Members: Lloyd Snook (chair), Shirley Cauley, Terri Dicintio, David Lee, Kevin Lynch, Mary MacNeil, David RePass, Larry Richards, Brandon Smith, George Tramontin, Tom Vandever, Ben Walter

The Temporary Rules Committee has developed rules for the upcoming Mass Meeting and Convention that would implement the resolution of the City Committee on January 10, 2000. We met, exchanged countless e-mails and telephone calls, distributed at least 4 drafts, and finally met to approve the rules that are attached.

The rules that we developed are very similar to those suggested by the Report of the Study Committee. They have the following key elements:

1. Participants in the Mass Meeting will vote in precinct caucuses, for candidates, not delegates;
2. Single-shotting or double-shotting is permitted;
3. Delegates will be awarded to candidates based on the proportion of the vote in the precincts, and the candidates will select their delegates;
4. The delegates will be bound on the first round of voting at the Convention;
5. Nominees must receive a majority of available votes at the Convention (no supermajority or plurality nominees).

We considered at least 5 other proposals, and we decided that these Rules represent the best compromise. We argued heatedly at times about different ways to do things, but among those involved at the end of our process, there was unanimous agreement that these Rules are faithful to the resolution that was passed on January 10, faithful to the intent of the Study Committee Report, fair to all candidates, and - perhaps most importantly - workable. None of the choices that we were debating seemed likely to lead to a different outcome.

The old system of voting for delegates was sometimes difficult for Mass Meeting participants, though it was fairly easy for the party leadership. This system is easier for the Mass Meeting participants, though there will be more behind-the-scenes work for the party leadership.

Some members of the Party may still wish to adopt a one-step process. We can't. First, the state Democratic Party Plan, which controls how we do business, essentially makes it impossible for us to now move to a one-step process; to do so would require sending out and publishing notices with a lead time so long that we would not be able to nominate candidates before the deadline imposed by state law. Second, that would be contrary to the clear vote of the City Committee on January 10. We would encourage the Chair of the Mass Meeting to rule out of order any motion to adopt a one-step process.

Others may wish to go back to the old system, involving voting for delegates rather than candidates. It is the firm belief of the Rules Committee that in this nomination process in particular, the old system would be absolutely unworkable, and the new system will be vastly easier to understand and to apply.

Your Temporary Rules Committee strongly urges adoption of these Rules.

Lloyd Snook (electronic mail, February 9, 2000)