John Herman of Van Buren Township, president of the Western Wayne County Democratic Club, urges local Democrats not to take part in the Feb. 28 Presidential Primary election.
He said Democrats are having caucuses on May 5 in their districts throughout Michigan to select a preferred candidate for President.
Herman said the Michigan Democratic Party plan from the start was to hold caucuses rather than have money spent on a special election. He said the special election will cost the state $10 million.
He said a request was sent to the Republican Party to do the same and they denied the request.
“Now, the absentee ballot requests have gone out for both Democratic and Republican parties,” Herman said, noting he threw his away as soon as he got it. “They think that takes them off the hook and justifies a special election,” he said referring to the Republicans and specifically Secretary of State Ruth Johnson who is in charge of the election.
“She did that to confuse the people,” Herman said, adding that the paper ballot cast on Feb. 28 won’t count because the Democrats will be making their decisions at the caucuses May 5.
“In order to have your voice heard, you have to attend your caucus,” Herman said.
He said the 11th Congressional District (which includes Belleville and Van Buren Township) had expected to hold its caucus at Wayne County Community College District on Haggerty Road, but the hefty charge quoted for use of the facility quashed that.
He said the location of the local vote will be announced well ahead of the May 5 caucus.
Herman said the Michigan Democratic Party has given him approval to set up the local caucus. This area currently is part of the 11th Congressional District, but with redistricting, next year the 11th will move north and this area will be the 12th District.
The Democratic ballots for the Presidential Primary Election on Feb. 28 carry just two choices for President: Barack Obama and Uncommitted.
This is the ballot that Herman said won’t count. To help pick the 2012 Democratic Candidate for President, voters have to attend a caucus, he said.
There will be at least 200 caucus sites statewide on May 5, with 14 in the 11th District. Sumpter Township residents, who are in the 15th District, will hold their caucus at the Sumpter Community Center.
The caucuses will begin with registration at 9 a.m. This is where each individual participating will have to declare as a Democrat.
The caucus will begin at 11 a.m. After speeches and voting, the results will be reported back to the Michigan Democratic Party that day and made public, according to Mark Brewer, chairman of the Michigan Democratic Party.
Delegates to the Democratic National Convention will be apportioned among the Presidential candidates based on the total vote for each Presidential candidate from caucus sites. The national convention will be held in Charlotte, N.C. on Sept. 3-7.
Brewer said last week that he will ask state and national party leaders to exempt Michigan this year from a rule that bars Democrats in a primary from also participating in a caucus. He said he expects party leaders will go along with his plan.
The Republican Party will determine its Presidential preferences at the election on Feb. 28. On the ballot, which was prepared early, are the following candidates:
Gary Johnson, Fred Karger, Ron Paul, Rick Perry, Buddy Roemer, Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum, Michele Bachmann, Herman Cain, Newt Gingrich, Jon Huntsman, and Uncommitted.
Secretary of State Johnson said state law required her department to create a list of Presidential candidates who were “generally advocated” in the news media.
The Republican National Convention is in late August in Tampa, FL.