From Lincoln County Chair Betty Otten comes a post about one person she’s supporting on Tuesday, and why it’s important to have good people in the role of legislator, and precinct committeeperson:
10 thoughts on “Doing the job of a precinct committeeperson – From Lincoln County GOP Chair Betty Otten”
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Here is the whole thing in case you are not FB friends with Betty…
As the Lincoln County Republican Chair, I’m personally asking you to re-elect Sue Lucas Peterson as both your Precinct Committeewoman (listed as Sue K. Lucas-Peterson on the ballot) for Lincoln-Sioux Falls Precinct 2-15, AND as your State Representative for District 13 on June 5th! Sue is one of our Lincoln County Republican leaders. She was formerly elected as the Minnehaha County Republican Party Chair for three consecutive terms starting in 1999. She co-chaired with her husband Bill Peterson two Republican State Conventions and served as the State Party Republican Vice Chairperson! That my friends is WORK! She and her husband have instilled that same servant’s heart into their three sons, too (Lucas Peterson , Robert Peterson & William Peterson). She listens, she cares, she coaches, she volunteers and she works tirelessly for you. She has good character, morals, and is highly respected both personally and professionally. I am privileged to call her friend!
For those unfamiliar with how our Republican Party state convention works, only the following County Delegates have the right to vote: the county chairman, county vice chairman, state committeeman, state committeewoman, three at-large delegates elected in the primary election preceding the convention (or June 5th this year), and each precinct committeeman and precinct committeewoman. Other Republicans can attend and observe, but they cannot vote.
When a precinct committeemen or committeewomen sends in his/her Declaration of Candidacy into their County Auditor by the legal deadline, they pledge a two-year commitment to faithfully serve their County Republican Party, if elected, to help get GOP candidates elected, update voter information, raise monies, etc. They’ll walk for their candidates distributing information, work fair booths, man the phones, drive voters to the polls, show up for meetings, etc. They ARE “the real boots on the ground workers”! For most, if the precinct committeeman or woman is the only one who applies to represent that precinct, they automatically win and are not placed on the primary ballot.
Sadly, every two years when the State Convention looms, people come out of the blue, never seen or heard from before by the local Party and challenge the faithful precinct committeemen or committeewomen in a primary election. Why? Because they want to vote at the State GOP Convention. They have no appetite to serve the rest of their 2-year elected term; and once they’ve attended the Convention, the County Party never sees them again. It’s legal but hurts the local County Party because a true servant who believes that work and service are not dirty words is no longer able to vote at our local level either.
That’s why I’m appealing to you as Republican voters. Your vote really counts in these two races! Thank you!
Kind of like statewide candidates and office holders who only make appearances but don’t actually bother to develop relationships.
Well written…we need to reform the process…committeeman/woman also vote for county chairs and local offices who ultimately vote for state chair
I believe there is one AG candidate and one broken down marine who are trying to stack the deck to take over the party…
I think the whole running for AG thing is just a ploy to gain power in this process as well as on the platform at convention
Then as Betty says we will never see them again
It will be an interesting experience for some counties to meet new precinct committee people for the first time, at the convention.
Party meetings and events aren’t difficult to find, and are advertised in the county papers.
For those people only wanting to vote at Convention… there are 3 openings per county they can run for. Those people I respect as opposed to those jumping in over the top of committed pcs.
I also sent personal letters to every PC that was unopposed in their precinct along with a copy of my business card:
Congratulations, (first name)! You ran unopposed for the Precinct Committeeman (or woman) in xyz.
Please take a moment to email me your preferred contact information along with your email address and cell phone number (along with my contact information).
The Lincoln County Republican Party thanks you for your two-year commitment – it will be a very busy year! Your term runs June 5, 2018 – June 2, 2020. However, we will not overwhelm your schedule with meetings other than those necessary to conduct party business.
Please mark your calendar for these important events:
1. The 2018 South Dakota Republican Party State Convention June 20, 2018 @ 3:00pm – June 23, 2018 @ 3:00pm in Pierre. Make your hotel reservations as soon as possible as many hotels are already full. Let them know you are with the State Convention. More details should be forthcoming on our website: http://southdakotagop.com/get-involved/events/south-dakota-republican-party-state-convention-1/
2. 2018 Primary Election – June 5; Absentee voting begins April 20!! The candidate list is found here: https://sos.sd.gov/Elections/CandidateList.aspx?eid=290&eid=291. If you support a candidate who has a primary — we urge you to get out & help them win! Walk, donate & talk w friends… it all makes a difference!
3. Lincoln County’s Annual Fundraiser: Denim & Diamonds Dinner, Sat, Sept 15th, 6 PM, CJ Callaways Please like our FB page to keep up to date with “happenings” here: https://www.facebook.com/LincolnCountyGOP/
COUNTY CENTRAL COMMITTEE
You can find your duties as set forth in the GOP State Party Bylaws here:
http://southdakotagop.com/about-the-party/bylaws/section-iii
2. Precinct committeemen and committeewomen: One precinct committeeman and one precinct committeewoman from each precinct in the county shall be elected at the primary election pursuant to SDCL §§ 12-5-4 to 12-5-13, inclusive, and shall hold his or her office until the next primary election.
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F. Precinct Committeemen and Committeewomen: The precinct committeemen and committeewomen have the following duties:
1. Under the supervision of the county chairman, they have the complete responsibility to conduct the political campaign in their precinct, such as compiling and updating voters lists; contacting voters; registering non-voters; and general voter contact activities.
2. Serve as voting members of the County Central Committee.
Once again, congratulations and thank you for your commitment to the Lincoln County Republican Party!
Betty
Minnehaha and Lincoln are really quiet the last couple years for activity from the parties.
Wrong
Wrong
Apparently you did not attend the recent Lincoln County Sheriff’s forum which was very well attended on May 18, 2018?
I know Minnehaha has had a number of events this last year as I have attended them–let me see
Weekly coffees, where I have seen candidates and current lawmakers attend
Numerous forums & speakers
They had a Barbeque/picnic last year
Numerous debate watch parties in 2016
They have been active in petition drives, putting out signs, defeating ballot measures, etc
I see Minnehaha is having a primary night party this coming week also
I am sure there is more…
Maybe you should get involved more ANON 8:11