[LD22exec] LD22 Nominating Convention

Tue Apr 8 16:20:08 EDT 2008

Jim,
I think we should stick with the regularly schedualed quarterly meeting on April 28th.  It is unfortunate for us that Senator Fraiser will be unavailable for a month.  I'm concerned that if we delay for any one candidate we may run out of time and that would be unfair to everyone.  As John said at the E-board meeting we need to assert ourselves and take a stand on this important action.  There is a lot at stake for the 22nd LD Democrats and the 22nd LD Legistlators.
Zach

-------------- Original message -------------- 
From: "Jim Cooper" <olywacoopers at comcast.net> 

Hello,

I just wanted to follow up with everyone on this new and exciting responsibility the PCO’s now have. I have attached the rules from the state party for you all to review (with the LD part highlighted in yellow) and at the bottom you can find our official call sent from Dwight today.

As I discussed by phone with each of you we all decided to have our nominating convention at our regularly scheduled quarterly meeting on April 28th.  Also I was to call all three of our elected officials and let them know.  

I talked to Representative Hunt and he is available and ready to participate.

I talked to Senator Fraser and she is ready and excited to participate but has requested that we reschedule as she is out of town from April 21st to May 19th.    As you will see in the rules we need to hold this before the 23rd of May, and she says she will make any of the days between May 20th (Tuesday)and the 22nd (Thursday) work, if we would consider changing the date of the nominating convention.

I decided to ask you all what your opinion is on this before calling Representative Williams to save myself making a second call if we change the date.

The question…..Do we call a special meeting for the nominating convention sometime between May 20 & 22 (If both Representatives are available also)?  Or stick with our quarterly meeting. 

I am inclined to say we move it to accommodate her, as she is our senior elected official.  On the other hand she would probably still win by acclimation even without being in attendance.

Please let me  know your vote ASAP as we need to get this rolling very soon.

Thanks,

Jim

Notice to LD and County Parties on Conducting Nominating Conventions 
for Partisan Offices

>From Dwight Pelz, Chair, WSDCC
April 6, 2008

On Thursday, April 3, the WSDCC Executive Board met to discuss the Party's response to the US Supreme Court ruling upholding the Top Two Primary.  The E Board reviewed the Rules for the Selection of Candidates and Nominees for Public Office,  which were debated and adopted by the State Central Committee in 2005.  

The Rules provide procedures by which the Party will nominate its candidates when the State does not conduct a Democratic Primary which meets the rights of the Party to have Democrats nominate Democrats.  The Top Two Primary does not meet this test.  In fact it is not a primary, in the sense of an election whose purpose is to nominate a candidate from within a political party.

The Executive Board reviewed these Rules; then voted 17 to 1 to affirm the implementation of them.  The Executive Board acknowledged that because these Rules have been adopted by the Central Committee, the Party is required to implement the Rules --  unless an emergency  Central Committee is convened to amend them.  Nonetheless, the E. Brd. found the Rules to be a well reasoned response to the Supreme Court's ruling, and did not recommend to convene an emergency Central Committee meeting at this time.  

I encourage all Party Leaders to review these Rules. They call for the conduct of Nominating Conventions to be held at the LD, County, and Congressional levels – where those jurisdictions will have partisan races this year.  The votes at these Conventions shall be cast by elected and appointed Precinct Committee Officers. (PCO's)  Each Nominating Convention will nominate one Democrat for each partisan office, by majority vote.  This is not an endorsement meeting, there is no two-thirds rule, and there will be no dual nominations.  

As Chair of the Party, and pursuant to the Rules for the Selection of Candidates and Nominees for Public Office, I call on all Chairs of LD or County Parties in jurisdictions which will be conducting partisan elections in 2008, to inform me of the date and location they will hold a Nominating Convention Prior to May 23.  Once I learn of the time and place you identify, I will formally issue the "Call" for that meeting.  

Each jurisdiction must hold a separate meeting – LD and County Nominating Conventions shall not occur at the same time.  These meetings can be scheduled to occur at a regularly scheduled monthly meeting.  I encourage LD and County Chairs to coordinate these efforts to insure there are no conflicting Conventions within a County or Legislative District.  

Conventions for purposes of nominating candidates for Congress shall be held prior to or immediately following the May 17 Congressional District Caucuses.  However the votes cast at the Congressional level Nominating Convention shall be by the PCO's, not the delegates.

Statewide candidates will be nominated at the State Convention in Spokane on June 14, by the delegates to the State Convention.  

I understand these Conventions will be an additional burden to Democrats working very hard to implement our Delegate Selection Plan.  However I am confident that you will step up to the challenge of a Supreme Court Ruling which calls into question our rights and responsibilities as an American political party.  I am confident you will meet this challenge with clarity, supreme organization, and equity to all involved. 

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