delegates and alternates to state

[crispini]

a question - it's my understanding that the delegates, if they can't attend, can appoint anyone who was a delegate to their SD as an alternate. Not just someone who was elected an alternate by their precinct delegates. Correct?

Second question- should I let all my delgate spots go to the newbies and just go as a volunteer? I want them to feel involved. But I'd kind of like to be a delegate, LOL

[Gman]

1. answer:

Only an elected alternate delegate can be seated at the convention. If a delegate from a precinct can't make it, his/her alternate can be seated. But that alternate would have to have been elected out of the same precinct to get seated.

As for volunteering, I'm undecided if I want to be a delegate or volunteer. Every year I forsake the parties and hospitality rooms in the hotels to go sit and listen to speeches. I kinda want to do it different this year and just get drunk Friday night.

---on edit---
Clarification: If the senatorial/county delegation doesn't fill all the delegate seats or alternate seats, they can be filled later by qualified Democrats that voted in the primary. So I guess my answer above is strictly speaking. In other words, if your delegation did not fill all of the allocated delegate and alternate seats, any qualified Democrat can be seated as a delegate and/or alternate.

Hope this makes sense.

[sonias]

2. That makes sense to me Gman

I think you're right.

crispini, there is always the at large route at your SD. You would probably get picked.

Sonia

[crispini]

4. Yes and no

Here's the bit I'm looking at:

11. Succession of Alternates to Delegate Status.

The succession of Alternates to Delegate status at the State Convention shall be governed by the following provisions:

(a) A Delegate who is to be absent or resigns may select from among the Alternates of the county, if elected by a County Convention, or senatorial district, if elected by a Senatorial District Convention, from which the Delegate was elected, the particular Alternate of the same political preference (in non-presidential years) or presidential preference (in presidential years), if possible, who shall assume Delegate status. Ex-officio Delegates (Article IV.D.3) shall not be replaced if absent.

(b) If a Delegate is unable to, or fails to, select the Alternate to assume Delegate status, the delegation shall select an Alternate who meets the criteria described above.

(c) A vacant Alternate position shall not be filled.

(d) When the Alternate is selected by the Delegate, the date for determining that the Delegate and the Alternate have the same political preference (in a non-presidential year) or the same presidential preference (in a presidential year) shall be their preferences as of the date when the Delegate selects an Alternate.

For example. I'm looking at the case where Candidate A gets N delegate spots but no alternate spots out of a precinct. In that case, it's my understanding from the reading of the rules that were one of Candidate A's delegates not able to attend, the delegate could name an alternate for Candidate A as long as it was any alternate that got elected at SD.

Is that right?

[Gman]

6. The candidate that got N delegates should also get N alternates

if those alternate spots were not filled, then again, any qualified Democrat can fill the vacant alternate position and accordingly elevated to delegate. I don't think that an elected delegate from precinct 123 can select an alternate elected from precinct 246 even though both precincts are in the same Senatorial/County convention, and definitely not if they are in different Senate districts, if that is your question. I'm thinking that the Senate district/County caucus would have to select an alternate from the at large delegation.

[crispini]

7. On a precinct level at the SD, I don't think that's correct.

I actually chatted about this with one of our local SDEC members on Rules. There is no alloted division of the delegate / alternate spots, by sign in or by anything else. So depending on how you vote, you could get:

Delegate 1 - Candidate A
Delegate 2 - Candidate A
Delegate 3 - Candidate A
Delegate 4 - Candidate B

Alternate 1 - Candidate B
Alternate 2 - Candidate B
Alternate 3 - Candidate B
Alternate 4 - Candidate B

In this case, if Delegate 1 could not attend, they would of necessity have to choose an alternate in their place from another precinct, because there would be no alternate for Candidate A in their precinct.

[Gman]

8. That is true at the precinct level at the Senatorial/County convention unless it's something

like your precinct gets 2 delegates and alternates to state and your precinct delegation is 50-50 Hillary/Obama. Then each gets one delegate and alternate. If, like most precincts the pct gets 1 delegate and alternate, then the delegate and alternate are elected "at large" from the precinct regardless of sign-in. The nominations committee of the SD/County convention then balances out the SD/County delegation according to sign-ins, race, sex, etc.

