The Precinct Committee Person -- PCP

The precinct committee person (PCP) is the foundation of the Democratic Party. It is the PCP, working locally who wins elections for Democratic candidates at the local, state and national levels.

The precinct is the smallest political unit of political organization. The overall Democratic Party structure is: registered voter, precinct, Congressional District, County Central Committee, Congressional District Committee, Democratic Party of Oregon and Democratic National Committee.

The PCP is an elected official and a voting member of the County Democratic Central Committee (county party), in our case, the Linn County Democrats. The PCP represents his/her precinct to the county party. The PCP is eligible to vote on matters before the county party and may be chosen to represent the county party at the Congressional District and/or the State Party. The PCP may be appointed by members of the county party but must be elected from the county-wide ballot of primary election (even) years to be eligible to vote in the reorganization of the county party that occurs after the general elections of those years. Getting on the ballot is a simple and inexpensive process of a few minutes at the County Clerk's office.

The essential activity of the PCP is to talk with neighbors about the important political issues of local, state and national significance. This implies that the PCP develop a certain knowledge of the issues but the PCP does not need to know all the answers. To the contrary, it is essential that the PCP and, in turn, the county Party, must be willing to learn the concerns, opinions and wisdom of the individual voter.

Talking with and listening to your neighbors engages them in the political process, supports your community and establishes the PCP as a local leader. All the troubling issues of our time can be traced directly to the withdrawal of the individual voter from political discourse and action beyond merely voting. The activity of the PCP is essential to ensuring a responsive government that reflects the values of your community.

The basics of the process are: know your neighbors, know your precinct, know the election law, know the issues, know what resources are available, know the party organization and know your community.

Some methods to implement the process follow but the list is by no means complete. Imagination and creativity are allowed and encouraged. Possibilities: 1) host or participate in issue discussion groups, 2) register new voters and (meet many already registered ones along the way), 3) help recruit volunteers and new party activists, 4) stay informed by reading newspapers, web sites, newsletters 5) attend meetings of school boards, planning commissions, city councils, county board of commissioners, 6) communicate with elected officials, 7) monitor statements, speeches, literature, votes and press releases a Republican official for use by local Democratic candidates, 8) write letters to the editor of local papers, 9) monitor and participate on talk radio shows, 10) walk the neighborhoods, introduce yourself as representative of the Democratic party and start a conversation, 11) recruit more PCPs, 12) always be prepared to ignore the artificial "wisdom" that Americans don't like to talk politics. We can only guess who started and promoted that baloney!

As election time nears the activities of the PCP become a bit more frantic and directed but will be easier if the groundwork has been formed. Then the emphasis will be on informational canvassing, voter registration and get-out-the-vote efforts.The other members of the Linn County Democrats will always be willing to help and can refer you to the appropriate resources.

Any questions? Contact John Puma at (541) 259-2296, or by e-mail.