CAMPAIGN SERVICES & ENDORSEMENT POLICY & PROCEDURES FOR CANDIDATES AND BALLOT MEASURES

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1 CAMPAIGN SERVICES & ENDORSEMENT POLICY & PROCEDURES FOR CANDIDATES AND BALLOT MEASURES Both partisan and non--partisan offices and ballot measure campaigns are eligible to apply for endorsement and campaign services from the Kittitas County Republican Party (KCRP). Eligibility Criteria! Candidates must qualify for the office being sought and demonstrate that they have a well-- organized campaign.! Candidates must file for their specific position as a Republican or, in the case of nonpartisan position other than judicial positions, must state orally and in writing express support for the most recent WSRP platform.! Candidates and ballot measure campaigns must adhere to KCRP Code of Fair Campaign Practices.! Ballot measure representatives must identify orally and in writing how their measures are in accord with those principles in the most recent KCRP platform. Candidates or ballot measure initiative supporters may address the KCRP at its monthly meetings by contacting the Chair to get on the agenda. If they want additional support, they may apply for campaigns services. The KCRP may endorse (post-primary) and provide campaign services to multiple candidates for an elective office. Definitions For purposes of this policy, the following definitions apply: Ballot Measure -- Any initiative, referendum, proposed constitutional amendment, or any other ballot measure submitted by the state or any subdivision of the state for consideration by the voters of any part of Kittitas County. Campaign Services Access to walking lists, mailing lists and precinct maps; announcement of campaign events on the KCRP website and in the KCRP newsletter; event announcements via list; posted links to the campaign s website at the KCRP website; use of the KCRP bulk mail permit; training for approved candidates and/or campaign staff on accessing KCRP campaign services and guidance on complying with the KCRP Code of Fair Campaign Practices; assistance of PCOs to help distribute literature (with consent of PCOs); consideration of financial contributions for campaign expenses; when available, use of office space and resources; and endorsement, including permission to publicize such endorsement.

2 Campaign Services Committee (CSC) -- A five-member committee co-chaired by the KCRP Vice Chair whose other members are appointed by the KCRP Executive Committee after a thorough application and selection process. Committee members shall represent the diversity of Republicans in Kittitas County and include members who meet the following criteria:! Significant campaign volunteerism or consulting experience, or! Current or past elected official, and! Willingness and ability to provide technical assistance and support to approved campaigns, and! KCRP Member or PCO, and! Agrees to promote and uphold the KCRP Code of Fair Campaign Practices. The CSC meets: in February to elect a co--chair and establish campaign services priorities; between February and June to interview candidates and make campaign services recommendations to KCRP membership; as needed throughout the campaign season to provide training, mentoring and access to services to approved campaigns. Campaign Services Application Candidates wishing to receive KCRP campaign services must complete and submit this application to the CSC. Campaign Surrogate A person who is authorized to speak on behalf of a candidate or campaign. Candidate A Republican who has filed to run for elective office. Chair The Chair of the KCRP. Code of Fair Campaign Practices Guidelines for fair and ethical campaigns as adopted by KCRP. KCRPEC Kittitas County Republican Party Executive Committee Voting Member Members of KCRP as defined in KCRP Bylaws.

3 Campaign Services Procedures 1. A representative of the campaign contacts a CSC Chair to obtain an application. 2. The campaign representative completes, signs, and submits the application electronically or via mail. Applications for campaign services will be accepted until two weeks following the final day of the candidate filing period. 3. The CSC Chair schedules a CSC interview with the candidate or campaign representative. 4. The CSC interviews the candidate or ballot measure representative. Candidates shall demonstrate a well--organized campaign, including an appropriate budget, voter contact plan, fundraising plan, messaging and endorsements. 5. Following the interview or screening, the CSC votes on whether to recommend the candidate or ballot measure to the KCRP membership for campaign services. A candidate or ballot measure must receive at least a 2/3 vote from the CSC members present. 6. Incumbent local, statewide or congressional candidates may be screened rather than interviewed. In the case of statewide offices, a local representative may make a presentation for the candidate. 7. The CSC Chair presents the CSC s recommendation to the KCRP membership at the monthly KCRP meetings. The Chair conducts a vote on whether to accept the CSC s recommendations. A simple majority vote of the KCRP members present at the meeting is required for approval. 8. If they apply for and do not receive a recommendation for campaign services from the CSC, candidates or ballot measure representatives may seek approval for campaign services from the full KCRP membership at a regularly scheduled meeting. In these cases, a motion to approve campaign services must originate from a KCRP voting member, and a 2/3 vote of the KCRP voting members present in support of the candidate or measure will be required. Endorsement Procedures 1. Candidate endorsements may be made: 1. Official party endorsement may be given to any candidate or ballot measure after the May filing deadline and prior to the Primary Election if approved by 2/3 vote of the Central Committee at a regularly scheduled KCRP monthly meeting. Prior notice of intent to endorse a candidate of a specific race or ballot measure must be issued within ten (10) days of regularly scheduled monthly meeting to all KCRP voting members and candidates that have filed in afore mentioned race; 2. The Chair will schedule an endorsement meeting within 20 days after a Primary Election. Ten (10) days prior to the scheduled endorsement meeting the Chair must notify all PCOs and Republican candidates. Candidates are required to obtain a 2/3 majority vote of the KCRP Central Committee to receive official endorsement.

