A Review of Our Endorsement Policy

MEMO

To: YDM Members

Fr: Joseph Lynn Kitchen Jr., President

Re: Endorsement Rules

AMENDMENT TO THE BYLAWS — Endorsements

During the most recent meeting of the YDM Executive Board, I presented a range of amendments dealing with our rules concerning endorsements. Under our current rules, local chapters may issue endorsements of candidates running in the Democratic Primary under specific conditions. Mainly those conditions limit any and all endorsements to only candidates for local or state legislative office. The party has made a duel argument that appears to be double-speak for young activists. On the one hand, the party says young leaders should get involved in the party to change it. The party then evoke rules that prohibit those leaders from being too active through their new inclusion in the primary process. When a nominee is selected and found to be problematic and those same young people don’t fall in line, the party then objects. To make matters worse the party has carved out unique roles for major party leaders to break all of these rules.

It simply is not fair. Today I am presenting three amendments to our bylaws to expand the role young democrats can elect to play in our primary process.

1. Expanding the current endorsement provisions for local chapters to include candidates for statewide and federal office.
2. Opening the door for the Young Democrats of Maryland to endorse candidates who win our annual straw poll.
3. A technical change that should have been made a while ago.

The way we build a strong party is by getting more people involved in the party. The way we select the best nominees is by ensuring all voices and groups are heard during the process.

Following these amendments outlined below, you will find our timeline for review.

CURRENT Article III

Section 2 — Local Chapter Endorsements: A county or regional chapter may endorse a candidate for office solely in their county if the following steps are met: A county or regional chapter must submit an endorsement process to the YDM Executive Board for approval before issuing any endorsement of candidates. For regional chapters this process should include information as to ensure that representation for any county in the regional group is adequate and the endorsing body is not made up of members entirely from one part of the region. The Executive Board reserves the right to veto an endorsement process.

REVISED Article III

Section 2 — Local Chapter Endorsements: A county or regional chapter may endorse a candidate for office if the following steps are met:

Part 1 — A county or regional chapter must submit an endorsement process to the YDM Executive Board at least 30 days before initiating said process for approval before issuing any endorsement of candidates.

Part 2 — For regional chapters this process should include information to ensure representation for all counties in the regional group is adequate and the endorsing body is not made up of members entirely from one part of the region.

Part 3- The YDM Executive Board reserves the right to veto an endorsement process, but must clearly state, in writing, the reasons for the veto and a plan for corrective action.

Part 4 — A chapter may only endorse candidates who are members of the Democratic Party.

Part 5 — Chapters may endorse local, state legislative, and federal candidates for public office. Chapters should not endorse candidates from areas outside of their jurisdiction.

NEW Article VIII

Add Section 5 — The Young Democrats of Maryland may consider the option to endorse a candidate for Governor/Lt. Governor, Attorney General, Comptroller, the United State Senate or President of the United States during any meeting of the General Membership if the following conditions are met:

Part 1 — The Executive Board agrees, in a majority vote, to a Straw Poll and procedures for the said poll to be conducted. Said procedures shall be published at least 30 days before the meeting of the General Membership.

Part 2 — Any candidate who secures the support of more than 60% of the General Membership, on the first ballot, shall be able to be considered for endorsement.

Part 3 — Following the meeting of the General Membership, the Executive Board may, with the vote of at least two-thirds of the voting members, ratify the winner of the Straw Poll as the endorsed candidate of the Young Democrats of Maryland.

Part 4 — Any endorsement may be revoked by the vote of a majority of the Executive Board at any meeting.

CURRENT Article XI — Conflicts of Interest

Conflicts of Interest: Any Executive Board member, officer, employee or committee member having an interest in a contract or other transaction or determination presented to the Executive Board or a committee of the organization for recommendation, authorization, approval or ratification shall give prompt, full and frank disclosure of such interest to the Executive Board or committee prior to its acting on such contract or transaction. As a Democratic Party organization, neither YDM nor its local member chapters shall endorse candidates in Democratic Party primary elections unless the candidate is unopposed, or unless the Democratic Party of Maryland has endorsed said candidate or unless the above-mentioned criteria have been met in the section dealing with endorsements. Should any of the aforementioned members be employed by a candidate in a Democratic primary, that employment must be disclosed. The body to which such disclosure is made shall thereupon determine, by majority vote, whether the disclosure shows that a conflict of interest exists or can be reasonably be construed to exist. If a conflict is found to exist, such person may not vote on, exert personal influence upon, or participate in discussion of (other than to present factual information or to respond to questions in the discussions or deliberations with respect to such contact, transaction, or determination) the issue. Such a person may not be counted in determining the existence of a quorum during the discussion of the disclosed issue at any meeting where the contract, transaction, or determination is under discussion or is being voted upon. The minutes of the meeting shall reflect the disclosure made the vote thereon and, where applicable, the abstention from voting and participation.

REVISED Article XI — Conflicts of Interest

Conflicts of Interest: Any Executive Board member, officer, employee or committee member having an interest in a contract or other transaction or determination presented to the Executive Board or a committee of the organization for recommendation, authorization, approval or ratification shall give prompt, full and frank disclosure of such interest to the Executive Board or committee prior to its acting on such contract or transaction. As a Democratic Party organization, neither YDM nor its local member chapters shall endorse candidates in Democratic Party primary elections unless the candidate is unopposed, or unless the Democratic Party of Maryland has endorsed said candidate, or unless the above-mentioned criteria have been met in the section(s) dealing with endorsements. Should any of the aforementioned members be employed by a candidate in a Democratic primary, that employment must be disclosed. The body to which such disclosure is made shall thereupon determine, by majority vote, whether the disclosure shows that a conflict of interest exists or can be reasonably be construed to exist. If a conflict is found to exist, such person may not vote on, exert personal influence upon, or participate in discussion of (other than to present factual information or to respond to questions in the discussions or deliberations with respect to such contact, transaction, or determination) the issue. Such a person may not be counted in determining the existence of a quorum during the discussion of the disclosed issue at any meeting where the contract, transaction, or determination is under discussion or is being voted upon. The minutes of the meeting shall reflect the disclosure made the vote thereon and, where applicable, the abstention from voting and participation.

REVIEW PROCESS

Because of the nature of these amendments, it is our hope to use a more transparent review process outlined below.

1. Introduction at the YDM Board in January for comment and review. No vote.
2. A memo sent to chapter leaders on amendment sent the day after the board meeting.
3. Tuesday, January 21st letter sent to YDM membership list about the amendments.
4. Google form published to seek feedback from chapter leaders and members.
5. The form closes on February 10th and feedback provided to the board before the February meeting and vote.