Endorsement process for local, state legislative, and statewide general election candidates

In January, our members voted to support local and statewide candidates who sought our help. We endorsed five great candidates in the primary, and now we're looking to endorse even more great candidates for the general election. So starting today, Asheville Democracy for America invites candidates running for office in Buncombe County, for the North Carolina state legislature, and for statewide offices to apply for our endorsement. The process will follow these steps:

1. DFA Asheville will not formally invite anyone to start the endorsement process. Instead, candidates must seek our endorsement, though individual members may encourage their preferred candidates to apply. Candidates seeking our endorsement should contact Doug Gibson as soon as possible.

2. All candidates seeking our endorsement must a) contact Doug Gibson by midnight on Monday, August 25, b) complete and return a brief questionnaire by midnight on Monday, September 1, and c) attend, or send a representative to, our September 9th meeting (meeting details to come). Due to the variety of offices under consideration, questionnaires will be tailored to each applicant, and will be sent via e-mail to candidates expressing interest.

3. We also encourage candidates to prepare a brief (2-3 minute) video appeal for those members who can't make the September meeting and wish to participate online. We ask candidates to make them available as YouTube videos (and send us a link) several days before September 9th so we can post them on our group blog.

4. A separate vote will be taken for each candidate seeking our endorsement. Only DFA-Link members who joined by August 25, 2008 will be able to vote. Members will be able to vote at the meeting and then via e-mail for a week afterward.

5. To receive our endorsement, a candidate must receive at least 3/5 of the total votes cast at the meeting and via e-mail.