Important Dates & Deadlines 

Deadline to Submit Nominations: Sunday, November 26th

Deadline to Submit Candidate Acknowledgements: Friday, December 1st

List of Nominees Announced: Saturday December 2nd in reminder email to members

Leadership Orientation: January 7th 1pm-4pm

 

Position Descriptions 

 

Constitutional Officers 

The Constitutional Officers (with the Regional Officers, Deputy Executive Director, and Executive Director) will steer the Organization in accordance with the Board of Delegates and transact business referred to it by the Board of Delegates and Board of Directors.

 

Chairperson

Term: January 2024 - December 2025 (2 years) 

Duties & Responsibilities:  The Chairperson is the leader of the entire PDNJ organization, ensuring PDNJ is working towards its goals and mission. The Chairperson serves as the chair at all Board of Delegates meetings, sits as an ex-officio member of all committees except where prohibited, presides at the annual meeting/convention, officiates new chapter building and charters, chairs the budget committee, serves as chair of the Executive Committee meetings, presides over impeachment, removal, and revocation hearings for the Organization, and perform all other duties devolving from the role.

Eligibility: Current PDNJ State Delegate or Constitutional Officer

 

Vice-Chairperson

Term: January 2024 - December 2025 (2 years) 

Duties & Responsibilities:  The Vice-Chairperson will perform the duties of the Chairperson in the absence of the Chairperson and assist the Chairperson in the execution of their duties. The Vice-Chairperson will also perform all other duties devolving from the role.

Eligibility: Current PDNJ State Delegate or Constitutional Officer

 

Treasurer

Term: January 2024 - December 2025 (2 years) 

Duties & Responsibilities:  The Treasurer of the Organization will keep, maintain, and verify a full account of the funds of the Organization by keeping a full and accurate account of the receipts and disbursements of the Organization. The Treasurer will also approve the disbursement of all Organization funds, coordinate with the General Counsel to facilitate filings of forms and other statutory requirements and serve on the budget committee.

Eligibility: Current PDNJ State Delegate or Constitutional Officer

 

Secretary 

Term: January 2024 - December 2025 (2 years) 

Duties & Responsibilities:  The Secretary of the Organization will keep an accurate record of meetings of the Board of Delegates and act as parliamentarian during those meetings. The Secretary will also maintain the Organization’s filing system of records, keep member residency status up to date, and coordinate with the General Counsel to keep a record of all legal documents and proceedings for the Organization.

Eligibility: Current PDNJ State Delegate or Constitutional Officer

 

Regional Officers 

Each region of the state of New Jersey will select, at the Annual Meeting, one member from each respective region to serve as the regional officers representing their interests. These Regional Officers will be responsible for coordinating activities between the chapters in their respective regions.

 

The Regional Officers include:  

• Northwest Regional Officer (Represents Hunterdon, Morris, Sussex, and Warren counties) 

• Northeast Regional Officer  (Represents Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Passaic, and Union counties.) 

• Central Regional Officer  (Represents Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean, and Somerset counties.) 

• South Regional Officer  (Represents Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, and Salem counties)

 

Term: January 2024 - December 2025 (2 years) 

Duties & Responsibilities:  

• promote the purpose and mission of the Organization and its chapters in the region;

• initiate action in matters of common interest within their region

• Represent the region and it’s interests at Executive Committee meetings

• recruit community members in the region in order to support or create chapters in the region;

• support regional chapter leaders and membership; and

• provide for conference, coordination, and cooperation among the membership of the regions.

Eligibility: 

• Must reside in the region which they seek to represent 

• Must be a PDNJ General member in good standing 

• No member may apply for candidacy to more than one regional office

 

Candidate Nominations 

 

Any current PDNJ member in good standing interested in running for a leadership position must submit the Candidate Nomination Form by Sunday, November 26th. 

 

We will be accepting nominations from the floor for these elections. We will ask for on the floor nominations during the elections proceedings. 

 

Eligibility Requirements 

For Constitutional Officers: 

• Must reside in the state of New Jersey

• Must be a PDNJ Member in good standing

• No member may apply for candidacy to more than one office

 

For Regional Officers: 

• Must reside in the region which they seek to represent 

• Must be a PDNJ Member in good standing 

• No member may apply for candidacy to more than one regional office

 

Prohibition on Campaigning 

The PDNJ Constitution & Bylaws strictly prohibits any candidates for Constitutional Officers and Regional Officers from engaging in any spending, or in any additional campaigning for their position, leading up to or during the annual meeting. 

