How To Become a Precinct Chair in Williamson County!
What is a Precinct Chair?
A precinct chair is the Democratic Party leader directly elected by the primary voters in a voter precinct.
Precinct chairs in Williamson County:
(1) Represent their precincts on the Williamson County Democratic Party (WCDP) Executive Committee (EC).
The WCDP EC is responsible for making decisions about the actions and activities of the county party, including organizing
and administering the primary elections, turning out Democratic voters, recruiting volunteers, raising funds for party activities,
planning campaign activities within the county, and recruiting candidates.
(2) Chair the precinct conventions in their precincts following a primary election.
(3) Coordinate campaign activity in their precincts, including identifying Democratic leaders and activists in the precinct,
recruiting volunteers who could serve as block captains, work on a phone bank, or help with festivals, parades, etc.
(4) Bridge the gap between voters in the precinct and elected officials.
How Can I Become a Precinct Chair If I Was Not Elected?
When no one runs in the primary election to become a precinct chair of a voting precinct, or when a precinct chair resigns,
the WCDP EC can appoint someone to fill the vacant chair position.
WHAT IS THE APPLICATION PROCESS?
I. Interested applicants should submit a letter of application via e-mail to the chair of the ad hoc Committee to Recruit
Prospective Precinct Chairs. Your letter should highlight aspects of your background and personality that would enable you to
become a great precinct chair.
Letters of application are used by the committee to evaluate an applicant's interest level, how familiar an applicant is with the
responsibilities of being a precinct chair, and how prepared an applicant is to take on these responsibilities.
Your letter must:
(a) Explain why you want to become a precinct chair.
(b) Explicitly state your intention to attend all monthly meetings of the Williamson County Democratic Party Executive Committee
which usually are held at 7 p.m. on the second Thursday of every month.
(c) Include your name, precinct number, mailing address, street address if it differs from your mailing address, phone number(s),
and e-mail address. (Yes, it is true, applicants have actually forgotten to include their names!)
Your letter could include:
(a) How you have supported the Democratic Party or Democratic candidates in the past (e.g., worked on campaigns, staffed
Democratic Party booths at community events, made phone calls to get out the vote, block-walked in your neighborhood, etc.).
(b) How you have been involved with other organizations that have served your community or causes.
(c) Information about your education, training, activities, personality, etc. that would help you in your role as precinct chair.
(d) Plans you have contemplated so far for organizing the Democrats in your precinct.
II. After reviewing your application letter, a member of the ad hoc Committee to Recruit Precinct Chairs may contact you to discuss
your application. Based on the information the committee has garnered from you, the committee will decide whether to recommend you
for appointment to the EC. You will be informed of the committee's decision before the committee informs the EC of its decision.
III. Your candidacy for precinct position will be announced at the first monthly meeting of the EC following the completion of
steps I and II. You will be introduced to the executive committee and members of the party who have joined the meeting. The
committee will present its recommendation to the EC. You will be given an opportunity to speak on your own behalf.
IV. The EC will formally vote in the open meeting whether to appoint you as the precinct chair of your voting precinct.
Submit your letter of application to Karen Carter, Chair, ad hoc Committee to Recruit Precinct Chairs at
KarenCarter2008@aol.com.
If you have questions, call her at 512-260-6965.