Precinct Committeeperson "Process" Questions

[fossaceca]

I need help explaining some of the procedures for becoming a PCP in Cuyahoga County.

Specifically, how does one get selected to the spot?
Do you need to file with the Board of Elections or the Party?
Do you need a petition with signatures?
Are you placed on the ballot in your Pct?
How long are terms?
Do you have vote in who becomes Chair of the County Party?
How is a vacancy filled?

I'm sure I've got more, but I'm looking for some help in trying to understand the process. I know what they do, but not sure how they get the job. I've got several people in my area that keep asking me and of course, there's nothing about it on the local party website.

Thanks!
SpinFoss

[Kolesar]

1. Here is something a Lake Cty activist wrote

She is trying to get local activists to represent their precincts. I edited her contact info out. I could give her your contact info if you care.

***********

The precinct committeeperson is the elected representitive of the people at the most basic level. As an elected official the committeeperson is the voice of the people in the precinct and a communication link between elected officials, the Lake County Party structure, and citizens. As such, the committeeperson must stay informed about his or her precinct.
The role of the precinct committeeperson is to encourage community involvement at a grassroots level by providing information and an opportunity for participation in the political process.
Responsibilities>
1. The recruitment and assignment of poll workers for all elections.
2. The distribution of party candidate literature within the precinct
3. Participation in meeetings of the Lake County Democratic Party and club meetings
4. Participation in voter registration, Get Out The Vote efforts and sign locations in cooperation with the Lake County Party Headquarters
As precinct committeeperson, you are the first line of contact to residents of your precinct. As an elected official, you represent the Democrats in your precinct to the Lake County Democratic Party.
Being a precinct committeeperson is a volunteer, unpaid party job. If you want to be active in politics, you should join the democratic club and help Democrat candidates in elections. This will provide you with the experience and contacts. If you seek a more direct role you could run for precinct committeeperson or seek election to public office.
Precinct committeepersons for the Democratic party are elected in the party Primary Election in May of even numbered years.

If you are interested in running for precinct person, <edit> has the current list of precincts and will be able to get back to you if yours is currently open.
Then you can submit your name, address, phone number and intent to run to the party leadership. That would be Tom Tagliamonte <dem party head > , Jack Platz and Linda Hlebak at the Board of Elections.
Several of us who are currently precinct committeepersons or on the Executive committee would be interested in supporting new people when it comes time to appoint persons if that will be done in the new year, I am not sure yet.

[fossaceca]

2. Contact Info

Can you email me her info? spinfoss @ blueohioan. com
Thanks

[Kolesar]

3. What I learned

Call the county board of elections. Ask if there is a dem precinct committee person in your precinct. If it is blank, you can contact the county democratic party and arrange to be appointed to the remainder of the term by the county democratic central committee. I can find you a contact in Cuyahoga county to expedite this.

If it is occupied, determine if the person actually does anything. some people like to get the position, but don't do anything. They must get it to have something to talk about. You can get a "walk list" of your precinct from the boe and actually go to democrats' and independents' houses and ask them to vote for you in the next election. That would be May 2006. The boe should tell you what details of what forms you need to file and whether you need signatures.

If the committee person is an active person, you can contact her/him and volunteer to help w/ grassroots activity. He or she will be stunned. People don't do this, typically. Of course, things are more urgent now.

[Jeff in Cincinnati]

4. Contact the Cuyahoga Co. Democratic Party

Their phone number is [phone]. You get elected during the even-year primary, but you can be appointed to a vacancy by the County Democratic Party at any time. Once appointed, you would serve until the next election.

To get elected you fill out a nominating petition and get the signatures of five people in your precinct who are either Democratic or Independent voters (no Republicans). I don't know the process for submitting the petitions, but in Hamilton County (Cincinnati), we submit them to the County Party, which then delivers them all to the Board of Elections.

Terms are for two years and you do have the right to vote for the County Party Chair.