KPFT 90.1 Houston, TX-Pacifica Radio - electionss - Elections Information for Staff Candidates

Send your completed materials to elections@KPFT.org and/or mail to:
Bobby Muldoon
KPFT Elections Coordinator
419 Lovett Blvd
Houston, TX 77006.

Prospective candidates must notify the Elections Coordinator of their intent to file at the earliest possible point by calling 713 526 4000 ext. 305 or emailing elections@kpft.org. The Elections Coordinator will provide a nomination packet, and advise candidates of regional signature-gathering events during the nomination period.

To facilitate the gathering of petition signatures, note that you may submit a statement of up to 500 words immediately, which will be posted on the KPFT elections web site for listeners to browse, contact you with questions, or offer to sign your petition. This statement can later become your candidate statement if you run, or you may submit a revised statement for distribution with the ballots

The KPFT Elections Coordinator, Bobby Muldoon, can be reached at 713 526 4000 ext. 305 or by e-mail at elections@kpft.org

It is the responsibility of the candidate to ensure that all required documents and all required fields within the documents are submitted properly by September 25, 2004, the deadline for nominations for this elections. If you submit your documents early, and you have left out any required information, the Local Elections Coordinator MIGHT contact you and ask you to supply that information. If you submit your documents at the last minute and they are incomplete, you can be certain that you will not be contacted, but that your nomination petition will simply be rejected.

All correspondence relating to the 2004 KPFT elections should be directed to:
Bobby Muldoon,
KPFT elections Coordinator
419 Lovett Blvd
Houston TX 77006
713-526-4000 ext. 305
elections@kpft.org

KPFT LOCAL STATION BOARD ELECTIONS TIMELINE

OVERVIEW OF THE ELECTIONS OF THE KPFT STATION BOARD

One function of the board is to see that the needs of the station and the community are being met, from programming to budgets. A second function is to report on and represent the station to the Pacifica National Governing Board through appointed representatives.

To facilitate the gathering of petition signatures, note that you may submit a statement of up to 500 words immediately, which will be posted on the KPFT Elections web site for listeners to browse, contact you with questions, or offer to sign your petition. This statement can later become your candidate statement if you run, or you may submit a revised statement for distribution with the ballots.

We'll post candidate data on-line, and after the nomination process is complete, host on-air candidate forums. Qualified Voters will receive their ballots in the mail during the last half of October 2004. Completed ballots will be due by November 15, 2004. There are 9 listener seats and 3 staff seats being chosen during this elections. The entire Local Station Board consists of 18 listener delegates as well as 6 staff delegates who are elected by staff.

Pacifica's mission and principles require that we strive to achieve diversity on the Station Board, and voters are urged to consider that in casting their votes.

JOB DESCRIPTION OF A LOCAL STATION BOARD MEMBER

To set a model of accountability for the National Board;
To strengthen the legitimacy of the Local Station Board;
To bring diverse, grassroots voices from the community into the dialogue between the community and the station.

In addition, the Local Station Board has the following duties and responsibilities:

Acting as liaisons for the local community to the Station Management (Board and Staff) and the Pacifica Foundation.
Actively reaching out to under-represented communities to help the station serve a diversity of all races, creeds, colors and nations, classes, genders and sexual orientations, abilities, and ages. The Local Station Board is also directed to help build collaborative relations with organizations working for similar purposes.
Assisting the station in fundraising activities.
Conducting at least 2 Town Hall style meetings each year which are devoted to hearing listeners' views, needs, and concerns. Community needs assessments must be performed by the Local Station Board, or by a separate Community Advisory Committee formed by the Local Station Board for that purpose.
In conjunction with Station Management and Staff, ensuring that the radio station's programming fulfills the purposes of the mission of the Pacifica Foundation.
Review and approve of the radio station's budget. Quarterly reports by the local station board must be forwarded to the Pacifica Foundation board of directors on the station's budget, actual income and expenditures.
Screening and selecting a pool of candidates for the position of General Manager at each radio station. From this pool of candidates the Pacifica Foundation Executive Director will hire the station's General Manager.
Screening and selecting a pool of candidates for the position of Program Director at each radio station. From this pool of candidates the General Manager will hire the station's Program Director.
Writing annual evaluations on the job performances of the radio station's General Manager, Program Director and the Pacifica Foundation Executive Director.
The Local Station Board and the Pacifica Foundation Executive Director are responsible for hiring each station's General Managers. Both the Pacifica Foundation Executive Director and Local Station Board must reach a mutual decision to terminate a General Manager. If these 2 parties cannot agree the decision will be made by the Foundation's Board of Directors.
Each individual member of the Local Station Board is responsible for attending monthly meetings and to serve actively on at least 2 of the Local Station Board committees.

