Democratic Party of Jeff Davis County

County Chair
Functions
(from Mike Rawlins, Collin County Democratic Party Chair, 2018)
Minimum duties of a County Chair, based on state party rules and the Texas Election Code:
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• Call County Executive Committee meetings and preside over them
• Appoint party officers, committee chairs, and Precinct Chairs filling vacancies, and present them to the County Executive Committee for confirmation
• Submit suggestions for General Election judges and clerks to the county for appointment
• Accept filings for places on the Primary Election Ballot
• Oversee the Primary Election, including chairing the Primary Committee, managing funds, contracting with the County, appointing election workers, conducting the drawing for the order of names on the ballot, etc.
• Chair the County Convention
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What a good County Chair does varies from county to county depending on the size of the county, how much money and volunteers they have, and whether or not they have staff. Here’s how I’ve approached the duties:
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• Being the public face of the party – speaking to media and at public events
• Working with other leaders in the party to set priorities, plan strategy, and oversee its execution
• Coordinating and managing party efforts, including attending as many committee meetings as possible.
• Recruiting competent and committed volunteers to lead activities like fund raising, running the Coordinated Campaign, base expansion in off years, communications, recruiting candidates, training, community outreach, and other party activities.
• Providing reinforcement and guidance to volunteers, and letting them know they are appreciated
• Soliciting major donors
• Setting an example by being a sponsor and sustaining donor, and volunteering for events
• Resolving disputes and dealing with complaints
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I spend at least ten hours a week on all of this, average about twenty, and spend up to thirty during campaign season. Like most of my predecessors I also work a full-time job. A county political party is completely unlike any other organization, and there’s no substitute for actual experience in the party as a Precinct Chair, committee chair, Election Judge, or other officer.