MONTGOMERY, Alabama – If the state Democratic Party took out an ad for a new party chairman or chairwoman it could read like this:

Wanted man or woman, preferably white, to lead major political party (or what used to be a major party). Experience leading a staff not necessary (we don't have one). Must provide own transportation, preferably SUV or van capable of holding files and office equipment (since we also don't have an office). Must have flexible salary expectation and experience stretching a dollar (because we are broke, broke, broke).

You would have wonder if anyone would apply for the job. Nancy Worley and Joe Reed are wondering that very same thing.

"I certainly hope someone will seek the job. I certainly don't want it," said Worley who as party vice chair was thrust into the job on an acting basis April 22 when Mark Kennedy resigned as chairman following disputes with Reed and Worley over party operations, strategy and finances.

"Surely someone will step forward. I hope someone will be excited about the challenge of leading our party back but I have to be honest with you, I haven't had one person so far express an interest in the job," said Worley.

Worley has set June 1 for a meeting of the party's Executive Board at which time she hopes the board will select a new chairman.

Reed, a power in the Democratic Party for over four decades but never its chairman, said he's not looking to fill the job."

"I've never wanted to be chairman. I don't want to be chairman now," said Reed, who leads the Alabama Democratic Conference that comprises the black wing of the party.

Like Worley, Reed said he has heard no names of anyone interested in the job.

"Right now, it's a hard job, a really hard job given the fact the party has no money, no staff, no office and a debt of $600,000. You'd have to be a little crazy to want to take on all that but I'm sure someone will want it but it won't be me. I'm winding down. This job will need a young person."

And it still needs a white person, said Reed.

"I've said before and I think it still holds you need a white to lead the party if we are going to have any chance of attracting white people back," said Reed. "Blacks didn't leave the party, whites did and I think if we can find a white to do it, that is if Kennedy hadn't taken all of them with him, that would be the way to go."

After Kennedy left the chairmanship he formed a new organization – the Alabama Democratic Majority – which Kennedy hopes to use to begin the job of attracting candidates and reshaping a party that currently holds no state-wide offices and two years ago lost control of the Legislature for the first time in 136 years.

Worley is hopeful that by the June 1 meeting that at least one candidate if not more will be vying for the job. But, right now Worley has a more pressing problem: Where to hold the meeting.

"We don't have money to rent out hotel space and we have to be out of our headquarters by then so I'm not sure what we're going to do."