 

Candidates who are found in violation of this clause will immediately be disqualified from running for office during this election.  

 

What is Campaigning? 

PDNJ defines campaigning as asking another to submit a nomination, whipping votes, electioneering, distributing digital or physical materials, engaging in any spending, forming or suggesting a “slate” of candidates, or directing proxies to engage in the aforementioned behavior. 

 

Candidate Acknowledgements 

All nominated candidates must acknowledge and confirm their candidacy and eligibility by submitting the Candidate Acknowledgement Form by Friday, December 1st. 

 

Failure to submit this form will prevent nominees from being listed among nominees leading up to this election. 

 

The PDNJ Elections Committee will notify any member who has been nominated and inform them that they must submit the acknowledgment form.

 

Candidate Q&A 

At the Annual Meeting, all candidates will be afforded three (3) minutes to speak on their candidacy and platform with a five-minute period for question and answer. 

 

Rules on Candidate Statements:

• Candidates will deliver statements and answer questions beginning with the highest office on the ballot and in alphabetical order for each position. 

• Each candidate will have up to three (3) minutes to deliver a statement outlining why they are running for a leadership position. 

• The time may be extended 30 seconds up to twice. 

• Candidates must refrain from addressing or making personal attacks on other candidates during their statements. 

• A member of the PDNJ Election Subcommittee will act as a timekeeper and be responsible for enforcing time limits. The timekeeper will have the authority to interrupt the candidate if they run over time. 

• Members are asked to refrain from applauding or in other ways demonstrating support or nonsupport for a candidate during their statement. 

 

Rules on Member Q&A:

• After each candidate statement, General Members may ask the candidates questions. 

• Candidates will have five (5) minutes to answer questions. 

• The time members take to ask their questions will not count against the candidate’s time. 

• A member of the PDNJ Election Subcommittee will act as a timekeeper and be responsible for enforcing time limits. The timekeeper will have the authority to interrupt the candidate if they run over time. 

• Members are asked to keep the focus of their questions limited to the following topics:

  • The candidates’ relevant background 

  • The candidates’ relevant skills and knowledge 

  • The candidates’ expressed vision for PDNJ 

  • Concerns members may have regarding the candidates

• Members are asked to refrain from applauding or in other ways demonstrating support or nonsupport for a candidate during the Q&A portion. 

 

Voting Process: How It Will Work

Constitutional Officers: 

• A vote by secret ballot will be conducted if more than one candidate is running for the same position. 

• A voice vote or acclimation may be conducted if only one candidate is running for the same position. 

• A majority is required to elect, except, if no candidate is elected after the second ballot, a plurality will elect on the third ballot. 

• The elected officer will take office on January 1st following their election, declaring their delegate position vacant.

 

Who Can Vote?: All PDNJ Members in good standing 

 

Regional Officers: 

• A vote by secret ballot will be conducted if more than one candidate is running for the same position. 

• A voice vote or acclimation may be conducted if only one candidate is running for the same position. 

• A majority is required to elect, except, if no candidate is elected after the second ballot, a plurality will elect on the third ballot. 

• The elected officer will take office on January 1st following their election, declaring their delegate position vacant.

 

Who Can Vote?: PDNJ General Members in good standing may vote for candidates running to represent the region of which they are a member. 

 

A member in good standing is defined as a member who is up to date on their dues payments and has continued to follow the Organization’s Bylaws and Code of Conduct. If you are unsure of your membership status please contact administrator@pdofnj.com.

 

Leadership Orientation 

All newly elected Constitutional and Regional Officers are required to attend a Leadership Orientation & Retreat on January 7, 2024. 

 

This orientation will provide new leaders an opportunity to become acquainted with the organization's structure and mission, have a clear understanding of the expectations of their role, and get to meet the rest of the new leadership team. 

 

The PDNJ Special Election Committee will provide all elected candidates with information to join the orientation. 

 

Resources 

PDNJ Constitution & Bylaws

PDNJ Code of Conduct

Candidate Nomination Form

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