Endorsement in Non-Partisan Races  Act

Endorsement in Non-Partisan Races Act
Drafted and sponsored by Diane Braughton, Operational Services Director, 15 July 1991.
Adopted with amendments by SCCDCC, 1 August 1991.
Amended by SCCDCC, 2 April 1992.
Amended by SCCDCC, 4 August 1994.
Amended by SCCDCC, 3 August 1995.
Amended by SCCDCC, 1 February 1996.

I. Consideration for Endorsement by the Santa Clara County Democratic Central Committee (SCCDCC).

I.A. Criteria for Offices
  I.A.1. The SCCDCC will send an application/questionnaire and an SCCDCC Fair Campaign Pledge to all Democratic candidates in targeted non-partisan races in Santa Clara County as soon as possible after the final filing deadline.
  I.B. Criteria for Candidates
  I.B.1. The candidate must be a currently registered Democrat and file an endorsement application/questionnaire and a signed SCCDCC Fair Campaign Pledge with the SCCDCC Candidate Services Director prior to the specified deadline on the application/questionnaire.
  I.B.1.a. At any time during this process prior to the actual vote by the SCCDCC, a
candidate may revoke his/her request for endorsement. II. Candidate Services Committee II.A. The SCCDCC Chair shall appoint a Candidate Services Committee before the filing date closes.

II.B. The Committee shall:
 

II.B.1. Develop an application/questionnaire for all Democratic candidates in all targeted non-partisan races.
  II.B.l.a. The questionnaire must ask the candidate:
  II.B.l.a.l. Name, address, work and home phone numbers.

II.B.l.a.2. Why they believe that they should receive the endorsement.

II.B.1.a.3. Their past/present community service related to the office they seek.

II.B.l.a.4. Their activities as a Democrat.

  II.B.l.b. The questionnaire may include other items as deemed appropriate by the Committee.   II.B.2. Identify and mail an application/questionnaire to all Democratic candidates in targeted non-partisan races.
  II.C. The Candidate Services Committee will provide support to the Endorsement Committee and during the SCCDCC endorsement meetings, as needed. III. Endorsement Committee III.A. The SCCDCC Chair, no later than the final filing deadline, shall appoint an Endorsement Committee consisting of the following members of the SCCDCC:
  III.A.1. Seven (7) members appointed by the SCCDCC Chair and approved by the Executive Board.

III.A.2. One (1) member from each accredited club, nominated by the Chair of that club.

III.A.3. One (1) member from each AD, selected by a caucus of SCCDCC members in that AD.

III.A.4. The Director of Candidate Services.
 

 III.B. The Endorsement Committee shall, as soon as practical, separately interview each candidate for whom an endorsement is considered.
  III.B.1. An Endorsement Committee member who is also a paid campaign staff member shall excuse him- or herself from interviewing candidates in that particular race.

III.B.2. An interview sub-committee for a race shall, whenever possible, be composed of members who are neither actively supporting a candidate nor are employed by an elected official who has endorsed or is actively supporting a candidate in that particular race.

  III.B.3. The interview schedule shall be provided to all voting members of the
SCCDCC.
  III.C. For each office sought, the Endorsement Committee shall provide an endorsement recommendation to the SCCDCC.
  III.C.1. The Director of Candidate Services shall provide to the Director of Campaign Services a summary of endorsement recommendations for use in determining levels of campaign assistance. IV. SCCDCC Endorsement IV.A. The SCCDCC will meet to decide on endorsements at least one month prior to the election. The Chair may call a special meeting, or meetings, to provide for endorsement decisions.
  IV.A.1. The time and place of the endorsement meeting will be announced in writing to each voting member of the SCCDCC no less than ten (10) days before the regular or special meeting at which such endorsements are to be considered.
  IV.B. The SCCDCC may endorse a candidate or candidates who, from the Democratic perspective, will best serve the community. Endorsement applies to candidates, not races. Endorsement categories are: endorsed, multiple endorsement, acceptable, and not endorsed. Voting shall be done first on motions to endorse, followed by motions for multiple endorsement, followed by motions to declare acceptable.
  IV.B.1. Endorsed - By a two-thirds majority of those present and voting, the SCCDCC may endorse a candidate. At most one candidate per available seat may be designated Endorsed. Once a candidate has been declared Endorsed, no other candidates may considered for endorsement for this seat, either at the endorsement meeting or at subsequent meetings, unless the endorsement has been revoked.

A designation of Endorsed may carry the weight of the California Democratic Party (CDP) and means:
 

IV.B.1.a. That the SCCDCC may publicize such endorsements.   IV.B.1.b. That the endorsed candidate has the authority to publicize such endorsement as he/she chooses.

IV.B.1.c. Such other campaign assistance as the SCCDCC deems appropriate. Statutory or accredited Democratic organizations shall be encouraged to lend or provide their name or campaign assistance to Endorsed candidates.
 

 IV.B.2. Multiple Endorsement - By a three-fifths (60%) majority of those present and voting, the SCCDCC may endorse two or more candidates in a given race. Such endorsement means:
  IV.B.2.a. That the SCCDCC may publicize such endorsements.

IV.B.2.b. That the endorsed candidate has the authority to publicize such endorsement as he/she chooses, except that the candidate cannot claim to be endorsed by the CDP.

IV.B.2.c. Such other campaign assistance as the SCCDCC deems appropriate. Statutory or accredited Democratic organizations shall be encouraged to lend or provide their name or campaign assistance to Endorsed candidates.

  IV.B.3. Acceptable - By a simple majority of those present and voting, the SCCDCC may state that one or more Democratic candidates in a given race are acceptable to the SCCDCC, but not endorsed.
  IV.B.3.a. In the case of an acceptable declaration, the candidate is free to get an endorsement from statutory or accredited Democratic organizations.

IV.B.3.b. The candidate cannot state or publish that he or she is endorsed by the SCCDCC or the Democratic Party.
 

 IV.B.4. Not Endorsed - All remaining candidates shall be designated not endorsed. The SCCDCC shall not lend nor provide its name or campaign assistance.
  IV.C. The SCCDCC may reconsider any endorsement action taken, at any time.
  IV.C.1. An endorsement shall be revoked in the event of a Fair Campaign Pledge violation. Any complaints about a Fair Campaign Pledge violation shall be reviewed by the SCCDCC Executive Board. If the Executive Board agrees that there may be a violation, and if time permits, the complaint shall be forwarded to the Endorsement Committee for a recommendation about the alleged ethics violation. The SCCDCC, by a two-thirds majority of those present and voting, shall make the final decision about revocation of an endorsement. If time does not permit, the decision will be made by the Executive Board, and the actions taken shall be reported to the SCCDCC at its next meeting for its approval by a two-thirds majority of those present and voting.
  IV.D. Fast-Track for Sole Democrats
  IV.D.1. In the case of a race for which the number of Democratic candidates does not exceed the number of seats, the Director of Campaign Services may place the name(s) of one or more of these candidates before the SCCDCC for endorsement without the requirement of a questionnaire or an interview.

IV.D.2. The names of all such "Sole Democrats" shall be placed on a consent calendar. Such consent calendar shall be voted on by the SCCDCC in a single motion that may be approved by a two-thirds vote of those present and voting.

  IV.D.3. Any candidate may be removed from the consent calendar by any voting member of the SCCDCC. For each candidate removed from the consent calendar, a separate vote shall be taken by the SCCDCC, which may, by a two-thirds vote of those present and voting, endorse such candidate.

IV.D.4. Any candidate who fails to receive an endorsement through the process described in this section shall be allowed to go through the questionnaire and interview process, without prejudice.

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This page was last updated 27 April 1999.