WASHINGTON, D.C. (WNAX) – Sam Parkinson, who was Executive Director of the South Dakota Democratic Party for the last four years, left last week for a job with the Association of State Democratic Committees.

He says the state job, for the most part, was pretty good.

Parkinson says he thinks the state Democratic party needs to get their message out.

The next executive director will be hired by new State Party Chair Paula Hawks, who began her new job last week.

Parkinson had some simple advice for Hawks.

Democrats trail Republicans by over 100,000 registered voters, and currently don’t hold any statewide offices.