Your Township Politics

By Jo Ann Hughes

Community members do not have to take part in something huge to have a voice. A little known secret to getting involved on a local level begins with township politics. The smallest elected office has limited power, but it is vital to each political party.

Township committees are involved in planning and organizing political events and caucuses and require the time and effort of many individuals. They also organize voters in neighborhoods and promote political involvement at the grassroots level.

Their job is to identify where all the people who vote for their candidate or your party are and make sure that every one of those voters get to their polls on election day.

Township committees were established as part of Missouri Revised Statute 115.605, which states that each party committee shall be selected as provided for the purpose of representing and acting for the party in the interim between party conventions. Each township includes a man and a woman from each party who are elected by the voters to lead that township. Committee members are elected every four years when the governor is elected, and candidates must have lived in the township for at least one year and be a registered voter. Township positions are totally unpaid, volunteer positions.

St. Louis County townships include Airport, Bonhomme, Chesterfield, Clayton, Concord, Creve Coeur, Ferguson, Florissant, Gravois, Hadley, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lemay, Lewis & Clark, Maryland Heights, Meramec, Midland, Missouri River, Normandy, Northwest, Norwood, Oakville, Queeny, Spanish Lake, St. Ferdinand, Tesson Ferry, University and Wild Horse.

Committee members, who are elected by the voters, have the job of organizing residents of a particular township for the purpose of information and getting out the vote.

All the township committeemen and women elected are automatically members of the County Central Committee, which helps to elect local party members and assist the state of national party committees. These committees elect delegates to go to the state convention to choose presidential electors, become delegates to the national convention and vote on the party platform.

Your township is listed on your voting card, and meetings are open to the public.

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Upcoming Social Justice and Political Events – by Jim Moore

CLICK HERE to download an Adobe Acrobat PDF document of this list.

Saturday, April 7, 11:30-12:30  WE CAN Black Lives Matter vigil at Chesterfield Commons, near Sonic

1:00-2:30  WE CAN ASSIST Team (Stay in School) monthly mtg re: Kirkwood and Parkway Schools, @ Kaldi’s in the valley

Saturday, April 7, 6:30-9:30  Town Hall for US Senators and Representatives (or their opponents) sponsored by March for Our Lives, as part of a national effort. Kirkwood Baptist, 211 N. Woodlawn Ave, 63129.  https://www.facebook.com/events/239592749944949/ 

Monday, April 9, 7 PM, “Moms Demand Action” briefing by Mary Gross @ Craft Chameleon (back room), Clayton and Clarkson next to Walnut Grill.

Thursday, April 12, 7 PM, “Criminal Justice Ministry” presentation by Anthony DeAgostino and friend, St Claire of Assisi,  15642 Clayton Rd, Ellisville (east of Clarkson)

Saturday, April 14, 8:00-4:00, “Equity in Education Conference: Actions for Social Justice in Education” , Billie Mayo featured speaker.  $25 Webster U, webster.edu/equity-in-education-conference

Mon April 15, 7 PM, Maplewood Comm. Builders Public Forum on Prop P funds, New Destiny Church, 7174 Manchester Rd. (present survey results, prioritize, present to city council)

Thursday, April 19, 6:30 PM, Democratic Candidates Forum (some), County Library HQ. S. Lindbergh. Hosted by Indivisible.  M. Osmack, H. Webb, K. Fitzgerald, S. Unsicker, M. LaBozzetta, L. Applebaum.

Saturday, April 21, 11:30-12:30  WE CAN vigil for BLM @ Clarkson and Clayton, signs available or bring your own.

Sunday, April 22, 2-4:00, “MultiCultural Competency Training” by Mary Ferguson of YWCA, sponsored by WG Action Group, location TBD in Webster Groves.  dokmille@gmail.com for info and registration

Wednesday, April 25, 6-9:30 PM, Forward Thru Ferguson “#STL2039 Launch”, Windows on Washington, snacks

Saturday, May 5th, Charlie King (folk singer of note) Benefit Concert, 7:30 PM at Marianist Retreat Center, off 109 in Eureka, Tickets $15.00 in advance (cf: Jim Moore, moorejd59@gmail.com) or $20.00 at the door.  $10.00 goes toward building three tiny houses for the homeless; Social Justice 4 All project.

 

 

 

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Chesterfield Township Elects Officers

At the March 6th meeting of Chesterfield Township Democrats held at the Daniel Boone Branch of the St. Louis County Library, membership elected the following officers:

Mark Kumming, Co-Chair (2 year term)

Mike Kean, Co-Chair (1 year term)

Sue McCool, Secretary (1 year term)

Paul McCool, Treasurer (1 year term)

Brian Legate and Marti Maurer continue in their roles as Committee Persons elected by Chesterfield Township voters in general election years (4 year terms).  Jo Ann Hughes continues as chair of CTD membership committee.  Other committee positions are available.

