TCDP
Non-Partisan Endorsement Policy

 Section I. TCDP Endorsements in Non-Partisan and Issue Elections and Actions on Agenda Items

TWO-STEP MEETING ENDORSEMENT POLICY: In all endorsements for candidates, issue actions, and resolutions, the Travis County Democratic Party shall follow a two-step endorsement process. If an item is placed on the agenda, Step One Meeting of the process will consist of an item being placed on the agenda for discussion only but not consideration. 

Step Two Meeting of the process will occur at a meeting after the Step One meeting, and will consist of an item being placed on the agenda for consideration.

In order for an item to be considered at the Step One Meeting, it shall require a motion to suspend the rules and receive a positive vote of two thirds of those present. In order for an item to be endorsed at the Step One Meeting, it must receive a positive vote of 85% of those present.

NON-PARTISAN ENDORSEMENT POLICY:

  1. The Travis County Democratic Party may endorse candidates in non-partisan elections within Travis County under these rules, but only if the race is between one Democrat and a non-Democrat.  The TCDP shall not endorse in any election or runoff where multiple Democrats are candidates.“Democrat” in this case shall be any person who meets the Texas Election Code definition of partisan affiliation:  voting in the Democratic Primary of the election year or signing an Oath of Affiliation to the Democratic Party as outlined in the Texas Election Code.

  2. A candidate may request endorsement by submitting information to the Chair of the Travis County Democratic Party. This information must include, at a minimum:

  1. The jurisdiction and office sought and date of the election;

  2. A statement that the person voted in the most recent Democratic Primary and/or has signed an official Oath of Affiliation to the Texas Democratic Party;

  3. A statement of why the candidate believes the TCDP should endorse in his or her race;

  4. A statement of which opponent(s) the candidate believes to be a non-Democrat and any supporting evidence of that person’s party affiliation; this evidence must be verifiable and fact based by public records; and

  5. A statement indicating that there are no other Democrats in the race.

  1. The Chair shall review the application and determine whether it meets the requirements for a candidate to be eligible for the County Executive Committee to consider endorsing him or her.

  2. Before the CEC shall debate or consider any endorsement of a candidate, proposition or item, there shall be a motion to proceed to consider the endorsement. This motion shall be privileged and non-debatable and require a positive vote of two thirds of those present.

  3. All members of the CEC shall be entitled to vote in these endorsements and actions.

ENDORSEMENT VOTING ELIGIBILITY

It is the policy of the TCDP that, in order to prohibit packing of the CEC before an endorsement, that the only precinct chairs eligible to vote will be those who were duly elected in the previous primary or those appointed by the Chair and confirmed by the CEC at the August 6, 2016 meeting or at least forty-five days prior to the endorsement vote.   This date shall correspond to the date of entry of the precinct chair on the Secretary of State website for Precinct Chairs.

ENDORSEMENT OF BALLOT PROPOSITIONS, CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS OR AGENDA ITEMS OF LOCAL JURISDICTIONS

  1. The TCDP CEC may take a position for or against any statewide or local jurisdiction’s ballot propositions, bonds, or similar items. This section shall also include taking a position on an agenda item of a city, school board, or board or commission within Travis County.

  2. In order for such item to be placed on the agenda for a vote, a CEC member who resides within the jurisdiction shall request such action in writing to the County Chair.  This request shall spell out the ballot proposition or agenda item in full and state the motion to be presented to the CEC. Such motion shall clearly state the position the CEC is to vote upon, i.e. For or Against the proposition.

SUSPENSION OF RULES

The CEC may vote to suspend the TCDP rule for party endorsements in non-partisan, issue elections, and actions on agenda items, by a positive vote of two thirds of those present. 

EFFECT OF ENDORSEMENT

A candidate or proponents or opponents of a ballot item may publicly use the action of the CEC to whatever purpose they shall wish. A vote by the CEC that has taken a specific action in these matters does not infer or require any specific action of the Travis County Democratic Party, its staff or volunteers.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST: 

  1. Prior to making any comments or voting on a rule, endorsement, resolution, or policy to be voted upon by the CEC, any Precinct Chair/Club President who has received or will receive compensation or remuneration of any kind for advocating or opposing the adoption of such rule, endorsement, policy, or resolution, shall disclose this information to the CEC. This rule also applies when compensation or remuneration has been received or will be received by family members of Precinct Chairs/Club Presidents. Such disclosures shall be included in the CEC’s minutes of the discussion of such rule, endorsement, policy, or resolution. If this rule is violated, the Chair of the Travis County Democratic Party shall inform the CEC of the violation and, if the person’s vote changes the outcome of the decision, declare the vote of the concerned Precinct Chair/Club President to be out of order when the rule, endorsement, resolution, or policy is voted upon.

  2. Officers and employees of the TCDP are under a continuing obligation to avoid or make full disclosure to the Chair and/or Executive Director of all situations involving either actual or potential conflicts of interest. Conflicts or potential conflicts of interest include but are not limited to (1) entering into or proposing any transactions or financial relationship between (a) the TCDP and (b) a family member of a TCDP officer or employee or a person or entity in which a TCDP officer, TCDP employee, or a family member of a TCDP officer or employee has a financial interest, without notifying the TCDP of the relationship and/or financial interest; (2) soliciting or accepting any remuneration, compensation, or gift from those with whom the TCDP has a business or financial relationship; and (3) accepting any remuneration, compensation, or gift for advocating or opposing the adoption of a rule, endorsement, resolution, or policy voted upon by the CEC; paid staff members will avoid such conduct at all times. Potential conflicts of interest must be disclosed to the person(s) making the decision about the transaction or financial relationship, the person with the potential conflict must not participate in the decision to engage in the transaction or financial relationship, and the transaction or financial relationship must be fair to the TCDP. If the Chair or Executive Director determines that a conflict of interest exists, he or she shall disclose the situation to the CEC, and the person with the conflict of interest shall be asked to correct or remedy the situation immediately. Depending on the circumstances, an employee may be subject to discipline, up to and including termination.