Why you should run for Democratic State Executive Committee

by: Clem Guttata

Tue Jan 26, 2010 at 07:49:41 AM EST

If you are reading this and are a registered voter with Democratic Party affiliation in West Virginia, you should run for the Democratic State Executive Committee.

There are two position for each state senate district--one to be filled by a female and one to be filled by a male. The person filling the position attends meetings of the Democratic State Executive Committee as a representative for their district. In Presidential election years, decisions made by the committee include picking a delegate at large for the state.

Representative democracy can only thrive when there is strong citizen engagement. For better or worse, our government has evolved into a two-party system. It is really hard to change an organization if you're not a member of it. If you want to have a stronger voice in the direction of the state Democratic party, this is one way--run for a party office.

Do not delay! The deadline for filing is the end of this week.

From the West Virginia Democratic Party.

Interested in Running for Office
Filing Period Begins January 11-30  
All candidates running for office in the 2010 elections must file their official candidacy papers and fee during the filing window of January 11-30. The window closes at midnight on Saturday, January 30.

Democratic Executive Committee
In addition to all of the government offices on the ballot in 2010, all of the Party Executive Committees' elected positions are on the ballot in the May 11th Primary. The State and County Executive Committees are the official public faces of the Democratic Party. These two committees are charged with all aspects of promoting the Democratic Party and its candidates in addition to setting Party policies, platforms, electing Party officers (like Chairs), electing national representatives, conventions, poll workers, etc. Also there are three district committees tasked solely with filling vacancies in elected offices. These Committees include:

State Executive Committee - two men and two women from each Senate District - no more than one
man and/or woman from any county (except Kanawha) may be elected

County Executive Committee - one man and one woman from each district

Congressional District Committee - one man and one woman from each county

Senatorial District Committee - one man and one woman from each county within each State Senate
District*

Delegate District Committee - one man and one woman from each county within each House of
Delegates District*

*Senate and Delegate districts that lie completely within county are governed by the County Executive Committee and do not have their own separate committee.

Many of the Party Executive Committee positions are held by good Democrats who serve aptly in their positions; however, some spots draw no interested candidates and those vacancies have to be filled by appointment after the Primary. After the election officials certify the results of the Primary each newly elected Executive Committee must meet (usually in late May or early June) for an organizational meeting to fill vacancies and elect officers.  

The filing fee for Party Executive Committees is only $5 for Delegate District Committee, $10 for County Committee, and $20 for the State Executive Committee. If you want to get more involved in your Democratic Party you should consider running for a Party Committee.

For more information on running for office in West Virginia, visit the Secretary of State's website http://www.wvsos.com