Conducting Your March 2nd Democratic Precinct Convention

Primary voters throughout Collin County will go to their 2010 primary election day polling locations after the polls close on March 2, 2010 to hold precinct conventions to do the following:

1. Elect delegates and alternates to the 2010 Democratic Collin County Convention.
   
2. Adopt resolutions that will be submitted to the county convention.

Sign posted by Democratic Judge at polling location

The 2010 Collin County Democratic Convention Convenes on Saturday, March 20th, 10:30 a.m at the Plano Centre. (Spring Creek Parkway & Jupiter Rd.)

Collin County residents must have voted in the 2010 Democratic primary in order to sign into one of the 179 Democratic precinct conventions, which convene shortly after the polls close on March 2nd, at the 65 polling locations around Collin Co. Republican primary voters will also conduct their own precinct conventions at different locations within the same 2010 primary election day polling locations.

March 2nd polling locations will have one to several separately convened Republican and Democratic Party precinct conventions, in different locations around the polling places' gym, cafeteria, lobby and so forth. People must locate and attend their party's precinct convention for their home address voting precinct.

Each Primary Election Day Polling Place Democratic Election Judge will contact the Democratic chairs of precincts voting at his/her polling location before election day to coordinate the election evening precinct convention hand off. Otherwise, for any precinct without a chair, the Democratic Party of Collin County Primary Administrator will give a list of 2008 precinct convention delegates to the Democratic Election Judge to contact for election evening precinct convention hand off. The Precinct Chair typically serves as the temporary precinct convention chair to organize the precinct convention, but, in the absence of a Precinct Chair, anyone who votes in the party's 2010 primary may serve as temporary chair.

Anyone who wishes to help organize the election evening precinct convention for their home voting precinct should contact the Democratic Party of Collin County office at either 972-578-1483 or elections@collindems.us and ask for the Primary Administrator.

Precinct Conventions Are Quick And Easy

The precinct convention may seem complicated at first, but it is very easy and quick to conduct. Here are the two basic rules that you need to know:

1. Voters who VOTED in the Democratic primary (either early, or by mail, or on election day) can participate in the precinct convention for the precinct where they are registered to vote. You can find your precinct number on your Voter Registration Card in the box titled "Prec. No." You can see your Registration Card online by clicking here.
   


2. The Democratic Party Precinct Chair of your precinct has priority in terms of convening the precinct convention and is considered the temporary chair of the convention; however, any registered voter from the precinct who voted in the 2010 Democratic Primary can start the convention in the event the precinct chair does not attend the convention, or the precinct chair position is vacant.
   
   The precinct chair, or other person intending to serve as the temporary chair of the convention, inspects the polling location to determine a good location for the convention. A large sign is placed at the polling place telling exactly when and where the convention will be held. Each voter should also be provided the information verbally and given a hand-out reminder.
   
   The county party provides a convention packet with instructions, forms, and an easy to fill-in agenda/minutes. The packet is typically kept at the Primary Polling Place by the Election Judge for the election day polling location. The packets are handed off to the temporary chair at the time that the Election Judge declares the Election Day Polling Place closed or at 7:15 P.M., which ever is later.
   

Steps To Conduct Your Precinct Convention

The precinct convention may seem complicated at first, but it is very easy and quick to conduct. Here are the basic steps that you need to know:

Step 1: After the polls close and the last voter has voted, the precinct chair, who has the first right to serve as the convention's temporary chair, should obtain the precinct convention packet from the election judge. The 2010 Democratic precinct convention packet will includes the following items:

1. One letter from the State Party Chair
2. Convention Minutes Form
3. Convention Exhibit A Sign-in Form
4. Convention Exhibit G Delegate Form
5. Convention Exhibit H Alternate Form
6. Number of Delegates that may be elected
7. Texas Democratic Party Rules
8. Precinct Convention Instructions
9. Other forms and information

If the precinct chair does not claim the package within 15 minutes after the poll closes and the last voter in line has voted, any registered voter from the precinct who voted in the 2010 Democratic primary and is attending the precinct convention can serve as the temporary chair of the convention. The temporary chair, after obtaining the precinct convention packet from the election judge, convenes the convention for his/her precinct, and serve as the temporary chair to call for the election of the permanent convention chair. Most of the convention activity is set by state law, the Rules of the Texas Democratic Party, and Robert’s Rules of Order.

