Central Committee meeting, November 29

Just a reminder about the next

McPherson County Democrats

Central Committee meeting

on Tuesday, November 29, at 7 PM

in the Siek Dining Hall

In Hoffman Student Union

at McPherson College

- - - - - -

All Precinct Committee People

are invited to participate,

and the meeting will be open

to any registered Democrat

who would like to attend.

- - - - - -

For more information,

Call 620-307-0334

or email McDemsKS@gmail.com

Central Committee Meeting

Just a reminder about the next

McPherson County Democrats

Central Committee meeting

on Tuesday, November 29, at 7 PM

in the Siek Dining Hall

In Hoffman Student Union

at McPherson College

- - - - - -

All Precinct Committee People

are invited to participate,

and the meeting will be open

to any registered Democrat

who would like to attend.

- - - - - -

For more information,

Call 620-307-0334

or email McDemsKS@gmail.com

Roberts and Moran should be proud to support Steve Six.

Fellow Kansans;

Kansas Democrats and Republicans have a long and well-respected history of supporting one another across the aisle in a show of non-partisan state pride on the national stage, whenever the opportunity has arisen in years gone by. Our lawmakers and civic leaders have always been able to overcome the partisan bickering to get behind a fellow Kansan, from any party, when they are given the opportunity take a leadership role in a higher office.

But now, harsh divisions have split our state so deeply between parties and ideologies, that tradition of non-partisan Kansas pride in excellence has been abandoned.

In denying Steve Six his appointment to the Federal Courts, our hyper-partisan Republican Senators Moran and Roberts have instead chosen to usher in a sad era of divisiveness and disrespect, holding the bitter resentments of a noisy, poorly informed minority above the noble traditions of their proud Republican predecessors.

By rejecting Six, they have rejected a Kansas jurist who commands the respect and admiration of lawyers, civic leaders and lawmakers from all across the state, a man who has the endorsement and unqualified support of Republicans from many past administrations.

By rejecting this appointment, they are rejecting our state's long tradition of civilized respect.

Roberts and Moran need to do some soul-searching, their entrenched DC-insider, politics-all-the-time attitudes just don't reflect their Kansas values anymore.

We call on our Senators to reverse this failure and start treating Six like the fellow Kansan he is to them and to us all, instead of embarrassing our entire state by bending every debate so politically that our own excellent people are denied a place to serve us all for the better.

Signed;

McPherson County Kansas Democratic Party Officers

John Patterson, Chairman

Marla Patrick, Vice Chair

Randy Conyers, Secretary

Teresa Loffer, Treasurer

Secretary Conyers' Newsletter #1

Regarding Precinct committeeman/committeewoman positions.

In the Precinct Committeeman Manual of the Democratic party, it states that those who are appointed as Precinct People should be reported to the county clerk, which I did via the minutes of the meeting, and they are considered Official Precinct Committee people, however, they do not have voting rights until reorganization.

I interpret this to say we need to notify the state party of our appointed precinct people are and since we had to reorganize. at a time rather than prescribed by County Election Laws, they are voting members of the central county committee without the county recognizing them as such.

Here's the way the timeline is suppose to work.

People file for office by Noon of a defined date (which we will publish here once it is determined). All of our present Democratic Precinct people must file as candidates then, as well as anyone at-large who is a registered Democrat.

You are elected at the time of the primary, not the time of the general.

This is one of the two main reasons for Democrats to get out and vote in the primary.

After the primary election the parties are to reorganize. At that time you appoint positions for precinct wards where no one ran for office. After your appointments have been made you notify the County Clerk who records the event, and then sends you an official letter stating you are the precinct person for the specified ward. You then have all rights and privileges given to precinct committeeman and committeewoman, concerning money and resources.

You are recognized by two different entities; the Democratic State Party recognizes the person as official and the County recognizes the person as official.

These statements are quite an awakening. It makes all of the Republican Courthouses look like they are using different rules for different parties while they are following the proper election laws.

Now I'm ready to stand on my soap box and yell out the 2nd reason why Democrats must vote in the primary election. Elections regarding school boards, local and county issues, retaining appointments of said people, etc. ALL HAPPEN AT PRIMARY TIME, not during the general election.

I don't think many realize this, which in turn, is one of the jobs of the precinct people.

Precinct People Rock!

You are the virtual fountainhead of our entire elected Government and in many ways have the most power of all elected officials.

You're so important, and yet the newspapers don't print election results of your victory!