USEFUL LOCAL STATION BOARD SKILLS

Honesty, Integrity and commitment to the Pacifica Mission.
The ability to inquire and investigate areas of concern pertaining to KPFT and the Pacifica Foundation.
The ability to work in a collaborative process.
The ability to listen to others and take their concerns seriously.
The ability to withstand a barrage of input, often criticism, from the community without becoming defensive or overwhelmed.
The ability to make difficult decisions that may be perceived as controversial and unpopular, and the ability to withstand public pressure, which is often in the nature of the job.
The capacity to stand up to tremendous opposition.
A sense of humor.
The ability to resist the temptation to abuse power.
The ability to compromise.
The ability to do the work required of the specific position.
Working knowledge or willingness to learn Roberts Rules of Order and parliamentary procedure.
Comfort in using the Internet and e-mail.

THE ELECTION METHOD OF THE KPFT STATION BOARD

According to the bylaws, this election will use the CHOICE VOTING form of proportional representation (also call “Single Transferable Vote” or simply “STV”). Proportional representation refers to voting systems in which groups of voters win representation in proportion to their numbers. For example, 10% of the voters will elect approximately 10% of the seats, 20% of voters will elect 20% of the seats and so forth. The majority wins a majority but not all of the seats, while minority viewpoints also win their fair share of the seats. The CHOICE VOTING form of proportional representation is a system in which voters rank candidates in order of choice. The method of tallying votes is designed to facilitate each voter having someone elected to the board that is acceptable to her/him. CHOICE VOTING tends to prevent monolithic “slates” of candidates from monopolizing a board. In this way, CHOICE VOTING promotes diversity and democracy. This is different from winner-take-all electionss where the majority has the potential to elect every single seat on the board, leaving minority viewpoints un-represented.

HOW IT WORKS

If there are 12 candidates for three positions, then every ballot will ask members to RANK the 12 candidates in order of preference, from 1 to 12.

Since there are three spaces to be filled, it will take a little more than 25% of the vote for a candidate to reach the proportional threshold necessary to win elections. This is because, if three candidates each got 25.01% of the vote, this would add up to 75.03% of the vote. It would then be impossible for a fourth candidate to have more votes than those top three, since there is only 24.97% of the vote remaining.

In the first round of voting, the first-place candidate on each ballot receives one vote. Any candidate that has achieved the threshold percentage is declared a winner.

At this point, second-place votes begin to count. First, candidates that had more votes than they needed (say, 13%), have portions of their vote redistributed to the second choice candidates of the individuals who placed them first on their ballots. Second, low vote-getting candidates, who are below the point where it would be possible for them to achieve the threshold also have their votes distributed to the individuals who were ranked second on their ballots.

Through a series of rounds of redistributing votes this way, eventually a full Board of three individuals achieves the threshold, and are declared elected.

Important advice for voters:

There is no reason to vote strategically. Because your first choice vote counts entirely for your preference as long as s/he needs the vote to be elected, it never hurts your candidate to rank others below her/him.
Rank as many candidates as you have opinions about. Because your ballot continues to shape the results for as long as it takes to fill a complete Board, it is always a good idea to rank many candidates. Ranking additional candidates ensures that your vote will be maximized, and no part of your vote will be wasted.
The best strategy for a voter is to rank every candidate in order or as many candidates as you have an opinion about.

VOTE QUORUM REQUIRED

To make this elections valid, the bylaws require at least 25% of the eligible voters to actually vote. The on-air staff will encourage listeners to run for office and to cast their ballots, but must refrain from endorsing candidates on-air.