Step 2: The temporary chair asks people who enter the convention site:

1. If they are there to participate in the precinct convention,
2. Whether they voted in the 2010 Democratic Primary, and
3. In which precinct they are registered to vote.

If they did not vote in the Democratic primary, they are not eligible to participate in the convention, though they are welcome to attend and observe. If they did vote in the Democratic primary, direct them to the convention location for the precinct in which they are registered.

An effort will be made by the temporary precinct convention chair to confirm that each convention attendee voted in the Democratic primary and lives in the correct precinct by checking their stamped voter registration card, or primary voting verification receipt slip.

The blue 2010 voter registration card should be stamp "DEMOCRATIC" as show in the picture right. (click picture to enlarge)

• Note: not everyone who voted in the 2010 primary will have remembered to have their card stamped or request a voting verification receipt slip.

If the voter presents neither a “Democratic” stamped voter registration card nor a primary voting verification receipt slip, voting verification will be completed by checking the list of early voters for each election precinct provided to each Election Judge by the county election registrar, and the poll list of election day voters.

If people arriving for the convention do not have evidence that they voted in the 2010 primary, they must still be permitted to participate, so long as they state they did voted in the Democratic primary, though in this case, the County Convention Credentials Committee must later check and validate their eligibility status. This could change the results of delegate allocations, if individuals are later found ineligible to have voted in the precinct convention.

If the person voted in the Democratic primary and is in the correct precinct, their name, address, voter registration number and other information must be entered on the "exhibit A" sign in form.

In presidential election years, people must state their presidential preference when they sign in to participate in the precinct convention. Since 2010 is not a presidential year, convention participates will not state a presidential preference as they sign in to the convention.

Step 3: Once everyone is registered on the "Exhibit A" form, the temporary convention chair calls the convention to order and asks someone to serve as the temporary convention secretary, if a temporary secretary has not yet been appointed.

The first order of business called by the temporary convention chair is to elect a permanent precinct convention chair and a permanent precinct convention secretary. The temporary convention secretary must clearly print the minutes of this business on the official "Convention Minutes" carbon copy form. As soon the a permanent precinct convention chair and a permanent precinct convention secretary are elected they take over the convention and conduct business until the convention adjourns.

Step 4: The next orders of business called by the permanent precinct convention chair is for the nomination and election of delegates and alternates to the Collin County Convention.

The convention packet should include a form that gives the number of delegates that may be elected to represent the precinct at the county convention. Only people who are in attendance and entitled to participate in the convention, by having voted in the Democratic primary and signed in for the precinct convention.

Step 5: The precinct convention body, as a whole, will then ratify (vote for) the selection of delegates and alternates. The precinct convention as a whole will then elect a delegation chair for the Collin County convention. The convention chair then announces the delegation chair, the list of delegates and alternates, and the date, time and location of the county convention.

Step 6: The convention chair then ask for any proposed convention resolutions to be read aloud. Discuss each proposed convention resolutions and approve or discard them. After all resolutions have been dealt with, convention chair asks for if anyone would like to move and second the adjournment of the convention. If the a majority of the convention body votes for adjournment, the convention chair gavels the convention to close.

After the Convention:

1. The convention chair must complete the forms and have both the signatures of both the convention chair and the convention secretary sign them.
2. Deliver the Convention Minutes, Exhibit A sign-in sheets, and Exhibit G and H Delegate and Alternate forms to the Democratic Party of Collin County Office, 1:PM on Friday, March 5, 2010. If you mail them, they must be postmarked by Thursday, March 4. Actual delivery to the office as soon as possible, rather than mailing, is preferred. This is the official record for the county convention and delegate allocation

Precinct Convention Document (click image)

Letter

Minutes

Exhibit A

Exhibit G

Exhibit H

Delegates

Precinct Convention Check List Summary

Primary voters throughout Texas will go to their 2010 primary election day polling locations after the polls close on March 2, 2010 to hold precinct conventions to do the following:

1. Elect delegates and alternates to the county conventions.
2. Adopt resolutions that will be submitted to the county conventions.

