Ramsay McLauchlan, the new chairman of the Pinellas County Democratic Executive Committee, has his own goals for the new year. In 2008, registered Democrats overtook Republicans in the county, and McLauchlan wants to continue the trend and improve fundraising. He's also eager to get people who left the DEC in past years because of the local party's personality-driven factionalism to come back.

Another key objective in the coming year, he said, is to keep those people drawn to the party by President-elect Barack Obama's candidacy engaged and active.

Will Van Sant, Times staff writer