4 2. Intent to endorse must be included in the KCRP meeting notice. The endorsement notice must be made on the KCRP membership listserv or its equivalent no less than 10 calendar days prior to the meeting. 3. For endorsement, paper ballots shall be used to determine endorsements, and the Chair shall appoint a tally committee to count the paper ballots. 4. The KCRP shall publicize its endorsements in its newsletters, including a comprehensive insert in October s edition between the Primary and General elections, subject to available funds. The KCRPEC may produce an endorsement flyer. 5. If a candidate or ballot measure approved for campaign services does not seek endorsement or is not endorsed by KCRP their campaign services will continue as approved by KCRP. 6. KCRP endorsement may be revoked by 2/3 vote of the central committee at a regularly scheduled KCRP monthly meeting. Financial Assistance 1. Prior to the Primary Election, the KCRP Central Committee may choose to offer financial assistance to statewide candidates and ballot measure campaigns. Financial assistance must be approved by 2/3 vote of the central committee at a regularly scheduled KCRP monthly meeting. 2. Official KCRP endorsed candidates may be granted funds at any time after the candidate filing deadline if no other Republican candidate has filed for the same position and funds are approved by a 2/3 vote of the central committee at any regularly scheduled meeting. 3. Campaigns must make final requests for financial assistance to KCRPEC by September 1st prior to the General Election. 4. KCRPEC will make final financial assistance recommendations to the KCRP membership at the regularly scheduled September meeting. These recommendations shall be based on the KCRP budget, campaign need, and organization of a viable campaign. 5. KCRP membership may vote on each individual candidate s financial assistance separately. 6. If multiple candidates who have filed for the same race receive approval for financial assistance, campaign funds provided by the KCRP must be equally provided to each candidate. General Provisions 1. Any member of the CSC who is employed by or is an active officer in the campaign of a candidate or ballot measure must disclose his or her role in that campaign. At the request of other CSC members or candidates, the CSC member may not make a recommendation on candidates for that office or ballot measure and shall recuse him or

5 herself from the candidate interview or from investigations of campaign services violations. 2. Confidential campaign information provided by candidates during the campaign services application process shall not be disclosed by CSC members. 3. Upon final recommendations to KCRP in June the CSC will adjust focus to one of mentoring and providing technical assistance to approved campaigns in an effort to ensure success by Republicans. 4. The KCRP s bulk mail permit and mailing lists shall be available to approved candidates and ballot measure campaigns, subject to any provisions specified by the KCRP Executive Committee. The bulk mail permit and mailing lists shall remain the property of the KCRP. 5. The financial contributions of the KCRP are subject to any limits defined by the Public Disclosure Commission of the State of Washington, Federal Elections Commission or Washington State Republican Party rules. 7. No campaign granted campaign services from the KCRP may give its mailing list or mailing privileges to any other campaign that has not been granted these same services. No campaign may share the mailing list or mailing privileges, in a joint mailing, with any other campaign that has not been granted campaign services by the KCRP. 8. Any campaign which violates these policies and procedures as outlined in this document or the KCRP Code of Fair Campaign Practices will be subject to punitive actions as decided by the KCRP, which may include partial or full revocation of campaign services. 9. Approval of campaign services may be revoked or partially revoked by unanimous vote of the CSC, 2/3 vote of the KCRPEC or by a majority vote of the PCOs present at a regularly scheduled KCRP monthly meeting. Enforcement of KCRP Code of Fair Campaign Practices 1. Failure to abide by these rules or the KCRP Code of Fair Campaign Practices may result in the revocation or denial of KCRP campaign services. 2. Formal complaints for violations of the KCRP Campaign Services Policy or KCRP Code of Fair Campaign Practices may be brought forward by the opposing candidate or campaign or by a member of the CSC or members of the KCRP Central Committee. Complaints will be accepted in writing either via or via letter to the CSC Chair and the KCRP Chair. 3. Once brought forward the CSC Chair and KCRP Chair will conduct an initial examination of the merits of the complaint. This initial examination may last no longer than three days. No further action will be taken on complaints deemed frivolous by the CSC Chair and the KCRP Chair. If the complaint is found to have merit or require further investigation, the complaint will be referred to the CSC for further investigation and appropriate action. 4. Complaints will be classified into two tiers:

6 a) Tier 1 complaints are those communications or statements by a candidate/campaign that may represent an unintentional violation the code, or statements made by campaign surrogates without a candidate or campaign manager s prior knowledge. b) Tier 2 complaints are those that clearly and deliberately violate the KCRP Code of Fair Campaign Practices agreement or communications and statements that clearly cross the line of personal attacks or intentional misrepresentations of the opponent's positions or background. 5. If determined to be well founded following investigation by the CSC, Tier 1 violations would result in a formal, written warning to the candidate/campaign and a request that the candidate or campaign manager participate in an in person meeting with one or both chairs of the CSC. 6. If determined to be well founded following investigation by the CSC, Tier 2 violations or a second Tier 1 violation would automatically be referred to the next meeting of the CSC, the KCRPEC or to the KCRP membership, whichever occurs first, for a vote on revocation or partial revocation of campaign services.