The precinct convention is the first step in the convention delegate process. That process begins at the precinct level and moves on to the county level and on to the state, and in presidential years, to the national convention. Much of what is done is set by state law, the Rules of the Texas Democratic Party, and Robert’s Rules of Order.

The precinct convention is called to order by the temporary chair. The precinct chair typically acts as the temporary chair, but if the precinct chair is not available, any interested Democratic 2010 Democratic primary voter from the precinct may pick up the convention packet and convene the meeting as the temporary chair.

Precinct Convention Check List Summary:

1. Each Precinct must hold its own convention. If your precinct has been consolidated with others for voting on Election Day, you still must hold your precinct conventions separately.
2. Your precinct convention may NOT begin until the last voter has voted at the Election Day Polling Place where the precinct conventions are schedule to convene or after 7:15 p.m. whichever is later. (TX Elec. Code Sec. 174.022).
3. A Temporary Chair steps forward to pick up the convention packet from the Election Judge and to assume responsibility to check in convention attendees. The Temporary Chair is usually the Precinct Chair, but it can be anyone who picks up the packet from the Election Judge may serve as the Temporary Chair. The precinct convention packet will includes the following items:
   1. One letter from the State Party Chair
   2. Convention Minutes Form
   3. Convention Exhibit A Sign-in Form
   4. Convention Exhibit G Delegate Form
   5. Convention Exhibit H Alternate Form
   6. Number of Delegates that may be elected
   7. Texas Democratic Party Rules
   8. Precinct Convention Instructions
   9. Other forms and information
4. The Temporary Chair appoints a Temporary Secretary to assist in checking and recording convention attendee information and to record minutes of opening proceedings.
5. The Temporary Chair and Secretary confirms that each convention attendee voted in the Democratic primary and lives in the correct voting precinct.
6. The Temporary Chair and Secretary enters the name, address, voter registration number and other information for each person attending the convention the on the "Exhibit A" sign in form. Each voting member of the precinct convention body must be entered on the "Exhibit A" sign in form. All fields except email and phone are required, however, at least one phone number or an email address is preferred so that the credentials committee may contact these voters in case a delegate vote challenge arises requiring verification.
   
7. When sign-in of all in attendance is complete, the temporary chair calls the precinct convention to order as the Temporary Secretary records the minutes of the opening proceedings on the minutes form found in the convention packet.
8. The temporary chair announces, "this convention will be conducted in accordance with the Texas Election Code, and the Rules adopted by the Party in accordance with section 163.002 of the Election code..." (See the "Democratic Precinct Convention Minutes" form for the complete statement to be read by the temporary chair.)
9. The temporary chair calls for nominations for a permanent convention chair and the Temporary Secretary records the names of each nominee. The temporary chair then calls for a vote on each nominee's name by convention attendees. A simple majority vote is sufficient to elect a permanent convention chair to run the convention.
   
10. The permanent convention chair then calls for the nomination and election of a permanent convention secretary in a similar procedure. The temporary secretary continues to record these proceedings until the permanent secretary is elected takes over recording the minutes.
11. The permanent convention chair announces:
1. Number of people who signed in on “Exhibit A” at the precinct convention who voted in the Democratic Primary;
2. The number of Delegates and equal number of Alternates the precinct convention is allowed to elect to advance to the county convention. (An alternate is someone who may take the place of a delegate at the county convention if the delegate is unable to attend and participate in the county convention.)
   
