Historically, candidates running for office in Colorado had to earn the support of the most active citizens in politics and governance to be successful in the complex caucus process. The caucus was the gateway to the top slot on the primary ballot.
In theory, this system still “works” for voters who want to be in a party, but barely. It doesn’t work at all for Colorado’s enormous block of unaffiliated voters.
Over the last 30 years, the authentic grass-roots party leadership that made the caucus system hum has deteriorated. The reasons are many: the lessening of civic responsibility, the predominance of working from home, a decline in trust of civic institutions, the erosion of mainline service organizations, the proliferation of social media, campaign finance reform, the Supreme Court decision in Citizens United and of course petitioning onto the ballot.
And almost half of all voters are unaffiliated and cannot participate.
For the major parties, thousands still take the opportunity to go to their caucus every two years, gathering with like-minded political neighbors in classrooms and other public spaces. From there, a few thousand volunteers pay to attend their county assembly to choose local candidates and elect an even smaller group to attend their state assembly to elect state-level candidates.
Every area of the state is broken down into precincts where each party selects neighborhood (or regional) leaders known as precinct leaders. These neighborhood activists are the lowest level of elected officials in Colorado. They are elected by their neighbors at a once-every-other-year caucus during General Election years.
These precinct leaders found volunteers, yard sign locations, those willing to open their homes for meetings, and those who would donate money to the party and candidates. They created excitement, mobilized voters, and acted as “eyes and ears” for the party to understand the wishes of the citizens. These Precinct Leaders encouraged, vetted, and discouraged candidates at every level of office.
Now many candidates choose to avoid the caucus route altogether and simply petition to get their name on the primary ballot. All candidates are now beholden to fundraising from a multitude of special interest groups, consistent donors, and small donor committees rather than neighborhood leaders and their volunteer activism.
This evolution has caused a disconnect between citizens and their representatives. Sure, citizens still have “power” to elect candidates, but on criteria that are different than the representation of the people that can vote for them. Now, it’s more important to have mass amounts of money for the proliferation of mailings and targeted get-out-the-vote efforts than it is to have a volunteer base that is no longer effective.
We need to do something, as distaste for our current system is across the spectrum. Yes, we still have elected officials who are generally competent, hardworking, and caring about the folks they represent.
However, ask a current or former elected off the record if they enjoy fundraising every day rather than doing policy or constituent work. Ask them the follow-up question; who must they pay attention to, to remain in office? Many will tell you the truth that money is king (or queen) however, few, if any, will tell you where the real power is now and how they must pay attention to that power over “common citizens” within their jurisdiction.
As citizens, we know instinctively that something is wrong, and we gotta fix it.
If you are a member of a political party, engage effectively within the organization. Otherwise, why be a “member”? Change your affiliation to unaffiliated and vote for the candidate selected from the small group of activists who choose the candidates for you.
If you choose to be active in the party, determine if you wish to be an advocacy group or whether you wish to govern. Then proceed in being active on the best ideas for our communities and state and the people we wish to represent those policies.
If you’re an unaffiliated voter, determine a place where you can be effective.
Unaffiliated voters currently represent 45% of Colorado’s registered voters and, in just a few years, will surpass 50%, while Democrats will hover closer to 25% and the GOP likely be closer to 20%.
Find worthy media sites, organizations, and people engaging in meaningful reform. Join several organizations and actively engage. Find one that you think has the best chance of making a difference.
Look for volunteer leadership opportunities. Among dozens of organizations in Colorado, the American Enterprise Institute, the Bighorn Leadership Program, Leadership Program of the Rockies, Progress Now, Rank Choice Voting, and Unite Colorado are examples across the spectrum that are looking for volunteer leadership.
Find an elected official at any level and become their wingman, brainstorming ideas and events that they can and should be at in order to listen and lead more effectively. Your entire perspective of our system of governance will change by being close to a single candidate of your choosing. Serve on a local volunteer board in your city or county, and then consider running for office if your intentions are clear.
Voting is important, but engaged and active volunteer leaders from a larger group of citizens is essential for our experiment in self-government to continue and thrive.
John Brackney is a former elected official, Army Officer, lifelong Coloradan, and business leader. He hosts a weekly discussion on contemporary public policy with U.S. History Professor Stephen Tootle on Facebook live and posted on Youtube and Spotify. Contact him at JohnBrackney@msn.com.
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