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News from the Skagit County Democrats

Posted on September 14th, 2020

Skagit County Democrats Action Newsletter for 14 September 2020

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DEMOCRATIC EVENTS

1. UPDATED – Skagit Democrats Fundraiser for Candidate Support, Tuesday, Sep 22, 7:00pm
All Skagit County Democrats are invited to a Zoom meeting with Attorney General Bob Ferguson, Washington State Treasurer candidate Mike Pellicciotti and Washington State Secretary of State candidate Gael Tarleton, Tuesday, Sep 22, 7:00pm. Governor Jay Inslee will also join us via a recorded message. You will have an opportunity to hear their platforms and ask some questions. Click Here to register. Click Here to make a donation.

The purpose of this event is to appeal to you to help us support our local candidates. Any donations we receive are greatly appreciated and will be used to support and encourage the Democratic candidates for Skagit County Commissioners and the 10th, 39th and 40th Legislative Districts. Our intention is to help these candidates to a winning end in November. We sincerely appreciate your support. Please feel free to give us a call should you have any questions. Gala Team, Skagit Democrats – Velit Seyfettin, Chair Gala Team, 360-293-9320 or Staff, 360-336-1555.

2. NEW – Democratic Women on the Rocks, Monday, Sep 14, 4:00pm, via Zoom
Please join us to meet and chat with Representative Debra Lekanoff and Mary Hudson. This is an informal group of Democratic Women (and men) who gather for conversation and share ideas. We are honored to have Representative Lekanoff and Mary Hudson who is running for County Commissioner join us. Please contact Lynn Campbell at chair@skagitdemocrats.orgfor the Zoom session information.

3. The Skagit County Democrats Executive Board will meet Tuesday, Sep 15, 6:30pm via Zoom
If you wish to attend please email Chair@skagitdemocrats.orgfor the connection information.

4. The 39th Legislative District State candidates participated in a Candidates Forum sponsored by the Snohomish County League of Women Voters, which will be aired Monday, Sep 14, 6:00pm – 7:00pm
The forum has been pre-recorded and will air on KSER 90.7FM. The recording will also be available on their website, https://lwvsnoho.org/services/forums/.

5. UPDATED – The 10th Legislative District Democrats QUARTERLY MEETING is scheduled for Saturday, Sep 19, 10:00am – 12:30pm, via Zoom
Click Here to register.

6. NEW – Virtual Skagit County House Party with 40th Legislative District Representative Debra Lekanoff, Skagit County Commissioner Lisa Janicki, and PUD Commissioner Germaine Kornegay in support of 2nd Congressional District U.S. Representative Rick Larsen, Wednesday, Sep 23, 4:00pm – 5:00pm, via Zoom
Zoom link will be sent upon RSVP. Contributions are appreciated but not required. Suggested Contributions: Sponsor – $200, Supporter – $100, Individual – $25. You may contribute online here or mail a contribution to P.O. Box 326 Everett, WA 98206. RSVP: Todd at todd@ricklarsen.org or 425-610-8731.

7. NEW – Help Re-Elect Climate Champions Representative Debra Lekanoff Representative Sharon Shewmake, Wednesday, Sep 23, 5:00pm – 5:45pm, via Zoom
Event hosted by Carbon Washington. RSVP to Katherine@KatherineBobman.com or 206-486-5913.

8. NEW – Build with Biden event, Friday, Oct 9, 2:30pm – 3:30pm, Commercial Avenue, Anacortes
Event will take place on West side of 12th Street to 33rd Street, 6 people per block, 6 feet apart. Please bring masks, BIDEN/HARRIS signs, flags (homemade or bought). Please join. We need help. Call or text: MARILYN 936-537-6961 for block assignment.