An important note:  Beginning July 2018, our meetings will move to the 2nd Tuesday of each month.

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New Missouri Voter Photo ID Law and Your Rights Within It

West County Democrats
Presents
Focus 2018
New Missouri Voter Photo ID Law and Your Rights Within It

Missouri’s new confusing voter photo ID law threatens to deter voters who lack the required government issued photo ID. This kind of law, which is similar to those of other states, historically has disproportionately affected seniors, low-wage workers, women, voters with disabilities, homeless, students, and voters of color.
How Can We Help?

Wednesday, March 28, 2018
6:00 to 8:00 pm
United Food & Commercial Workers, Local 655
300 Weidman Road, Ballwin, MO 63011
Light eats and beverages start at 6pm – Free will donations accepted

Speakers:
Denise Lieberman a nationally recognized expert on voting rights, is Senior Attorney and Co-Director of the Power & Democracy Program at Advancement Project, where she oversees the organization’s Voter Protection and Right to Vote initiatives.  A seasoned constitutional and civil rights lawyer, Lieberman is at the forefront of voting rights debates in her home state of Missouri and across the country. She has litigated challenges to discriminatory Photo ID laws in Missouri, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and North Carolina and has prepared testimony on voting rights for the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, and has been featured as a voting expert on MSNBC, CNN, PBS, the New York Times, Washington Post, USA Today, and others. In Missouri, Denise coordinates the Missouri Voter Protection Coalition, through which she organizes the non-partisan election protection efforts to monitor polls in Missouri on Election Day. In the wake of the implementation of Missouri’s new photo ID law this June, Advancement Project and ACLU brought a lawsuit challenging the law’s implementation, which is currently pending in the Missouri Court of Appeals.

Nancy Price is the League of Women Voters STL Speakers Bureau Chair and Secretary.
The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan political organization, encourages the informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.
The League of Women Voters is a 501(c)3 organization which has two separate and distinct roles.

A Focus 2018 Event Presented by West County Democrats
www.westcountydemocrats.org

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Chesterfield Township Democrats Take Important Step Forward

In a significant step toward consolidation and sustainability, the Executive Board of the Chesterfield Township Democrats announced it will sponsor elections for officers of the nascent political organization for 2018-2019. To be sure that the thousands of progressives and democrats in Ellisville, Clarkson Valley Chesterfield and Wildwood have viable active representation to the Missouri Democratic Party in the coming months and years, elections for four officer positions will be held at the meeting scheduled for Tuesday, March 6th.

Offices seeking nominees are 2 Co-chair positions (1 for a one year term and 1 for a 2 year term), CTD secretary for a 2 year term and CTD treasurer for a 2 year term. Currently those offices are held by CTD members who voluntarily stepped up last year to help form Chesterfield Township Democrats in response to the veritable absence of Progressive/ Democratic resources in West County. “During the past election cycle, Chesterfield had no operating Democratic club or organization to represent its sizable population of Democrats and Progressives who live out here.” Said Brian Legate, CTD Committeeman. “This sizable block of voters needs a focus point and a voice in the region and the state.”

A nomination form is available for downloading this website and people are encouraged to nominate their friends or themselves. The only qualification is that a nominee be a member in good standing of CTD, that is . . . dues paid. “We still have a lot of organization development to accomplish.” Said Sue McCool, acting Co-Chair of CTD. “We need to adopt some bylaws and procedures. We have several ad-hoc committees that need oversight, leadership and membership and we need to find a way to integrate ourselves further into this community.”

Here are the essential duties of the positions for which nominations are being sought.

Co-Chair (2 Positions, served simultaneously, alternating meeting responsibilities.)

  1. Chair and Lead monthly Executive Council & Membership meetings including development of agendas, securing of speakers and compiling of minutes.
  2. Direct formation of standing committees and assure results.
  3. Communicate with Committee persons, other township clubs and independent clubs and the regional Democratic Party organization.
  4. Report regularly on CTD activities, initiatives and progress.
  5. Direct and oversee the continued organizational development of CTD by directing and overseeing committee activity.

Secretary

  1. Attends Executive Council and Membership meetings.
  2. Documents proceeding of meetings.
  3. Compiles and reports minutes of each meeting.
  4. Facilitates coordination of communication with the community.
  5. Assists chair in conducting meetings and coordinating committee activity.

