DRAFT STATE CONVENTION PROPOSAL

To be voted upon at the November 9 state convention.

Editors: John Andrews and David Spanagel

Approved by AdCom on 10/10/13

[[Comments in double square brackets like this are not part of the text of the proposal but are provided for background.]]

Proposal for Green-Rainbow Party State Convention:  GRP Slate Working Group

The State Convention of the Green-Rainbow Party adopts the following proposal:

1) StateCom hereby establishes a working group to be known as the GRP Slate Working Group (SWG).  AdCom shall serve as the parent committee of this working group and shall designate one of its two co-chairs.  The Candidate Development and Legal Committee (CDLC) is asked to fully participate in the work of the group, and at least one co-chair shall be designated by CDLC. [[Note: We did not use the term "Exploratory Committee" since this is structurally a "working group" and StateCom may wish to keep it in existence as a support group for the slate or as the entity that organizes the signature collection effort.]]

2) The GRP Slate Working Group shall hold an initial meeting no later than November 20, 2013.  It shall make frequent progress reports to AdCom and CDLC.  It shall make its own determination of the extent to which its meetings and deliberations shall be open to the public, but shall comply with any explicit guidance from AdCom in this regard.

[[Note: The SWG has to discuss non-public information regarding candidates and needs to be able to frankly discuss personal issues, such as the readiness of a particular candidate to run or personal issues that could prevent them from campaigning.  Some such things should not be made public.  In addition, certain electoral strategy discussions should not be made available to electoral opponents or unfriendly media.  As parent of the working group, AdCom will help settle any disagreements regarding whether something should be public or private.  ]]

3) The GRP Slate Working Group shall identify GRP members interested in running in 2014 for any of the following offices: U.S. Senator, Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary, Treasurer, State Auditor.

4) The GRP Slate Working Group shall assess the readiness to run of each potential candidate including their ability and willingness to make public appearances, raise funds, recruit volunteers, present a positive image of the Green-Rainbow Party, and increase the diversity of the slate. 

5) The GRP Slate Working Group shall define any special agreements or commitments that shall be asked of each potential slate candidate and will determine the willingness of each candidate to make those commitments.

[[Note: The application form for endorsements/nominations asks six questions of candidates.  The SWG may wish to ask that each candidate fill out the form and commit to a "yes" answer to those or similar questions. Additional commitments could be added. ]]

6) The GRP Slate Working Group shall assess the resources required for the signature collection effort is needed to place on the ballot either a complete slate of candidates or a partial slate consisting of offices other than Governor/Lt. Governor.  Resources to be considered are volunteer hours as well as money.

7) The GRP Slate Working Group will poll GRP members to estimate the resources that members are willing to pledge to the slate effort, including willingness to circulate nominating petitions and willingness to donate money.

[[Note: This would probably be done using an online pledge form.  It is understood that early commitments may represent only a fraction of the commitments that can be expected when the effort gets up to speed, but they do provide an indication of support.  ]]

8) The Convention hereby appoints the following persons to the GRP Slate Working Group: XXX.  The GRP Slate Working Group may add additional members by a vote of 2/3 of its existing membership.  Members may be removed upon their request or with upon concurrence of both party co-chairs and the chair of CDLC.

[[Note: Names will be provided by amending this paragraph on the floor of the convention.   The members must include the co-chair appointees from AdCom and CDLC.]

9) The GRP Slate Working Group shall present its findings for approval at the Winter 2014 meeting of the State Committee.  These findings shall include the following:

a) which individuals, if any, are recommended for nomination for each office as part of the GRP slate for 2014;

b) any agreements or commitments that should be required of the candidates;

c) a preliminary plan for collecting nominating signatures, including resource requirements and calendar;

d) any suggestions to StateCom or CDLC regarding the continuing slate effort.

[[Note: The SWG could recommend two persons for a single office, and let StateCom choose between them.]]

10) StateCom shall then decide whether to proceed with the nominations or to call for a separate nominating convention to be held at a specified date.  Should StateCom decide to proceed, they then take a vote on the SWG proposals, including whom shall be nominated for each office.  The individuals recommended by the SWG shall be automatically considered, either individually or as a group as StateCom sees fit.  Other persons may be considered providing they submit a petition signed by any five StateCom members.  In all cases, victory of a "none of the others" option for any position will result in that slate position remaining unfilled.

[[Note: This is where the decision will be made regarding how many offices will be included on the slate.  If "none of the others" wins, then that office will not be included.]]

11) If, at a later date, StateCom approves an application for a nomination to an empty position on the slate, that individual shall automatically be included as a full member of the slate, subject to all privileges and responsibilities.  Similarly, if StateCom withdraws a nomination, that person shall be removed from the slate.

[[Note: This just accepts actions taken after the Winter 2014 meeting.]]

12) At the Winter 2014 meeting, StateCom shall also consider budget measures needed to adequately support the slate effort.  StateCom may vote to defer some decisions to a later date if they deem it necessary.

[[Note: StateCom might wish to provide funds to hire a paid field director for the signature collection effort.]]

13)  The GRP Slate Working Group shall cease to exist on March 1, 2014, unless StateCom authorizes its continuance at the Winter StateComm meeting.  StateCom may alter the charter of the SWG by a two-thirds vote.