9. UPDATED – Phone-Banking Opportunities

  • Skagit County Democrats – Skagit County Virtual Phone-bank, Tuesday, Sep 15, 5:00pm – 8:00pm. We will be calling Skagit County residents in the 10th LD as well as promoting our County Commissioners, Mary Hudson and Mark Lundsten. Click Here to register.
  • The 10th Legislative District Democrats are gearing up for the general election campaign. We have opportunities for phone-banking from the comfort of your own home. It is super easy and there will be a brief training for first timers. The Washington State Democrats Coordinated Campaign (our own Bennett Massey-Helber) is organizing phone-banking on behalf of all our candidates. We have the option of only calling voters within the 10th LD. If you have interest in helping to elect our democratic candidates please reply to chair@10thLDDemocrats.org. If we get a good number of you to call, we can keep your calling hours fairly low, 2 hours per week. In addition to the WSDCC, each candidate will coordinate their own phone-bank. The Coordinated Campaign will be calling for all candidates and only calling within the 10th LD.
    • Thursdays 5:00 – 8:00 pm – Washington State Democrats Coordinated Campaign calling into the 10th LD on behalf of all candidates – contact Bennett Massey-Helber, bennettm@wa-democrats.org
    • Saturdays 1:00 – 3:00 pm – Helen Price-Johnson Campaign Phone-Bank
  • 39th Legislative District Democrats – Kayce Richardson is now working as the Field Organizer for the 39th LD. She can be contacted at kayce@wa-democrats.org.
  • 40th Legislative District Democrats, Saturday, Sep 19, 4:00pm – 6:00pm, for the 10th and 42nd Legislative District Democrats

10. The Washington State Democrats’ annual Warren G. Magnuson Dinner will be held virtually on Thursday, Sep 24
Click Here for more information.

11. Voter Registration and Schedule

  • How to register
    • Online – You can register to vote using VoteWA. To register to vote using this online program, you must have either a valid Washington State Driver’s License, or State Identification (ID) Card.
    • In Person – You can register to vote in person at the Skagit County Auditor’s Office, 700 South 2nd Street, Room 201 (corner of 2nd & Kincaid), Mount Vernon, Hours: M-F 8:30-4:30
    • By Mail – You can register to vote via mail by downloading and printing a registration form and sending it to our office. You can download your form using this link (select your language). In addition, a registration form can be requested by calling our office at 360-416-1702.
  • Last Date to Register
    • Online or Mail: Oct 26
    • In-Person: Nov 3
  • Ballots go out:
    • Military and overseas ballots are mailed out Sep 18 (very early).
    • Domestic Ballots are mailed out Oct 14

12. Any Tech Questions?
Any Tech Questions? is a weekly Zoom meeting hosted by the Skagit County Democrats to assist anyone in the community with technical questions about the use of Google Apps and Zoom. It also includes some other topics specific to the Democrats’ mission to nurture democratic values in our elected officials. The sessions are scheduled for every Wednesday at 5:00pm. The Zoom link is available by emailing Tech@SkagitDemocrats.org. To learn more about how to use our Google Drive, Click Here.

13. Skagit Democrats Fundraisers

  • Coronavirus Face Mask Fundraiser: For a donation of $20 you will receive a hand-made face mask especially designed by an engineer/industrial designer at the request of the Medical Director of Pediatrics at Mission Hospital in California. The masks provide full coverage and are comfortable. Click Here or Here to see examples of the masks. If you would like to donate, Click Here. Under purpose on the donation, please indicate “Mask” and indicate which fabric you would like: #1 first on the left, #2 the middle, #3 on the right (for example: “Mask #3”).
  • Greeting Card Fundraiser: Social distancing and staying safe makes it difficult for us to get out and look for cards to mark special occasions or just say hello. For a donation of $15.00 you will receive a box of 6 – 8 beautiful hand-made greeting cards. These are one of a kind cards so no two boxes are the same and aren’t made to order. Let us choose your lovely card set. Pictured on the web site (Click Here or Here) are samples of the kinds of cards you will receive. If you would like to donate, Click Here. Under purpose on the donation, please indicate “Cards” and the number of boxes you want.

Thank you for your continued support of the Skagit Democrats.

