Filing for office in Washington alongside councilors and judges, state executives, and lawmakers will be political representatives at a small but important level: precinct committee officers.
Precinct committee officers are the grassroots link between voters in each of the state’s voting precincts and the political parties.
Voting precincts are neighborhood-level divisions in the county’s electoral map. Each precinct can elect one Republican and one Democratic representative.
Candidates for precinct committee officer positions file for office during candidate filing week, which runs through Friday. There is no filing fee.
Contested races go before voters in the August primary, allowing voters in each precinct to elect a representative in their own party.
The elected volunteers then serve two-year terms as liaisons from their party to voters, and vice versa.
Republicans
Walla Walla County Republican Party Chair Wendi Kregger said precinct committee officers are the backbone of the political process, taking the political pulse of the county and communicating with voters in their neighborhood.
“These conscientious citizens are everyday folks who volunteer their time for a two-year term to educate, cultivate voter registration, give opportunity to fellow citizens to participate in the political process, share accurate politically based material, assist their neighbors in making an informed decision, and motivate voters to turn in their ballot,” Kregger said.
Jobs delegated to Republican precinct committee officers include finding spots with high visibility for candidate signage, helping with fundraising, and speaking with visitors at community events, including Fourth of July in the Park, Walla Walla Fair and Frontier Days, and the party’s annual fundraiser.
The officers are expected to reach fellow voters through doorbelling, text and email, and to participate at monthly Walla Walla County Republican Central Committee meetings.
They might also serve as delegates to the state party conventions.
“PCOs are unequivocally the most important position,” Kregger said.
She said those considering filing should visit the party’s website and reach out to a current or neighboring precinct committee officer to learn more.
Democrats
For the Walla Walla County Democrats, precinct committee officers elect Central Committee officers, approve budgets and approve local endorsements and hold party leadership accountable.
The role is critical, Chair Kari Isaacson said.
“They are the heart of the party,” she said. “Their basic role is to bring information and neighborhood news to the greater county party and to convey the party’s policies, values, activities, opportunities and candidates to the folks in their neighborhood.”
When no one files for a precinct committee officer position, a resident interested in volunteering can be appointed to the seat by the party to fulfill limited responsibilities.
Isaacson said appointed officers have all the responsibilities of elected precinct committee officers with the exception of voting for the party’s executive board, which is done by elected precinct committee officers at a biannual reorganization meeting.
“If you want to get involved and make a difference, really the action is at the local level,” Isaacson said. “To make your voice heard, it’s wonderful to vote, but if one wants to be more active and reach out to other people, being active with the local party is a great way to do it.”
She said more information about Democratic precinct committee officers is available on the party’s website.
