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Published
by the Lewis County Democratic Central CommitteeP.O. Box 765, Chehalis, WA
Lewis H. Zieske, Jr., Editor
In
This Special Caucus Issue:
This edition of the Demogram is devoted to
the upcoming Democratic Caucuses scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on Saturday,
February 7, 2004. This issue contains information about caucus locations,
about what happens at the caucus, about who may participate in the caucus,
and Much More.
- Why Caucuses For Selecting Democrat's Presidential Candidates
- What Is A Precinct Caucus?]
- When Will Caucus Meet And What Will They Do?
- What Happens At A Precinct Caucus?
- Who May Attend And Vote At The Caucus?
- What Happens To The Results Of The Caucus Meetings?
- Chair's Corner
- Great All-American Auction March 27th
- Contributions Needed For Campaign Chest
Why
Caucuses?
For the first time in over 70 years Washington Democrats
are using Precinct Caucuses to choose the Democratic nominee for
President. This change happened because our open primary election
method for selecting party nominees for President was declared
unconstitutional. Now Democrats at the grass roots participate
in the nominating process through a caucus selection system similar
to the one used in Iowa.
What Is A Precinct
Caucus?
The Precinct Caucus is a gathering of Democrats from your neighborhood.
The caucus is used both because it is impractical to have everyone
in a county who considers themselves to be Democrats to meet together
at one location and because meeting at the precinct level will allow
more people to participate in what is meant to be a grass roots expression
of Democrats' preferences for President.
When Will Caucus Meet
And What Will They Do?
Your Precinct Caucus will take place at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, February
7, 2004, at the locations you can see by clicking
here. During the caucus individuals supporting the various candidates
for U.S. President will be trying to elect delegates supporting their
candidate to the county Democratic Convention. At the County Convention
delegates to the Congressional District and State Conventions will
compete to elect delegates supporting their preferred candidate to
the Democratic National Convention. More importantly, we will discuss
the political issues of the day and pass resolutions on those public
policy issues that grass roots Democrats believe are important. We
will also be identifying and building relationships with our neighbors
who are Democrats so that we can become organized for the coming political
campaigns at all levels. This meeting forms the ideological and organizational
base for the Democratic Party for the next two years.
What Happens At A
Precinct Caucus?
Each Precinct Caucus is convened by its Precinct Committee Officer
(PCO). For precincts without a PCO the persons attending the Precinct
Caucus will select a chair to run the meeting. The caucus will begin
at 10:00 a.m., sharp. Registered voters living in that precinct who
are willing to declare themselves to be Democrats sign in, indicating
which candidate they support for President or as someone who is "uncommitted."
At 10:30 a.m. the caucus participants break out into sub-groups of
those persons who indicated a Presidential preference, or as "uncommitted
participants. At the sub-groups the individuals present elect delegates
and alternates to the Lewis County Democrats County Convention.
The sub-groups then gather back together to finish their consideration of issues and party philosophy. They vote on and pass resolutions they want to adopt reflecting the group's view.
The results of the Precinct Caucus are sent to the County and State Democratic Party offices, noting delegates and alternates elected and positions taken on various issues.
Who May Attend And
Vote At The Caucus?
Anyone may attend the caucus. Those who are registered voters in that
precinct, or who live in the precinct and will be old enough to register
to vote in the November 2nd general election, AND who sign a statement
indicating they consider themselves Democrats and are willing to be
publicly known as such, may speak and vote.
Those who attend, but who do not meet this requirement, may be allowed to speak with the permission of the group, but they cannot vote.
Those who can vote are eligible to be elected as delegates or alternates to the Lewis County Democratic Convention from that precinct.
A person may be elected as a delegate or an alternate who is not in attendance if he or she otherwise meets the qualifications for attendance and voting and submits a signed letter seeking election as a delegate or alternate. Proxy votes are not allowed and those letters are not treated as votes at the caucus.
Persons whose Sabbath falls on Saturday may participate and vote at the Precinct Caucus by submitting a "Religious Surrogate Affidavit Form" and delivering it to the Lewis County Democrats' Office, 417 N. Pearl, Centralia, by no later than 5:00 p.m. on Friday, February 6, 2004. Call 330-5006 to obtain a "Religious Surrogate Affidavit Form."
What Happens To The
Results Of The Caucus Meetings?
Results of the elections for delegates and alternates to the County
Convention are reported to the County Chair and to the Washington State
Democrats. So, too, are the results of the discussions of philosophical
topics and resolutions that are adopted in the caucus. The Lewis County
Democratic Central Committee will review the resolutions from the
precincts and use them to craft the proposed language for the County
Democratic Platform.
The Lewis County Democratic Convention will take place on April 24, 2004. At that Convention the delegates and alternates to the 3rd Congressional District Caucus and Washington State Democratic Party conventions will be selected and the county Democratic Platform will be adopted.
The 3rd Congressional District Convention will be held on May 29, 2004, and the State Convention will be held in Tacoma on June 5-6, 2004.
Chair's Corner
By Deanna M. Zieske, Chair, Lewis County Democratic
Central Committee
We have now lived through three years of George W. Bush's presidency. We have seen jobs for working people disappear, wealthy corporations and individuals get huge tax cuts at the expense of everyone else, the national debt skyrocket, the economy go down the tubes, our country for the first time ever make a preemptive military strike on a foreign sovereign nation, and our nation's international reputation ruined because of Mr. Bush's intransigence.
I don't know about you. But I have certainly had enough! We have no choice? Oh, yes we do! We must DUMP BUSH!
But there is only one way that will happen. Democrats must nominate a candidate for President who we can get behind and support next November.
Now, I am not about to suggest here who that may be. Currently there are seven good people seeking our Democratic Party's nomination for President. The way we will winnow that field, and reach consensus upon our candidate in our state, is through our Precinct Caucuses.
Participating in your Precinct Caucus on February 7th will be you only opportunity to let your voice be heard in selecting the Democrat's Presidential standard bearer. So mark your calendar for Saturday, February 7th. Plan to attend your Precinct Caucus. And most importantly, grab your friends, neighbors, even a relative or two who are of like mind and make sure that they go to the caucus with you. You have heard, "Anyone but Bush!" You have the power to help make that happen.
Democrats take pride in thinking of themselves as the party of the people - as the party that reaches out to the grass roots. We now are challenged to do just that through our caucus. Don't miss this opportunity for your voice to be heard!
Great All-American Auction Slated For Saturday, March 27th
When: Saturday, March 27th
Where: Chehalis "Eagle's Wing" (1993 S. Market Blvd, Chehalis)
Admission: $15.00 (includes dinner!)
Social Hour / Silent Auction: 5:30 p.m. — 6:30 p.m.
(Table #1 closes at 6:00 p.m.
Table #2
closes at 6:15 p.m.
Table #3 closes at 6:30 p.m.)
Buffet Dinner: 6:30 p.m.
Dessert & Live Auction— 7:30 p.m.
RSVP: Lewis County Democrats @ (360) 330-5006
Contributions Needed For Campaign Chest
The Lewis County Democratic Central Committee is committed to providing financial help to Democrats who we believe can be elected. We are working right now to build our campaign chest but progress is painfully slow.
So I urge every person who reads the Demogram and/or who claims to be a Democrat to take two minutes RIGHT NOW and write a check for whatever you can afford to contribute to our campaign chest.
Make your check out to the LCDCC Campaign Fund. Then send it right away to our headquarters at P.O. Box 765, Chehalis, WA 98532.
You can be certain your donation will be used to elect local Democrats!
