EMQCRATEQ VQRK CQUNW PHONE: 812-1200 EMAIL: WEB: OFFICE ADDRESS: 3355 DUKE STREET YORK, PA 37401 August 24, 2015 Dear County Committee Member; An issue regarding the enforcement of one provision of the State Committee bylaws has resurfaced. The leadership of State Committee is now ta king a position that is 180 degrees from where they previousiy advised us. Here is the back story. Both the Rules of the Democratic Party of the Commonwealth of (?State Committee?) and the Bylaws of the Democratic Party of York County (DPOYC) contain provisions requiring the Chair and Vice Chair to be of Opposite gender (see below). My pending resignation as Chair of the DPOYC has triggered an election for a new Chair between the Party?s Reorganization Meetings where officers are elected. The Reorganization Meetings (known as "Quadrennial Conventions?) are held every four years following the Primary in which we nominate a candidate for governor (2010, 2014, 2018, etc). This raised the question as to whether or not the gender balancing rule would apply at this time and thereby prevent any females from running for Chair given that our current Vice Chair, Suzanne C. Gates, has nearly three years remaining on her term. A few weeks prior to the County Committee Meeting on July 21, 2015 telephoned Diane Bowman, the Executive Director of the State Committee, and asked this very question. After a conversation Director Bowman informed me that State Committee would not at this time enforce the gender balance rule for officers given the circumstances. We thought the matter was settled at that point and proceeded with the process to elect my successor allowing both men and women to run for this office. Furthermore, Director Bowman attended the County Committee Meeting on July 21, 2015. No further mention was made of this issue until yesterday when out of the blue I received an email from Director Bowman which stated: On Wed, Aug 12, 2015 at 1:10 PM, Diane Bowman wrote: Dear Chairman Kefauver, It has come to our attention that there is some confusion regarding the gender of your replacement. Your replacement must be a man. The State Party allocated at-Iarge members following the reorganization of the County committees and the election of the Chairs. In order to keep our required gender balance and so that additional elections for at-large members from the regional caucuses don't have to be done everytime there is a resignation, we need to keep the gender baiance consistent with the original at?large provisions. I would note that it is possible that we will be needing to rebaiance our gender mix very soon but the policy and Bylaws of our Party do not allow our Chairs and .Vice Chairs to be the same gender. QF YQRK CQUNW PHONE: (717) 812-1200 EMAIL: WEB: OFFICE 1335 DUKE STREET YORK, PA 174301 One exception though could be that upon the resignation of the Chair of a County, the County Rules say that the Vice Chair becomes the Chair, this would then be allowed. However, our Parliamentarian Lisa Felix has indicated that such a rule should be amended since it is may not consistent with the PA Democratic Party and DNC Rules and ByLaws. Please disseminate the information above on the matter of the gender of your replacement. Thank you. Let?s be perfectly clear on what the PA Democratic Party is requiring of the DPOYC: ?Your replacement must be a man.? Personally, I am strongly opposed to this requirement as a matter of principle given it disqualifies all women from running for Chair at this time. While taking no position with regard to specific candidates in the race to succeed me, the enforcement of this rule in an election to replace an officer who is stepping down mid?term seems unjust, unfair and undemocratic. We should elect the best candidate to the position of Chair based on their character and qualifications not merely their gender. have no idea why or how this matter came before the State Committee leadership again but guarantee that it was not brought up by myself since my initial conversation in lune with Director Bowman. Below is my emailed response to Director Bowman on the matter: On Wed, Aug 12, 2015 at 4:42 PM, Bob Kefauver wrote: Director Bowman, Today's notice of the Democratic Party's enforcement of the gender balance rule comes as quite a surprise as i thought the matter had been settled back in June. You may recall that prior to the Democratic Party of York County's Committee Meeting on July 21, 2015 we spoke on the phone about this very issue. At that time I asked if the gender balance rule applies to the mid-term election of a County Committee's Chair or Vice Chair to replace an officer who has stepped down, as is the case now. Your reply was that the PA Democratic Party would not enforce the gender balance rule in the case of the DPOYC electing someone to succeed me as County Chair. The DPOYC proceeded with the understanding that the gender balance rule would not apply . to this election/seating of a new DPOYC Chair. i PARTY QF SQUNW PHONE: (717)8124200 Wee: OFFICE 135 DUKE STREET YORK, PA 17401 Your replacement must be a man. It is clear a 180 degree reversal in the enforcement of this rule has occurred that the PA Democratic Party is requiring the Democratic Party of York County to elect a man to replace me. May I state for the record that limiting those who may run for County Committee Chair or Vice Chair mid-term seems very undemocratic to me (note the small Furthermore, I believe that it is NOT in the best interests of the Democratic Party to prevent one gender from running in a mid-term election based solely on the gender of the individual vacating the office. While I disagree whole-heartedly with this decision] i nterpretation of the bylaws the DPOYC will enforce the rule at this time as per the requirement stated in your email. A notice of this change in the enforcement of this rule will be sent to all DPOYC Committee members and candidates for the office of Chair, also per your instruction. I respectfully request the names and contact information of all current members of the PA Democratic Party's Bylaws Committee as I would like to open a dialogue on this issue of mid-term gender balancing with them. Thank you in advance. Conclusion: The DPOYC is left no option but to abide by the requirement set-forth by State Committee to enforce the gender balance rule as it applies to the election of a County Chair at this time. As stated by Director Bowman, my ?replacement must be a man.? One final item; if you have not done so already please call (717?812?1200) or email Democratic HQ (ini0@vorkdems.0rg) to let us know if you will be attending the County Committee Meeting on Tuesday September 8 or sending a proxy in your place. Your attendance or proxy is critical in order that we may elect a new Chair. Thank you. Sincerely, we Bob Kefauver Chairperson, Rule Ill, State Committee; Section 3(a) Officers of the PA Dems bylaws states: "At the organization meeting, the members of State Committee shall elect by majority vote a Chair and a Vice Chair, one of whom shall be a male and the other a - Article Officers; Section 1. Identity of the DPOYC bylaws states: ?The Party Officers shall consist of a Chairperson, a Vice Chairperson, one of whom shall be a male and the other a