County Committee
Meet your Ottawa County Democratic Party Committee Members
Compulsory Committee Members
Hillary Scholten*
Joseph Alfonso
Jerry Hilliard*
David LaGrand*
Kim Nagy
Christine Baker
Sharon McConnon
Larry Jackson
Todd Avery
Mark Ludwig*
Douglas Zylstra
Douglas VanBennekom
Joseph Spaulding
Danielle Smith
Mark Bignell*
*Candidates that live outside Ottawa, but whose district race included part of Ottawa
In addition to these compulsory committee members, 30 members are elected at large.
OCDP Officer Job Descriptions
Chair: Responsibilities include calling meetings, setting agenda and presiding over meetings employing Robert’s Rules, recruiting members and candidates for all positions, fundraise and guide financial decisions. Support campaigns in all ways possible including assistance with finding campaign volunteers/staff. Answer correspondence from constituents. County responsibilities include selecting Democrats serving on the County Board of Canvassers, decide on number of precinct delegates for each precinct in the county and submit to County Clerk, find poll workers. All county Chairs are on the Second Congressional executive board, and as such participate in monthly meetings of 4CD (2 hours on a Saturday, meetings held in each county of the 4CD), assist with fundraising for 4CD. State party responsibilities include monthly Chairs’ call with MDP staff, attend state conventions and count votes for your county (proportional voting), update MDP website calendar with our county information, run the conventions required by the state party (county conventions electing members of state committees and submitting resolutions, conventions for electing officers). Write letters to editor/guest columns in local newspapers expressing our views and concerns. The Chair is a member of every committee and is responsible to oversee committee activities and assist where possible/needed. Weekly hours engaged: 5-20 depending on where we are in the cycle. Plan on 10 hours a week minimum.
First Vice Chair: Assist the Chair with all duties. Preside over meetings Chair is unable to attend. Chair a Committee, assist with fundraising and member development. First Vice Chair MUST be opposite gender of the Chair. 5-15 hours a week.
Second Vice Chair: Assist the Chair and Vice Chair with all duties. Chair a committee. Currently, Second Vice is Chair of Communications. 5-15 hours a week.
Secretary: Take minutes of all meetings, respond to correspondence. Oversee vote counting at meetings. 2-4 hours per week.
Treasurer: Manage all finances including member fees and donations. Chair the Finance committee. File financials with the state quarterly, manage checking account and make payments. 5-20 hours per week, averaging 8 hours a week.
Non-Elected Positions
Communications Committee Chair, Co-Chair, communications@ottawadems.com
Membership Committee Chair, Co-Chair, membership@ottawadems.com
Finance Committee Co-Chair, fundraising@ottawadems.com
Fundraising Chair, Co-Chair, fundraising@ottawadems.com
Public Events Chair (Festivals, Parades, Celebrations), events@ottawadems.com
Recruitment Chair/Co-Chair, runforoffice@ottawadems.com
Political Organizing Chair, Co-Chair, poliorg@ottawadems.com