MAPE PAC -- Endorsement Policy

Statewide

MAPE PAC Board of Directors (the PAC Board) will make all arrangements to screen candidates for statewide office. Statewide candidates eligible for endorsement are Governor/Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, State Auditor, and Secretary of State.

Upon request, the PAC Board may endorse an incumbent candidate who was previously endorsed for statewide office. The PAC Board may endorse again without screening or may request the candidate be rescreened.

Candidates for an open statewide office must request endorsement from the PAC. The PAC Board may arrange a screening open to all candidates for that office. Screenings will be used to determine which candidate best supports issues important to state employees, working families and organized labor.

Screenings for statewide candidates may include invitation to all MAPE PAC members and facilitated by PAC Board members. If additional discussion is needed to aid the MAPE PAC  Board come to a decision on a statewide candidate endorsement, the PAC Board may call an additional session with MAPE leaders (Board of Directors, Standing Committees, Local Presidents, Statewide Councils, etc.) for input.

An endorsement, no endorsement, or deferred endorsement for statewide offices may only be given by a majority vote of a quorum of the PAC Board.

The PAC Board may decide, in addition to endorsement, to financially support statewide candidates per electoral cycle for that office. In addition, the MAPE PAC may contribute volunteer hours, PAC member lists etc. subject to any and all applicable campaign finance laws and regulations.

Legislative

The PAC Board will arrange to screen candidates for the Minnesota State Senate and Minnesota House of Representatives.

Candidates (non-incumbent or incumbent) must request endorsement from the PAC. The PAC Board may then arrange a screening of a candidate to determine if that candidate supports issues important to state employees, working families, and organized labor.

An endorsement is given by a majority vote of a quorum of the PAC Board.

The PAC Board may decide not to endorse or to defer an endorsement in a state senate or state house race.

Using legislative vote scores on MAPE issues, an exception to screening of incumbent legislative candidates may be given. Incumbent office holders reaching a vote threshold of pro-MAPE votes on legislative issues as selected by the PAC Board may receive expedited endorsement. 

Votes during the past legislative session and “lifetime” vote scores will be utilized. This threshold for expedited endorsement will be established by the PAC Board.

The PAC Board will hold an official vote to approve the expedited endorsements for each electoral cycle.

Prior to the final vote of the PAC Board for expedited endorsement, any member of the PAC Board may request to review an individual expedited endorsement. Upon a majority vote of the PAC Board, the endorsement in question will be reviewed, and the PAC Board member who made the motion will provide their reasoning for denial of expedited endorsement. The expedited endorsement may not be given, as outlined above, and a candidate may be required to screen with the PAC Board. 

The PAC Board may decide, in addition to endorsement, to financially support legislative candidates per electoral cycle for that office. In addition, the MAPE PAC may contribute volunteer hours, PAC member lists etc. subject to any and all applicable campaign finance laws and regulations.

Candidates for Local Office

The MAPE PAC takes interest in local offices. As public servants in our communities,

MAPE members encourage and support MAPE members to run for elected office. This level of political involvement helps ensure that those elected to local office understand community needs and priorities, state agency needs, good labor practices, appreciate the value of public service investment, and promote the public good across Minnesota. This builds power in MAPE through consistent years of professional excellence required to implement effective policies and administration of public programs.

Local offices definition: May include county board, city council, school board, park board, other county or municipality-elected positions.

The PAC Board may arrange to screen candidates for local office based on request by the candidate. Criteria for local screenings are:

1. Current MAPE members in good standing or
2. Previous MAPE members no longer in MAPE represented positions, who were in good standing during their membership

A candidate must request endorsement from the PAC. The PAC Board will then arrange a screening of a candidate to determine if that candidate supports issues important to state employees, working families, and organized labor.

An endorsement is given by a majority vote of a quorum of the PAC Board.

The PAC Board may decide not to endorse or to defer an endorsement for a local office.

The PAC Board may decide, in addition to endorsement, to financially support local candidates up to $100 per electoral cycle for that office. In addition, the MAPE PAC may contribute volunteer hours, PAC member lists etc. subject to any and all applicable campaign finance laws and regulations.

Screening of Candidates

The PAC Board may screen candidates seeking endorsement, with the exception noted under the Legislative section of this policy.

Endorsement of candidates prior to a primary is at the discretion of the PAC Board.

The PAC Board may designate an individual member or members of the PAC Board to screen candidates. These PAC board members will make a recommendation on endorsement to the PAC Board. The PAC Board shall take this recommendation under advisement when making an endorsement decision.

All endorsements must be made by the PAC Board.

To ensure a fair and open endorsement process, the PAC Board will make a good faith attempt to notify interested candidates for an office that screenings of candidates for that office will occur.

Revocation of Endorsement

An endorsement given by the PAC Board may be revoked by a majority vote of a quorum of the PAC Board for just cause. Just cause shall be determined by the PAC Board.

MAPE PAC Member Engagement

The PAC Board may, in addition to the screening process, also designate other MAPE members or former MAPE members to assist in screening candidates. These MAPE designees will provide input and/or make a recommendation on endorsement to the PAC Board. For instance, the PAC Board may organize forums in targeted districts by engaging PAC members in that legislative area. A PAC Board member should facilitate these events, while the PAC members in the legislative area participate and provide input and/or recommendations to the PAC Board.

The PAC Board shall take recommendations from the aforementioned forums under advisement when making an endorsement decision.