Focus will be on bylaws change

by Brian Leubitz

The delegates of the California Democratic Party executive board aren’t necessarily what you would call the “coolest kids in the room.” Because it may be that the biggest issue at the eboard this week near San Francisco airport is a bylaws change.

The bylaws change is an attempt to stop the “borrowing” of delegates from one district to another. That is, legislators “loaning” out their appointments on the occasion of an endorsement fight. The issue rose to prominence during the Leno-Migden fight in San Franciso in 2008, when nearly a quarter of all delegates were somehow living in the district during the endorsing convention. The issue has continued to draw attention with several notable instances of one legislative house or another apppointing delegates within contested districts.

The proposed changes have included requiring legislators to appoint into their own districts, or only allowing delegates to vote on endorsements in their legislators districts.  The rules committee wasn’t able to come to a consensus on a change, and delayed it until next year.  

However, a group of grassroots activists have opted to bring a measure to the floor instead. In short, the proposed change would be to allow legislators to appoint delegates in any district they like, but they can only vote on endorsements if they reside in their legislators district. Out of district delegates could vote on statewide endorsements.

The vote will come up in tomorrow’s general session, but there will be much discussion on the vote throughout. I’ll be throwing up a few tweets from the events, so make sure you follow me.