To “steer the barge” of party politics in a new direction more progressives need to show up for caucuses, and become delegates, and show up and help out and become part of these committees. It is too late to file papers to be on a Town or Ward Democratic Committee, though not too late for a sticker campaign. It is just NOT enough to support the occasional candidate.
The work horses who staff these committees – and become delegates to these conventions, really are the heft – and the energy that will determine whether there is reform, or the status quo simply continues, with no change.
I inadvertantly miss stated in the earlier version of this post. The caucuses are ONLY for the chosing of convention delegates – still very important.
The Town and Ward committees are different, and function all year, between conventions, etc.
Sorry for any confusion!!!
The phrase “put up or shut up” comes to mind.
Here is the URL for the “Call to Convention”. Remember, you too can become a delegate and have a voice – it all begins with educating yourself and showing up.
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p>http://www.massdems.org/caucus…
He’ll need 15% of the votes to make it onto the ballot, which means that he needs a fair number of caucusgoers on that day.
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p>I hope the campaign is aware of this.
quite sure someone explained that at some point.
I hate to say this, but you’ve got the details wrong here. There are two different events in early February, and then one in March that come into the picture here.
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p>The caucuses are indeed on February 2 (or on a nearby date). At these caucuses, Democrats will elect delegates to the State Convention on June 7. As you mention, this will affect the ballot access for U.S. Senator (the only statewide office on the ballot in November). There are separate caucuses for each town, and for each ward in the cities (although some of the cities will have all of their caucuses at the same location).
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p>Anyone who was a Democrat as of 12/31/2007 can run for delegate in the town or ward where they were registered on that date (so if you moved between 1/1 and 2/2, you’ve got to go back to your old town/ward).
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p>On Tuesday, February 5, we have the presidential primary day. The Democratic ballot on that day will have three categories: one for presidential preference, one for state committee candidates (one male seat and one female seat), and one for your town committee (if you live in a town) or your ward committee (if you live in a city). This is where the local committees are elected.
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p>The ballots for town/ward committee on 2/5 already have their list of candidates, similar to a normal election ballot, but you can always run as a write-in. Many town/ward committees will not have enough candidates to fill their full committee size, so those spots may be filled by write-ins or at the first meeting (see below).
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p>Once the committees are elected on 2/5, they will have to meet to organize between 30 and 40 days (by my count, from 3/6 to 3/16). At this point, the committees can elect additional members to get up to their full size, or elect associate members to be part of the committee without full voting rights.
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p>For example, my own ward, Gloucester Ward 5, will elect 3 delegates on 2/2, and 35 committee members on 2/5. We will not have a full ballot on 2/5, so when we meet in March we will be looking for additional members to add to our committee.
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And providing a link to the “call to convention” so anyone who wanted to get pull down a .pdf and read it.
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p>Sabutai is correct. If Ed O’Reilly does not get 15% of the delegate votes, he does not get on the ballot.
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p>I know that Senator Kerry’s campaign is well aware of this, and organizing to try and sweep the caucus delegates and save time and money by keeping Ed O’Reilly off the ballot. Senator Kerry’s people really have to try to do that. As to whether, given the time and energy being devoted to the presidential primary, there are the “ground troops” to organize and run slates to try and sweep caucuses with Kerry delegates, I do not know.
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p>I cannot imagine anyone running a campaign for the nomination for senator could even possibly not be aware of this.
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p>The folk who will be reoganizing each and every town committee are already on the ballot [if they pulled papers as I did] or must run sticker campaigns, or be elected by those who were elected from the ballot, post reorganization.
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p>It is my understanding that a very significant number of town committees missed the deadline, and that the State Democratic Party has a list of preferred union printers who know how to make the right size sticker. No, I am not kidding.
Thanks Deb for fixing it, Kate
… within the March window, specifically at a meeting on March 8th. Affirmative action seats in a variety of categories are available for election at that meeting. I believe statements of candidacy are due 30 days prior if you want to take advantage of mailings to state committee members and be posted on the web, but nominations from the floor are also in order.
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p>Before that, however, there is one more round of Senate district elections. One man and one woman are to be elected from each Senate district via the district conference method. Letters of intent to run for these seats are due to the state party January 18th. Conferences will be scheduled as needed for contested races following the primary.