12. The permanent convention chair calls for nominations of Delegates and Alternates to the Collin County Convention according to the rules set forth in the TDP Handbook Article IV.B. The following is a brief synopsis of the rules:
1. The chair announces that any individual or group present may submit a written petition to caucus, and that other convention attendees are permit to sign the petition and join the caucus. Participants may sign only one such petition. The caucus may act as a group for the purpose of nominating and electing their representative portion of Delegates and Alternates. If no caucus petitions are offered then the full portion of Delegates and Alternates are elected at large by the full convention body. (TDP Handbook IV.B.11.b-f)
2. Convention participants may nominate themselves or any other participant.
3. If a non-attendee desires to be nominated as a delegate or alternate, they must notify the precinct chair prior to the precinct convention.
4. In non-presidential years, the total number of alternate delegates equals the total number of delegates allotted to the voter precinct.
5. Nominations are held open until a motion is made, seconded, and passed by a two-thirds majority to close nominations.
13. The convention chair announces the names of the nominated Delegates and Alternates.
    
14. The convention chair calls for the ratification, by majority vote of the full convention, of the nominated Delegates and Alternates.
15. A single Chair of the Precinct Delegation is elected by majority vote of the full convention to represent the precinct’s delegation at the county convention.
    
16. The precinct convention secretary records the names of the delegates and alternates on the Exhibit G and Exhibit H forms found in the convention packet.
17. Other business then is considered (e.g. Resolutions) The convention considers resolutions or positions on issues. It is strongly suggested that resolutions or issue position papers be submitted in triplicate. Each resolution is voted on individually after proper discussion. A majority is required for passage.
18. By motion and majority vote, the precinct convention is concluded and adjourned by the convention chair.
19. The convention chair and secretary sign the minutes.
20. Originals and copies of the minutes, the Exhibit A sign-in, Exhibit G Delegates and Exhibit H Alternates forms, and any resolutions or other adopted items must be delivered by the permanent precinct convention chair as follows:
1. The original and one copy of each form are delivered to the county chair in one of the following ways.
• By registered mail no later than the second day after the election
• In person no later than 5:00 PM on the third day after the election. (In person Primary night is even better.)
2. The second copy of the minutes and marked sign-in lists must be sent to the state Party in the envelope provided.
3. The third copy is retained by the convention chair.

Resolutions in the Texas Democratic Party Precinct Convention

A Guide to Introducing and Passing Resolutions in the Texas Democratic Party Precinct Convention

Purposes of a resolution

1. To memorialize someone recently deceased.
2. To congratulate a person or group.
3. To amend the Rules of the Texas Democratic Party (TDP).
4. To amend the TDP Platform.
5. To urge Democratic elected officials, especially in the Texas Legislature and the U.S. Congress, to advocate certain positions on policy issues. As the delegates assembled at the state convention are the highest authority within the TDP, such resolutions should carry weight with elected officials as the consensus of the grassroots of the party.

Example of a well-written resolution:

WHEREAS 44 million people in America have no health insurance, and another 38 million have inadequate health insurance, forcing nearly one-third of Americans to face each day without the security of medical care for themselves and their families; and

WHEREAS medical debt contributed to 62 percent of U.S. bankruptcies in 2007, and, even though, 78 percent of those families filing bankruptcy had health insurance, they still were bankrupted by their medical debt; and

WHEREAS Research released in the American Journal of Public Health in September 2009 estimates that 45,000 U.S. deaths each year are associated with the lack of health insurance; and

WHEREAS A Families USA report released in March 2009 found that 9.3 million Texans were uninsured in throughout 2007 and 2008 and an additional 5,550 Texans continue to lose their health coverage each week; and

WHEREAS Both conservative and progressive researchers agree, according to facts given in a September 19, 2009 The Dallas Morning News article, that Texas leads the nation in percentage of residents without health insurance, even after removing illegal immigrants from the numbers, with only 49.5 percent of Texas residents covered by employer-sponsored insurance, compared with 58.5 percent nationwide, with an average family of four in Dallas spending $17,000 annually to pay for medical care and health insurance,

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Texas Democratic Party supports the passage of comprehensive Private Heath Insurance Industry Reform legislation.

