[statecom-discuss] NC Proposal 311 - Implementation of Standards for Recognizing Presidential Candidates

[Yarden]

Barring objections I expect to be voting YES on proposal 311.  While 
the provisions of the proposal may be less important for those in 
Massachusetts who are familiar with the joys of speculation and 
celebrity gossip that surrounds traditional Presidential elections, 
there are less sophisticated state parties.  The idea of having 
responsible people in a national committee of a political party -- 
which is where the presidential stuff get played out -- consider the 
realities of running a candidate, can only be helpful in encouraging 
the various states to behave in a similarly responsible manner.  I have 
examined the criteria developed while under discussion, and they favor 
no particular darlings of anyone.
Peace,
Elie Yarden
delegate NCMA GPUS


Background
The Presidential Campaign Support Committee has attempted to create a 
wide-open nomination process for 2008.  One of the hallmarks of this 
has been trying to establish a transparent, balanced system where no 
candidates are the benefit of any institutional bias.

Several individuals have already gone through the steps required to 
become recognized candidates.  The process, however, has proven to be 
fraught with unexpected problems.  Candidates who are clearly not 
intending to run serious campaigns and candidates with seemingly no 
Green credentials have announced.

Unlike the corporatist parties, for the Green Party, the imprimatur of 
identifying which candidates are seeking the nomination falls squarely 
upon the party itself.  When the Green Party releases a list of 
official candidates and some of those candidates include people who are 
clearly not credible candidates, the effect is to marginalize both the 
party and the remainder of the candidates.  Similarly, when the party 
extends resources to candidates, it should not be extending resources 
to any random person who has submitted a questionnaire.  Listing a 
candidate's name and website on the GPUS website constitutes providing 
a significant resource, and PCSC has also been developing information 
resources for candidates.  It is not good practice to squander the time 
and efforts of Greens on candidates who are not serious, or worse, who 
may misrepresent themselves and the position of the Green Party and use 
the imprimatur of GPUS recognition to do so.

The purpose of this proposal is to establish clear standards for the 
formal recognition of presidential candidates, where such recognition 
may qualify a candidate for GPUS identification and other resources.  
Such recognition is not intended to imply any status with regard to the 
conduct of voting at the Presidential Nominating Convention, and is not 
intended to exclude the participation or consideration of any 
individuals at the convention.  It should be noted, though, that the 
list of recognized candidates may be employed by state parties in 
determining the roster of candidates to submit to their membership for 
the presidential preference voting process in their respective states.  
This may require future action from PCSC.

It is also understood that there are numerous individuals who might 
best be considered "prospective candidates".  Such persons are 
understood to be undeclared and undecided, and perhaps not engaged in a 
formal "exploratory" process in the eyes of the FEC.  Nevertheless, 
these individuals could reasonably be asserted to be informally 
considering their options and they might therefore have some need for 
certain resources generated by PCSC or other elements of GPUS.  The 
potential popularity of such candidates compels facilitating the 
potential for such candidates to seek the party nomination while 
respecting certain issues that may arise from being considered a formal 
or "exploring" candidate in the eyes of the FEC.  A category of "draft 
candidate" is therefore included in this proposal, where "draft 
candidates" are understood to be undeclared and undecided but desirous 
of certain party resources.

Proposal
The Green National Committee formally adopts the following policies for 
recognizing declared and draft candidates for the Green Party 
nomination for President:

Policy for Recognition of Declared Candidates for the Green Party 
Nomination for President

1.  An individual may become an officially recognized candidate for the 
Green Party nomination for President provided that he/she:

a.  submits an official Candidate Questionnaire to the Presidential 
Campaign Support Committee;

b.  is not a registrant of any state or national level political party 
in the individual's primary state of residence except for a state party 
which has affiliated with GPUS, or a party forming for the intent of 
GPUS affiliation in a state where there is no GPUS affiliated state 
party;

c.  has pledged to use all offered Green Party ballot lines;

d.  has a website for his/her candidacy.

