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Local activists preparing for upcoming caucuses
Published 7:27am Friday, January 29, 2010While the state’s general elections may be months away, voters on both sides of the aisle are officially kicking off the political season Tuesday when they gather throughout the county for political caucuses.
“This is what you’d say is the first step in the political process,” said Brent E. Frazier, chair of the Republican Party of Otter Tail County.
Both the Democratic Party and the Republican Party will meet at locations throughout the county to begin preparations for the November 2 elections.
“The general idea is to get people together at the grassroots level and come up with ideas of who people want to support,” said Manley Nichols, chair of the Otter Tail County DFL Party.
In terms of who each party picks for governors, voters will have a chance to voice opinions through straw polls held at all caucuses throughout the county.
“It helps somewhat determine who the democratic candidate would be,” Nichols said.
Other positions, including precinct officers and party delegates are hashed out during caucuses.
The policies and issues each party chooses to stand behind are also taken into consideration at caucuses.
“It’s an opportunity to pass resolutions to help form the party platform,” Frazier said. “This is the opportunity for people to come forward and make those suggestions, from caucus levels, and carry them onto the state level.”
Both the Republican and Democratic Parties are expecting the turnout of hundreds throughout the county Tuesday.
Turnout this year for the Republican Party is expected to be good, with many more conservatives this year getting involved with the political process.
Both parties are encouraging interested residents to attend, especially those who have never attended a political caucus.
Republican Party Caucuses begin 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 2
Precinct Caucus Locations for Republican Party of Otter Tail County:
Battle Lake
Lakes Area Community Center
Fergus Falls
Cleveland Elementary School
Henning
Henning Community Center
New York Mills
New York Mills High School (Media Center)
Parkers Prairie
Pending
Perham
Perham High School Library
Pelican Rapids
Senior Center
Democratic Party caucuses will begin at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 2
Otter Tail County DFL Precinct Caucus locations:
Pelican Rapids
Public Library
Fergus Falls
Senior High School Cafeteria
Battle Lake
Senior Citizen Center
Perham
Middle School media center
New York Mills
County Government Office
Henning
Henning High School
Parkers Prairie
Parkers Prairie High School
