Election details to be discussed at online forum

Many people think that state delegates only get together every four years; put on red, white and blue straw boaters, and wave stuffed elephants or donkeys beneath vertical posts with their state’s name. In reality, their jobs are actually much more involved and ongoing.

Delegates are elected every two years, and there will be an election for new delegates on January 11. A local group representing the AD 14 For Progress slate will be holding a forum on Sunday to introduce what delegates do when they aren’t dressed like Betsy Ross’s dance party, meet some of the candidates, and learn how to register for the election.

“The job they do is so much more than just being involved in the national election,” said forum host Sarah Cain, admitting that many people don’t realize the work that they do. She also knows that people have election fatigue right now.

“There’s lots of other work that they do throughout the year, so it’s important for people to register and vote in this election,” she said.

One has to specially register in order to vote for a state’s delegates, but Cain insists it is fast and easy. That’s one of the reasons that she and Vallejo resident Mimosa Montag-Clark are hosting the online informational event— to clear up confusion and hopefully encourage more people to participate.

“Delegates inf luence the party platform,” said Brenda Crawford, who has served as a delegate before and is throwing her proverbial hat in the ring again this year. “We influence the platform, that influences policies, that creates laws. We are the foot soldiers of the party.”

Delegates have a wide range of duties and they represent every district that has an assembly member. Tim Grayson covers the towns of Vallejo, Benicia, Concord, Pleasant Hill, Clayton, Bay Point, Pittsburg, Rodeo, and Martinez.

In addition to being able to influence legislation, delegates can vote for things in committee, such as who to endorse locally for elections or which ballot measures to support or oppose. They can also draw attention to issues they think are important locally and bring them to the larger party. In short, “think globally, act locally” is exactly how they operate.

Maui Phil Wilson is running to be a delegate here for the first time, and he said he is motivated to “act locally” for the greater good.

“It’s a way to influence party reform,” he said. “And I believe that party reform is how you act locally. We cannot have national change until we focus on local issues.”

Both Crawford and Wilson see their roles as being a voice for people who might get lost in the shuffle of “big politics.”

“It’s important that everyone has a voice as is being heard,” said Wilson.

“I want to get us back to the principals of the Democratic Party,” said Crawford. “Off this road of conflict and confusion and back on the road of cooperation and collaboration.”

Voters will select up to 14 people in a district for the election and one must register by Jan. 11, Cain said. A ballot will be mailed and it has to be received back by January 27 to be counted. To register, go to https:// adem.cadem.org/.

Sunday’s forum is all about the democratic delegate candidates, how to vote, and how the delegate system works— plus any questions one might have. It will take place at 5 p.m. on Sunday. Sign up on Zoom to participate or watch it on YouTube. All the information on how to get on Zoom and view the forum can be found at http://ad14progressives4change.org/