Here is a PDF showing the names of delegates seeking election to the Montgomery County Democratic Party Reorganization Meeting. Every precinct is allowed to elect one delegate at the May 4 Democratic Primary. The deadline to get the name on the ballot was February 18. Of the 360 precincts in Montgomery County, about one-half will have at least one candidate on the ballot. But almost half will not.
Candidates elected at the May 4 Democratic Primary will be delegates to the Reorganization Meeting (held in mid-May) and will be voting members of the Montgomery County Democratic Party’s Central Committee — the legislative body of the local county party — for the next four years.
The Montgomery County Republican Party will have its Reorganization Meeting in two years.
It’s too late to get a name on the ballot, but any Democrat who wants to be elected as a delegate to the Reorganization Meeting may still be elected as a write-in candidate. The deadline is March 3 to turn in the needed paper work to be a write-in candidate.
The successful reorganization of our local political parties is of key importance to our communities. In my judgment, our best way to the future is through the vitalization of our democracy, through the building of authentic community, and political parties have a big role to play. I write here: What If More Democracy Is The Answer?
The Dayton Daily News in the past has criticized both the Montgomery County Republican Party and the Montgomery County Democratic Party for their antidemocratic actions. Yet, in this matter of this Reorganization Meeting, where democracy could actually gain some foothold, the DDN has made not a peep. Even my letter was not printed.
Although only about one-half of the 360 precincts have any candidates, there are 34 precincts where there is more than one candidate. In a couple of precincts there are four candidates. It will be interesting to see if in these contested precincts whether candidates will campaign and if so, what issues might emerge.
In my view, the local party needs a lot of improvement, a new direction, and needs new leadership. I think the current leadership is very much out of step with the thinking and the viewpoint of the grassroots. See here: Mark Owens Says Most Montgomery Dems Approve The Party’s Suppression Of Primary Participation.
I would like to see some changes to the constitution that will make the party more democratic and more forward looking. I plan on making some specific proposals that I will post here in the next few weeks.
Mike, you might want to check that list. I just got off the phone with the board of elections and there are 3 people running in my precinct (Kettering 2D) where you have none listed.
Dan — Yikes, thanks for alerting me to that mistake. I doublechecked the entire data base and found several other mistakes as well. I’ve re-posted a corrected PDF and now the data in the current PDF corresponds with the information that I received on February 19 from the Montgomery County Board of Elections. Thanks again and I apologize for not posting the correct information in the first place.