Choosing Our Leaders

Choosing Our Leaders Ross Marzolf and Carmen Aguiar October 21, 2002 The Celis’ Home

WHEN WE VOTE…… WE ARE EXERCISING OUR RIGHT TO CHOOSE THOSE WHO WILL SERVE US AS OUR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES

REPRESENTATIVES AT MANY LEVELS • President of the United States • United States Senators • United States Representative • Governor • State-wide Elected Officials • Supreme Court Justices • Other Judicial Positions • State Senator • State Representatives • County Executive • County Council Members • Mayor • City Council Members

MEMBERS OF POLITICAL PARTIES Precinct Committee Officers (PCO) • Most local elected officials • Represent all members of a particular political party in the precinct in which they live • Appear on the general election ballot every two years • Elected in November • Must receive 10% of the votes of the candidate from their political party in their precinct

GOVERNING OUR POLITICAL PARTY • A reorganization meeting is called in each county • The structure of a particular political party for the next two years is determined during this meeting

PCOs meet and elect... • Chairman • Vice Chairman • Committeeman • Committeewoman

The Elected… • Chairman, Vice Chairman, County Committeeman and County Committeewoman are the elected officers for the next two years • Three of them (Chairman, County Committeeman and County Committeewoman) also serve on the State Committee for that party

CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS • Each congressional district from WA State also has two representatives to the party’s Executive Committee • These 18 men and women, together with the officers of the party make decisions on behalf of the entire State Committee in between meetings of the State Committee • They are elected during the county organizational meetings by congressional district

THE STATE COMMITTEE • The State Committee numbers 117 (3 members from 39 counties) • They meet in January to reorganize the State Party and elect new statewide leadership • They choose • State Party chairman • State Party Vice Chairman • National Committeeman • National Committeewoman

THE STATE COMMITTEE • These four officers lead the state party for the next two years • Three of them (Chairman, National Committeeman and National Committeewoman) also serve on the National Committee for their Party • The National Committee consists of X members, three from each state and X from territories of the United States. They govern the party during the next two year cycle and work to elect or re-elect a President from their party.

THE NATIONAL COMMITTEE • The National Committee consists of X members • Three from each state and X from territories of the United States • They govern the party during the next two year cycle and work to elect or re-elect a President from their party

AT A GLANCE PCOs – Local Four County Officers - elected by the PCOs 117 Representatives from the 9 Congressional Districts State Officers National Officers

PCOs County Committee- man* County Chair* County Vice Chair County Committee- woman*

PCOs County Committee- man* County Chair* County Vice Chair County Committee- woman* State Committee (117) * State CM ▪ State CW ▪ State Chair ▪ State Vice Chair

PCOs County Committee- man* County Chair* County Vice Chair County Committee- woman* State Committee (117) * State CM ▪ State CW ▪ State Chair ▪ State Vice Chair National Committee ▪ 3 from each state

PCOs County Committee- man* County Chair* County Vice Chair County Committee- woman* State Committee (117) * State CM ▪ State CW ▪ State Chair ▪ State Vice Chair National Committee ▪ 3 from each state Presidential Candidate

The PCO is a very important link in the entire political process

Those elected should take their responsibilities very seriously

Your involvement serves as the compass to guide our elected leadership

Choosing Our Leaders