St. Charles County Republicans Prep for Saturday's Caucus

Missouri Republicans will participate in a caucus this weekend to determine which presidential candidate will get the state’s 52 delegates.

The process begins on Saturday for St. Charles County Republicans, who will gather at to choose delegates that will later represent the area at the congressional district-level convention in April. There, delegates are chosen to participate in the state GOP convention in June.

Bryan Spencer, member of the St. Charles County Republican Central Committee, said he’s tried to organize a fair event. He said he attended the 2008 caucus, which motivated him to get involved.

“I wanted everyone’s voice to be heard,” Spencer said.

If you’d like to be heard, plan to arrive early Spencer said. Doors to the high school open at 8 a.m. and the caucus starts promptly at 10 a.m.

“If they are in line (at 10 a.m.), they’ll be allowed in,” said Spencer. “If there’s no one in line, the doors shut at 10 a.m.”

To participate, you must be a registered voter who lives in St. Charles County. Members or candidates of other parties cannot participate in the caucus.

“But the Republican party is wanting to welcome new members, so if you are not a candidate or a party member or something else and you voted another way all your life and you wake up that morning and you are a registered voter, then you are allowed in,” he said.

The first major decision—and the one that sets the tone for the entire caucus—is electing a caucus chairman.

“The rules of the caucus are all made during the caucus,” he said. “So whoever is elected chairman will decide how the caucus will go.”

Spencer said the central committee has recommended the delegates be chosen proportionally to the vote each candidate receives. But a chairman could propose a slate of delegates who all support a particular candidate.

“If Daniel Boone gets a certain percentage, we would want him to get that percentage of the voters,” he said. “That’s what we’re hoping for, but the rules ... are determined by people at the caucus.”

In 2008, Ron Paul supporters turned out in large numbers to the St. Charles County caucus and gained control. Paul supporters offered suggestions for changes to the party's platform and the caucus lasted more than six hours.

This year, Spencer said he has crafted rules for the event to make it as fair as possible. He said he’s gotten complaints from everyone.

“All camps will say the other side has an advantage over them,” he said. “That tells me I’ve done a good job in being fair.”

Things to know:

• Arrive early. Doors open at 8 a.m. and will close promptly at 10 a.m.
• Pack a lunch. Participants won’t be allowed back in if they leave after 10 a.m. and the event could last several hours. Spencer said snacks may be for sale in the concession stand.
• Bring a photo ID. You'll have to show it to get in and each time you step out to go to the bathroom or take a phone call.
• No children allowed over the age of 3.