David,
Your proposal will never be approved if it allows anybody that shows up at the Ward
Convention to be seated as a delegate. It is my belief that DFL State Constitution
requires that delegate representation at DFL conventions be based on voter
turnout in individual precincts to ensure balanced representation from the political
jurisdiction making the endorsement. I could be wrong but this is something that
you should request an official opinion on from the state party. If you wait until
it comes up at the convention it could lead to some serious reservations about
supporting the reform it the opposition argues against it claiming it would be
unconstitutional.
Dennis Hill
St. Paul DFL Reformer
>>> "David Brauer" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 02/25/01 08:33AM >>>
OK, here's a specific proposal to elect DFL delegates in city election years
(instead if at state precinct caucuses the year before.)
The first resolutions will be introduced at next week's DFL conventions in
7th, 9th, and 12th wards. I still need "resolution captains" in all three
wards, so please contact me directly at mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
This proposal is open to revision - especially since I need your help
deciding one facet. Treat this like a second draft that can be revised. I'd
like final wording done by Wednesday or Thursday.
OK...We're amending Article 4, section 2 of the DFL Minneapolis
Organization, Constitution & Bylaws. (Full text at:
http://scc.net/~t-bonham/MPLSCONS.HTM)
The section currently states: "The business of the ward convention shall
include consideration of endorsement for City Council and the election of
ward coordinators and alternates. **Delegates and alternates elected at the
most recent precinct caucuses shall be delegates and alternates to the ward
conventions.** Ward conventions shall be convened by the ward
coordinators."
I propose changing that second sentence to: **Delegates and alternates will
be elected at ward conventions in city election years.**
My proposal is that anyone who shows up to the ward conventions would be a
"delegate" at the ward conventions.
The next step is establishing delegate eligibility. I'd suggest using
current state language. I couldn't find the state DFL bylaws online. If
someone can post the language, I'd be grateful.
As for voting, all delegates will get one vote each, with no distinction
based on precincts (a la St. Paul). Why no precinct balancing?
A) It's simpler and faster. The convention meets as a ward group. With no
precinct caucusing first, we save time, but still can have lots of debate.
B) It's more logical. I see no need for a precinct "electoral college." Our
endorsement procedure should reflect the ward-wide election process.
Precincts are merely units for administering elections. They're not designed
to be representational in any way.
Now I need your help. Should all ward "delegates" also be delegates to the
city convention, or should there also be city delegate selection?
Currently, all ward delegates are delegates to the city convention. But the
previous year's precinct caucuses limit delegate numbers. Precinct attendees
elect Senate-district delegates. Those Senate-level delegates become city
ward delegates the next year.
But with this "open ward-convention" proposal, there could theoretically be
an unlimited number of city convention delegates.
Here are two scenarios:
Scenario A: All ward "delegates" are also eligible for the city convention
Advantages:
1. Simplicity. Ward delegates show up, endorse a council member, and go
home. They are automatically delegates to the city convention.
2. Most participation. Maximum number of ward and city delegates.
Disadvantages:
1. Disadvantages low-turnout wards. While precincts don't matter within
wards, wards do matter at the city level. A hot Council race -- as in the
10th ward this year - could produce many more city delegates from that ward
than from the 5th ward, where there is no contest. (Yes, the 10th already is
higher-turnout than the 5th, but this would inflate the difference.)
2. Huge, more costly, and perhaps unwieldy city convention. Planners already
say it's too big -- 2000-plus delegates -- and this could make it bigger.
Just counting votes could take a couple of hours.
Scenario B: Ward conventions elect some specified number of city delegates.
Advantages:
1. Makes city convention more manageable. Hundreds, not thousands, of
delegates can still pick the mayoral endorsee.
2. Can balance by ward to compensate for contested council races.
3. Familiar. This is basically how the DFL does business at its even-year
precinct caucuses. Everyone gets a vote at the precinct caucus, and they
elect Senate district delegates. We're just transposing that on a
ward-citywide model.
Disadvantages:
1. Lengthens ward conventions. City delegates will have to be picked after
the ward endorsement.
2. Potentially confusing at the ward level. If 500 people show up to a ward
convention and have to pick 100 delegates, how the heck do they do it?
Walking sub-caucuses, majority vote? (If not enough ward delegates want to
go to the city convention, this won't be a problem. But we can't assume
that.)
3. Hypocritical. We're trying to boost participation at the ward level but
cut it at the city convention? (I would argue it's not hypocritical. We are
maximizing representation at the ward convention level, but these people
pick who goes on to the next step. The city-year reform is designed to
improve timeliness and participation opportunity, not just sheer numbers.)
I'm sure there are lots of other arguments, but I'd like to know what you
think. Thanks for helping craft this!
David Brauer
King Field - Ward 10
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