Why are the Democrats having a caucus?

Some reasons for changing the New Mexico presidential primary to a party caucus are well understood. Some are not. Will the risks in making the shift to a caucus be balanced by better electoral participation?

A panel of lawyers and political thinkers will critique the shift to a caucus at a free symposium sponsored by the National Lawyers Guild of New Mexico, the UNM School of Law chapter of the National Lawyers Guild, the ACLU of New Mexico, the New Mexico Women’s Bar, and the Committee for the Delivery of Legal Services to People with Disabilities.

The panel discussion is set for Wednesday, January 21, 2004, at 7:00 PM at the UNM School of Law, Room 2402, 1117 Stanford NE.

Among the panelists for “Why a Caucus?” are Bernalillo County Democratic Party attorney Mel O’Reilly, former New Mexico Speaker of the House, Raymond Sanchez, Courtney Hunter, Democratic Party caucus director, Sam Bregman, Vice chair of the Democratic Party, UNM Law School Professor Rob Schwartz, and political consultant Eli Lee. The six will explore both the dangers and promise of the switch to the caucus system.

The purpose of the symposium is to increase participatory democracy. For more information, contact Cindy Marrs at 262-1867.