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D.C. Republican caucus scheduled for Feb. 10
(Published January 26, 2004)

By MELISSA FERRARA
Staff Writer

The D.C. Republican Committee is holding its first caucus on Feb. 10 after not participating in the non-binding D.C. presidential preference primary on Jan. 13.

"This is the first time we have had a caucus because the primary election in the District has always been binding," D.C. Republican Party Chairperson Betsy Werronen said.

Nationally, Democrats and Republicans set up the time frame, Feb. 3 through June 15, when states could choose delegates and nominees through a binding primary vote, Werronen said.

"It is against our by-laws to participate in a non-binding primary," Werronen added, describing the vote as a "waste of money."

Werronen, Carol Schwartz and David Catania co-chair the caucus, which is scheduled to be held at the Hall of Flags, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, at 1615 H St. NW.

The caucus is open to all registered D.C. Republicans. Those is attendance vote on four uncontested elections, making the caucus more of a rally than a pivotal part in the democratic process.

Four votes are scheduled to take place at the caucus: selecting the presidential nominee, the D.C. delegates for the Republican National Convention, the Republican National Committeeman and Committeewoman, and electing members to the D.C. Republican Committee, Paul Dionne, D.C. Republican Committee volunteer, said.

President Bush has not been challenged by any other Republican. D.C.’s 16 delegates and 16 alternates for the national convention were chosen by the Bush campaign when he filed for candidacy, as election laws require for every candidate with every state, and the Republican National Committeeman and Committeewoman are also running uncontested.

Eighty-two D.C. Republicans are seeking membership to the committee, known collectively as a slate.

"Each state party has its own board of directors and that is its slate," Dionne said.

People seeking membership must be registered Republicans and submit their political resumes to a nominating committee within the D.C. Republican Committee. The nominating committee makes recommendations for the slate and then the slate itself is officially approved at the caucus.

Voters can come cast their ballots starting at 5 p.m.. The caucus program, which has not been finalized, includes Eastern Senior High School’s marching band and the Greater Washington Boy Scouts and does not start until 6:30 p.m.. The vote is scheduled to end at 8 p.m. and the caucus will end once the results are tallied and announced, Dionne said.

"Early absentee voting will be available for anyone incapacitated, or unable to leave work or just for anyone who cannot attend the caucus," Werronen said.

The early voting is scheduled for Feb. 6 and 7 at the committee’s headquarters, 1275 K St. NW, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Three individuals automatically go to the Republican National Convention, in accordance with the District committee’s by-laws: the D.C. State Chairman Betsy Werronen, the D.C. National Committeewoman Julie Finley and the D.C. National Committeeman James Lowe. These delegates are in addition to the 16 the Bush campaign has already named.