The Charlottesville Democratic Committee has set the date for nominating Democratic candidates for City Council and Clerk of Court. The unassembled caucus, also known as a firehouse primary, will take place at Burley Middle School on Saturday, August 20, 2011 from 9:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. This primary will determine the Democratic nominees for Clerk of the Charlottesville District Court and for three positions on the Charlottesville City Council. The primary is open to Democrats registered to vote in the City of Charlottesville.

For City Council and Clerk of Court candidates, the deadline for filing is 5:00 p.m. on Friday, July 8, 2011. For Democrats who will be out of town or unable to come to the polls on August 20, two in-person absentee voting opportunities will be scheduled during the two weeks preceding the primary. The dates, times and locations for absentee voting will be announced later.

To win candidates must receive the support of a majority of Democrats voting in the primary. An instant runoff system will be employed by asking voters to rank their choices on the ballot. Democratic nominees will be determined without regard to the precincts in which the voters are registered.

For further information, contact Jim Nix or Tom Vandever, City Democrats Co-Chairs. Jim Nix can be reached at jim-nix@comcast.net or by phone at 434-987-3321. Tom Vandever can be reached at tvandever@ntelos.net or by phone at 434-466-9502.

(Electronic mail, March 2, 2011)