By C. T. Weber
Posted on December 14, 2015 by the Communications Committee
See also this list of deadlines.
Every organization needs to have a dedicated, hard working group of people to organize, build and help it grow. This is its leadership body.
Our party is governed by our Central Committees, which are organized at both the state and county levels. The State Central Committee meets at least three times a year. It sets policy, decides on our platform and writes our bylaws. At our state convention in Presidential years, the State Central Committee chooses our Presidential slate.
State Central Committee members also participate in County Central Committees that meet on a regular basis. They plan their participation in local picket lines, demonstrations, social gatherings, fundraisers and other activities.
It’s not easy to become a candidate for Central Committees, but it’s not difficult either. The process is governed by state laws. Of course, you must be registered to vote with Peace and Freedom Party. In 2016, you must have been registered Peace and Freedom for at least 30 days before the day you file your nominating petitions and declaration of candidacy. We have ways to add those who are unable to register to vote because of citizenship, age or prior social behavior after attending two State or County Central Committee meetings and a vote of the body.
If you are interested in becoming a candidate for Central Committees, go to the office of your County Clerk and/or Registrar of Voters and pick up the paperwork to be a candidate for Peace and Freedom Party Central Committee. The first day to pick up nominating petitions is January 4, 2016. If you have two friends who would also like to run for central committees, the county election officials will put up to three names on one petition. If you share the signature gathering your work will be a lot easier.
The number of signatures you need to collect varies by county and district. In the larger counties (Alameda, Orange, Riverside, Sacramento, San Bernardino and San Diego), candidates run within Board of Supervisors districts. In Los Angeles County, they run within Assembly districts. Candidates need to submit at most 20 valid signatures of Peace and Freedom Party registrants in their county or district. If the number of such registrants is less than 1,000, then they need two per cent of that number. The maximum number of signatures candidates can submit is 30.
You should carry voter registration forms with you when gathering signatures because the signers must be registered with Peace and Freedom Party. Register your friends, co-workers, family and neighbors with Peace and Freedom Party at the same time you get their signature. Make two copies of the Affidavit of Registration, one copy for you and one copy to attach to the petition. You will need to turn the Affidavit of Registrations into the election officials within three working days, and when you do be sure to tell them that these registrations are from people who signed nomination papers. All of your signatures need to be turned into the county election officials where you picked up your paperwork by March 11, 2016. You will need to file a declaration of candidacy and other paperwork at the same time that you file your petitions.
Now go out and build the party.
C. T. Weber is an officer at large of the State Central Committee from Sacramento County, and chairs the Legislative Committee.