MIDDLETOWN DEMOCRATIC TOWN COMMITTEE

LOCAL PARTY RULES

ARTICLE 1 - MIDDLETOWN DEMOCRATIC TOWN COMMITTEE

Section 1: The policies and principles of the Democratic Party of the town of Middletown shall

be formed, directed and executed by the Middletown Democratic Town Committee (“DTC”). All

members of the DTC shall be at all times: (a) registered voters in Middletown, Connecticut and

(b) enrolled members of the Democratic Party.

Section 2: The DTC shall consist of 75 members who shall be elected at large.

Section 3: The DTC, at a meeting called for the purpose, may, by a majority vote of the members

present and voting, adjust the number of members of its membership, provided that all new

members shall be duly elected and begin their term the first Monday following the next primary

date in the state election calendar.

Section 4: If necessary, a primary for election of members of the DTC shall be held in accordance

with the Connecticut General Statutes.

Section 5: Members of the DTC shall serve for a term of two (2) years, commencing on the day

following the day established for holding a primary for election, and the certification of such

election of said DTC members, and ending on the day established for the holding of a primary

for the election of the members of the succeeding DTC. The provisions of this section shall

apply notwithstanding the lack of cause for a primary to elect said members.

Section 6(a): Any vacancy on the DTC, arising from any cause, including failure to elect, may be

filled by the DTC, by a majority vote of the members present and voting, at a meeting called for

that purpose.

(b) “A meeting called for that purpose” means, throughout these rules, any regular or special

meeting where the issue of filling vacancies has been properly noticed and placed on an

agenda.

Section 7(a): Attendance. All members of the DTC are expected to attend regular and special

meetings called pursuant to these rules and actively participate in DTC activities. To be excused

from a DTC meeting, members are required to submit an electronic request for excusal to the

Secretary prior to a scheduled meeting.

(b) Any DTC member who misses, without excusal, three (3) consecutive meetings or forty

percent of regularly scheduled meetings during any twelve-month period will not be

Middletown Democratic Town Committee Local Party Rules Page 1 of 8recommended for DTC endorsement in the next DTC election.

(c) The DTC may consider extraordinary reasons of absence, provided that a member submits a

written request for consideration of DTC endorsement before the next DTC election.

ARTICLE II - OFFICERS

Section 1(a): Meeting to elect new officers. Not more than thirty (30) days following the day

fixed for the holding of a primary for the elections of DTC members, the Chairperson in office

immediately prior to the day of said primary, shall call a meeting of the newly elected DTC for

the purpose of electing officers.

(b) If such chairperson fails, for any reason, to call such meeting within the period prescribed, it

shall be the duty of the vice-chairperson of the preceding DTC to do so.

(c) If, for any reason, said meeting is not called in the manner prescribed, it shall be the duty of

the State Central Committee members in the district to do so.

(d) The notice of such meeting called pursuant to subsection (b) or (c) of this section shall be

issued to each of the newly elected DTC members within forty-eight (48) hours of the necessity

of either to do so, notwithstanding any party rule concerning time and notification of meetings

to DTC members.

Section 2(a): Officers; Officer Duties; and Executive Committee. The officers of the DTC shall

be: chairperson; vice-chairperson; secretary; treasurer; and deputy treasurer. The officers of the

DTC shall be members of the DTC. All officers of the DTC may be prescribed other duties as

assigned by action of the DTC and are expected to maintain the highest level of ethical behavior

in law and in spirit. The individual duties of the officers are:

(b) Chairperson.

(1) Stay abreast of communications with the State Central Committee to ensure state party

rules and election laws and timetable are followed; meet with vice-chairperson and

candidates to identify and plan use of campaign resources to ensure Democrats are

elected at all levels of government;

(2) Coordinate support for campaigns within the town and collaborate with neighboring

town chairpersons to ensure Democrats are elected at all levels of government and

ensure the orderly calling and holding of conventions to which the DTC sends delegates;

(3) Call and preside over regular and special meetings;

Develop and implement a communication strategy for effectively using DTC platforms to

communicate the actions that local Democrats are taking in government and during

campaigns with the general public;

(5) Provide vision and direction for outreach to the DTC members and the general public,

including use of technology;

(6) Appoint members to sub-committees and provide vision and direction for

sub-committee work; and

(7) Stay up to date with trainings, resources, and tools as the virtual landscape changes.

(c) Vice-Chairperson.

(1) Support the chairperson in the discharge of the chairperson’s duties and serve as acting

chairperson in the chairperson’s absence;

(2) Service as chairperson of all sub-committees, unless another chairperson is appointed by

the DTC; and

(3) Report on the activities of the Executive Committee at DTC meetings.

(d) Secretary.

(1) Take minutes of the Regular and Special meetings of the DTC, including all votes taken at

such meetings;

(2) Take roll call at DTC meetings and report on whether there is a quorum;

(3) Receive and deliver communications to and from the Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson;

(4) Keep a calendar of DTC and other pertinent events;

(5) Maintain an accurate list of DTC members and contact information and periodically

confirm the eligibility of the members of the DTC;

(6) Maintain files of important DTC documents and information, including past minutes and

agendas; and

(7) At the direction of the Chairperson, cast a ballot of a proposal adopted unanimously if

one vote is cast for it and no cast against it or is defeated unanimously if no vote is cast

for it and one vote is cast against it.

