It’s Caucus time again and this time there’s three very important reasons to attend. The First reason is there is a Governors Candidate Straw Poll. The Second is a few weeks after Caucus, Redistricting takes place. Anyone who becomes a delegate, alternate, or precinct officer will retain those positions when they transfer to the next Legislative District Party Unit. The Third reason is to make Party Platform Resolutions. The Platform of the party is often overlooked and the time given to building the platform at Caucus and Conventions has eroded quite a bit. The Platform is what the party believes in.
If you are new to your area, you have moved to a different part of St Paul, or you have no idea what City of St Paul Precinct you live in please use the following link from the Minnesota Secretary of State’s website. Your precinct shouldn’t have changed since 2012, but in the last 10 years some Wards have changed the numbering of their precincts, or some precincts have merged with others. So just to be sure, click on the link below.
caucusfinder.sos.state.mn.us
If you would like to suggest a platform plank download a copy of the 2020 Platform (mislabeled as the 2022 Platform as it hasn’t been created nor passed yet), and also download a Platform Resolutions PDF, write out a resolution before you arrive on Tuesday, just print out the following form and write out your resolution. It has to be passed in your precinct in order for it to advance to the Local Party Unit Convention.
Read through the 2020 MNGOP Platform first to see if your idea is covered. There is an overview of it and then a more extensive version of it below it in the platform.
What: MN House District 66B Republicans Precinct Caucuses
Where: Johnson Senior High School, 1349 Arcade St (near Ivy), St Paul, MN 55106 Caucus Map
When: February 1, 2022. Promptly starts at 7 pm in the Auditorium, please try to arrive by 6:45 pm to determine what room your precinct is in, at the desk, then enter the auditorium.
Cost: The cost of the caucus is FREE. If you want to contribute money in your precinct you can give an at will donation. However if you give more than $20.00 you need to list your name, your address, and your occupation which our treasurer will have to record. The Convention in March will most likely cost roughly about $20, but some local party units try to keep it at an at-will donation. We have no mandates. Caucuses/Conventions do cost money for forms, flyers, and such.
Miscellaneous: If you can’t make it to the caucus but would like to be considered to be a precinct delegate, alternate, or a precinct officer (chair, deputy chair, secretary, treasurer) you can submit an email to mnhd66brepublicans@gmail.com stating your name, precinct, address, phone number, and email address if different than the one you send it from.
SPRCC membership
Precinct Delegates, Alternates are automatically part of the St Paul Republican City Committee (SPRCC). It is an organization that helps candidates run for municipal offices such as City Council, Mayor’s office, and for St Paul Public Schools Board of Education. Next year are City Council & School Board races. If you would like to run for office please contact Sara Rasque Michener the current SPRCC Chair.
2022 Governor Candidates Straw Poll
The first order of business once you get to your rooms is the Straw Poll. Your convener will follow a script and conduct the caucus according to it. Each room will have a convener and a secretary. For the Straw Poll you will get one vote, and if you would like to suggest someone not listed write them in under “undecided.” If you are undecided then put a check in that blank.
Redistricting Starts on February 15th
It is very important when you register in the room, to print your name legibly, your address, a phone number, and your email address. When redistricting starts up the current bpou officers have to contact you to tell you which new local party unit (aka bpou) you will be in. If we can’t decipher your name or you don’t print your name we will have no way of telling you your new local party unit.
Some people will stay in the main area of the old legislative district while others will join another area or the bpou will get a new number different from the current one.
Election Judge Recruiting
It is very important to have fair elections in St Paul and currently we do not have a party balance of election judges at all locations. I’ve been an election judge since 2018 and none of the locations I’ve served have had more than 2 Republicans at. My current location I’m the only Republican election judge. The other 7 DFL election judges do not have the same kind of responsibility I have. Here is a pdf explaining what an election judge does and your perks. One note not listed in it, a fellow Republican Election Judge I know takes a paid personal day off for the election then gets paid to be an election judge by Ramsey County and thus they get a double salary that day.
To the Neighbors of HD 66B Republicans:
It’s been an honor to serve as the House District 66B Republicans Chair. I didn’t anticipate the obstacles we’ve had to climb over due to the pandemic and violence in our streets in the summer of 2020. My officers have grown in experience as leaders and I’m proud of each and every one of them. I’m a bit of an introvert and much of the leadership needs I’ve had to do have been outside of my comfort zone and I’ve expanded my envelope to meet those needs. I encourage you to get involved in your precinct even at the block level, form a block club, and or a neighborhood watch. You meet interesting people and discover new ideas you didn’t know before. I thank you for being a neighbor of mine in the 5 neighborhoods of House District 66B.
God Bless Everyone of you,
Tom Polachek
HD 66B Republicans Chair 11/2017 to 3/2022
Minnesota House District 66B Republicans 