Submitted to and adopted by Precinct ___ in Collin County, Texas, Senatorial District __, on March 2, 2010.
_______________________________
Convention Secretary (signature)

Structure of a resolution

1. Give the resolution a title that indicates not merely the topic, but also the position to be advocated (i.e., instead of "Resolution on Private Heath Insurance Industry Reform," it would be better to put "Resolution For Private Heath Insurance Industry Reform").
2. List the reasons for the resolution at the beginning, each reason being in a separate paragraph beginning with the word "whereas" (capitalized, italicized or in boldface).
3. List each action to be taken in separate paragraphs introduced by the words "be it resolved" (capitalized, italicized or in boldface).
4. Use semicolons to separate each paragraph, and avoid periods. A well-written resolution should consist grammatically of a single sentence.
5. Keep the resolution brief. It should fit easily on a single page.
6. At the end of the resolution, write: "Submitted to and Adopted by Precinct ___ in ____ County, Texas, Senatorial District ___, on March 2, 2010" and leave a signature line for the precinct convention secretary, who will sign it if the precinct convention adopts the resolution.
   
7. Anyone wishing to submit a resolution show bring three printed copies of each resolution to the precinct convention

Process by which resolutions move forward

1. Someone has an idea for a resolution and writes it up.
2. Priority is given when the same resolution comes from multiple counties or senatorial districts. It would be a good idea to share your resolution with others who live in different precincts and in other parts of the state. Sponsoring organizations might post a resolution on their website.
3. The resolution is introduced at the precinct convention on the evening of March 2, 2010.
4. If the resolution passes, it will be included in the convention packet that must be delivered to the county chair within three days after the convention.
5. The next level is the county convention.
6. The Resolutions Committee will meet prior to the county convention. They can amend a resolution, combine it with other similar resolutions, or vote it down.
7. The county convention or senatorial district convention will consider all the resolutions recommended by the Resolutions Committee. Those that pass will proceed to the state convention.
8. A Temporary Resolutions Committee will consist of members of the State Democratic Executive Committee (SDEC). They will organize the resolutions submitted for the state convention. They can pull out any resolution they don't like unless it has come from multiple counties or senatorial districts.
9. Resolutions that are not statewide in significance (except for memorial or congratulatory resolutions) will not be considered at the state convention.
10. Resolutions concerning TDP Rules or the TDP Platform will be referred to the Rules Committee or the Platform Committee.
11. At the state convention, each senatorial district elects one member for each of various committees, such as the Permanent Resolutions Committee, the Rules Committee, and the Platform Committee, and others.
12. If the Permanent Resolutions Committee works expediently, they will consider all of the submitted resolutions, combine them with others as possible, and then refer them for a vote on the convention floor. If they waste time, worthy resolutions will fall by the wayside.
13. At the state convention, other resolutions may be introduced that haven't come through a county or senatorial district convention by petition of 20% of the delegates (using the proper form).
14. Resolutions passed by the state convention will be sent by the SDEC to the Democrats elected to the Texas Legislature and U.S. Congress, as appropriate. Hopefully our representatives, whom we work so hard to get elected, will pay attention to us!

2010 Democratic Primary Candidates For Collin Co.

The following individuals have met the legal requirements to appear as candidates on the 2010 Democratic Primary Ballot in Collin County to seek the nomination of the Democratic Party for the offices shown. The offices and the candidates below are listed in the order they will appear on the March 2, 2010 Collin County Democratic Primary Election ballot.

