News

PCOs to Meet January 20, 2018

January 4, 2018

3rd LD Precinct Committee Officers (PCOs) will meet on January 20, 2018 (immediately after a special Spokane County Democrats PCO meeting to elect a new Chair) for the purpose of electing representatives to three committees for the State Democratic Party Convention (Platform, Rules, and Credentials). Here is the Call to Meeting and proposed agenda.

Registration for the 3rd LD meeting will open at 9:00 am (separate registration from the County Party's special meeting to elect a new Chair). The 3rd LD meeting will start at 10:30 am or immediately after the County Party's special meeting, whichever is later. The 3rd LD meeting will end no later than 11:15 am, so that 3rd LD PCOs may participate in the County Party's regular quarterly PCO meeting (the second County Party meeting of the morning), scheduled to begin at 11:30 am.

PCOs will also consider endorsements for the 5th Congressional District race as well as endorsing Timm Ormsby and Marcus Riccelli for re-election from the 3rd LD to the Washington State House of Representatives.

The 3rd LD can send one representative to each of three state convention committees: Platform, Rules, and Credentials. 

The State Party recommends that representatives to State Party convention committees should be individuals committed to the Party and Democratic values and be members in good standing of their local party organization. These are important leadership positions demanding a great deal of time, dedication and ability to work well with others in small and large group settings. It is expected that committee members will adhere to the WSDCC Code of Conduct.

Please note that State Convention committee members are not automatic delegates to the State Convention. It is possible for the same individual to be chosen to be a committee member of a State Convention Committee (at the January PCO meeting) and elected as a delegate/alternate to the State Convention at the 3rd LD sub-caucus in March.

 

The Platform Committee develops the proposed platform for the state convention to adopt (the state convention is the highest authority of the Democratic Party in Washington). Here’s the 2016 Platform that was adopted.

Recommended qualifications from the State Party for the Platform Committee:

• Working knowledge of the existing party platform,
• Working knowledge of the current resolutions process,
• Experience drafting successfully passed clear and concise resolutions at the local or state level,
• Possess prior platform committee experience, at the local or state level, and
• Ability to attend ideally all, if not the majority, of the State Platform Committee meetings, and the State Convention on June 15-16, 2018 in Wenatchee.

The Platform Committee is scheduled to meet as follows:

• Saturday, April 28, 2018 – 10:00 AM - Seattle, WA
• Saturday, May 5, 2018 – 10:00 AM - Ellensburg, WA 
• Sunday, May 13, 2018 – 10:00 AM - Ellensburg, WA 
• Sunday, May 20, 2018 – 10:00 AM - Tacoma, WA 

 

The Rules Committee prepares proposed rules and a proposed agenda for the conduct of the convention. 3rd LD Chair David Green has been asked to be a co-chair of the Rules Committee. Much of the work of the Rules Committee is done before the state convention in Wenatchee.

Recommended qualifications from the State Party for the Rules Committee:

• Demonstrated parliamentary experience,
• Working knowledge and understanding of State Charter, By-Laws and DSAAP Rules,
• Prior rules committee experience, at local or state level,
• Working knowledge of credentialing process, and
• Ability to attend at least one, potentially two, State Rules Committee meetings prior to the Convention and attend the State Democratic Convention on June 15-16, 2018 in Wenatchee.

The Rules Committee's first meeting date will be on Saturday, April 28, 2018 at 10:00 am in Seattle. Additional dates and locations of meeting(s) prior to Convention are still to be determined.

 

The Credentials Committee has the power to certify delegates as selected by the LDs and the county party organizations, and deals with any delegate challenges not disposed of by the Rules Committee. Much of the work of the Credentials Committee is done on-site at the state convention in Wenatchee (Friday, June 15, 2018 and Saturday, June 16, 2018).

Recommended qualifications from the State Party for the Credentials Committee:

• Demonstrated commitment to accuracy, inclusivity, and transparency,
• Flexibility and the judgment/experience to create digital and physical systems that work for local parties with diverse needs and memberships,
• Ability to work under pressure and tight time constraints,
• Possess prior credentials committee experience, at the local or state level,
• Possess a working knowledge of credentialing process,
• Working knowledge of DSAAP Rules,
• Ability to attend a State Convention Credentials Committee meeting prior to the June Convention. Dates and locations to be determined, and
• Must be available to attend the State Democratic Convention on June 15-16, 2018 in Wenatchee.

 

For the 2016 state convention in Tacoma, the 3rd LD selected the following committee members:

• Mary (Carr) Winkes (Precinct 3213): Platform
• William Forman (Precinct 3200): Rules
• Norman Luther (Precinct 3220): Credentials 

The selection of convention delegates from the 3rd LD will occur at LD sub-caucuses at the Spokane County Convention on  Saturday, March 24, 2018 (location TBD).  The 3rd LD will select seven (7) delegates and three (3) alternates to represent the LD at the state convention in Wenatchee on Saturday, June 16, 2018. State convention committees will start their work on Friday, June 15.

Automatic delegates to the state convention include all state central committee members (Joanne Fleming and Michael Kirk from the 3rd LD, as well as Mary (Carr) Winkes and Ed Duhaime from the county party), DNC members residing in Washington State (Joe Pakootas, among others), LD and County Chairs (David Green and the chair of Spokane County Democrats), and Democratic State Senators and Representatives (Andy Billig, Timm Ormsby, and Marcus Riccelli).

If you are interested in representing the 3rd LD at the state convention in Wenatchee on Saturday, June 16, 2018, you’ll want to mark the county convention date of Saturday, March 24, 2018 on your calendar (location TBD) as that is the meeting at which our state convention delegates and alternates will be chosen.

For further information about the process of selecting committee members and convention delegates, please contact David Green, Chair via email.