(e) Treasurer.

(1) Shall ensure that the DTC complies with all requirements of the Connecticut General

Statutes and rules and regulations of the State Elections Enforcement Commission;

(2) Manage the financial accounts of the DTC at a financial institution as directed by the

DTC; and

Coordinate fundraising efforts of the DTC to fundraise for the DTC and endorsed

candidates.

(f) Deputy Treasurer.

(1) Support the treasurer in the discharge of the treasurer’s duties as listed above and

provide the financial report in the treasurer’s absence.

Section 3: Executive Committee. The officers of the DTC shall collectively make up the

Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall meet to formulate an agenda for DTC

meetings and shall have such other powers and duties as delegated by the DTC.

Section 4: Officer Term of Office. Officers so elected shall hold office for the term of the DTC

electing them and until their successors have been elected.

Section 5: Acting Chairperson; Acting Treasurer. In the case of the vacancy in the position of

chairperson, the vice-chairperson shall become acting chairperson until a permanent

chairperson is elected. In the case of the vacancy in the position of treasurer, the deputy

treasurer shall become acting treasurer until a permanent treasurer is elected.

Section 6. Removal of Officers; Filling Vacancies. An Officer of the DTC may be removed by a

vote of two thirds (⅔) of the DTC members present and voting at a meeting. In the event an

officer position becomes vacant for any reason, including failure to elect, the filling of the

vacancy shall be placed on the agenda of the next regular meeting and the members shall vote

on the procedure and timing of filling such vacancy. All vacancies shall be filled by a majority

vote of the DTC members present and voting, at a meeting called for that purpose.

Section 7: Within one week after the organization of the DTC as described in this Article, the

Secretary shall file the name and addresses of the officers and members with the appropriate

state and local officials, as required by law and with the Democratic State Central Committee

pursuant to its rules.

ARTICLE III - MEETINGS

Section 1: The DTC shall meet upon the call of the Chairperson.

Section 2: Special meetings of the DTC may be called upon electronic or written request, signed

or endorsed by twenty percent (20%) of the total members presented to the Chairperson. Upon

receipt of such request, the Chairperson shall instruct the secretary to give reasonable notice of

the time, place and purpose of such meeting to all members of the DTC.

Section 3: Quorum. Two fifths (⅖) of the membership of the DTC shall constitute a quorum at

any meeting. A quorum shall be necessary at all meetings for the DTC to take action on any

item.

Section. 4: Breaking a Tie. In all roll call votes of the DTC, the chairperson shall vote last. In the

event of a tie, the action under consideration shall fail. This rule shall apply in all votes taken by

the DTC by roll call and shall not apply in any caucus called pursuant to law or these Rules,

unless the caucus so adopts by caucus rule.

Section 5: Subcommittees. The Chairperson may create subcommittees and appoint members.

Members of said subcommittees may be chosen from within or without the membership of the

DTC, but members of such subcommittees shall not be entitled to vote at meetings of the DTC

unless they are members thereof. All subcommittees of the DTC shall report the activities of the

subcommittee to the DTC.

ARTICLE IV - ENDORSEMENT OF TOWN COMMITTEE MEMBERS, DELEGATES TO

CONVENTIONS AND CANDIDATES FOR MUNICIPAL OFFICE

Section 1(a): Town Committee Caucus to Endorse Candidates to the DTC. Party-endorsed

candidates for the DTC shall be chosen at a caucus called for that purpose (the “Town

Committee Caucus”). The Town Committee Caucus is not a meeting of the DTC. The Town

Committee Caucus is open to all residents of Middletown, Connecticut enrolled in the

Democratic Party.

(b) Eligibility. No person shall be selected as a party-endorsed candidate for the DTC unless such

person’s name appears on the last completed enrollment list of the Democratic Party in the

town of Middletown.

(c) Endorsement by Slate. Nominations for party-endorsed DTC members may be made at the

Town Committee Caucus by: (1) presentation to the caucus of a full slate composed of a number

of persons not exceeding the number of DTC members as prescribed by these rules or (2) by

nomination of individual candidates.

(d) Town Committee Caucus Rules. The Town Committee Caucus may adopt rules governing

the procedure for the selection of party-endorsed candidates by a majority vote of eligible

voters present, provided such rules may not be inconsistent with these rules, the rules of the

State Central Committee, or the Connecticut General Statutes.

Section 2(a): Nomination for Delegates at a Convention. Nominations for delegates to all

conventions shall be made at a meeting of the DTC called for that purpose. Delegates need not

be members of the DTC, but must be a registered member of the Democratic Party residing

within the district subject to the convention. Delegates to the State Party Convention must be

enrolled members of the Democratic Party and residents of Middletown, Connecticut.

(b) Nomination of Delegates. Nominations for delegates shall be made by: (1) presentation of a

slate composed of a number of persons not exceeding the number of such delegates to which

the town is entitled under the rules of the State Central Committee or (2) by nomination of

individual candidates. If more than one slate is proposed, each slate must contain the number

of persons equal to the number of delegates to which the town is entitled.

