Black Hawk County Democrats
Chair & Vice Chair Elections on May 17, 2026
WHEN
5:00 Doors Open
6:00 Call to Order & Election
Central Committee Meeting
WHERE
BHCD Office
307 E. 4th St.
Waterloo, IA 50704
CHAIR
The Black Hawk County Democratic Chairperson shall be the principal spokesperson for the Democrats of Black Hawk County. This person shall preside over all Conventions of the County Democratic Party, shall preside over meetings of the Central Committee, appoint the Chairperson and members of standing committees with the approval of the Central Committee, shall appoint members of those special committees deemed necessary for the effective development of the County Party, shall engage or discharge personnel compensated by the Central Committee, shall present to the Central Committee for approval any matter deemed necessary for the effective operation of the County Party, and shall perform other duties designated by the Central Committee.
VICE CHAIR
The Black Hawk County Democratic Vice-Chairperson shall assume the duties of the Chairperson upon the temporary absence of the Chairperson. This person shall assume all duties of the Chairperson in the event the Chairperson is unwilling or unable to serve until another Chairperson can be elected, shall maintain and expand up-to-date file of volunteers, shall coordinate the activities of affiliated organizations with those of the Central Committee, and shall perform other duties designated by the Chairperson.
1. TIME AND PLACE FOR ELECTION: The election shall take place at 6 p.m. on Sunday, May 17, 2026, at the Black Hawk County Democratic Party office at 307 East Fourth Street, Waterloo 50703.
2. PERSONS ELIGIBLE TO VOTE IN ELECTION: Persons who are current Precinct Committee Members at the date of the meeting shall be eligible to vote. Persons who are now alternates may vote if the Precinct Committee Member from their precinct is not present to vote.
3. CREDENTIALING OF VOTERS: Precinct Committee members who are eligible to vote may check in starting at 5 p.m. on May 17. Only those PCMs or alternates who are in the office as of 6:00 will be allowed to vote. An alphabetical list of the fifty-three Precinct Committee Members and seven alternates will be used for this process. All persons credentialed as voters will be seated in a separate section of the meeting room and given credentials identifying them as voters. Each voter will receive ballots identifying such voter at the time they are credentialed.
4. CONDUCTING OF ELECTION: The election will be called to order by Acting Central Committee Chair Jerry Hageman. E.J. Gallagher as Rules Committee Chair will preside over the election. Central Committee Secretary Leandra Sunseri will serve as Secretary for the election. A Timekeeper will also be appointed and will use marked signs indicating time left for speaking and when a speaker’s time has expired.
5. NOMINATIONS: A person nominated must be registered as a Democrat voter in Black Hawk County at the time of the election. A qualified person may self-nominate for the office being elected. Persons self-nominating will need a seconder. Nomination of a candidate by others shall include a nomination and a seconder. After a person is nominated (except for self-nominations), such person will be asked whether they accept the nomination. If only one person has been nominated the election chair shall ask three times if there are any further nominations to be made. If only one person is nominated, a request to have the voters cast a unanimous ballot for such person may be made.
6. SPEECHES: A nominator may speak up to one minute on behalf of the person he or she nominated. A seconder may also speak up to one minute on behalf of the person she or he seconded. Each candidate shall speak for up to two minutes in support of her or his election. Speeches may be followed by four questions to be answered by each candidate in a one-minute answer for each question. Such questions can be submitted from the voters to the election chair and will be screened to eliminate duplication. Questions submitted shall be kept as part of the record of the election.
7. VOTING: Each voter shall submit a ballot with the name of the candidate selected written on the ballot along with the signature of the voter. A voter shall submit only his or her ballot and no proxy voting is allowed. Ballots shall be collected and counted by the Rules committee with at least two persons involved in the counting. Each candidate may observe the counting if they wish provided that all candidates choose to do so. The Rules Committee Chair shall announce the results and decide whether a candidate has been elected or if additional voting for the office needs to take place.
8. ADDITIONAL ROUNDS OF VOTING: If no person receives a majority of the votes a second vote will be taken between the two candidates with the highest number of votes. If two persons receive the same number of votes for second place the voters shall vote again and the two candidates placing first and second will be subject to another round of voting. All results of rounds of voting shall be announced to the voters after they are completed.
9. TERM OF OFFICE: Candidates elected to the offices of Chair and Vice Chair shall complete the terms of the prior holders of each office and shall serve until the election of new officers at the first meeting of the Central Committee following the 2027 odd-year caucus.
10. ORDER OF ELECTION BETWEEN OFFICES TO BE SELECTED: The office of County Chair shall be filled first. All election rules apply to both offices in this election. A person who is nominated for County Chair not selected for that position may be nominated for and elected as Vice Chair.
Please direct questions to: info@blackhawkdemocrats.com or call Acting Chair, Jerry Hageman at 319-404-3369.
Description of Duties
RULES FOR ELECTION OF COUNTY CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR
BY CENTRAL COMMITTEE