PACIFICA'S MISSION STATEMENT

To establish a Foundation organized and operated exclusively for educational purposes, no part of the net earnings of which inures to the benefit of any member of the Foundation.
To establish and operate for educational purposes, in such a manner that the facilities involved shall be as nearly self-sustaining as possible, one or more radio broadcasting stations licensed by the Federal Communications Commission and subject in their operation to the regulatory actions of the Commission under the Communications Act of 1934, As Amended.
In radio broadcasting operations to encourage and provide outlets for the creative skills and energies of the community; to conduct classes and workshops in the writing and producing of drama; to establish awards and scholarships for creative writing; to offer performance facilities to amateur instrumentalists, choral groups, orchestral groups and music students; and to promote and aid other creative activities which will serve the cultural welfare of the community.
In radio broadcasting operations to engage in any activity that shall contribute to a lasting understanding between nations and between the individual of all nations, races, creeds and colors; to gather and disseminate information on the causes of conflict between any and all such groups; and through any and all means compatible with the purposes of this corporation to promote the study of political and economic problems and of the causes of religious, philosophical and racial antagonisms.
In radio broadcasting operations to promote the full distribution of public information; to obtain access to sources of news not commonly brought together in the same medium; and to employ such varied sources in the public presentation of accurate, objective, comprehensive news on all matters vitally affecting the community.

KPFT CANDIDATE STATEMENT

Each candidate is entitled to have a statement of 500 words or less, made available to every voter with their ballot. You are required to submit a candidate statement in order to be placed on the ballot. Candidates who do not submit a statement will be disqualified. We will also post your statement on the station's elections web page. (Note that your statement can be posted before you are officially nominated to facilitate listeners' ability to find candidates whose petitions they want to sign.)

In drafting your statement, you must begin with your name, try to include your main theme or qualification you want to stress in your opening paragraph, as this is all many voters may read. As part of your 500 word maximum, at the end of your statement you may also list the names of up to 5 of your nominators if you wish.

You may submit your statement immediately to facilitate gathering nominating signatures, but your final candidate statement, to be included in the ballot mailing, must be received by the elections Coordinator no later that September 25, 2004. If possible an electronic version should be submitted to avoid the need to retype it (with the potential typos).

KPFT CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE

Candidates must answer the following questions and submit along with their final statement. Please keep your answers as brief as possible. If possible an electronic version should be submitted to avoid the need to retype it.

Why do you want to be on the Local Station Board?
How do you envision the Local Station Board working with the Pacifica Foundation, KPFT and the community?
How could the station better serve it's listeners?
Describe some actions you would take to increase the influence of the station in underrepresented communities and to increase the diversity of the listening audience?
What sources of funding, other than listener donations, do you feel KPFT should solicit?
Please state briefly the skills, experience, educational background, work history, organizational affiliations, areas of community service, areas of interest and expertise that you would bring to the Pacifica network as a member of the Local Station Board.
Do you anticipate missing any Local Station Board meetings due to family or job related problems or inadequate transportation?
On which Local Station Board committees* are you interested in actively serving? If you are a current Local Station Board member, on which committees do you currently serve?

*Please see http://www.kpft.org/lab_meetingschedule.php a for complete list of Local Station Board committees.

KPFT 2004 FAIR CAMPAIGN PROVISIONS

The bylaws require every candidate and staff member (paid and unpaid) to sign this statement that they have read and understand these fair campaign provisions. Candidates must submit signed statements to the Elections Coordinator no later than September 25, 2004.