2.  Provided that the above standards have been met, any such 
individual should also:

a.  receive verifiable support from 100 Green Party members, including 
members from at least 5 state parties, no later than December 1, 2007;

b.  establish a campaign committee and file with the Federal Elections 
Commission, no later than December 31, 2007;

c.  raise at least $5,000, not including self-financing, for the 
purpose of his/her campaign, no later than February 1, 2008.

3.  If any such individual meets all standards identified above, then 
the Presidential Campaign Support Committee shall consider the matter 
of whether such individual shall be extended official recognition as a 
candidate for the Green nomination.  The PCSC co-chairs shall report 
when an individual has met such standards.  If no action is taken 
within seven days of such notification, then the candidate shall be 
extended official recognition.  Within those seven days, any member of 
PCSC may introduce a proposal, specifying cause, to refuse to extend 
official recognition to an individual who meets the delineated 
standards.  Such a proposal will be acted upon per the standard 
policies and procedures of the PCSC, and candidate recognition shall 
only be refused upon a standard 2/3 vote of the committee.  Should such 
a proposal fail, the candidate will be extended official recognition.

4.  Once a candidate has been extended official recognition by the 
PCSC, such recognition may be rescinded by a proposal, specifying 
cause, acted upon per the standard policies and procedures of the PCSC, 
with a standard 2/3 vote of the committee.  Such cause may include 
failure to comply with the time-specific standards delineated in 
Section 2 of this policy.

5.  Individuals who are officially recognized candidates may be 
eligible for GPUS provided resources, including information on GPUS 
sponsored websites, contact lists, and other resources that GPUS might 
provide.

Policy for Recognition of Draft Candidates for the Green Party 
Nomination for President

1.  An individual may become an officially recognized draft candidate 
for the Green nomination for President provided that he/she:

a.  has demonstrable, verifiable support from 100 Green Party members, 
including members from at least 5 state parties;

b.  is not a registrant of any state or national level political party 
in the individual's primary state of residence except for a state party 
which has affiliated with GPUS, or a party forming for the intent of 
GPUS affiliation in a state where there is no GPUS affiliated state 
party;

c.  is aware of the draft candidacy and has not formally notified the 
PCSC that he/she does not wish to be considered a draft candidate as 
per this policy; lack of notification will not be considered as an 
indication on the part of the individual that he/she is a declared or 
otherwise formal candidate.

2.  If any such individual meets all standards identified above, then 
the Presidential Campaign Support Committee shall consider the matter 
of whether such individual shall be extended official recognition as a 
draft candidate for the Green nomination.  The PCSC co-chairs shall 
report when an individual has met such standards.  If no action is 
taken within seven days of such notification, then the candidate shall 
be extended official recognition as a draft candidate.  Within those 
seven days, any member of PCSC may introduce a proposal, specifying 
cause, to refuse to extend official recognition to an individual who 
meets the delineated standards.  Such a proposal will be acted upon per 
the standard policies and procedures of the PCSC, and draft candidate 
recognition shall only be refused upon a standard 2/3 vote of the 
committee.  Should such a proposal fail, the individual will be 
extended official draft candidate recognition.

3.  Upon recognition of a draft candidate, the individual shall be 
notified, and shall be requested to meet the conditions of being an 
official declared candidate, per the relevant policy, no later than 
December 31, 2007 if the individual wishes to maintain status as a 
recognized candidate for the nomination.

4.  Once a draft candidate has been extended official recognition by 
the PCSC, such recognition may be rescinded by a proposal, specifying 
cause, acted upon per the standard policies and procedures of the PCSC, 
with a standard 2/3 vote of the committee.  Such cause may include 
failure to comply with the time-specific standards delineated in 
Section 2 of this policy.

5.  Individuals who are officially recognized draft candidates may be 
eligible for GPUS provided resources, including information on GPUS 
sponsored websites, contact lists, and other resources that GPUS might 
provide.