1120 N Circle Dr - Suite 10, Colorado Springs, CO 80909

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The following are job descriptions for the positions up for election in the 2023 Reorganization.

Note that these are all volunteer positions. The El Paso County Democratic Party does not have any paid positions at this time.

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Source materials for position descriptions are:

• The County Officers Manual 2023-2024

• The Colorado Democratic Party Plan of Organization and Rules

• The El Paso County Democratic Party Plan of Organization and Rules

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County Level

County Party Chair

General Description

The County Chair is officially responsible for (1) running caucuses and assemblies; (2) running re-organization elections; (3) recruiting and filling PCP (precinct leader) positions; (4) raising money to fund the county budget; (5) creating and overseeing the county budget; (6) signing any contracts; (7) planning county party dinners, fundraisers or candidate forums; (8) recruiting great candidates to run for every level of office, in conjunction with the state party and other community leaders; (9) Presiding over county central and executive committee meetings; (10) Training other officers in district; (11) follow state & county rules and state statutes. The Chair should additionally make sure the party is welcoming and inclusive and try any new ideas that can engage volunteers and voters to make the best impact possible.

 

El Paso County Specific Description

The Chair:

(a) Is the Chief Executive Officer of the County Party, Chair of the County

Executive Committee and the chair of the County Central Committee.

(b) Sets time and place of County Executive and Central Committee meetings.

(c) Presides at County Executive and County Central Committee meetings. (d) Sees that official calls are sent according to Party Rules for all applicable

Party meetings including County Assembly and Convention.

(e) Publishes times, dates, and locations of Precinct Caucuses, and County Assembly / Convention in legal notices and by other means according to State Laws and Party Rules.

(f) Calls to order the El Paso County Convention and/or Assembly and presides until permanent Chair is elected.

(g) Is responsible for conduct of County-wide campaigns, with the aid of the Rules Committee and associated District Committees. This
includes ensuring Fair Campaign Practices are followed and supporting campaigns with volunteers, resources, and GOTV.

(h) May appoint up to twelve (12) At Large Members to the El Paso County Executive Committee.

(i) Appoints chairs of all committees. Confers with committee chair regarding member appointments.

(j) Is a standing member of all committees.
(k) Shall have financial authority to administer the budget and contracts

approved by the County Executive Committee.

(l) Oversees fundraising for the Party.

(m) Is one of the signatories for Party accounts.

(n) Signs all contracts for the Party. May delegate that authority any Party Officer.

El Paso County Plan of Organization and Rules 30

(o) Appoints or hires office manager (Executive Director) with the approval of the County Executive Committee. Hires any office personnel deemed necessary with the approval of the County Executive Committee. Appointments of volunteer office personnel do not require approval of the County Executive Committee.

(p) Is a member of State Executive Committee and State Central Committee. Is a member of the Congressional District and Judicial District Central Committees in which they reside.

(q) Is a member of any district Central Committee, located entirely or partially within the County, in which the Chair resides.

(r) Fills vacancies in Precinct Organizer (Precinct Committee Person) positions and in District Executive Committees. Vacancies must be confirmed by the County Executive Committee and ratified at the first Central Committee meeting following the appointment.

(s) Is the official spokesperson for the El Paso County Party.

(t) Provides lists of precinct poll-watchers, certified names and addresses of election judges to the County Clerk and provides name(s) of qualified Democrats(s) for the County Canvas Board according to State Laws.

(u) Must appoint members to State Party Committees as required by State Party Rules.

(v) Is the first line manager of all District Chairs as such, ensures District Chairs receive the proper training and are actively executing their duties as required by these Rules.

(w) May excuse a participant in a Precinct Caucus from physical presence at the Caucus for the conduct of party business. The level of allowed participation is at the discretion of the County Chair, but shall be limited by Colorado State Statute, Colorado Democratic Party Bylaws and Rules, and these Bylaws and Rules.

(x) May delegate any of the above powers, except power of appointments and signing for Party accounts.

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County Party 1st Vice Chair

 

General Description

The Vice-Chair (1) does the work needed to support the Chair; (2) runs meetings when the Chair is unavailable, and (3) acts in the Chair’s absence. Vice-Chairs should additionally make sure the party is welcoming and inclusive and try any news ideas that can engage volunteers and voters to make the best impact possible. Many Vice-Chairs assist in outreach or can specialize in a given area (communications, digital, data, outreach).
 

