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.