(c) Voting on Delegates. Except in the event a slate is unopposed, voting on delegates shall be

by roll call. No member of the DTC may vote for more delegates than the town is entitled. The

voting for endorsement of delegates to each convention shall be done by individual convention.

(d) Selecting a Proxy; Chairperson’s Power to Fill Delegate Vacancy. Each delegate to a

convention elected in conformity with law and with these rules may designate a proxy to act for

such delegate in the delegate’s absence. The person designated as a proxy must be eligible to

participate in the convention in the same manner as the original delegate. If a proxy is not

selected, the Town Chair shall fill any vacancy in delegates to conventions until the convention

adjourns. This right to fill the vacancy shall cease upon adjournment of the convention.

Section 3(a): Endorsement of Candidates for Municipal Office. Party endorsement for

municipal office shall be made by vote of the DTC at a meeting called for that purpose. A

party-endorsed candidate for municipal office shall become the nominee of the Democratic

Party for the office for which the person has been endorsed, provided no primary for such office

is declared by the Town Clerk.

(b) The term “municipal office” means elective office of the town of Middletown and the offices

of justice of the peace, state representative in an assembly district composed entirely of

Middletown or entirely of a part of Middletown, and any other office to which state law permits

the DTC to endorse candidates.

Section 4: If for any reason sufficient endorsements of candidates for municipal office, DTC

members, or delegates to conventions are not made, the provisions of the Connecticut General

Statutes shall govern.

Middletown Democratic Town Committee Local Party Rules Page 6 of 8Section 5: For the Town Committee Caucus, the Secretary and Presiding Officer of the caucus

shall certify to the Town Clerk and the State Central Committee, if required by the committee’s

rules, the names and street addresses of the party-endorsed candidates selected under this

Article on form prescribed by the town clerk or the Secretary of the State. For party

endorsement for delegates to conventions or municipal office, such submission shall be made

by the Secretary and the Chairperson of the DTC.

Section 6: All party endorsements made by the DTC shall be made within the time frame

established by the Connecticut State Statutes.

Section 7: In the event that a vote taken on the selection of a party-endorsed candidate results

in a tie, the rule for breaking a tie in Article 1 shall apply. This section shall not apply to the

Town Committee Caucus, but the Town Committee Caucus may adopt a similar rule as

prescribed herein.

Section 8(a): Vacancies for Municipal Office. If a party-endorsed candidate for nomination to

municipal office, prior to twenty-four hours before the opening of the polls at the primary, dies, or

prior to ten days before the day of the primary, withdraws from nomination, or for any reason

becomes disqualified to the the office or position for which the candidate is endorsed, such

vacancy may be filled by the DTC by a majority vote of its members present and voting, at a

meeting called for that purpose.

(b) Any tie in such vote shall be broken according to the rule specified in Article 1.

(c) The Secretary of the DTC shall immediately certify the endorsement to fill such vacancy to

the Town Clerk.

(d) No candidate shall be deemed to have withdrawn until a letter of withdrawal, signed by such

candidate is filed with the Town Clerk.

(e) Vacancy in Party-Endorsement for DTC. If a party-endorsed candidate for DTC dies,

withdraws, or otherwise becomes disqualified to be a member of the DTC prior to election, such

candidate’s seat shall remain vacant and shall be filled in accordance with these rules by the

DTC members elected at such election.

ARTICLE VI - AMENDMENT TO LOCAL PARTY RULES

Section 1: These rules may be amended by the DTC at any meeting duly called for that purpose

by a majority vote of the members present and voting provided the amendment was submitted

in writing at the previous meeting of the DTC. The notice for such meeting shall state the

Middletown Democratic Town Committee Local Party Rules Page 7 of 8proposed change and be sent to each member of the DTC not less than ten (10) days prior to

the date the meeting is to be held. These rules may also be amended in any other manner

prescribed by law.

Section 2: Within seven (7) days after these rules are amended, such amendment shall be

submitted to the Secretary of the State, the Town Clerk and with the Secretary of the State

Central Committee.

ARTICLE VII - OTHER PROVISIONS

Section 1: If the Town Clerk or the Secretary of the State, as applicable, declares a primary for

any office, the Democratic Party nominee for such office shall be determined by a primary as

required by state law.

Section 2: In the event of any dispute regarding the interpretation of these rules, the Rules of

the Democratic State Central Committee shall govern.

Section 3: Robert’s Rules of Order (Newly Revised) shall be construed as applicable, controlling

and conclusive on all parliamentary issues, except as herein otherwise provided. Whenever the

DTC has adopted specific rules to govern action, those rules shall apply over the general rules of

parliamentary procedure.

Section. 4: If any provision of these rules is found to be in conflict with the provisions of any law,

the provisions of such law shall govern.

ADOPTION OF RULES These Local Party Rules of the Middletown Democratic Town Committee were adopted pursuant to a vote of the Middletown Democratic Town Committee on 20th day of May 2021.

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Chairperson

Michael P. Fallon

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Secretary

Kathy Adams