El Paso County Specific Description

The 1st Vice-chair: 

(a) Is the First Vice Chair of the County Executive Committee and the First Vice Chair of the County.

(b) Assists the Chair.
El Paso County Plan of Organization and Rules 31

(c) Provides leadership for organizational activities and political education. (d) Presides at meetings in the Chair's absence.

(e) Calls meeting of County Central Committee within ten (10) days of resignation of Chair, for election of new Chair with thirty (30) days.

(f) Is a member of all standing committees.

(g) Acts as Chair in the Chair's absence.

(h) Is one of the signatories for Party accounts.

(i) Is a member of State Central and Executive Committees.

(j) Is a member of the Congressional District, Judicial District, and Central Committees in which they reside.

(k) Is a member of any district Central Committee, located entirely or partially within the County, if the 1st Vice-Chair resides within that district.

(l) Is one of the signatories on the Party accounts.
(m) May appoint assistants and delegate duties to volunteers as needed.

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County Party 2nd Vice Chair

 

General Description

The Second Vice Chair steps in to cover any of the duties of the Chair or 1st Vice Chair if they are unavailable. There is a great deal of flexibility as to what this officer is responsible for, but local custom or rules may put emphasis on different tasks. 

 

El Paso County Specific Description

The 2nd Vice-chair: 

(a) Is the Second Vice Chair of the County Executive Committee and the

Second Vice Chair of the County Central Committee.
(b) Assists the Chair and First Vice-Chair.
(c) Coordinates the communication procedures of the Party.
(d) Assists in providing leadership for organizational activities.
(e) Presides at meetings in the absence of the Chair and 1st Vice-Chair. (f) Is a member of all standing committees.
(g) Accepts all other duties requested by the Chair and 1st Vice-Chair. (h) May appoint assistants and delegate duties to volunteers as needed.

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County Party Secretary

 

General Description

The Secretary (1) takes the minutes and timely prepares them for approval; (2) serves as the records-custodian for the party (caucus results, re-org results, PCP tracking, data entry). The Secretary sometimes takes the role of preparing e-newsletters, tracking data integrity of lists in VAN and sending meeting calls.

 

El Paso County Specific Description

(a) Is the Secretary of the County Executive Committee and the Secretary of the County Central Committee.

(b) Takes minutes of all Executive and County Central Committee meetings and files them at Party headquarters.

(c) Ensures updated lists of County and District Party Officers and County Central Committee members are sent to State Party headquarters at least monthly.

(d) Ensures updated lists of County and District Party officers are sent to the Secretary of State and County Clerk.

(e) Keeps Party records of Executive and Central Committees, Districts, Caucuses, and Committees at headquarters.

(f) Accepts other duties requested by the Chair, and by County Executive and County Central Committees

(g) Calls County Central Committee meeting within ten (10) days if vacancies occur in Chair and Vice-Chairs and presides until election of new Chair.

(h) Sends official call for all County Central and County Executive Committee meetings, County Assembly and Convention on request of Chair.

(i) Ensures that all designations, acceptances, and reports from the Party are in order and sent to the County Clerk’s office, Secretary of State’s office, and the State Democratic Party office within time specified in State Laws.

(j) Keeps attendance records of County Central and Executive Committee meetings, County Assemblies, and Conventions at Party headquarters.

(k) Shall be responsible for providing copies of the Rules revised to reflect the statutory changes.

(l) Shall serve as a member of the Rules Committee.
(m) May appoint assistants and delegate duties to carry out these

responsibilities.
(n) Shall be a member of the Credentials Committee.

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County Party Treasurer

 

General Description

The Treasurer is the person who (1) is responsible for balancing the bank accounts; (2) timely files required campaign finance reports with TRACER; (3) helps create the county budget; and (4) assists in fundraising efforts.
The County Party Treasurer is responsible for cooperating in the transition to subsequent

County Party Treasurers by providing all financial records, bank account information, logins / passwords, and signing of any bank documents necessary to allow the new treasurer to resume the duties of the role without missing any deadlines or information.

 

El Paso County Specific Description

Is the Treasurer of the County Executive Committee and the Treasurer of

the County Central Committee.

(b) Gives written accounts of receipts and payments and maintains a complete file at Party headquarters.

(c) Has custody of all Party funds, and deposits them in licensed State or National banks in El Paso County.

(d) Makes full monthly reports to the County Executive Committee, and to the County Central Committee when it meets, regarding the handling of all Party funds, including a comparison of expected and actual income and outgo.

