|
 |
|
Sunday August 1, 2010 .
2010 Known Meeting & Event Schedule This 2010 Calendar may have some adjustments (PDF file)
MEETING INFORMATION The 40th LD has four General Membership meetings per year which
JOINING OTHER LOCAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY ORGANIZATIONS You may also want to join your county democratic organization. It can also endorse candidates and issues, and has the unique role of identifying and/or endorsing and supporting local candidates and issues. Grassroots activism and organization derives from our county parties (Whatcom, Skagit, and San Juan). That is where GOTV (get-out-the-vote) campaigns are organized and run.
GETTING ACTIVE IN PARTY POLITICS AT THE STATE AND NATIONAL LEVEL Each LD and County Democratic Organization may elect a State Committeeman and State Committeewoman to represent them at the State Democrat’s quarterly meetings. Our committee persons help shape State Party rules, vote on State Party Bylaws, and conduct other business of our State Democratic Party. By joining and becoming active at your LD and/or County level, you have the opportunity to run for Committeewoman or Committeeman, and may also run for local Democratic Party offices. A few people from the local and state level are elected to national party positions.
Democratic Organizations
Enjoy the Pictures from our first Chili Cook Out from August 11 2007 Click on the picture below to meet the people involved in our
Click here or on the picture to see the Chili Cook Our Picture Album...
40th LD ANNUAL EVENTS Summer Chili Cook-off: This typically American event is a friendly competition between counties, candidates and/or elected officials. It is our annual fundraiser and assures that we have funds to give to candidates and issues which receive the endorsement of our membership. Tickets go on sale June 1 for this August 2nd event. Fall Luncheon: This gives members of the 40th an opportunity to meet and share information socially.
|
WELCOME Welcome to the 40th Legislative District Democrats’ web page. If you are a current or recent member of the 40th LD, that’s great. If you are new to this website and want to understand legislative district politics, a hearty welcome to you too. You are encouraged to take a few minutes to understand the role of the 40th LD Democrats and consider joining our legislative district.
Press Release40th District Democrats Nominate Democrats for State House positions 1 and 2Anacortes, WA, May 11, 2010: Tom Pasma of Bow won a decisive majority (75%) of votes cast at 40th District Precinct Officers Nominating Convention on Saturday, May 8 becoming the official Democratic Party nominee for State House position 1. The Democratic Precinct Officers (PCOs) met to determine which of three Democratic candidates would become the official party nominee for State House Position 1; and to officially nominate incumbent Jeff Morris for the State House position 2. The Nominating Convention was held at the Anacortes Library. House position 1 candidates Tom Pasma, Thomas Boucher, and Kris Lytton each addressed the gathering of PCOs making the case that he or she should be the State Party Nominee. Incumbent Jeff Morris also addressed the convention to formally request official party nominee status. All three House position 1 candidates had previously met with the 40th District’s Candidates’ Committee. Each had also participated in one or more Candidate Forums open to all Democrats in the 40thDistrict. Convention rules require that majority of weighted votes of PCOs in attendance to earn party nominee status whether this occurs on the first or subsequent ballots. Jeff Morris, current position 2 representative and current Speaker Pro-Tem in the legislature, received Democratic Party Nominee status by unanimous acclimation. A quorum of 10% of the elected and appointed PCO’s is required to conduct business of the nominating convention. In this case, the event was attended by 50% of eligible PCOs, suggesting high interest in this race. The 40th District will conduct an endorsement meeting on Saturday, June 19 in Whatcom County to consider endorsing one or more candidates prior to the primary election. Democrats who reside in the 40th LD and would like to vote at the endorsement meeting be members of the 40th District by June 12.Applications for membership are available below
To find out if you live in the 40th legislative district, refer to your voter registration card, or go to legislative district loop up map. Click here for: The district finder map
40th Endorsement Policy Summary: The 40th District endorses candidates and measures that are voted on by all voters of the 40th District. A simple majority is required for endorsement. Multiple endorsements may be made for any race in which there is more than one candidate. To qualify to vote on endorsements, those voting must be PCOs, or have been active members for at least 7 days prior to the endorsement meeting. ENDORSEMENT vs. NOMINATION
