CALL TO CAUCUS TO ELECT DELEGATES FOR CENTRAL REORGANIZATION

Giles County Democratic Committee

April 20, 2017 

Pursuant to the authority provided by the Virginia Democratic Party Plan, the Giles County Democratic Committee hereby calls an assembled caucus beginning at noon, April 29, at the Giles County Courthouse in Pearisburg. The purpose of the caucus will be to elect 3 Delegates to the 9th Congressional District Democratic Convention, to convene at 10:00 a.m. at the on Saturday, May 20 2017, at the following location: Southwest Virginia 4-H Educational Center, Ratliff Hall Meeting Facility, 25236 Hillman Highway, Abingdon, VA 24210.  Registration shall start at 9:00 a.m. Giles County delegates to the 9th Congressional District Democratic Convention shall elect twenty Democratic State Central Committee members and conduct such other business as may properly come before the Convention.

I. Candidate Filing: 

The caucus shall elect 3 delegates to attend the 9^th Congressional District Democratic Convention.

If Prefiling:

Each person seeking to become a delegate for Giles County shall file a Declaration of Candidacy form with Joan Kark, Giles County Democratic Committee Chair, 809 Rye Hollow Rd., Pearisburg, VA 24134 by 5:00 p.m. April 27, 2017 by mail or by email (jmkark@hughes.net).  The form must have signature  whether submitted by mail or email.  Only those candidates who have timely and properly filed a Declaration of Candidacy form will have their names placed in nomination. No slates are permitted. The Declaration of Candidacy form is available at the end of this caucus announcement. 

II. Qualification of Candidates: 

The Declaration of Candidacy forms for candidates for delegate, which the candidate must sign, will include a written declaration that the candidate:

• Is a Democrat and not a member of any other political party; 

• Does not intend to support, endorse, or assist any candidate who is opposed to the Democratic nominee in the upcoming election; 

• Will not participate in the nominating process of any other political party for the upcoming election; and

• Agrees to abide by the Caucus Rules, the Virginia Democratic Party Plan, and all laws applicable to this nominating process and the Special Election.

III. Notice: 

The Giles County Democratic Committee shall provide notice of this caucus by placement of a general notice of the caucus, including noticing the caucus date, time, and location, along with the Call to Caucus, on the Democratic Party of Virginia, the Giles County Democratic Committee websites; by email notification to the members of the Giles County Democrats who reside in Giles County and through other reasonable means that will disseminate information about the caucus to registered voters in Giles County.  In addition, reasonable actions shall be taken to promote participation in the caucus in accordance with the Affirmative Action provisions of the Party Plan of the DPVA.

IV. Participation: 

Every Democrat who is a registered voter in Giles County is urged to attend and participate. Each participant must sign a written declaration the he or she:

• Is a Democrat and not a member of any other political party; 

• Does not intend to support any candidate who is opposed to a Democratic nominee in the upcoming Election; 

• Has not participated in and will not participate in the nominating process of any other party for this election; and

• Is registered to vote in the [Locality].

V. Conduct of Caucus

The doors to the caucus will open at 11:30 and will close at noon and no further persons will be permitted to enter. Those in line will be permitted to complete the check-in process and will be permitted to participate. 

The Chair of the Giles County Democratic Committee, or his or her designee, shall be the Temporary Chair of the Caucus and shall appoint a Temporary Secretary and such other Officers of the Caucus as is deemed appropriate. The Giles County Democratic Committee will prepare Temporary Rules for the Caucus. Participants will adopt permanent Rules for the Caucus. 

VI. Determination of Nominee: 

If more than 3 delegates file by the deadline, the candidates will be listed alphabetically on the ballot and will be elected by a plurality of the votes of the assembled caucus.

If only 3 delegates file by the filing deadline, the Giles County Democratic Committee may cancel the caucus and declare those persons the delegates of Giles County to the 9^th Congressional District Convention for 2017

ADOPTED: ​​​​​​​​​​​

​​ April 20, 2017                Joan Kark, Chair, Giles County Democratic Committee

Paid for by the Giles County Democratic Committee, not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Declaration of Candidacy

Giles County Democratic Delegate

for the 9^Th Congressional District Convention

I, the undersigned, having read the above provisions, hereby state that I am a Democrat; a registered voter within the county or city for which the caucus is held; believe in the principles of the Democratic Party; and, do not intend to support any candidate who is opposed to a Democratic nominee in the next ensuing election.

 PLEASE PRINT:

NAME_________________________________________________________________________

RESIDENCE ADDRESS____________________________________________________________

CITY____________________________________________________ZIP____________________

MAILING ADDRESS (if different)____________________________________________________

PHONE (H) _________________________________ (O)_________________________________

EMAIL_____________________________________

CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT_______________________________________________________

COUNTY/CITY__________________________________________________________________

PRECINCT_____________________________________________________________________

Signature___________________________________________Date_______________________

Paid for by the Giles County Democratic Committee, not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.