(e) Prepares and files reports as required by law.
(f) Accepts other associated duties on request of Chair or by motion of

County Executive or County Central Committees. (g) Is a member of the Finance/Budget Committee. (h) Is one of the signatories on all Party accounts. (i) Is bonded.

(j) Maintains petty cash fund as follows: A fund of available for use by office staff. Is responsible for developing and maintaining procedures for such a fund in conjunction with office staff and for ensuring office staff are trained on such procedures.

(k) May appoint assistants and delegate duties to carry out these responsibilities, except for signing for Party accounts.

 

County Executive Committee At-Large Members (Elected)

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5 positions

Elected at-large members to the County Executive Committee sit on the Executive Committee and attend monthly meetings. Members may be asked to join or chair a sub-committee.

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District Level

 

State House Districts

 

General Description

House District Officers are responsible for running the House District Assembly to nominate one or more Democratic Candidates to the Democratic Primary Ballot for State House. If the district crosses county lines, they work with the state party on their assembly. A candidate seeking ballot access through the assembly process must receive 30% or more of the vote under state law. The House District Officers are responsible for ensuring candidate paperwork is timely completed and filed. The House District officers also may need to convene a vacancy committee meeting if there is a vacancy in candidacy or a vacancy in office. The officers may be part of candidate recruitment and post-primary helping elect and support the Democratic nominees in their District. They may innovate other ideas for organizing across the jurisdiction so long as it does not violate laws, rules or policies. District Officers are also responsible for helping to plan and hold a reorganization meeting to elect officers for the next 2-year cycle. Where House Districts are contained wholly within one county, the House District officers generally hold monthly meetings, help recruit PCPs in their House District, and organize Get out the Vote efforts. Some regions also elect Captains who take on significant organizing and programmatic roles.

 

El Paso County Specific Description

There are 7 House Districts wholly contained within El Paso County (14-17,20-22).

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Chair:

1. With County Party Candidate Development, helps recruit candidates for the district 

2. Recruits volunteers to support those candidates 

3. Conducts House District Central Committee Meetings (approximately once per month)

   • Sets time and place for District Central Committee meetings, which may, but need not, be held in conjunction with County Central Committee meetings 

   • Sees that official call is sent according to Party Rules for above meetings and for district assemblies 

   • Publishes times, dates, and locations of meetings and assemblies in legal notices and by other means according to State Laws and Party Rules 

   • Presides at district meetings 

4. Calls to order district assemblies and presides until the assembly chair is elected 

5. May be a signatory on any accounts held by the district (Note that our House Districts do not hold bank accounts).

6. Assist in Caucuses

7. Supports campaigns as allowed by State and Federal laws

8. Recruits, and supports precinct chairs (precinct organizers)

9. Provides first line management for precinct chairs (precinct organizers) including providing leadership and guidance, and accountability.

10. Recruits a Data and Technology Support person to provide precinct chairs (precinct organizers) with assistance on VAN and other technologies. This assistance includes providing precinct chairs with the training or assistance needed to generate voter lists for their precincts for specific outreach campaigns and to enter the results of that outreach in VAN. The chair may choose to fulfill this role themselves.

11. Recruits other volunteers to assist with outreach, fundraising, etc.

12. Supports Party fundraising activities

13. Ensures data is updated in VAN as required by the County Party.

14. The Chair sits on the County Executive Committee.

 

Vice-Chair:

1. Assists the Chair 

2. Presides at meetings in the Chair's absence 

3. Calls meeting of the Central Committee within ten (10) days of resignation by Chair, for election of  new Chair within thirty (30) days 

4. Acts as Chair in Chair's absence 

 

Secretary:

1. Takes minutes of all meetings 

2. Keeps any records for district 

3. Accepts other duties as requested by the district chair 

4. Calls district Central Committee meeting within 10 days if vacancies occur in Chair and Vice-Chair,  and presides until election of new Chair 

5. If no Treasurer is elected, then the Secretary/Treasurer assumes the duties listed below 

 

Treasurer:

1. Maintains financial records for district 

2. May be one of the signatories on any accounts of the district. (Note: House Districts do not have bank accounts)

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Platform Committee Member:

Is a member of the State Platform Committee. The State Platform Committee considers resolutions generated through the Caucus/Assembly process and produces reports on which the State Assembly body votes. This process produces the Colorado Party Platform.

