Until recently each political party held a primary to determine the candidate to represent that party in the general election. Only registered Democrats or Republicans could vote for a candidate of their party.
Several years ago our legislature adopted what is known as an “open primary”. In this new system all candidates are listed on the ballot. Voters, including independents (those not registered as a Democrat or Republican) are able to vote for any candidate of their choice. The top two vote getters then face off in the general election.
This system has created some unintended consequences. For instance, say you have what is considered a safe Democratic district, one where registered Democrats outnumber Republicans by a wide margin. Three or four Democrats enter the race as well as two Republicans. If the Democratic candidates split the votes and enough Republicans and Independents vote for the two Republicans, they could wind up as the top two vote getters. You would then have two Republicans running against each other in the general election. The result would be a Republican representing a Democratic district.
The California Democratic Party is instituting an endorsement process that allows each Democratic Club to participate. To do this we must amend our club’s bylaws. Below, in this newsletter you will find the proposed amendment. We must adopt this change in order to send a club representative to the pre-endorsement conference in January 2016.
We will be voting on this at our May 5, 2015 general meeting. Please read the bylaw amendment and if you have any questions, do not hesitate to call me.
– Ron Mandelbaum
Proposed Bylaw Amendment
ARTICLE – CLUB REPRESENTATIVES
SECTION 1: California Democratic Party
Club representatives to the California Democratic Party’s Pre-Endorsement Conferences shall be allocated as follows:
One representative, resident in the Assembly District, for each full (not fraction thereof) 20 registered Democratic members in good standing in the Assembly District who are listed on a roster submitted, by July 1 of each odd-numbered year, to both the San Diego County Democratic Party and the appropriate CDP Regional Director(s). The roster shall be certified by the Club’s President, Secretary, or Treasurer.
Representatives should be equally apportioned between men and women to the extent possible.
SECTION 2: San Diego County Democratic Party
Under the club’s charter with the San Diego County Democratic Party, its President is a representative to the SDCDP Central Committee as an Associate Member. If the President is already a Central Committee member or chooses not to serve, a different representative may be selected to serve his or her term according to the provisions of Sections 3 and 4 of this Article. An Associate Member application, for the President or any other representative, must be submitted to the SDCDP within 30 days of his or her selection by the club.
SECTION 3: Selection
Club representatives to the CDP and SDCDP – and any other official representatives, delegates, and alternates from the club to conferences, caucuses, councils, conventions, and other meetings – shall be selected by a vote of members in good standing at a duly noticed club meeting or, if that cannot occur at a regular or special meeting, by designation of the President.
SECTION 4: Adherence to Club Positions
Club representatives described in this Article, when participating in voting and discussion in that capacity, shall adhere to and represent the club’s official positions on endorsements and other matters wherever applicable, and shall agree to do so prior to their selection.
