Precinct Committee Officers: Bringing democracy to your Democratic Party!

by Doug Taylor, PCO for Sequim Precinct 402
360-504-7276; [email protected]

​A new wave of reform is sweeping across the Democratic Party! It is bubbling up from the grassroots and bringing a class of Democratic candidates committed to shaking off the influence of the money pit in our elections and governance, and the dominance of the "professional political class" in our Party.

Witness:

• The young generation of Democratic candidates, a generation not beholden to big money contributors, but running winning campaigns around the country on the support of the voters alone. Like our own Emily Randall, these candidates aren't waiting for laws to change; they are just refusing to come to the trough! As a Democrat and as your Precinct Officer, I support her, and them.
• The rise of the Rural Urban Bridge Initiative (RUBI) to support our Party. Once again, young Democrats are rising above the highly profitable yet virtually useless consulting industry. Instead of manipulative advertising, RUBI teaches us to listen first, acknowledge what we hear, and engage our constituents in honest, simple, conversation. No clever talking points, no experts pointing at demographics and algorithms; just people talking to people. No need to pay fancy consultancy fees for that, just bring yourself to the table.
• The National Democratic Training Committee, providing full-service training for activists and candidates, even including one-on-one time with their young, experienced, and enthusiastic instructors. No need for high-priced consultants and insider professional advisors. New-era Democrats have a place to go to learn how to get into the ring, and how to win!

My intention:
​I stand for renewal and reform of the office of PCO as the representative office within our Party. The democratic purpose of this sole partisan elective office is to represent our neighbors (our constituents!) in Party matters. 

Historically, this vital democratic link in the Party of the people has been diminished, reduced to mere spokespersons for the Party and cheerleaders for leadership, however deep in the weeds they lead us. This office was not reformed into a publicly elected office in 1907 (over a century and a quarter ago) to be merely a Party operative or a functionary. That is not how I intend to serve my precinct as your representative Precinct Committee Officer. 

The purpose of this office is to empower democratic grassroots voters with the knowledge, guidance and assistance they need to impact our Party, the Party of the people, from within.

My invitation:
I challenge my fellow officers, volunteers, and supporters of the Democrats to consider being a candidate for Precinct Committee Officer – a vital democratic office. I hope you will view constituent services and empowerment of voters in Party matters as our fundamental duty. We earn the votes for our candidates by representing our constituents effectively in the Party of the People.