The PCDO endorsed Senator Frank Lautenberg for reelection at its May 18 general membership meeting. The vote was 27 -3.

Open-mike Discussion & Endorsement Vote

for United States Senator

speak your mind — hear your neighbors

Rob Andrews* Donald Cresitello Frank Lautenberg

Sunday, May 18, 7:30—9:00pm

Suzanne Patterson Center (behind Boro Hall, 45 Stockton St. Princeton)

Candidates or their surrogates will be given up to 5 minutes to speak and 10 minutes to answer questions from the audience. Following the candidates, audience members will be given the floor for up to two minutes each to finish the statement, "why I’m supporting..." .

The ballot box will close after the last speaker finishes.

This meeting is open to the public and newcomers are welcome to attend and speak. Because it is an official endorsement vote only eligible PCDO members may vote. Registered Democrats who vote in Princeton Borough or Princeton Township who have paid their 2008 PCDO dues by May 4 are eligible to vote.

* Mr.Andrews will attend.

March 30, 2009 Endorsement Meeting

240 PCDO Member Ballots were cast (an all-time record number), 186 by Township residents and 54 by Borough residents. This means that to reach the endorsement threshold, 112 votes from Township residents were required to garner 60% of the Township votes, and 120 total votes were required to obtain 50% of the total. The tallies were as follows:

	Township	Borough	total
Bernie Miller	110	26	136
Casey Lambert	89	38	127
Sue Nemeth	98	30	128
No endorsement	2	0	2

 

Based on the required levels mentioned above, none of the candidates received 60% of Township votes, while all of the candidates over 50% of the total votes.

Andrew Koontz won the PCDO endorsement, having received more than the 60% of votes needed for endorsement according to our bylaws. No other candidates reached that threshold.

 

Results:

 

Total Number of Voters 67

Each voter could cast up to three votes (for three open positions on the June ballot)

Dan Benson 26

John Cimino 5

Andrew Koontz 59

Tony Mack 19

Michael Maloney 5

Lucylle R.S. Walter 31

Alysia Welch-Chester 23

 

The fundraiser for the headquarters was a great success – we brought in about $2100. Thank you to all who came, who contributed and who made chili!

 

Although we didn’t end up actually holding any contests, the person who made the lamb chili should know that it received the most compliments/ recommendations.

There was a strong turnout for the annual PCDO potluck and reorganization on January 20, 2008. The slate of officers presented by the nominating committee was elected by acclamation in the absence of contest.

The most exciting part of the evening was the vote to determine whether the organization would endorse any presidential candidate. A PCDO member or representative for the campaign spoke for Clinton, Kucinich, Edwards, Obama, and the Uncommitted slate (delegates who would go to the convention and eb able to vote for any candidate). A 60% threshold is required by the PCDO bylaws for an endorsement. Of the 113 votes cast, the results were:

1. Obama, 54 votes
2. Clinton, 35 votes
3. Edwards, 10 votes
4. Kucinich, 6 votes
5. Uncomitted, 5 votes
6. Gore (written in), 2 votes
7. No Endorsement, 1 vote
8. Mike Gravel, 0 votes

Thus, while Obama had the clearly largest plurality, no candidate achieved 60% of the total (68 votes), and thus none was endorsed.

The Resolution Supporting Competitive Primary Elections passed with 76 votes in favor to 15 against.

 

Jo Butler makes announcement while awaiting results of the vote: the Giants score.

Melissa Harris Lacewell speaks on behalf of Barack Obama, top vote-getter

 

If you have never voted in a primary election in New Jersey, chances are you are registered as an "unaffilated" voter. In New Jersey, only people who filled out a party declaration form or who voted in a previous Democratic primary are registered Democrats. That is why the majority of voters in New Jersey are unaffiliated with either party.

The good news is this means that if you are willing to declare your party affiliation you can vote in the Democratic presidential primary. All you do is show up at your polling place on election day and tell the poll worker you want to affiliate with the party. You will sign a form then you'll be able to vote, and voila -- you're a member of the Democratic Party!

For more information, see Voting in the Primary