District Convention 2008

Mark your calendar!

8th District GOP Convention Date: Saturday, May 17, 2008 Registration: 8-10 am Convention begins: 10 am Location: Thomas Jefferson Middle School 125 S. Old Glebe Rd., Arlington (just south of Rte. 50 - see map)

More information

• Official convention call, including rules for filing by candidates and the agenda at the convention. (MS Word document, ~50 kb.)

The Eighth Congressional District Republican Convention for 2008 is scheduled for Saturday morning, May 17, at Thomas Jefferson Middle School in Arlington.

The District Convention will elect the following offices:

• the District Chairman (for 2008-10)
• 3 members of the State Central Committee (for 2008-12)
• 3 delegates and 3 alternate delegates to the National Convention
• 1 Presidential elector

See list of candidates for those offices.

The convention will also feature guest speakers (to be announced), including Republican candidates for Congress in the 8th. (If more than one candidate files for Congress, the GOP nominee will be selected in a party primary on Tue., June 10.) The convention also provides an excellent opportunity for Republicans from across the 8th District to meet one another.

BACKGROUND:
The District Convention is part of the biennial reorganization of local GOP organizations around Virginia. Every two years, Republicans in each city and county elect a new local committee and party chairman. They also select delegates to a Convention for that Congressional District, which elects a District GOP Chairman. During Presidential election years, the District Convention also elects other party officers and delegates to the Republican National Convention.

Convention delegates:
Any registered voter in the 8th District, who is in accord with the principles of the Republican party, may file to become a delegate to the District Convention, a delegate to the State Convention, or both, as well as a member of the local unit committee. There are many delegate and committee positions available for each locality.

Filing: To attend either convention as a voting delegate, or to join a local Committee, you must sign up through your local Republican Committee by the local filing deadline. Each unit committee will adopt a filing schedule by January 2008. Filing forms are available from the local committees (follow links below). There is a $25 filing fee, which helps to cover the costs of the District Convention. The fee is mandatory for those wishing to vote for District Chairman and State Central Committee members; it is voluntary for those wishing to vote only for Delegate/Alternate Delegate to the National Convention and Presidential elector. Some units may also request a small processing fee for convention delegates, to help cover their costs.

Filing deadlines, fees, slots and selection for 8th District Convention delegates
Unit	Filing deadline	Filing fee 1/	Delegate votes 2/	Selection process
Alexandria City (more info)	Thu., Feb. 14 (postmark)	$25 (+ $10 local)	58 votes [290 delegates]	Canvass 3/ Sat., Feb. 23
Arlington County (more info)	Tue., Feb. 27 5 pm	$25 (+ $25 local)	87 votes [435 delegates]	Canvass 3/ Sat., Mar. 29
Fairfax County (filing form)	Sat., Mar. 29 12 noon	$25	154 votes [770 delegates]	District canvasses 3/ Sat., Apr. 5
Falls Church City (more info)	Fri., Feb. 8 4/ 5 pm	$25	6 votes [30 delegates]	Mass meeting Sat., Feb. 9
TOTAL			305 votes [1525 delegates]
1/ - Filing fee is mandatory, unless the delegate wishes to vote only for National Convention delegate/alternate and Presidential elector. This fee goes to the District Committee for Convention costs. 2/ - Each unit may send up to 5 delegates per vote. 3/ - Held only if number filing exceeds spots available. 4/ - Or at the mass meeting on Sat., Feb. 9, by 12:45 pm.

NOTE: In the unlikely event that the number of persons filing in any unit exceeds the number of delegate slots, the local committee will hold a party canvass or mass meeting to determine who will fill those positions.

Convention candidates:
Prospective candidates for any office to be elected at the 8th District Repbulican Convention must file a written statement with the District Committee, along with the appropriate filing fee, by Monday, Feb. 4, 2008, at 5 pm. All filings must be received by that time (postmarks do not count).

Filing fees are $1000 for District Chairman; $500 for member of the State Central Committee; $500 for delegate to the National Convention; $500 for alternate delegate to the National Convention; and $2500 for Presidential elector. Filings must be mailed or delivered to: 8th District Republican Chairman, c/o 228 S. Washington St., #115, Alexandria, VA 22314.

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More convention items:

• Past conventions: The 8th District Convention in May 2006 elected the District Chairman. (See more on the 2006 convention). The 8th District Convention in May 2004 elected a District Chairman, members of the State Central Committee, delegates to the National Convention, and a Presidential elector, and also nominated a canddiate for Congress. (Read more about the 2004 convention.)
• Other districts: Republican Conventions will be held in each of Virginia's 11 Congressional Districts this May. Each will elect a District Chairman, members of the State Central Committee, and delegates/alternates to the national convention.
• State convention: The Virginia Republican State Convention will be held May 30-31 in Richmond. That convention will nominate a U.S. Senate candidate, and elect party officers (state chairman, national committeeman and committeewoman). Read more about the State Convention.
• National convention: The GOP National Convention will be held Sep. 1-4 in Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN. That convention will nominate the Republican candidates for President and Vice President. Read more about the GOP National Convention.