Party precinct meetings slated
BY RANDY KREHBIEL World Staff Writer
Sunday, February 03, 2013
2/04/13 at 9:57 AM
Correction: A Sunday Tulsa World story gave an incorrect title for Mike McCutchin. He is vice chairman of the Tulsa County Republican Party. This story has been corrected.
As difficult as it may be to comprehend, the first steps toward the 2014 elections occur Thursday, when Republican precinct caucuses begin across the state. Those caucuses - and the corresponding Democratic caucuses in March - determine, to a large extent, the direction the parties will take over the next two years.
The reason is simple. Only those involved at the precinct level can become delegates to county conventions.
Generally speaking, only those involved in county conventions can become delegates to the state convention. And the platforms and leadership of the state and local parties are determined at these meetings.
Tulsa County Republican precinct caucuses will be held Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Locations and contact information for caucus officers is available under the "files" tab at tulsaworld.com/tulsagop
Some caucuses will be held at large "central locations" with the capacity to host several meetings at once. Perhaps surprisingly, fully a third of Tulsa County's 262 precincts have no party officers at all. GOP Vice Chairman Mike McCutchin is particularly intent on finding Republicans to represent those precincts.
Precincts without officers are listed on the Tulsa GOP website along with the caucus locations.
"We are trying to sell the idea that you have to show up to be involved," said McCutchin.
McCutchin has prepared a "pre-convention booklet," available on the county party website, that explains the process in detail and provides other information about precinct caucuses and the county convention, which will be March 23 at the Jenks Performing Arts Center.
The state GOP convention is April 20 in Oklahoma City.
Democratic precinct caucuses begin March 14.
