Progressive Dane Endorsee Policies

Progressive Dane is strong when the members and elected officials are communicating well and supporting each other. Progressive Dane lends support to elected officials in campaigns, and throughout the year in development and passage of policy supported in our platforms. We believe in openly democratic processes and transparency.

Expectations

Endorsed candidates:

• Communicate during the campaign about their events and volunteer needs.

• Participate in special elections committee meetings for current election year candidate teams or send a campaign team member(s).

• Communicate to voters that you are endorsed by Progressive Dane.

• Incorporate Progressive Dane platform solutions in campaign communications.

• Share information about Progressive Dane with campaign team members.

• Contribute campaign data collected when utilizing ProDane's election database such as in-district supporters, their contact information, and issues important to them, which may be used to help other ProDane endorsed candidates identify progressive likely voters.

• Commit to their own anti-racist education, approach policy-making with a racial equity and social justice lens, and take allegations of discriminatory behavior towards marginalized communities and individuals seriously and with a mind toward improving their behavior and repairing harm.

Endorsed elected officials:

• Participate in our caucuses consistent with open meetings laws.

• If no caucus exists for an elected office, keep in regular communication with and actively respond to Progressive Dane’s policy and steering committees.

• Communicate about major initiatives you are working on.

• Vote in accordance with core party values as adopted in our platforms.

  • The party understands an elected official of a legislative body has a particular responsibility to their district and may, in rare circumstances, take a vote that could be interpreted as inconsistent with the platform due to its impact on their district. If an elected official anticipates taking a vote contrary to the party’s stated position, the elected official is expected to bring this difference to the attention of the steering committee and fellow caucus members, if applicable. Disclosure is not a defense to removal if the vote is on a matter of significant public import, or part of a pattern or practice of actions which are contrary to the values as adopted in our platforms.

Caucus expectations:

• Communicate differences of opinions respectfully, with fellow caucus members and Progressive Dane committee members.

• Not have more than 3 consecutive non-communicated absences.

• Not have more than 6 consecutive absences whether or not communicated.

• Attend meetings in person, or by video or phone, as public health measures or other circumstances require.

• If you want to invite someone from outside of Progressive Dane to a meeting to discuss a specific issue or issues, seek approval of other caucus members in advance.

• If a caucus member is absent, create a plan with caucus members to reach out and find out why there has been a lapse in attendance.

Endorsement and addition to caucus outside of the election cycle

A Progressive Dane caucus member may nominate an elected official to be added to the caucus based on the nominee’s alignment with party values and objectives. No nomination shall be made within six (6) months of the nominee being sworn into elected office, if the nominee had been invited in the most recent election cycle and chose not to seek endorsement or did not receive endorsement. The nomination will be submitted to the election committee, which will send a questionnaire to the nominee and conduct an interview. The elections committee will make a recommendation on the endorsement to the general membership, which will vote on the question. . Any elected official endorsed under this section is required to seek and obtain the party’s endorsement in their next election in order to continue caucus membership in their subsequent term.

Accountability processes for endorsed elected officials

Party members with concerns related to an endorsed elected official are encouraged to share their concerns with the Steering Committee. The Steering Committee seeks to communicate regularly with the endorsed electeds and is a resource to facilitate restorative measures. The party encourages engaging in dialogue or other restorative processes to resolve conflict and address harm. In rare instances where serious concerns can not be addressed, elected officials may be held accountable by removal of ProDane’s endorsement and caucus membership.

Members are free to reach out to the Steering Committee for support when they have concerns about an elected official and seek a restorative resolution. The Steering Committee could help facilitate potential next steps, including:

• The people involved meet directly to have a conversation facilitated by one or more Steering Committee members

• Steering Committee members meet separately with the people involved, to better understand the situation and suggest a way forward

• Steering Committee members work to find an acceptable forum/process to resolve conflict (circle process etc.) and facilitate that process

In all situations, the party will expect and model respect for all involved, being mindful of differences in power, asking who is most impacted, and keeping conversations confidential.

Grounds for removal

3 consecutive non-communicated or 6 consecutive absences from caucus meetings: the elected official will be notified.

Taking action contrary to party values that can not be addressed through the restorative processes described above, as demonstrated by:

• taking at least one vote contrary to the party’s on a matter of significant public import; or

• engaging in a pattern and practice of actions damaging to Progressive Dane’s mission of improving the quality of life in Dane County for all people, particularly those marginalized by economic and social discrimination.

Procedure for removal

Any party member may bring a charge for removal to the membership. The charge shall set forth the specific grounds for removal in writing and be provided to the elected official and the Steering Committee at or before a general membership meeting. If the charges relate to absences from caucus meetings, the charge shall include the approximate period of time in which the absences occurred or the particular dates of absences. If the charge relates to taking actions contrary to the party values, the charge shall include the particular party policy or position (e.g. platform provision) alleged to have been violated and a description of the action(s) alleged to be in violation of the policy or position

The charge will be voted at the general membership meeting following the meeting in which the charge is introduced, unless a different schedule is agreed to by the charging member(s), the elected official, and the steering committee. The elected official will be strongly encouraged to respond to the specific charges in writing, prior to the general membership meeting, and in person during the meeting.

At least two-thirds of Progressive Dane members present at the general membership meeting must vote for the elected official’s removal.

if the membership votes to remove the elected official, they will be

• Removed from the listserve and communications about caucus.

• No longer allowed to participate in caucus without an agreement to invite them to caucus.

• Removed from the website.

Approved by the membership at the September 27, 2021 Progressive Dane General Membership Meeting