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Run for County Committee

by: Jeff Gardner

Fri Mar 12, 2010 at 12:15:00 PM EST

Today, we're one month away from the April 12th Filing Deadline for Petitions to run for County Committee seats, which are up for election in many counties across the state this year - my own Passaic County included. And anyone spending time here on Blue Jersey railing about corruption, or a need for more progressive elected officials, or an end to the old-boys-network of politics should really put down the mouse, get out of the house, and run for county committee.

You can do it alone, with the goal of adding your voice to the process. Or you can do it together with others in your town, with the goal of re-energizing your local democratic party. Either way, it really is as easy as 1 - 2 - 3:

1- Pick up a petition at your municipal clerk's office, along with a list of voters in your electoral district;

2- Get a few signatures from your neighbors ahead of the April 12 filing deadline; and

3- Go meet some neighbors between now and the June 8 primary, and ask them to support your effort to build the Democratic party.

That really is all it takes (with a few exceptions) to go from complaining outsider to engaged insider within the Democratic Party. It is the single most important first step you can take to strengthen the party. And in the many places where the county committee slots are currently vacant (your municipal clerk can tell you when you pick up the petition if your seat is vacant), it could not be easier. In fact, you'll be greeted with open arms by party leaders for doing your civic duty.

What few dare suggest, however, is the value of running for county committee even where there is not a vacancy. This situation is more difficult, to be sure, as the open arms mentioned above will, um, maybe not be so open at first. I can tell you first-hand as part of a team of democrats in Hawthorne who are running for county committee this year (one local paper calls us "the faction"), some people won't be happy about it. And some will falsely accuse you of "dividing" the party.

But, guess what? A funny thing happened in our historically republican borough when word got out that a rival county committee slate was running this year. Suddenly, democratic county committee members - many of whom had been unseen during past election cycles, and hadn't done any organizing in years - are now going door-to-door, making phone calls, and pulling out all the stops to hold their seats in June. So, instead of "dividing" anything, our team is multiplying the democratic organizing in Hawthorne like we've never seen before.

An energized, stronger party ready to unite for the fall elections. That's the consequence of engaging with your local party - and it's totally worth a few bruised egos. You will spur your fellow democrats to start organizing like we should be doing all along. And, you'll be responsible for re-energizing the party at a time when democrats need all the energy they can get.

So, go for it! The one-month clock is ticking.

Jeff Gardner :: Run for County Committee

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Run for County Committee | 10 comments

Great post. (4.00 / 3)

Couldn't have said it better myself. You want to shape what candidates run (or don't run) in your town, county, legislative, or congressional district? Then pick up petitions.

This site should be on online catalyst for offline action, and you wouldn't believe how quickly you can become tied into playing a role in your local or county party by becoming a County Committee person.

by: Matthew Jordan @ Fri Mar 12, 2010 at 18:05:02 PM UTC

by: you @ soon

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I agree (4.00 / 2)

If you don't like what is happening get inside and create change from within. Does no good just ringing the button on the doorbell if the wire is disconnected.

Babs Casbar Siperstein

"Discrimination caused by ignorance and fear is a tax on human progress" - Barbra Casbar Siperstein

by: Babs NJSD @ Fri Mar 12, 2010 at 19:42:28 PM UTC

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How many signatures (4.00 / 3)

Your clerk can tell you how many Democratic signatures you need from members of the Democratic Party who live in your voting precinct. In some places, like where I live in Flemington, you can often get enough signatures in your own family. But here's the thing: get more.

If you get out and meet some of your neighboring Democrats, you'll be creating that buzz Jeff talks about, and you never know who you'll meet, including potential new candidates to run in your town. (Besides, it's Spring, and it's not miserable outside!)

It's not a particularly snappy signature, but here's what I think we need in the next NJ Democratic State Chair.

by: Rosi Efthim @ Fri Mar 12, 2010 at 18:25:57 PM UTC

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I'm thinking of doing this myself (4.00 / 1)

even though there's an incumbent in there, I think I need less than 5 signatures to be on the ballot.

Too bad I'll be out of town next week

http://outspokenliberal.blogsp...

by: tabbycat31 @ Fri Mar 12, 2010 at 20:05:11 PM UTC

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You have a month (0.00 / 0)

And, tabby, you would make a great county committee person.

It's not a particularly snappy signature, but here's what I think we need in the next NJ Democratic State Chair.

by: Rosi Efthim @ Fri Mar 12, 2010 at 20:18:37 PM UTC

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I only have one worry (0.00 / 0)

at our DFA meeting earlier this month, I was told there was a 3/19 deadline. I'll be around then but after being out of town for the rest of the week. If it's 3/19 I'll put it off till next cycle when I'm not still considered a "benny" but if it's April I'll run.

I don't think our Democratic primary here is expected to have much turnout so it could be my vote plus one or something. If I did get in, what would the job description be?

http://outspokenliberal.blogsp...

by: tabbycat31 @ Sat Mar 13, 2010 at 00:11:29 AM UTC

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You could become Municipal Chair overnight! (0.00 / 0)

When I ran for County Committee in 2007, not only was I the only Democrat in my election district to run for County Committee, I was also the only Democrat to run for County Committee in my entire town, which led to me becoming Municipal Chair of my town immediately upon winning my uncontested election.

Being Municipal Chair enabled me to recruit and appoint other registered Democrats in my town to the vacant County Committee seats in their election districts and by the end of my first six months as Municipal Chair, I was able to fill half of the vacancies in my town.

There are plenty of towns like mine throughout the state. Yours could be one of them. The only way to know is to run.

by: Bertin Lefkovic @ Fri Mar 12, 2010 at 20:29:19 PM UTC

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How about this for a slogan? (0.00 / 0)

Most, if not all petitions for County Committee require a slogan. Usually, when someone runs for a vacant seat, the county party will allow them to use their slogan (i.e. Monmouth County Democratic Organization). However, someone in tabby's situation will most likely not get the county party's endorsement and the permission to use its slogan.

That said, I would like to propose two ideas for slogans that if nothing else could create the impression that insurgent candidates are part of a larger whole.

Blue Jersey Democrats of ___ County

Progressive Democrats of ___ County

What slogan is your "faction" in Hawthorne using Jeff? Are there other, similar insurgencies taking place in other Passaic County towns? If so, are they using the same slogan as your "faction"?

I would also like to throw out the idea that even if someone is running for a vacant County Committee seat, he/she runs off the party line with one of these slogans or another unified slogan rather than on the party line with the party's slogan.

It would be a way of sending a message to the party establishment that we are not pleased with the way that Democrats have been running the state for most of the past decade and want to change it.

by: Bertin Lefkovic @ Fri Mar 12, 2010 at 22:05:56 PM UTC

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No Messages Allowed (0.00 / 0)

You're not trying to send a message, you're trying to get ELECTED.

And if you are trying to create an insurgency you cetainly don't telegraph your intent ahead of time.

Focus on getting elected and the rest will take care of itself.

by: Got Kids @ Sat Mar 13, 2010 at 00:38:36 AM UTC

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Oh my goodness... (4.00 / 1)

An actual election for county committee? AND municipal chair? How unDemocratic! Since learning that I need not share DNA with the current municipal chair to run, I'm on Jeff's slate and we plan to kick ass. 30 signatures and counting...

"The last thing this country needs is two Republican parties." Ted Kennedy

by: bluestatejoe @ Sat Mar 13, 2010 at 21:02:15 PM UTC

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Run for County Committee | 10 comments