U.S. Representative District 3 » John Lingenfelder Website FaceBook U.S. Representative District 4 » VaLinda Hathcox Governor » Felix (Rodriguez) Alvarado Website FaceBook Twitter » Star Locke Website » Alma Ludivina Aguado Website FaceBook Twitter » Bill White Website FaceBook Twitter » Farouk Shami Website FaceBook Twitter » Clement E. Glenn FaceBook » Bill Dear Website Lieutenant Governor » Marc Katz Website FaceBook Twitter » Linda Chavez-Thompson Website » Ronnie Earle Website Attorney General » Barbara Ann Radnofsky Website FaceBook Twitter Commissioner of the General Land Office » Hector Uribe Website » Bill Burton Website Commissioner of Agriculture » Richard "Kinky" Friedman Website FaceBook » Hank Gilbert Website FaceBook Twitter Railroad Commissioner » Jeff Weems Website FaceBook Twitter Justice, Supreme Court, Place 3 » Jim Sharp Website Justice, Supreme Court, Place 5 » Bill Moody Website FaceBook Justice, Supreme Court, Place 9 » Blake Bailey Website Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 6 » Keith Hampton Website FaceBook Justice, 5th Court of Appeals District, Place 4 » Bonnie Lee Goldstein Justice, 5th Court of Appeals District, Place 12 - Unexpired Term » Lawrence J. Praeger Website Criminal District Attorney » Rafael De La Garza II Website FaceBook Twitter County Judge » David M. Smith Website Judge, County Court at Law Number 3 » Sajeel S. Khaleel Website County Commissioner, Precinct 2 » Rick Koster Website Justice of the Peace, Precinct 3 Place 2 » Rey V. Flores Website County Chair » Shawn Stevens » Yasin R. Ali Precinct Chair, Precinct 120 » A. K. Khan » Diane Bolak

Truck Sporting "De La Garza for DA" Signs Stolen

A local businessman and friend of Collin County Criminal District Attorney candidate Rafael De La Garza decided to support De La Garza by putting "De La Garza for DA" signs on the sides and back of his large white six tire box truck. (right is a picture of the back of the truck taken by the businessman )

The truck sporting three large "De La Garza for DA" signs was stolen sometime Wednesday night or early Thursday morning. The business owner reported the stolen truck to Garland Police at about 4:30 a.m. Thursday morning.

"Didn't the thieves notice it has DA on there? How ironic is that," said Marina De La Garza, wife of the candidate, when asked for a comment. De La Garza had spent about a thousand dollars to purchase the three large magnetic signs for the panel truck, according to Marina De La Garza.

Have You Seen A Large White Truck With "De La Garza for DA" Signs? If you see this large white six tire box truck with "De La Garza for DA" signs on both sides of back of the truck box, call 911 and report the sighting to police.

The Digital Campaign Trail Is Where Elections Are Now Won Or Lost

Huffingtonpost:

Underscoring the consensus that Martha Coakley couldn't be bothered to work to get the Massachusetts Senate seat that she appears to have thought was hers by dint of being a Democrat is this statistic from Politico:

[Republican candidate Scott] Brown has made 66 campaign stops since the primary, while Coakley has made only 19, as of Sunday.

Dave Weigel, who's up in Massachusetts covering the election for the Washington Independent today, adds an important observation:

Typically, a front-running campaign might hold fewer events to minimize the snafus that might occur and affect the race. The incredible thing about Coakley's verbal and visual stumbles is that none occurred while stumping in Massachusetts.

So the work that Coakley was willing to do wasn't done very well.

Elsewhere, Christina Bellantoni sizes up the online operations of both campaigns and finds that Brown used technology -- specifically modeled on Barack Obama's campaign effort -- in a far more seamless and effective fashion than Coakley. Bellantoni cites myriad examples, but what sticks out in my mind is this:

The new PDA application Brown launched Monday tied to his "voter bomb" effort puts a walk list in the palm of supporters' hands.

The text message effort mimics the Obama effort last fall. Here's Brown's latest: "Are you taking the day off of work tomorrow to help Scott Brown win? Sign up here to get a walk list on your smart phone: walkbrownforussenate.com."

The Coakley text message program also is run by the DNC and voters can get their polling place. The number is the same one Barack Obama used to announce Joe Biden as his choice for vice president.

TPMDC texted the Coakley campaign address as a test and received an error message that the polling place locator program couldn't identify the location.

The Obama campaign very skillfully deployed all manner of technology to build, stoke, and maintain voter enthusiasm. This race suggests that the Democrats have regressed significantly here, while the Brown campaign, at least, has made up the ground.

* Political Campaign Opportunities in the Digital Age

A De la Garza Family Adventure

Two days before Christmas Rafael De la Garza had just made the biggest political decision of his life, filing to run as the Democratic Candidate for Collin County Criminal District Attorney.

He was anxious to start his family's traditional Christmas trip to the ski slopes near Santa Fe to enjoy some quiet time with his wife, Marina, and two boys Rafael III and Cristian.