Treasurer

  1. Regularly accounts for and documents CTD financial assets.
  2. Maintains bank account and issues checks for documented CTD expenses incurred at the direction of the Executive Committee or officers.
  3. Ensures compliance with Missouri Ethics Commission guidelines.
  4. Prepares and monitors an annual CT budget.
  5. Provides and issues monthly financial reports to membership and officers.
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Chesterfield Township Democrats to Feature Two Speakers – February 6th

The February 6th meeting of the Chesterfield Township Democrats (6:30 p.m. at Daniel Boone Branch of the St. Louis County Library, 300 Clarkson Road, Ellisville, MO 63011) will feature, in addition to its regular mobilization activities, two distinguished speakers:

Cort

Cort VanOstran, candidate for the Democratic nomination for the United States House of Representatives, MO district 2, a seat currently held by Ann Wagner (R). Mr. VanOstran will present his platform and credentials to the membership. For more information on the Cort of Congress campaign, please visit their website.

 

James Loomis photoJimmy Loomis, Treasurer of the St. Louis County Democratic Central Committee – Chairman and Committeeman of the Clayton Township Democrats. Mr. Loomis will speak to the financial and economic burden on the City, County and State resulting from the divide and to the benefits to all parties for City/County reunification.

 

Be sure to attend this vibrant and surging new township organization which continues to seek membership from any western St. Louis county Democrat/Progressive or Independent seeing a resource for political common sense, integrity and morality. Chesterfield Township Democrats is ethnically, culturally and racially inclusive. It is gender and orientation diverse and welcomes the participation of anyone from any faith, belief, nationality or age demographic.

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Chesterfield Township Democrats Take Important Step Forward

In a significant step toward consolidation and sustainability, the Executive Board of the Chesterfield Township Democrats announced it will sponsor elections for officers of the nascent political organization for 2018-2019. To be sure that the thousands of progressives and democrats in Ellisville, Clarkson Valley Chesterfield and Wildwood have viable active representation to the Missouri Democratic Party in the coming months and years, elections for four officer positions will be held at the meeting scheduled for Tuesday, March 6th.
Offices seeking nominees are 2 Co-chair positions (1 for a one year term and 1 for a 2 year term), CTD secretary for a 2 year term and CTD treasurer for a 2 year term. Currently those offices are held by CTD members who voluntarily stepped up last year to help form Chesterfield Township Democrats in response to the veritable absence of Progressive/Democratic resources in West County. “During the past election cycle, Chesterfield had no operating Democratic club or organization to represent its sizable population of Democrats and Progressives who live out here.” Said Brian Legate, CTD Committeeman. “This sizable block of voters needs a focus point and a voice in the region and the state.”
A nomination form is presently on the website at ChesterfieldDemocrats.org and people are encouraged to nominate their friends or themselves. The only qualification is that a nominee be a member in good standing of CTD, that is . . . dues paid. “We still have a lot of organization development to accomplish.” Said Sue McCool, acting Co-Chair of CTD. “We need to adopt some bylaws and procedures. We have several ad-hoc committees that need oversight, leadership and membership and we need to find a way to integrate ourselves further into this community.”
Here are the essential duties of the positions for which nominations are being sought.

Co-Chair (2 Positions, served simultaneously, alternating meeting responsibilities.)
1. Chair and Lead monthly Executive Council & Membership meetings including development of agendas, securing of speakers and compiling of minutes
2. Direct formation of standing committees and assure results
3. Communicate with Committee persons, other township clubs and independent clubs and the regional Democratic Party organization
4. Report regularly on CTD activities, initiatives and progress
5. Direct and oversee the continued organizational development of CTD by
directing and overseeing committee activity.

Secretary
1. Attends Executive Council and Membership meetings.
2. Documents proceeding of meetings.
3. Compiles and reports minutes of each
4. Facilitates coordination of communication with community
5. Assists chair in conducting meetings and coordinating committee activity.

Treasurer
1. Regularly accounts for and documents CTD financial assets.
2. Maintains bank account and issues checks for documented CTD expenses incurred at the direction of the Executive Committee or officers.
3. Ensures compliance with Missouri Ethics Commission guidelines
4. Prepares and monitors an annual CT budget
5. Provides and issues monthly financial reports to membership and officers

Nominations will be accepted up to and including March 6 at which time an election will be conducted. Any interested person is encouraged to download and complete the nomination form which is attached. Return int via email on-line, in person at the February 6th General Membership Meeting (Daniel Boone Branch of the St. Louis Public library, 6:30 pm) or via mail to:

Mark Kumming
16821 Chesterfield Bluffs Circle
Chesterfield, MO. 63005

Nominations will close at the convening of the March 6th meeting.

NOMINATION FORM

 

 

 

 

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