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Endorsement Policy
Endorsement process for the Special Election in the 12th Suffolk Representative District vacated by Thomas FinneranGoal 1: An endorsement process that is transparent to candidates and members and that focuses debate on issues of importance to the DotOUT membership.
Goal 2: the evaluation of Dorchester political candidates or those whose districts include all or part of Dorchester for possible endorsement and communication to the DotOUT members of the results.
Goal 3: in the case of endorsement, to bring the weight of DotOUT to bear in the election of endorsed candidates and the defeat of opponents.
Who votes for endorsement: All DotOUT members present at the endorsement meeting who have registered on the website by January 1, 2005. Members who register after January 1 or those who wish to join DotOUT are welcome to attend and participate in all but voting.
Endorsement interview process:
Officers of the endorsement meeting shall be a moderator, timekeeper and recording secretary appointed by the steering committee.
All known candidates will be invited.
Responding candidates will appear individually in alphabetical order
Each candidate will be given three questions to answer ahead of time, and the answers submitted in writing will be made known at the interview.
- Will you vote to oppose the alteration of the Massachusetts Constitution to limit the right to marry?
- Do you support gay marriage?
- Do you support a woman's right to choose?
- Over the last several years the state has drastically cut funding for HIV/AIDS services—what priority do you give funding to people living with HIV/AIDS and would you vote to restore funding.
Present their case for endorsement and/or
Answer questions from the audience.
Each candidate will be given a 3-minute warning by the timekeeper that their time is ending in case they wish to summarize or make a final statement.
Immediately after all candidates have been interviewed, a discussion will be held and a vote taken:
Nominations will be accepted from registered DotOUT members only.
After nominations, there will be a short discussion of the merits of the nominated candidates.
If more than one candidate is nominated, a vote will be held by a show of hands.
The result will be announced and a candidate who receives a majority of 60% will be endorsed.
If no candidate receives 60% of the votes, another vote will be taken. If there is still not a 60% majority for a candidate, a third and final vote will be taken.
If after three votes, no candidate has received the necessary majority, it will be concluded that DotOUT will not endorse in the race.