[GPCA-SGA-Votes] Discuss ID 154: Bylaws Interpretation regarding GPCA Endorsements of candidates in statewide races in June 2018 Primary Election

[GPCA Votes]

*Please send your discussion comments to gpca-votes at sfgreens.org
<gpca-votes at sfgreens.org>*

Discussion has begun for the following GPCA SGA ranked choice vote

Ranked Choice Vote ID #154
Ranked Choice Vote* Bylaws Interpretation regarding GPCA Endorsements of
candidates in statewide races in June 2018 Primary Election*
Ranked Choice Vote Administrators: Victoria Ashley, Brian Good, Laura
Wells, Eric Brooks, Mike Goldbeck
Discussion  02/12/2018 - 03/25/2018
Voting  03/26/2018 - 04/01/2018
Voting ends at Midnight Pacific Time

*Background*

Since the implementation of the Top Two primary system in California in
2012, political party primaries have been eliminated. In response, the GPCA
has begun to make endorsements for Greens running in statewide races. The
endorsements have been made via the Standing General Assembly (SGA) voting
page, beginning with the statewide elections in 2014.

The Coordinating Committee on its February 5th, 2018, teleconference
approved the following statement of findings / bylaws interpretation for
the Standing General Assembly to determine endorsements of Green candidates
in statewide races for the June 2018 Primary.  Green candidates running for
statewide offices in California who have officially qualified to be
candidates on the CA primary ballot by the time of the SGA vote (voting
period starting March 26th), will be on the SGA ballot for endorsement. “No
position” will be an option.  The endorsement process will be voided if the
SGA votes against this bylaws interpretation.

*Proposal*

That the Standing General Assembly confirm the following Bylaws
Interpretation / Statement of Findings as approved by the Coordinating
Committee on February 5, 2018, establishing the endorsement process for the
Standing General Assembly (SGA), to determine endorsements of Green
candidates in statewide races for the June 2018 Primary.

Bylaws Interpretation to Establish Process for GPCA endorsements in June
2018 primary

Whereas the June 2018 primary elections are operating under the Top Two
primary system for statewide office, a system under which it is highly
unlikely that any Green Party candidate (or candidate from any other
smaller, ballot-qualified party) will appear on the statewide general
election ballot; and

Whereas the existing GPCA procedures governing endorsements in statewide
races were passed at the June 2006 Ventura General Assembly (
http://www.cagreens.org/elections/endorsement-procedures) and were designed
for general election endorsements under the prior system, under which the
Green Party primary election winner automatically appeared on the general
election ballot; and

Whereas at the same time, these same procedures governing endorsements
state that in special circumstances, the Coordinating Committee can approve
a statement of findings to clarify under which special circumstances a
primary election endorsement should be held, and that "an endorsement
procedure would be brought before the GPCA."; and

Whereas while existing GPCA rules governing endorsements permit endorsing
in Green Party primaries in special circumstances  (http://www.cagreens.org/
elections/endorsement-procedures), under the Top Two primary system, there
is no longer a Green Party primary (or other party primary) but only a
single non-partisan primary with candidates from all parties running
against each other, meaning there will be no primary election held among
Green Party members to choose the party's nominees; and

Whereas the criteria for awarding Campaign Support Funds (
http://www.cagreens.org/committees/campaign-support/criteria) includes a
requirement that any candidate to be considered for such fund must be
endorsed by their county party (for a non-statewide race) or the state
party (for a statewide race); and

Whereas endorsements of statewide candidates are made by the Standing
General Assembly, according to GPCA Bylaws 7-6.2 Decision Items (
http://www.cagreens.org/bylaws/2016-07-03#Section_7-6_
Standing_General_Assembly ) which state "The following decision items shall
automatically be placed before the Standing General Assembly":   7-6.2(b)
Endorsements of statewide candidates (secret ballot); and

Whereas GPCA Bylaws 7-4 Endorsements ( http://www.cagreens.org/
bylaws/2016-07-03#Section_7-4_Endorsements ) state that "A GPCA position to
endorse or oppose shall require 2/3."; and

Therefore the Coordinating Committee approves this statement of findings
and interprets GPCA Bylaws under 13-3 (http://www.cagreens.org/
bylaws/2016-07-03#Article_13-3_Bylaws_Interpretation ) that the findings
above establish the special circumstances under which the GPCA should make
endorsements in the statewide races in the June 2018 Top Two primary
election, and

Whereas there are no existing party rules governing specifically how and
which candidates shall be placed before the Standing General Assembly for
endorsement; and

Whereas in the case of the party's presidential preference primary ballot -
which is not a Top Two primary - under GPCA Rules and Procedures 1-5 (
http://www.cagreens.org/rules#Section_1-5_Decision-Making), the GPCA's GPUS
Delegation and the GPCAs Campaigns and Candidates Working Group (CCWG) may
make recommendations to the GPCA General Assembly for approval by the
General Assembly for recommendation to the California Secretary for State
for inclusion on the GPCA's presidential primary ballot up to ten days
before the General Assembly; and

Whereas the CCWG on January 28th approved a proposal that the endorsement
process state that “all Green candidates who have officially qualified to
be candidates on the CA primary ballot by the time of the SGA vote be on
the SGA ballot for endorsement”; and

Therefore, the Coordinating Committee finds that it is appropriate for both
the Coordinating Committee and the Campaigns and Candidates Working Group
to have the authority to recommend consideration of endorsement by the
Standing General Assembly for all Green Party candidates who have
officially qualified to be on the June 2018 Primary ballot for any/all 2018
statewide offices; and

Whereas an upcoming Standing General Assembly is scheduled to begin its
discussion period on Monday February 12 running through Sunday, March 25,
with the voting to begin Monday, March 26 and run through Sunday, April 1;
and

Whereas the viable candidates for statewide office (those who officially
qualify to appear on the Primary ballot) will be determined after the
discussion period begins;

Therefore the endorsement process 6 week SGA discussion period will be
timed to the upcoming Standing General Assembly beginning on Monday
February 12 and running through Sunday, March 25, and during the discussion
period the eligible candidates will be narrowed down from all declared
candidates to only those Green Party candidates who will have officially
qualified to be on the June Primary ballot by the time of the SGA voting to
begin Monday, March 26 and run through Sunday, April 1.

Resources
None

References
GPCA Bylaws 7-4 Endorsements  http://www.cagreens.org/
bylaws/2016-07-03#Section_7-4_Endorsements

Full details will be available at:
http://www.sjcgreens.org/sga_vote_bylaw_interpretations

*Please send your discussion comments to gpca-votes at sfgreens.org
<gpca-votes at sfgreens.org>*
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