CHAIR’S PERSPECTIVE: On Local Party Politics: Thanks to everyone who joined the 40th Legislative District Democrats and voted on which of our capable candidates to endorse in the 2008 40th LD race for State Senator. Some of you know of the State Party rules which went into effect in 2008. Washington State quite suddenly went from being a “Party Primary” state to a “Top-two Primary” state. The result was that political parties no longer had assurance that their parties preferred Democrat/s for office would make it through the Primary to the General Election. Instead, the top-two vote-getters in the Primary would face-off against each other in the General Election, regardless of which party they belonged to. If too many Democrat leaning candidates split the Democratic vote, there was a chance that no Democrats would make it to the General Election! The ruling also required that candidates in the Primary specify their party preference rather than identify the party they actually belonged to. Finally, if local political organizations would or could not endorse a single candidate for their open seats, the State Party would do this for them! The 40th LD 2007-2008 Board chose not to abdicate the right to choose which candidate to endorse, and our membership agreed. Thus, the 40th LD undertook the task of giving all identified Democratic candidates several forums during which the general public and our members could evaluate the candidates. Then, we held endorsement meetings in all 3 counties, and anyone who had been a member of the 40th LD for 30 days or more who was in good standing (had renewed their membership if it had lapsed), could vote on which candidate to endorse. This in a nutshell is why it is important to retain your membership in the 40th. Only members have a vote on which candidates and issues we endorse -- the more people who join, the greater the impact of our endorsement. If the Democratic Party and its Platform are to remain guiding forces candidate choice and party goals, it is essential that we maintain party identity at the county, LD, State, and National level. Roni Lenore Chair
BENEFITS OF 40th LD MEMBERSHIP The 40th LD holds quarterly general membership meetings, and sometimes holds other special meetings. During these meetings, resolutions and issues may be presented and voted on; candidates and state propositions may be discussed and/or endorsed; and bylaw policy and rules may be discussed and voted on using the procedures in our bylaws. The upshot is that if you want a voice and a vote regarding who is endorsed to represent the 40th LD in Olympia, and if you want to help determine which issues will be endorsed, and the guidelines under which we operate (and consider yourself to be a Democrat), you are encouraged to join.
WHO CAN JOIN? All Precinct Committee Officers (PCOs) with precincts in the 40th LD are automatic members of the 40th LD. PCOs elected during the Primary preceding the biennial “Reorganization Meeting” who also meet our State’s Democratic party requirements elect the 40th LD Board (Most recently the 2009-2010 Board). If you consider yourself a Democrats and live in the 40th you are eligible for “Active Membership.” By becoming an active member, you are eligible to vote on most matters which come before the 40th LD including candidate and issue endorsements. You can completion an application for membership on-line or meetings or events. People who live outside of the 40th LD are also eligible to join at the “Associate Membership” level. They are welcome to attend all meetings, but remain non-voting members. Note: Membership must be renewed annually. Please fill out the this PDF file with your membership dues to become a member of the 40th LD fill out your information and send it to the address within the membership form or send by e-mail and pay and make donation with PayPal:
HOW TO MAINTAIN 40th LD MEMBERSHIP The 2009-2010 Board decided to leave our dues at $10 per year, and to try to simplify membership record keeping by offering 2 enrollment periods. Between January 1 and June 30, the full membership fee of $10 is suggested. If you join after June 30, your membership rate through the end of 2009 is $5, and will expire on January 31. Everyone is encouraged to renew annually to maintain their voting privileges. We also take membership applications online at any time, and at our quarterly meetings. Note: Payment of dues is not a requirement of membership but is appreciated as this is helps pay for postage, printing, and meeting costs. Note: PCOs are automatic members and need not pay dues, but are encouraged to do so.
Communications: Once you are a member, please also request membership in the Community Discussion listserv with two messages:
A LITTLE ABOUT WA STATE’S POLITICAL SYSTEM Washington State is divided into 49 Legislative Districts and 39 Counties. In some cases, Legislative District boundaries and county lines are the same, but as frequently, they are not. There can be several Legislative Districts in a county; or Legislative District boundaries can cross county lines. For information on LD boundaries, go to www.wa-democrats.org, or click our LD website maplink. The 40th LD includes all of San Juan County, most of Skagit County and most of South Whatcom County. We elect one state Senator and two state Representatives. Each of our legislators sits on a number of important state committees where they represent the interests of our legislative district. As the democratic political entity which represents the 40th Legislative District, we 40th LD Democrats have the right to choose which candidate(s) to endorse to represent our LD. Our three Democratic County organizations, civic and business groups also endorse candidates, each according to their bylaws and/or endorsement policy. The 40th LD also holds meetings to educate members and non-members on issues which will or may have the potential to change the rules of our political process, and serve as an information link between the Washington State Democratic Party and 40th LD members.
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
 |
Mark your Calendar!!!