 

US Congressional, Judicial, State Senate and County Commissioner Districts

 

General Description

District Officers are responsible for running their District Assembly in the years their district is on the ballot, to nominate one or more Democratic Candidates to the Democratic Primary Ballot for their district. If the district crosses county lines, they work with the state party on their assembly. The district officers are responsible for ensuring candidate paperwork is timely completed and filed. The district officers also may need to convene a vacancy committee meeting if there is a vacancy in candidacy or a vacancy in office. District officers are also responsible for helping to plan and hold a reorganization meeting to elect officers for the next 2-year cycle. The officers may be part of candidate recruitment and post-primary helping elect and support the Democratic nominees in their district. They may innovate other ideas for organizing across the jurisdiction so long as it does not violate laws, rules or policies.

 

El Paso County Description (wholly contained districts)

There are 3 Senate Districts wholly within El Paso County (9,10,11).

There are 5 County Commissioner Districts wholly within El Paso County (1-5)

US Congressional District 5 is wholly within El Paso County

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Chair:

1. Recruits candidates and supports their campaigns

2. Conducts District Meetings (approximately 2 per year). For meetings:

   • Sets time and place for Central Committee meetings, which may, but need not, be held in conjunction with County Central Committee meetings 

   • Sees that official call is sent according to Party Rules for above meetings and for district assemblies 

   • Publishes times, dates, and locations of meetings and assemblies in legal notices and by other means according to State Laws and Party Rules 

   • Presides at district meetings 

3. Calls to order district assemblies and presides until the assembly chair is elected 

4. May be a signatory on any accounts held by the district 

5. Supports Party fundraising activities

6. Recruits volunteers to support candidates or to assist other Party activities

7. Assists in Caucuses

8. The Chair sits on the County Executive Committee
    

Vice Chair: 

1. Assists the Chair 

2. Presides at meetings in the Chair's absence 

3. Calls meeting of the Central Committee within ten (10) days of resignation by Chair, for election of new Chair within thirty (30) days 

4. Acts as Chair in Chair's absence 

 

Secretary:

1. Takes minutes of all meetings 

2. Keeps any records for district 

3. Accepts other duties as requested by the district chair 

4. Calls district Central Committee meeting within 10 days if vacancies occur in Chair and Vice-Chair, and presides until election of new Chair 

5. If no Treasurer is elected, then the Secretary/Treasurer assumes the duties listed below 

 

Treasurer: 

1. Maintains financial records for district 

2. May be one of the signatories on any accounts of the district. (Note that Senate Districts and County Commissioner Districts currently do not have bank accounts). 

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Additional Positions on US Congressional District Committees

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Platform Committee Member:

Is a member of the State Platform Committee. The State Platform Committee considers resolutions generated through the Caucus/Assembly process and produces reports on which the State Assembly body votes. This process produces the Colorado Party Platform.

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State Outreach Commission Member:

The State Outreach Commission shall establish a state model affirmative action/outreach plan to be used as a guideline for all county plans and to be used by the Party.

ii. Monitor the state and all county plans to ensure compliance with affirmative action/outreach plans. If the state or county is not in compliance, SOC shall notify the appropriate chair in writing. This notice shall set forth in detail the basis for the SOC conclusions. The chair shall have 30 days from the date of receipt of such notification to submit a corrective affirmative action/outreach plan to SOC or to remedy the noncompliance, with written notice thereof to SOC.

iii. If the state or county does not write or does not comply with its own affirmative action/outreach plan, the SOC shall: (1), mandate the use of the model state affirmative action/outreach plan; or (2), 

write a separate affirmative action/outreach plan and enforce it within the jurisdiction.

iv. Maintain copies of all affirmative action/outreach plans and record their compliance. This information shall be on file at state headquarters.

v. SOC may determine in what, if any, additional languages party literature should be distributed within the state or county.

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Multi-county Districts

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El Paso County is part of the following multi-county districts:

• House Districts 18 and 56

• Senate Districts 12 and 35

• US Congressional Districts 4 and 7

• Judicial District 4

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Bonus Member:

In addition to the District Officers, a single-county district's Central Committee is composed of the Precinct Organizers (PCPs) in the district. In lieu of Precinct Organizers, multi-county districts have Bonus Members that are elected by the counties that make up the district.

