stripped away, the Republican and Democrat political parties share the same approach to the economy, foreign affairs and accept donations from the same corporations and individuals.

The Reform Party of Harris County is in the process of rebuilding its membership. The proposed platform issues, still under development, begins by insisting that the county and city tax dollars be "spent wisely and honestly." According to party literature, local government spending must be "transparent, unbiased, honest and effective."

Issues such as transportation and traffic, urban and suburban development and flood control are critical issues facing the county. The Reform Party hopes to ensure that future growth does not endanger citizens' quality of life.

Public services such as schools, fire and police departments and utilities should be adequately funded. The Reform Party believes that a quality education is not a "right, but a necessity." The future is dependent on the skills and knowledge imparted to children.

"We plan to reorganize and listen to what members want," said Collison. "Like the Green Party. They build their base at the local level. It takes years. The Greens have 40 candidates running for office in Dallas."

"…Elections are won and lost at the local level, and that's where the majority of our work will be."

Reform Party returns to roots without icons

The crowd was a cross section of America - some dressed in conservative suits, others in cowboy regalia, some in surf T-shirts and one man wearing sandals and a John Lennon T-shirt. Coffee flowed…as delegates debated rules of order.

The party parlimentarian at one point took the podium to settle a dispute over procedure.

"If I were to raise a point of order in my entire life, it would be to object to your point of order," she said to one of the delegates on the floor as the room erupted in laughter.

McLaughlin is running in Pennsylvania's 11th Congressional District … He rejected lingering suggestions that the party plays a spoiler role in American politics.

"It does put the fear of God into the major parties. This way, we can get them to talk about issues they would normally ignore," he said.

During the three-day convention, party officials plan to approve a revised platform that calls for a balanced budget, campaign finance reform, tax simplification and support for the Constitution.

[Congressional Candidate Victor] Good said his speech to the convention, titled "Ross Perot has left the room," will focus on the party's future and not the checkered past.

Jeff Rainforth, a 34-year-old marketing coordinator who is running … for a congressioanl seat in California, said it was his first national convention.

The animated delegate, who sometimes peppered his comments with profanity, said the party needs to "get the ball on the road and get the job done.

Bob Clements, 72, a music teacher from Minnesota who supported Ventura, said …."The personalities helped in the beginning, but that only lasts so long,"…

Sunday, September 08, 2002 - AURORA - National delegates of the Reform Party of the United States of America on Saturday removed party chairman Gerald Moan and revised the party platform during a national convention…

In 2000, the party…ran conservative pundit Pat Buchanan for president, a choice that saw many Reformers leave the traditionally centrist party in protest.

[Conservative issues added by Mr. Buchanan’s supporters, who have since left the Party] were counterproductive to the party's core purpose of reforming government, Reformers said this weekend before stripping those elements from the platform.

"It completely shifts the character of the party [back to its original focus]," said Texas delegate David Collison.

That [personality politics], said he and others this weekend, has been the party's biggest problem. The focus on getting big names into big races…hurt the developing party, said Victor Good, the Reform candidate for Colorado's new 7th Congressional District.

For now, the Reform movement will probably put more focus on local races to build a sustainable power base, Good said.