Kate’s invaluable convention guide

Dear Democrats,

As is my custom, this is the special Convention Issue of the Democratic Dispatch.  This year is different from other years.  There is more information on procedure than I might normally include, because there have been a number of changes in the rules. Based on requests from readers I have information from the proponents of the Charter amendments that will be considered by Convention delegates. 

With so much discussion of the rules, I am going to take a minute to mention a few things.  I had the honor of serving as a member of the McGovern-Dukakis Convention Reform Commission.  I listened to testimony all over the state.  I spent many, many hours at meetings and working on our proposals. The DSC approved the rules in March of 2005.  We were all familiar with the rules when we began this process leading up to this convention. I ask that you respect the process.

Take some time to get to know people from outside your town, and from other campaigns. I ask those of you with experience, reach out to first time attendees. If this is your first convention, be prepared to be patient. Work hard for your candidates. Respect your opponents. Remember that we are all Democrats. 

There has been some discussion of commitments.  From a rules perspective, there is no legal commitment.  There is a moral commitment for those who were elected based on a commitment to a candidate.

[I’ve omitted Kate’s endorsements, since I’m publishing this just for informational purposes. -David]

NOTE: This is not a substitute for the complete rules.  Please refer to www.massdems.org and the “2006 Delegate Guide” for the complete rules.

OVERVIEW

The Convention is called to order on Friday evening.  On Friday there will be the opening ceremonies and nominations for the uncontested offices. On Saturday there will be nominations for contested offices and voting to determine who will receive the Democratic Party endorsement.

***** IMPORTANT CHANGE IN RULES FROM PREVIOUS YEARS ******

On Saturday you must check in with your teller between 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM.  Delegates who have not checked in or do not respond to the 11 AM Roll Call will be permanently replaced by alternates.

BEFORE THE CONVENTION

Ensure that you are properly registered as delegate or alternate with the Massachusetts Democratic Party. The cost of registration for a delegate or alternate after May 1 is $125. If you get problems worked out in advance, things will go more smoothly at the convention.  The fee for full-time students, senior citizens (65 years and older), and disabled delegates is $100. 

In the mail you should have received:

–  Credentials

–  The “Delegate Guide 2006.”  It is a newspaper publication that you should READ and bring with you

WHAT TO BRING

[ ] Credentials

[ ] Photo ID

[ ] Convention Guide

[ ] Cell phone is helpful for staying in touch with others

[ ] Mini-flashlight

CONVENTION AGENDA

Friday, June 2

3:00 PM Registration begins

6:00 PM Call to order

6:15 PM Opening Ceremonies

7:00 PM Senator Kennedy

7:30 PM Auditor DiNucci

7:50 PM Treasurer Cahill

8:10 PM Attorney General Candidate, Martha Coakley

8:30 PM Awards

Saturday, June 3

08:00 AM Registration/Exhibits opens

09:00 AM Delegates Begin Check-In at Senate Districts

09:30 AM Reconvene

09:45 AM Secretary of State Candidates

10:10 AM Lieutenant Gubernatorial Candidates

11:00 AM Quorum Roll Call

11:30 AM Gubernatorial Candidates

Balloting

Endorsed Candidates Speak

Consideration of Charter Amendments and Resolutions

Adjourn

CHECK IN PROCEDURES

Delegates and alternates with credentials and guests –  USE DOORS  #11 and #12, the Box Office entrance.

Delegates and alternates without credentials – USE DOOR #1, on the Worcester Center Boulevard side.

On both Friday and Saturday when you go into the DCU, you will need to show your credentials and a photo ID.  After you are in the convention hall, you will need to go to your seating area for your senate district and check in with the Democratic Party representative (teller).

WHAT TO EXPECT

The Democratic State Convention is a lot of fun.  It is a great way to meet other Democrats from your community, your senate distract and across the state.  The state has 40 senate districts.  Delegates sit within their senate districts.  Be sure that you know the name of your senate district.  It is printed on your credentials. When you arrive at the convention, try to get a FLOOR MAP.  This will show you where each senate district will be sitting. 

The speeches and ceremonies are all important, but do expect that there may be some chit –chat during some of the program.  You’ll get used to it.