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State Level

 

Chair:

a. Duties

The chair shall be the chief executive officer of the State Party, and a member of the Democratic National Committee pursuant to its rules. The chair, after consultation with the first vice chair, may appoint an executive director and a finance director subject to confirmation by the executive committee. The chair may appoint other personnel to manage the business and financial affairs of the Party subject to confirmation by the executive committee. The chair shall have financial authority to administer the budget as approved by the executive committee. The chair may provide for employment of any office personnel deemed necessary.

b. Meetings and Call

The chair shall issue the call to all state central and executive committee meetings. There shall be at least two executive committee meetings and at least one State Central Committee meeting in each calendar year. The chair shall issue the call for all State Party assemblies and conventions.

c. Presiding Officer

The chair shall be the presiding officer of executive and central committee meetings and a member of all committees within the Party. The chair shall have the deciding vote in executive and State Central Committees in the event of a tie vote and shall not otherwise vote at any meeting of the state central or executive committees.

d. Campaigns

The chair, with the advice of the executive committee, shall oversee all state campaigns.

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First Vice Chair:

The first vice chair shall do everything necessary to assist the chair in carrying out the duties of the chair. In addition, the first vice chair shall provide leadership for organizational activities and for political education. In the absence of the chair, the first vice chair shall preside over all meetings and exercise all authority of the chair. The first vice chair shall be of a different gender from the chair, and shall be a member of the Democratic National Committee, pursuant to the rules of the DNC.

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Second Vice Chair:

The second vice chair shall do everything necessary to assist the chair in carrying out the duties of the chair. In the absence of the chair and first vice chair, the second vice chair shall preside over all meetings and exercise all authority of the chair.

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Secretary:

The secretary shall keep minutes of all meetings of the State Central Committee and State Executive Committee. The secretary shall keep all records sent to the State Central Committee by the county, district, and precinct committees. The secretary shall keep copies of the minutes supplied by any other committees of the State Central Committee. The secretary shall be responsible for keeping the official list of the current membership of the committees of the Party. The secretary shall perform such duties as requested by the chair of the State Central Committee, as well as such other duties as are usually associated with the office of the secretary. State headquarters staff shall assist the secretary.

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Treasurer:

The treasurer shall have custody of the funds of the Party and shall render written accounts of receipts and disbursements to each meeting of the state central and executive committees. The treasurer shall also make a full report for the handling of Party funds and shall be under sufficient bond, the amount to be determined by the executive committee. An audit by a certified public accountant of all financial records and transactions of the Party shall be made at least once every two years, and at other times as may be requested by either the State Central Committee or executive committee. The treasurer shall prepare and file all financial reports as required by law.

 

Vice Chair Party Operations:

The Vice Chair of Party Operations would be responsible for analyzing and recommending efficient systems for handling party business for caucuses, assemblies, conventions and re- organizations from the state party. The person in this position would take a leading role in communicating, training and coordinating, subject to the oversight of the Chair with input from counties, districts and other state officers. This person should be organized, familiar with state law and party rules, a strong planner, and good with follow-through.

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Vice Chair of Public Relations & Marketing:

The Vice Chair of Public Relations & Marketing is a position designed to enhance the work of the Digital and Communications Director. This person should be capable of being a press secretary for the Colorado Democratic Party and work well under the guidance of the Chair and the Digital and Communications Director. Ideally, they have the capacity to create digital content, draft

press releases and prepare press conferences for the State Party. This person should have press, marketing or public relations experience.

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Vice Chair Geographic Community Outreach:

The Vice Chair of Geographic Community Outreach is a position that is focused on how to learn from and connect between the 64 different counties in Colorado with an eye toward what is needed to connect in rural, suburban and urban areas of the state. This person would help organize the annual CDP outreach tours in partnership with local county parties and would connect with the Rural Initiative of the State on how to best connect with rural regions and voters. This person should be willing to travel and know the full state well. (The current rules allow the chair to appoint supporting volunteer positions to break the state into regions of specialization. Those appointees would specialize in their region under a total statewide Geographic outreach plan.)

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Vice Chair Cultural & Demographic Outreach:

The Vice Chair of Cultural & Demographic Outreach is a position that focuses on communities tied together by shared experiences of race, religion, gender, orientation, military service, age or workforce, or issue priorities. This person would be responsible for engaging the state initiatives of the Colorado Democratic Party, devising an outreach plan, in coordination with the other state officers, and leading an effort to identify key communities, community leaders, key events, and policy areas of particular importance. This person should be willing to travel, attend events and have strong intersectional relationships and contacts. (The current rules allow the chair to appoint supporting volunteer positions to specialize where there are strong relationships in key communities. Those appointees would specialize in focused communities within the outreach plan.)

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