I'm not sure, but I don't think an alternate elected from one precinct could be seated to replace a delegate from a different precinct. The issue is representation of the precinct. But that is not to say that if there is just one more delegate that didn't show up and one alternate left to seat then the alternate would not get seated. Overall, the SD/County delegation ultimately can vote to seat any alternate as a replacement for any delegate. I'm probably splitting hairs here.

It has been probably back to 1988 and 1990 that this would have been an issue in my SD. Ever since then, we never had all the delegates show up. We haven't even sent alternates as anyone that wanted to go to state was a delegate.

I'm just still happy that there is only 1 convention now in presidential years.

[crispini]

10. Well, my precinct gets 4 delegates and 4 alternates.

Biiiiiiiiiiig precinct.

And the vote went 60/40 Obama/Clinton.

So, it could go 3/4 or 2/2. Obviously I'm pretty interested in this. Now, I talked to one of our SDEC members and he told me it was a straight vote. So since we had 37 delegates, that went 22/15 Obama/Clinton. So if the Obama votes go for three people, it'll be 8/7/7. If the Clinton folks unite behind two, it'll be 8/7. Obviously this would go 2 and 2. But if either delegation splits their vote, it could go 3 and 2 in either direction.

But, of course, depending on how people unite, we could wind up with all alternates of the other party. That's where my other concern comes in.

This is from the TDP rules:

11. Succession of Alternates to Delegate Status.

The succession of Alternates to Delegate status at the State Convention shall be governed by the following provisions:

(a) A Delegate who is to be absent or resigns may select from among the Alternates of the county, if elected by a County Convention, or senatorial district, if elected by a Senatorial District Convention, from which the Delegate was elected, the particular Alternate of the same political preference (in non-presidential years) or presidential preference (in presidential years), if possible, who shall assume Delegate status. Ex-officio Delegates (Article IV.D.3) shall not be replaced if absent.

(b) If a Delegate is unable to, or fails to, select the Alternate to assume Delegate status, the delegation shall select an Alternate who meets the criteria described above.

(c) A vacant Alternate position shall not be filled.

(d) When the Alternate is selected by the Delegate, the date for determining that the Delegate and the Alternate have the same political preference (in a non-presidential year) or the same presidential preference (in a presidential year) shall be their preferences as of the date when the Delegate selects an Alternate.

Which leads me to say, yes, you can elevate an alternate to delegate status who is from another precinct. Would you agree?

[Gman]

12. I don't know which SDEC person you talked to up there and I don't doubt

the person you talked to knows what's correct. But I would suggest you talk to Ken Moberg. If Ken says it, it's true. I forget off hand if Bobbi Sue Holbrook is still on the committee. If Bobbi Sue is, talk to her too. Either, or.

[NoPasaran]

3. If there are a number of delegate/alternate slots

I think it would great if many of them went to the newbies but you should be there too to offer a little guidance to them since otherwise they will show up likely not having a clue about anything beyond their presidential preference. An SD caucus can be pretty unsettling even when you know what's going on.

[crispini]

5. We have four.

Depending on how the votes go, it'll probably split 2/2 for Clinton/Obama, so I would be taking 1 of 2 spots. I agree it would good to be there, I just don't want to be a greedy hog. :D I may try for the at-large, considering I am a woman, I would have better luck than a man! :) Although I might wait to see who is on the Nominations committee before I make up my mind definitely. ;)

[Gman]

9. Your precinct is huge

I think I remember you said you had almost 400 people at the precinct convention. What part of Dallas is that?

[crispini]

11. Tell me about it. 3000 registered voters.

About 2500 of them are active, and we get some crazy turnout. East Dallas - Casa Linda area. The "People's Republic of East Dallas," LOL. :hi:

[Lisa0825]

13. I know what you mean about letting newbies go....

but dangit, I want to go too! I won't feel guilty if I get to go. They can also try to go as alternates, volunteers, or observers. I have been working this precinct for 4 years now, so I feel like I have earned the right to not feel guilty about wanting to be a delegate. That being said, if one of them goes and I don't, I certainly won't hold a grudge. It's an exciting time, and unfortunately, there isn't room for all of us there. I just hope a lot of the newbies will continue to be involved. THAT is what excites me the most!!!

[crispini]

14. Exactly!

Depending on who is on our nominations committee, I might think about going as an at-large. :D

[sonias]

15. Democracy for Texas put out this FAQ

It's a good summary

How To Be Effective at Your County/Senate District Convention and Get Elected to the State Convention


Sonia