FRIDAY EVENING

On Friday evening there will be a number of parties both before and after the formal session of the convention.  Candidates for Auditor, Treasurer, Attorney General and US Senator are all unopposed.  Check in opens at 3:00 PM and the convention will be gaveled open at 6:00 PM.  The formal session is expected to end by 9:00 PM.

[List of parties and other extracurricular events is omitted. -David]

SATURDAY SESSION

ATTENDANCE CHECK-IN AND 11 AM ROLL CALL

On Saturday all delegates and alternates must check in with your teller between 9:30 AM and 11:00 AM.  Delegates who have not checked in or do not respond to the 11 AM Roll Call will be permanently replaced by alternates. 

BALLOTING The votes for contested offices are done within the senate district, by a voice vote on a roll call vote.  All the senate districts will have a teller, usually a DSC member, who will call the name of the delegate and ask for the delegate’s vote.  The delegate will respond with the names of the candidates for each contested office.  The teller will repeat back the name of the voter and the persons vote.  For example, the teller will state, “Joe Smith votes for Mike Jones, Ann Johnson and Tom Brown. “  The teller will mark the vote in a ballot book.  The vote will also be recorded by a Democratic Party volunteer on a computer.  The official tally will be that marked by the teller in the ballot book.  Campaigns are allowed to observe how the teller is marking the book. 

NUMBER OF BALLOTS All candidates who get 15% on the first ballot will be eligible appear on the primary ballot.  If a candidate gets 50% +1 then that person receives the endorsement of the convention.  If no candidate gets 50% +1 then there will be a runoff between the top two finishers.  The winner of the second ballot is the endorsed candidate of the Democratic convention.

RESOLUTIONS The Chairperson may entertain a motion to suspend the Rules, in order to allow a matter submitted in writing by at least 50 Delegates by Noon of the second day of the convention to the Sergeant at Arms, to refer an item to the Democratic State Committee or to adopt a resolution relative to a sense of the Convention, which shall be decided without debate and which shall require a vote of two-thirds (2/3) of all Delegates voting, a quorum being present.

WHAT TO WEAR Dress is generally casual.  Because of the number of people present it can get quite warm.  There will be a lot of walking so comfortable shoes are a big plus. 

SECURITY INFORMATION No bags other than purses are allowed to be brought in to the Convention Center.  All purses will be searched.  No food or wat
er may be brought into the Center.  No bags of any size, including backpacks, fanny packs, briefcases and large purses may be brought into the Center. 

DISABLED DELEGATES The DCU Center is fully accessible for people with disabilities.  There are clearly marked handicapped parking areas around the perimeter of the DCU.  Persons must display their RMV handicap tag or placard in their vehicle. The number of handicapped parking areas around the DCU is not unlimited.  Sign language interpreters will be on the podium for the duration of the Convention.  Hearing devices, known as “loops”, will be available in the registration areas.  There will be no charge for the use of these devices; however the vendor will hold your driver’s license until the device is returned.  A limited number of wheel chairs will be available for those in need. Delegates and alternates with disabilities are asked to call the State Committee at 617-776-2676 with concerns or for information on accommodations. 

NOTE: This is not a substitute for the complete rules.  Please refer to www.massdems.org and the “2006 Delegate Guide” for the complete rules.

CHARTER AMENDMENTS

There are five charter amendments that will come before the convention.  In 2005, people mentioned that they would like to know the reasons that amendments were proposed.  I have included the proposed Charter Amendments with information from the proponent of each amendment.  In the first three amendments, the changed sections are underscored, to reflect the changes. The fourth and fifth changes are additions to the Charter.

Article Three, Section I

PROPOSED LANGUAGE

The State Committee shall publicly support the Party’s nominees, except no party resources shall be used to support a Democratic nominee, who publicly supports an opponent of the nominee of the Democratic Party , provided however, that by a two/thirds vote of the Democratic State Committee, no party resources shall be used to support a Democratic nominee who publicly endorsed or supported an opponent of the nominee of the Democratic Party in the previous four years….

REPLACES

The State Committee shall publicly support the Party’s nominees, except no party resources shall be used to support a Democratic nominee, who publicly endorsed or supported a Republican or other major party candidate in any one of the last two most recent biennial elections,….

