Late this afternoon, Joe Foster, Chairman of the Montgomery County Democratic Committee (MCDC), released the rules for the upcoming endorsement meeting scheduled for January 30 (Plymouth Whitemarsh High School 201 E Germantown Pike, Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462 6:30 – 7:30 Registration 7:30 Gavel).
As expected, the rules call for eliminating all but the top two vote-getters from the first round of balloting. Among the seven candidates challenging Daylin Leach, the incumbent, Amanda Cappelletti has emerged as the clear favorite among the leadership of Montgomery County Democrats. It’s not inconceivable that she might reach the 60% threshold in the first round. More likely though, Cappelletti and Leach will be the “survivors” for round two.
Here’s where it gets interesting. If it gets to a Cappelletti vs. Leach second round, the only votes that will be counted will be those that are cast for the two candidates. If committee members vote “present,” those votes will not count toward anything.
So to make the math easy, let’s assume that there are 100 eligible “electors.” And in the first round, 55 vote for Cappelletti, 35 vote for Leach and 10 split their votes among the other six candidates. If the 10 who voted for “other” get pissed off and go home, Cappelletti will only need 54 votes in round two, in order to win the endorsement. On the other hand, if the 10 really want their preferred to candidates to have an opportunity to compete in an Open Primary, they can stick around and vote for Leach in round two. And Cappelletti will be denied the endorsement.
The Rules
1. The by-laws of the Montgomery County Democratic Committee (the “By-Laws”) shall govern this Convention, except as modified by these rules (the “Rules”) or as properly suspended or altered by a proper vote of this Convention. Any reference in the Rules to a committee member shall include a proxy properly credentialed in accordance with the By-Laws (Capitalized terms not otherwise defined in the Rules shall have the meaning ascribed to them in the By-Laws). 2. A committee member may not move, second or vote on any motion for endorsement pertaining to a candidate outside the committee member’s election district. 3. The Chair will entertain a motion(s) to endorse candidates seeking endorsement. Any such motion(s) shall be no longer than two minutes and must receive a second in order for the committee to vote upon it. Candidates moved and seconded for endorsement may withdraw from endorsement at this time. 4. The Chair may at any time limit or close debate on any motion or call a vote. 5. After all motions for endorsement have been made and seconded, the endorsement vote shall be conducted by acclamation, show of hands, or paper ballot, at the discretion of the Chair. 6. If a vote by acclamation is conducted, and the Chair is in doubt as to the result, then a new vote shall be taken by either a show of hands or by paper ballot at the discretion of the Chair. If a vote by a show of hands is conducted, and the Chair is in doubt as to the result, then a new vote shall be taken by either acclamation or by paper ballot at the discretion of the Chair. 7. On any paper ballot, a committee member must be present at the time of the voting in order to cast a ballot. 8. On all endorsement votes, a vote may be cast only for a candidate for whom a motion for endorsement has been made and seconded, and who has not withdrawn from consideration. A vote or ballot stating the name of any other candidate or any other item is invalid in its entirety and will not be counted. 9. The Chair shall designate a Tabulation Committee to count paper ballots. Each candidate may appoint a watcher to observe the vote and the count of ballots. The count of the Tabulation Committee shall be final, binding and non-appealable. The Tabulation Committee shall report the results directly and solely to the Chair. 10. Area Leaders and/or their designees shall assist in the collection of ballots, as well as those designated by the Chair; ballots when collected shall be delivered to the Tabulation Committee. 11. Candidates shall be endorsed only if they receive Sixty Percent of the votes validly cast on any ballot (a “Majority” as defined for this purpose by the By-Laws). If, in the event, more than two candidates are listed on the balloting, then all candidates who did not receive the first and second highest number of votes are to be eliminated. A second ballot will be conducted listing only the candidates who received first and second highest number of votes on the first ballot. 12. A motion for No Endorsement or Open Primary can be made by a committee member within the election district being considered. The motion must be seconded. Such a motion, however, is deemed invalid if an endorsement has been approved by the committee members. 13. Pursuant to the By-Laws, Area Leaders, Area Representatives, and Municipal Chairs (collectively, the “Leadership”) who are not also committee members have all rights and obligations of committee members, including the right to vote. Provided, however, if (i) any of the Leadership Positions are held by more than one person, all persons holding such Position shall share one vote; and (ii) committee members serving in a Leadership Position shall be entitled to only one vote, and (iii) persons in Leadership Positions may only vote on endorsements provided the person(s) in Leadership Positions reside in that election district.