Local and state party leaders are gearing up for precinct caucuses, the first step in the political process.

Minnesota caucuses are scheduled for 7 p.m. Feb. 7.

All Koochiching County GOP caucuses will be held at the Falls High School cafeteria, according to local Republican Party leader Terry Stone.

Locally, all DFL caucuses in the county will be conducted at Rainy River Community College commons, according to DFL Party Chairman Joe Boyle. DFL caucuses will also be held at the Littlefork-Big Falls High School in Littlefork, Northome Municipal Building, the Birchdale Community Building, and the Big Falls City Hall.

The caucuses choose delegates, who must be at least age 18 by Nov. 6; draft a platform and start the process of electing party officers and endorsing candidates for elective offices.

Stone said GOP precinct caucuses have become more important.

“The stunning victory of Newt Gingrich in the South Carolina primary makes Minnesota’s input to the endorsing process suddenly more important,” he said. “Each GOP primary so far has had a different winner: (Rick) Santorum, (Mitt) Romney, Gingrich. Any ideas about who will emerge as the GOP presidential candidate are being rethought. The Minnesota GOP Presidential Preference Poll takes on new meaning under these circumstances.”

Stone said attending caucuses is a valuable way to get involved.

“The GOP precinct caucus is the gateway to participation in GOP politics,” he said. “For those wishing to improve their country, it’s the place to start.”

Boyle also said precinct caucuses play an important role in the country.

“Anybody having an interest in our future and our kid’s future should be going,” he said.

A straw poll on a candidate for 8th Congressional District representative, a position now held by Republican Rep. Chip Cravaack, will be taken at the DFL precinct caucuses, said Boyle.

Boyle said Cravaack has not represented the interests of a majority of Koochiching County residents and has instead voted on issues that are more representative of people who earn more than $250,000 each year.

“Every issue that’s important to 99 percent of the people in Koochiching County he’s voted against,” said Boyle. “The caucuses are the first step in making sure we get a congressman, because there will be a straw vote, who will represent us like Congressman (Jim) Oberstar did over the years.”