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

[james clark]

Should not all greens have a chance to vote on who we endorse as a
candidate, not just the select few who are SGA delegates?

On Feb 15, 2018 12:43 PM, "GPCA Votes" <gpca.votes at gmail.com> wrote:

> *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_Standi
> ng_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/bylaw
> s/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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