Woodstock Town Democrat’s Candidate Fact Sheet

How to Seek Democratic Endorsement for the 2009 Election

Offices that are up for election this year: Supervisor; Two (2) Town Council Seats; Highway Superintendent; Town Clerk and One (1) Town Justice 

Who may seek candidacy for the Democratic line:

• Any registered Democrat 18 years of age or older legally residing in the Town of Woodstock.

• Any other legal age resident who is not an enrolled Democrat must be granted permission by a majority vote of a quorum of the Woodstock Democratic Committee.

How candidates are chosen:

• The Democratic candidates for each office may be chosen and endorsed through a WDC vote at a meeting sometime before early June 9th.

• If there are more residents seeking candidacy than there are the required spots needed to fill the positions, following the petition process, a primary will be held September 15^th, 2009*.

• If someone other than a registered Democrat chooses to seek office and are not endorsed by the WDC, they may still seek permission to petition for a spot on the primary roll. (See Who may seek candidacy)

• All residents seeking candidacy must collect the required signatures. If any office is only petitioned by a single representative and that petitioner collects the required votes and meets all qualifications then that post will be considered filled and will not be subject to a primary vote.

• The candidates receiving the most amount of votes at the September primary election will be the winners and will hold the Democratic line in the November general election for their designated office. In the case of council members for the town board, the top two highest vote getters for town council will be the candidates. A committee for vacancies shall be established in the event any elected candidates are exempted under the election laws.

 How to seek candidacy:

• Come to a meeting of the Woodstock Democratic committee (next meeting May 18th 7:30 pm at the Center for Photography at Woodstock, 59 Tinker Street) and state which office you are choosing to run. We will assist in the process from start to finish and keep you apprised of important dates relating to your candidacy (important meetings, calendar deadlines, etc.)

• Please apprise the committee no later than May 26^th if you wish to have the county prepare a formal petition(s) for you.

• If you meet the requirements, as previously outlined, you will receive a petition(s). You must acquire no less than 138 registered Democrats signatures (5% of registered Democrats in Woodstock.) We recommend that you acquire 165-210 signatures to be safe. Petitions can be challenged so acquiring additional signatures is prudent.

• You may also contact the Ulster County Board of Elections if you are unable or unwilling to contact the Woodstock Democratic committee for assistance or petitions.

• Petitions must be carried by the candidate, other registered Democrats, notary publics or lawyers.

• Petition timeframe runs from June 9^th through July 13^th.

• Petitions (or copies) should be submitted to the WDC, before July 6^th, so that we may review your petitions to assist in correcting any possible errors that may cause your petition to be invalid. Petitions must be handed in to the WDC by July 10^th or to the Ulster County Board of elections by July 13^th.

• If you are a non Democratic resident seeking candidacy on the Democratic party line and have collected the required signatures and have not been previously granted or denied permission to run on the Democratic line and have submitted the required petition(s) the WDC will make its determination as to whether or not you will be considered for the primary, no later July 17th.

If you have further questions please contact:

Sasha Gillman            679 – 8625

Gordon Wemp            679 – 6655