Voters need to know how important and what ACTUALLY is going on in a primary election.

New Officers elected by McPherson County Democrats.

On July 26, 2011, at 7PM in the Lindsborg Safety Center, the business meeting for the reorganization of the McPherson County Democrats, henceforth referred as McDEMS, commenced after minority leaders Representative Paul Davis and Senator Anthony Hensley finished their talks concerning upcoming redistricting issues.

While Randy Conyers was handing out the agenda he announced that a chairman would be required to run the meeting. Mr. Conyers made a motion to the assembly to nominate John Patterson as Chairman pro tem. The motion was second. No other nominations were made. Mr. Patterson was elected by a unanimous vote. Mr. Patterson took the chair.

Mr. Patterson stated the first order of business is the election of a secretary. Mr. Patterson made a motion to nominate Randy Conyers. The motion was second. No other nominations were made. Mr. Conyers was elected by unanimous vote. Mr. Conyers took his place beside Chairman pro tem Patterson.

Chairman Patterson stated a vice-president was required. Chairman Patterson made a motion to nominate Marla Patrick. The motion was second. No other nominations were made. Mrs. Patrick was elected by unanimous vote. Mrs. Patrick took her place beside Chairman pro tem Patterson.

Chairman Patterson stated a treasurer was required. Chairman Patterson made a motion to nominate Teresa Loffer. The motion was second. No other nominations were made. Mrs. Loffer was elected by unanimous vote. Mrs. Loffer took her place on the executive board.

Chairman Patterson made a motion to create an Honorary Lifetime Chairperson of McPherson County Democrats Award to be bestowed upon Carolyn Elmore. There was a second. Motion was approved by unanimous vote. There will be an award ceremony at the next meeting of the McDEMS.

Chairman Patterson made a motion to establish a Voter Registration Sub-Committee and described the mission of the sub-committee.

There was a second and the motion passed.

Chairman Patterson appointed Secretary Conyers as Chair and Carolyn Elmore as Vice-Chair. Chairman Patterson designated Mr. Conyers to research House Bill 2067 and the importance thereof. Kaelyn Seymour of the Kansas Democratic Party staff interjected stating it was not necessary for Chairman Patterson to appoint Mr. Conyers to the task as changes to the law do not go in to effect until 2012.

Mr. Conyers responded to Ms. Seymour stating he was familiar with House Bill 2067 and knew what was going in to Law on January 1, 2012 and January 1, 2013 respectfully.

Ms. Seymour stated the work in progress was not necessary and not to worry as the McDEMS ‘will be taken care of’ by the state party.

The officers agreed there were immediate questions that need to be answered before the first voter registration drive takes place in 2011. Secretary Conyers' meeting with the Secretary of State, now Kris Kobach, and his follow-up with deputy secretary Brad Bryant, were approved by the executive committee.

Chairman Patterson made a motion to establish a Voter Outreach Sub-Committee and described the mission of the sub-committee. There was a second and the motion passed.

Chairman Patterson will chair the committee with Vice-President Patrick as secretary.

Chairman Patterson made a motion to establish a Fund Raising Sub-Committee and described the mission of the sub-committee. There was a second and the motion passed.

Chairman Patterson appointed Treasurer Loffer as the Chair.

Secretary Conyers praised Chairman Patterson for his preparation and leadership skills demonstrated throughout the meeting. With the confidence shown by the assembly Mr. Conyers nominated Mr. Patterson as the permanent chairman of the McDEMS. There was a second. Mr. Patterson was elected by unanimous vote.

Chairman Patterson clarified the difference between being a temporary chairman for the purpose of conducting the reorganization business meeting and being the actual Chair for the McDEMS. To fill all offices permanently, a second vote was taken for Secretary, Vice-Chair and Treasurer. All pro tem positions were elected as permanent officers by unanimous vote of the assembly. The before mentioned names and positions remained the same.

Precinct committeeman and precinct committeewoman positions were appointed by Chairman Patterson.

Teresa Loffer is committeewoman for Lindsborg ward 3.

Geneva Turnquist is committeewoman for Lindsborg ward 2.

John Turnquist is committeeman for Lindsborg ward 2.

Marla Patrick is committeewoman for Smoky Hill.

Secretary Conyers will submit the before mentioned names to McPherson County Clerk, Susan Meng. Additional information requested by Ms. Meng will be sent to the committeeman and committeewoman for completion and remittance.