Discussion: The current language of the charter could require the Party to support a nominee who is currently supporting a Republican, if the support did not occur during the two most recent biennial elections.  The proposed change accomplishes the following:

– prohibits the party from supporting the Democratic nominee if the nominee is currently endorsing or supporting an opponent of a Democratic nominee.

– allows, but does not require, the party to not support a Democratic nominee, in the case of recent past support of an opponent of the Democratic nominee.

It is inappropriate for the MDP to support a Democrat who is currently supporting a candidate opposing another Democratic nominee. On the other hand, if a candidate has switched from another party and earned the support of the Democratic voters in the district where he or she is running, we should be able to welcome such a candidate with open arms.  However, if a candidate is a Democrat “in name only” such a candidate may not be appropriate for the MDP to support.  The proposed language puts that decision in the hands of the DSC, rather than forcing an action that may not be appropriate in some cases.

The following changes relate to removing members of town/ward committees and the DSC

Article Two, Section V

PROPOSED LANGUAGE (town and ward committees)

b. publicly endorsed or supported any candidate whose announced intention is to oppose the nominee of the Democratic Party which nominee publicly supports the majority of the platform of the Democratic Party as adopted at the most recent state and national Democratic conventions. …

REPLACES

b. public support for or financial contribution to an opponent of a nominee of the Democratic Party which nominee publicly supports the majority of the platform of the Democratic Party as adopted at the most recent state and national Democratic conventions. …

Article Three, Section VII

PROPOSED LANGUAGE (State Committee)

b. publicly endorsed or supported any candidate whose announced intention is to oppose the nominee of the Democratic Party which nominee publicly supports the majority of the platform of the Democratic Party as adopted at the most recent state and national Democratic conventions….

REPLACES

b. publicly endorsed or supported a Republican or other major party candidate in any one of the last two most recent biennial elections against a nominee of the Democratic Party which nominee publicly supports the majority of the platform of the Democratic Party as adopted at the most recent state and national Democratic conventions. …

Discussion:  The current language holds local town and ward committee members to a higher standard than that of State Committee members.  While there may be times that people choose to support another candidate, against the Democratic nominee, people who have committed themselves to being part of the governance of the Democratic Party, should be committed, at the very least, to not opposing Democratic nominees.  The addition of the language relative to support of a candidate whose announced intention is to be an opponent of the nominee of the Democratic Party allows for action in the case of Democrats supporting Republicans and other candidates, pre-primary.  Currently, local committees and the sate committee can not remove a member who is supporting a candidate pre-primary.

Add the following after Article Two, Section 1.  Functions of Local Committees:

All Local committees are intended to be working committees, dedicated to the cause of winning elections.  All members should pledge a minimum of 40 hours in each 2 year election cycle to organizing or soliciting financial or grassroots support do Democratic candidates, at least half of which shall be in the general election time period.  Nothwithstanding any other provisions of this charter, failure to work actively in any election cycle could result in removal from all Democratic Party offices, if voted by said committee after a hearing.  State Committee members shall be responsible for ensuring that all members within their State Senate District are given opportunities to comply with this pledge.  Town and Ward committee chairs shall be responsible for ensuring compliance with the work pledge provisions.

Add the following after Article Three, Section 1.  Role of the State Committee:

The State Committee is intended to be a working committee, dedicated to the cause of winning elections.  All members should pledge a minimum of 40 hours in each 2 year election cycle to organizing or soliciting financial or grassroots support do Democratic candidates, at least half of which shall be in the general election time period.  Nothwithstanding any other provisions of this charter, failure to work actively in any election cycle could result in removal from all Democratic Party offices, if voted after hearing by said Committee..  State Committee members shall be responsible for ensuring that all members within their State Senate District are given opportunities to comply with this pledge. 

Discussion:  These amendments are intended to promote the grassroots efforts of the state and national parties. Many feel that our 4 straight losses in gubernatorial elections are attributable, at least in part, to the decline in gra
ssroots volunteer activity. In 2004, we fell short in the crucial state of Ohio, despite tremendous support from around the country,  because the Republicans beat us at mobilizing local citizens.  This amendment encourages a modest amount of campaign work from the local leadership. It also encourages a general election work requirement because of the need for real and focused party unity in our six-week general election. If adopted and followed, this will make the party structure, which is well-developed in Massachusetts, a critical element of success for the gubernatorial nominee.

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