So you’ve been to the Precinct Caucuses, you’ve become a delegate or alternate, and possibly a Precinct Officer in your St Paul Precinct in the Legislative District of House District 66B.  Congratulations, you’ve taken the first step in being involved in the Neighborhood Party Unit aka BPOU.

What’s Next? When is Our BPOU Convention?

In a non-Redistricting year, or every even year there is the Precinct Caucus usually in February then a BPOU Convention the following month of March, a Congressional District Convention in April and the State Convention in May.  You would have known the place, date and time of the Convention at the Caucus.  This year is much different as it is a Redistricting Year.

A Redistricting Year is in the second year after the Nationwide Census. So previous years if you have lived here and have caucused and stayed active in the BPOU would have occurred in 2002, 2012, and this year 2022.

The Boundaries have changed over the years and sometimes the number or letter has changed as well. For instance in 2010 the main area of the current HD 66B was called HD 66A, and where part of the current HD 66A is was called HD 66B, the Roseville part was HD 54A.  Yeah it’s kind of confusing. So from here on out the pre-redistricting boundaries and organization will be called Old HD 66B, and the redistricted boundaries and organization will be called New HD 66B.

As a delegate or alternate and precinct officer you’ll be that until 2024 regardless of Old or New HD 66B, unless you decided not to, or move out of the precinct or out of HD 66B entirely. You have to live here to be part of the organization, unlike some years ago in SD 65 where the BPOU chair moved out of the area and those in the SD 65 BPOU kept him as their chair, which is a violation of their own Constitution as well as the CD4 & MNGOP ones as well.

Redistricting = Reorganization

The map boundaries have changed (See our Maps page for the Bright Red Map links for the new legislative and Congressional District boundaries), and so must the leadership change. Those BPOU Officers elected to the Old HD 66B Republican Executive Committee in 2021 only had one year to serve before redistricting.

In the odd years in the Neighborhood Party Unit (BPOU) Executive Committee Officers are elected to serve a 2 year term.  Because of Redistricting there were some precincts removed and some were added.  This is where the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution comes in where the consent of those governed is required in order for a government to be formed. So the Old HD 66B Republican leaders can not assume their 2 year term from 2021 because we’ve added and subtracted delegates, alternates and Precinct Officers this year starting February 15, 2022.

So the BPOU Convention of New HD 66B Republicans has to elect officers to a one year term ending next year in 2023 at the BPOU Convention. However this might not happen, as some people might want to organize as a Senate District 66 BPOU.  In another post we’ll describe what’s the differences between a House District and Senate District BPOU.

The next step in the Redistricting Process is covered in the Reapportionment Training Manual, you can download the handbook link (click here).  The MNGOP has both sides meet in a Senate District 66 Convention, this is NOT forcing us into a Senate District (SD) BPOU, it is just a convention with the A & B Sides coming together for some business.  After Convention Agenda and Rules are established a vote will take place on whether to remain as House Districts A & B sides, or organize as a Senate District BPOU.  After that depending on the vote results Constitutions, BPOU Officers, and CD4/State Delegates will be voted on.

This year at some point after this Convention we have to meet to endorse a Senate District 66 Candidate for the rare open seat in our area. Senator John Marty is still our senator until inauguration day next year. He is running in New Senate District 40 (Arden Hills, Northern Roseville, Shoreview, Mounds View) for re-election which will take him to his 40th year in the Legislature.  Endorsements of candidates for the legislature can take place at a BPOU Convention, but it is more important to decide on who are the leaders and what your constitution will be.

There will be Committees in which one can serve on for the convention. Here are some that usually are in a redistricting year: Constitution, Resolutions, Rules, Nominations, and Convention Arrangements.  Resolutions from those in Old HD 66B Ward 4 Precincts 12 & 13 will follow those delegates who proposed them into New HD 66A. As will Resolutions from the new precincts we acquired.

Statewide Candidates & Special Guests Speak

Conventions are a great place to network. The Online Conventions of 2020 were not as fun as people were not given the opportunity to mingle and discover interesting organizations that like to set up at conventions. Meeting new people in your neighborhood and across the new Legislative District is a plus.

Often times Statewide Candidates will try to attend your convention. Yet it is very tough on them to attend many of them as BPOUs tend to have them on Saturday mornings  or from noon on.  This is why we have posted the Caucus Letters of the Statewide Candidates, so you know what their core values are.  In that article each candidate’s website is linked to their name, so click on candidates names to go to their websites.

So even if you do not plan to run for a BPOU Officer role, please feel welcome to come out to the BPOU Convention in March.