The most powerful office in the
world is NOT the President of the United States! It's
Precinct Committeeman. Why? It's (the PCs) who choose whose
names will appear on the ballot for elective office and what
will be the policies of the political parties that provide
the major support for candidates. -- From a Republican
Website
Democrat or Republican, there's a sentiment we can all
agree on. The above quote is from a longer document that
clearly explains why the office of PC is so terribly
important. (Bureaucratically listed on the ballot under the
politically incorrect nomenclature Precinct Committeemen, we
prefer the term precinct committeepersons or PCs!) The article
goes on to explain why the office of PC is so powerful. The
condensed version is this: to change laws you have to change
the people who make them. (All of us in the Arizona State
Democratic Party are certainly on board with that sentiment!)
But winning requires an activist army (PCs), who not only have
a tremendous say in who gets on the ballot, but also can help
form the platform candidates run on as well as inform the
candidates about issues.
In conclusion, the document states: "Therefore,
Precinct Committeeman is the most powerful office in the
world, because Precinct Committeemen determine who gets the
chance to be elected to office at every level of government.
Remember, if your candidate is not on the ballot, he will not
be elected."
The above quote shows you how the Rs are rallying the
troops: by doing what they do well, activating their activist
base. We can do the same - and it starts with YOU.
Ballot-Elected PCs
Congratulations to all of you who have qualified and will
appear on the primary ballot in September to become elected
precinct committeepersons. For those of you in Maricopa
County, if you want to see the names of all our soon-to-be
ballot-elected PCs, please go to http://recorder.maricopa.gov/CF11AR3.pdf.
Whether you're in Maricopa County or not: If you did not
get your petition filed to qualify as a ballot-elected PC,
there is still time to become a ballot-elected PC. Isn't it
too late for that? Nope. And we'd really like to see a bunch
more ballot-elected PCs. How? Like all ballot positions, you
can run as a write-in candidate - and it's easy!
First register as an official write-in candidate. It's a
simple 1-page form. Call your County Democratic Party
headquarters. (For Maricopa County, call: 602.956.1947.) When
you call, ask them to mail you a copy of the write-in
candidate form. If you did not get on the ballot with petition
signatures, this process will help you become a write-in
candidate and an elected PC on September 10th!
Write-in candidates must file with your County Elections
Department no later than August 27th, 2002 by 5:00 PM. Then
all you need is at least as many write-in votes as the number
of petition signatures you would have needed to get on the
ballot. Since the number of required signatures to become a
ballot-qualified PC is capped at 10, no one requires a large
number of write-in votes to win. Of course, your own write-in
vote counts!
Here's what you do: If you go through the Maricopa County
Democratic Party office, they will give you a sample of a card
that explains the process to voters. You can personalize the
card and use it to get write-in votes. Alternatively, you can
create your own small card to leave with Democrats from your
precinct asking them to write in your name for precinct
committeeperson. Here's a sample:
Dear Neighbor,
I am a write-in candidate for the
position of Precinct Committeeman. PCs, as we're called, are
the grass roots of the Democratic party. I hope you're
planning on voting in the September 10th Democratic Primary.
Please, help me by writing in my name on the write-in line for
Precinct Committeeman. Write in (Your Name as filed as a
Write-In Candidate) and remember to mark my name as your vote.
As your local Democratic activist, if there is anything I can
do to help you, please let me know.
That's it! Make sure you give the voters your name and
address to let them know you are indeed a neighbor. Also a
phone number or e-mail address would help them contact you.
You may find a new activist this way!
(By the way, you have to remind them that it's a 2-step
process; if they write in your name but forget to connect the
arrow and actually vote for the write-in candidate, it won't
be counted as a vote.)
A GREAT IDEA: The folks at Maricopa County Democratic Party
Headquarters have a terrific suggestion. Send out your PC
write-in candidate mailing as soon as the vote-by-mail ballots
go out. (The first day of voting for the primary is August
8th.) Then, in your mailing, encourage people to vote by mail.
If they have the ballot in front of them, they can easily
follow your postcard instructions and fill out your name and
vote for you in the comfort of their own home. Then, they
don't have to remember to take your postcard with you to the
polling place. You've done the party 2 big favors: you get one
more PC elected AND you promote vote by mail!!
Of course, the above Dear Neighbor note can be used on a
postcard or you can do a letter mailing. If you want to do a
letter, then add a second paragraph to promote the party by
adding in contact information for your district chair, an
invitation to the next district event, etc. And you can spend
a little more time encouraging people to get out and vote in
the primary election. As always, don't go more than 1 page and
leave plenty of white space in the margins. An attractive
letter is far more likely to be read!
As noted, the last day to file as a write in candidate is
August 27th; however, it's so easy that there's no reason to
wait.
If you want additional information, give Rick McGuire a
call at 602.493.6656.
Let's get some write-in candidates for PC!
How Are You Doing?
We're about 10 weeks from the primary! We'd like you to
make contact with Democrats in your precinct twice between now
and September 10th. You can contact them by mail, phone, or
walking. If you're walking, we'll talk next month about how to
do that and help all our candidates. You might want to send a
postcard or letter, introducing yourself, and letting them
know that you'll be coming around with important information
regarding the upcoming election. Make sure there's contact
information for you.
The Republicans have managed to spin the lie that this is a
Republican state to their advantage. Now is the time for you
to help counter that spin with the truth: Democrats are alive
and well and will take back the state in 2002. We can not
overstate the importance of getting the Party name in front of
Democrats so that they are encouraged to get out and vote.
Only with the help of people like you will AZ Dems be seen by
the public as the active, vibrant, and winning team that we
are.
PC Handbook and PC Training
Don't forget, the PC Handbook and Resource Guide can be
e-mailed to activists. This 41-page book provides you with
everything you need to know to be a Democratic PC. If you need
a copy or would like to request a copy for someone else,
contact Rick McGuire: rickm@healthandmedical.com.
Similarly, if you are a district chair or club leader and
would like to organize PC training for your area, contact Paul
Hegarty at the Arizona State Democratic Party headquarters:
602.298.4200. Training has been going on all over the state,
so if you need some training brought to your County, please
let us know.
The
PC Tip Sheet is produced by
Rick McGuire
Ron Owen
and Joshua Weiss
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