No Foundation or radio station management or staff (paid or unpaid) may use or permit the use of radio station air time to endorse, campaign or recommend in favor of, or against any candidates for elections as a Listener-Sponsor Delegate, nor may air time be made available to some Listener-Sponsor Delegate candidates but not to others.
All candidates for elections as a Listener-Sponsor Delegate shall be given equal opportunity for equal air time, which air time shall include time for a statement by the candidate and a question and answer period with call in listeners.
No foundation or radio station management or staff (paid or unpaid) may give any on-air endorsements to any candidates for Listener-Sponsor Delegate.
The Board of Directors may not, nor may neither LSB nor any committee of the Board or of an LSB, as a body, endorse any candidates for elections as a Delegate. However, an individual Director or Delegate who is a Member in good standing may endorse or nominate candidates in his/her individual capacity.
In the event of any violation of these provisions for fair campaigning, the Local electionss Coordinator and the National electionss Coordinator shall determine, in good faith and at their sole discretion, an appropriate remedy, up to and including disqualification of the candidates and/or suspension from the air of the offending staff persons (paid or unpaid) for the remainder of the electionss period.
All candidate, programmers and staff members (paid or unpaid) shall sign a statement certifying that they have read and understood these fair campaign provisions.

In addition to the foregoing provisions, in order to certify a fair elections the National electionss Coordinator has adopted the following rules:
Website endorsements: All programmers that maintain a website with KPFT logos and/or references to their own KPFT programming are subject to, and shall be bound by these rules:
1. Programmer Website candidate endorsements are not permitted. Any programmer Website reference to a specific candidate is not permitted, either explicitly or via hyperlink to another web page. This directive includes all programmer Websites linked through www.KPFT.org
2. Endorsement emails (web-based & list serve) are permitted.
3. Email endorsements shall be fact based and contain no personal attacks
Station Resources: No station resources, including, but not limited to staff services, equipment, and meeting space may be provided unequally to some candidates but not others.
When Fair Campaign Provisions Begin: A listener member will be deemed a candidate, and thus subject to the fair campaign provisions, once the individual has requested a nomination packet from the Local Elections Coordinator. The Local Elections Coordinator will provide to the General Manager, and post on the electionss web site, a list of all Listener-Sponsor Delegate Candidates. Staff will be expected to check this list before scheduling any guests, or participating in a call-in show, etc. in order to assure compliance with the fair campaign provisions.
Prospective candidates: Pacifica and station staff and management are prohibited from making endorsements on the air, or on any Pacifica or station-identified web site, or at any other Pacifica controlled venue or facility, of either prospective candidates before the nomination deadline, or actual candidates after the nominations are closed.
Listener-organized meeting announcements: Any listeners may organize community meetings to bring together listeners and prospective candidates for the purpose of learning about prospective candidates and collecting petition signatures. Any such events may be announced on-air provided they have been approved by the Local Elections Coordinator, are open to any listener, are in a handicap-accessible location, do not endorse any candidates, and do not raise money for any candidates, or promote events to raise money for any candidates.

“I have read & understand the above KPFT fair campaign provisions.”

X___________________________________________

Date __________________________

Printed name:__________________________________

____Candidate ____ Paid Staff ____ Unpaid Staff

PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT THESE 2004 FAIR CAMPAIGN PROVISIONS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE PER THE NATIONAL Elections Coordinator

LOCAL STATION BOARD DELEGATE NOMINATION PETITION - STAFF

The signers of this nomination petition, as well as the candidate, must be qualified staff members as either

· PAID STAFF: non-management full-time or part-time paid employees of a Foundation radio station; or
· MEMBER OF AN UNPAID STAFF ORGANIZATION: any member of a Foundation radio station “Unpaid Staff Organization” or “Unpaid Staff Collective Bargaining Unit” which has been recognized by station management; or
· UNPAID STAFF: if the station has neither such organization or bargaining unit, then any volunteer or unpaid staff member of a Foundation radio station who has worked for said radio station at least 30 hours in the preceding 3 months, exclusive of fundraising marathon telephone room volunteer time, under the supervision of the Foundation radio station management and not including volunteer work on committees of a Local Station Board.

The information indicated below is required so that the electionss Coordinator may verify qualified nominators. Completed petitions with a minimum of 5 valid signatures must be received by the elections Coordinator no later than September 25, 2004

All correspondence relating to the 2004 KPFT electionss should be directed to:
Bobby Muldoon,
KPFT electionss Coordinator
419 Lovett Blvd
Houston TX 77006
713-526-4000 ext. 305
elections@kpft.org

KPFT 90.1 FM RADIO LOCAL STATION BOARD elections FOR STAFF MEMBERS CANDIDATE INFORMATION - AUTUMN 2004