From: Keith Downey [REDACTED]

Sent: Wednesday, May 28, 2014 9:17 AM

Subject: Moving forward and primaries

(To all CD officers and BPOU chairs)

Hi everyone,

First, thank you again for all your hard work on what has been a very
successful caucus and convention season at the BPOU and CD level!

We are excited about the state convention in Rochester, and I fully
expect we will emerge from our convention with great endorsed
candidates and a stronger party.

Leading up to the convention the topic of primary challenges comes up
frequently. Let me say that if it comes to a primary, I believe strong
endorsed candidates backed by a strong and unified party will do great
as they historically have. While obviously it is better if we avoided
primary battles and came out of the convention focused on our real
opponents, primaries are not to be feared. The biggest reason for that
is you.

Our party units, officers and delegates have demonstrated their
commitment repeatedly. I know each of you and your districts will work
hard for our endorsed candidates. And after a down period for
Republicans, the way to avoid primaries is to prove at the ballot box
that we are strong. It starts by rallying together at our convention!

There is also discussion about the proper response of party units and
officers to situations involving primary challengers. I want to be
clear that your vote is a matter of individual conscience, both at
conventions and in the voting booth. However, the job of party units
and their leadership is to assist endorsed candidates. In response to
some specific questions, here is a reminder:

1. Endorsed candidates will receive full access to Data Center for
their geography upon their endorsement, while un-endorsed candidates do
not. Their prior list agreement for delegate lists expires after the
endorsing convention.

2. Once an endorsement is granted, our endorsed candidates have access
to and are featured at subsequent conventions, party meetings, booths
at fairs, and other GOP events. Those who lost the endorsement or did
not seek it and afterward declare for the primary, do not. At the
state convention, primary challengers to endorsed BPOU and CD
candidates, and their campaign representatives, will not be granted
access unless in an individual capacity as a delegate and not
campaigning or identifying themselves as a candidate in any way.

3. Party leaders (officers, chairs, and executive committee members at
all levels) agree by virtue of accepting their position to support only
endorsed candidates. As a matter of mutual respect and for the
integrity of the party and all involved, if party leader chooses to
support a candidate running against the endorsed candidate in any
primary, they should first resign their party position unless that
party units constitution or bylaws provide otherwise. After the
primary, they can pursue regaining their former position in accordance
with the party unit's process.

And then after the primary, it is incumbent on all of us to put it
behind us, come together and fully support the partys general election
candidates to pursue the goal we all share victory in November!

Thanks again for everything you do!

Sincerely,
Keith