Do You Love Policy? We Have a Role for You.
Multnomah County Democrats | Volunteer leadership opportunity
The MultDems are looking for a new Chair for the Platform, Resolutions and Legislation Committee (PRLC). This is the committee where Democrats who want to mobilize to have an impact on policy come together to shape our platform and legislative advocacy. We’re also collecting expressions of interest in the Platform Convention Chair role. If you care about policy, love collaborative discussion, enjoy tracking state legislative politics and planning important events, and want to help shape not just what our county party says but what it does, read on.
In this post:
- Why This Work Matters
- The Platform: Our Foundation for Advocacy
- Role 1: PRLC Chair
- Role 2: Platform Convention Chair
- Eligibility
Why These Roles Matter
The Multnomah County Democrats platform is more than a document. It is a statement of who we are, what we believe, and what we are willing to fight for. The PRLC is the committee that keeps that work alive year-round, through legislative engagement, resolutions, and the platform renewal process. Strong committee leadership makes our advocacy meaningful, our positions credible, and our party relevant.
The Platform: Our Foundation for Advocacy
The Multnomah County Democrats platform is our statement of principles and priorities. It is organized into articles covering broad areas of concern, including housing, climate, healthcare, and civil rights. Each article contains two types of content: Planks, which are the values and positions we hold, and Legislative Action Items (LAIs), which are specific policy actions we want elected officials to take.
The platform is rebuilt from the ground up every two years through a community process that involves study groups, public comment periods, and a full Platform Convention where registered Democrats debate and vote on the final document. The PRLC leads that process.
Role 1: Chair, Platform, Resolutions and Legislation Committee (PRLC)
What Is the PRLC?
The Platform, Resolutions and Legislation Committee is one of the party’s standing committees. It is the engine room of our policy work, meeting monthly to monitor legislation, steward resolutions and prepare for the Platform Convention. With a quorum of eleven members, this is a substantive, active body.
The PRLC Chair facilitates this work. The position is appointed by the Party Chair, with the approval of the Executive Committee. Any registered Democrat in Multnomah County is eligible.
What Does the PRLC Chair Actually Do?
Legislative monitoring and action. The PRLC tracks proposed legislation at the local, state and federal level, assessing how it aligns or conflicts with our platform. When action is needed, the committee proposes responses and helps coordinate outreach to our elected officials. This is the committee’s year-round heartbeat: staying informed, staying engaged and keeping the party connected to what is actually moving through government.
Supporting action alerts. When legislation demands a response from our members, the PRLC Chair works with the Communications team to make sure our people know what is happening and how to respond.
Resolutions. The PRLC reviews resolutions submitted by PCPs and by the committee itself, makes recommendations and reports to the Central Committee. Resolutions are one of the ways our party formally responds to current events and takes positions beyond the platform itself.
Advising on endorsements. The PRLC advises the Campaign and Candidate Committee’s Endorsement Task Force on how ballot measures and initiative petitions align with our platform, making sure our endorsement decisions are grounded in our stated values.
Working with elected Democrats. The PRLC Chair helps coordinate with Democratic elected officials to encourage alignment with and implementation of our platform planks, LAIs and resolutions.
Facilitating working groups. Over time, the party has developed a practice of organizing working groups around the articles of our platform. These groups create space for PCPs and members to dig into specific issue areas together, including housing, environment, healthcare and more. The PRLC Chair helps support and coordinate these groups, ensuring they stay connected to the committee’s broader work.
Leading up to the Platform Convention. No less than two months before the Convention, the PRLC begins drafting a proposed platform of planks and LAIs, and devises an online process that allows all PCPs to review, comment and suggest edits before the convention. The PRLC also approves facilitators for the group discussions that take place at the Convention itself.
Why This Role Matters
The PRLC is where ideas meet action — connecting our stated values to the legislation being written right now, and making sure our members have the information and tools they need to make their voices heard. The Chair helps keep that work moving. This is a role for someone who is curious, organized and energized by the relationship between policy and politics.
Interested in the PRLC committee chair role? Reach out to admin@multdems.org and tell us why this role speaks to you. We’d love to hear from you.
Role 2: Chair, Platform Convention
What Is the Platform Convention?
Every two years, the Multnomah County Democrats Platform Convention is one of the most exciting gatherings our organization holds. It is a structured, deliberative event at which PCPs and members come together to review our platform, refine our planks and incorporate timely issues that reflect the moment we are living through. The convention gives us the clarity we need to do our advocacy work effectively, both internally and at the DPO level.
The Platform Convention Chair presides over the Convention — the community assembly where Multnomah County Democrats debate and adopt the party platform. The Convention Chair is nominated by the PRLC and confirmed by registered Convention participants.
At the request of our Party Chair, we’re also collecting expressions of interest in this role. If you’d like to be considered, reach out to admin@multdems.org and tell us why the Platform Convention Chair role appeals to you.
Eligibility
The PRLC Chair must be a Precinct Committee Person (PCP) of the Multnomah County Democrats. The Chair is nominated by the Party Chair and approved by the Executive Committee. If you’re not yet a PCP but are interested in this role, applying to become a PCP is a great first step.
Note: This post was updated June 23, 2026.