By 1 p.m. Christmas eve, the De la Garza family had loaded the car and was on the road to Santa Fe. Later that afternoon, somewhere between Denton and Decatur, Texas, a winter blizzard started to close in on the intrepid travelers and the Texas 287 roadway began to disappear.

Read the rest of the De la Garza family Christmas adventure, written by J.B Blocker, at the Plano Star Courier - Click Here.

Dr. Martin Luther King Day Breakfast - Monday January 18

Collin College MLK Leadership Breakfast From January 2009

On Monday January 18, 2010 the MLK Celebration Committee will again host the Dr. Martin Luther King Day Leadership Power Breakfast at Collin College Spring Creek Campus. The event starts at 7:30 A.M.

State, county, city and local school board level elected official will form a panel to discuss Dr. Kings influence on America.

“Because of Dr. King’s legacy we enjoy civil rights that were nonexistent in America prior to 1963. People were afraid to respect and be kind to persons of different cultures,” said Earnest Burke, president of the 2010 MLK Steering Committee, in a press release. “Employment opportunities and wages were not comparable; education opportunities were restricted; and more importantly, we as Americans were afraid to support our rights to equal justice under the law. It is important to stop and celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. because he gave his life for the rights and freedoms we enjoy today.”

Collin College Spring Creek Campus Event - Contact: Evelyn McKnight - ph# 972-422-5615 - email: missevemcknigh@aol.com

Pre-primary Endorsements And Coordinated Campaign Activities

County Party Chairs of both parties across Texas are sending messages out to Precinct Chairs and others officially connected with the party organizations that the respective party organizations can not and will endorse candidates or participate in any form of coordinated campaign activities with candidates until after the primary election has been settled. Gerry Birnberg, Harris County Democratic Party Chair, says it about as succinctly as any Texas county party chair in his statement,

I just want to remind everyone that the Harris County Democratic Party does not endorse candidates in contested primaries. If you hear of an endorsement by some Democratic club or some Democratic elected official or group of elected officials or some Democratic organization or some precinct chair, please do not be confused: that endorsement does not constitute the endorsement of the Harris County Democratic Party or of the 2010 Harris County Democratic Party Coordinated Campaign and it is not made on behalf of, or at the behest of, HCDP, nor does it indicate HCDP agreement or approval. The folks at the Harris County Project, which plays a substantial role in electing Democrats countywide in the fall, have asked me to inform Democrats that that group also does not endorse candidates in the primaries, and it has not participated in any process to favor or disfavor or endorse any candidates in the primary election. The role of the Harris County Project (and that of the Harris County Democratic Party) is to win elections in the fall, not to promote contested candidates in the spring.

Organizations and individuals (including precinct chairs and committeepersons) are entirely free to endorse candidates of their choosing (so long as they do not publicly support or endorse a candidate seeking the Republican Party’s nomination for office). In fact, the fact that certain groups or individuals have endorsed particular candidates may be very helpful to some voters in deciding which candidates they wish to support with their votes, dollars, or efforts. But the Harris County Democratic Party does not engage in those activities, and wants to be sure there is no confusion over that fact.

Gerry Birnberg
Chair, Harris County Democratic Party
January 7, 2010
Posted @ http://www.hcdp.org/Page_2.html

There are many reasons why the political party organizations should not, and, in fact, can not, engage in coordinated campaign activities with candidates before primary election day. Foremost, there are several primary races on each party's primary ballot where Republicans face Republicans and Democrats face Democrats on the same ballot position.

County party organizations that have a statutory responsibility to execute an impartial primary election in their respective counties can not take sides in contested primary races. Some might say, "well, no harm and no foul if the party helps candidates in uncontested primary ballot position races." But, again, the party organization can't become involved in pre-primary politics because uncontested primary candidates may want to align themselves with other local and state candidates who are in a contested ballot position race. Then, other uncontested primary candidates may take exception to such alignments by fellow candidates. Such pre-primary situations present the proverbial slippery slope of conflict of interest that must be avoided altogether by state and county political party organizations.