Pasco County Democratic Party
The Pasco County Democratic Executive Committee (PDEC) is an entity of the Florida Democratic Party, and is the official governing body of the Democratic Party at the county level. The basic building blocks of membership to the PDEC are:
* "Elected" members who are elected to represent the Democrats in their voting precinct
(Precinct Committeewoman and Precinct Committeeman) and Precinct Captain who organize and provide outreach in their home precinct;
* "Automatic" members who are the Democrats elected to partisan office (such as County
Commissioners and Florida Legislators) who are Pasco County residents;
Each DEC elects a State Committeewoman and a State Committeeman to represent
the county on the State Executive Committee, which in turn elects DNC members to represent
Florida Democrats to the Democratic National Committee. In this way the Democratic Party's
county, state, and national governing Committees are representative of Democrats from
localities all over the country.
County DEC's exist on a 4 -year cyclical basis, with elections every Presidential Election year. In
December of Presidential Election years, the organization starts from scratch, with the Elected
and Automatic members (those who have, by virtue of having stood for election by the voters,
earned the right to represent Democrats in their precincts or districts) convening at the
"Organizational Meeting" to elect the leadership of the DEC (County Chair, Vice Chair,
Treasurer, Secretary, State Committeeman and State Committeewoman). This model,
established in Florida law and Florida Democratic Party (FDP) Charter and Bylaws, ensures
that the major political parties are responsive to the will of the voters.
The Pasco County DEC has opted for 2 year terms for the officers (excluding State
Committeewoman and State Committteeman who serve for 4 year terms per FDP
requirements). Thus these officers serve for two year terms, with elections in December of
even-numbered years:
* County Chair
* Vice Chair
* Treasurer
* Secretary
There are various standing committees in the PDEC that fulfill necessary administrative and
constituent liaison functions. Some committee chairs are also voting members of the PDEC Steering Committee, the executive leadership body of the Pasco DEC which sets the budget priorities
and acts for the PDEC in between general membership meetings. The Pasco DEC holds monthly
meetings of the Steering Committee