14. The Skagit County Democrats Headquarters, 300A South First Street, Mount Vernon, will be staffed from 12:00pm – 4:00pm, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays
It will not be open to the public. Staff will be able to hand out campaign signs without admitting entry. We ask that masks be worn at all times when ordering from the door and during pick up. Call ahead to the HQ phone (360-336-1555) and staff will pick them and have ready at the door. You may also email staff@skagitdemocrats.org after hours and the message will be relayed to the volunteers staffing the HQ. Some pick ups can be arranged outside of open hours. Just call or email to inquire. Most campaign signs are free.

UPDATE: The Headquarters continues to disperse campaign signs from our physical location in downtown Mount Vernon. Biden/Harris yard signs will be available on a first come, first out basis. It is suggested to check in with staff by phone to see if they have arrived – call 360-336-1555. Signs are 1/$10 or 2/$16. Biden/Harris merchandise is in with limited selection. Here is a place online to get some Biden/Harris bling: Click Here. The Inslee campaign is still directing supporters to their campaign website for signs and swag. There are no yard signs at HQ for Inslee. Our Governor has not had time to fundraise in this pandemic. Purchasing a sign directly from his store will help with fundraising. His campaign strategy is to put money into paid media. We will be receiving a clip of his paid media. When we do, we will share it with you.

15. UPDATED – Our candidates’ Websites & Facebook Pages

16. National 2020 Caucus/Primary and Debate Schedule

  • September 29 – First presidential debate, South Bend, IN
  • October 7 – Vice presidential debate, Salt Lake City, UT
  • October 15 – Second presidential debate, Ann Arbor, MI
  • October 22 – Third presidential debate, Nashville, TN
  • November 3 – Presidential election

17. NEW – From The Chair’s Corner: A Message from Chair Lynn Campbell
“When is enough, enough for the Washington GOP? Today, Bob Woodward reported Trump knowingly lied to the American people, intentionally playing down the threat of COVID-19:

“In a series of interviews with Woodward, Trump revealed that he had a surprising level of detail about the threat of the virus earlier than previously known. “Pretty amazing,” Trump told Woodward, adding that the coronavirus was maybe five times “more deadly” than the flu. Trump’s admissions are in stark contrast to his frequent public comments at the time insisting that the virus was “going to disappear” and “all work out fine. {…} “I wanted to always play it down,” Trump told Woodward on March 19, even as he had declared a national emergency over the virus days earlier.”

This is an astonishing admission, but it’s just the latest in four years of chaos from Trump as his outrageous and offensive rhetoric continues to earn nothing but silence from Republicans in Washington state:

Trump lied to the American people about COVID-19, he disparaged our service-members, and is attacking our Democracy — and what is the Republican party doing? Running on his record at mask-less rallies and indoor fundraisers that put our communities’ health at risk. With their deafening silence on Trump’s unfitness for office while more than a thousand Americans are dying every day from a disease Trump knew was deadly but lied to the public about, the WA GOP is proving that there’s nothing Trump can do that they won’t support.”

18. NEW – Links of the Week
The Link of the Week provides in-depth pieces the Editor has found to be relevant, insightful, and thorough on important issues of the day.

COMMUNITY EVENTS

1. NEW – Vote411
Vote411 is a website sponsored by the League of Women Voters that provides election information and combats misinformation. Click Here for the Washington State English language version. Click Here for the Washington State Spanish language version.

2. Skagit County announces funds, partners to help Skagitonians to pay rent during COVID-19 pandemic
Click Here for the Skagit County Press Release. Click Here for the Skagit Valley Herald article.

3. Referendum 90
“Referendum 90 will uphold the new Washington state law requiring all public schools to teach age-appropriate, inclusive, comprehensive sexual health education to K-12 students . . . In 2020, a coalition of parents, educators, medical professionals, and advocates passed a law in Washington state focused on keeping young people safe and healthy. This law requires all public schools to teach age appropriate, inclusive, comprehensive sexual health education to K-12 students. This law was backed by a massive statewide coalition and has strong support from a strong majority of Washington state voters. In early 2020, a group of extremists launched a misinformation campaign attacking inclusive, age appropriate, comprehensive sexual health education and gathered enough signatures – during a pandemic – to put that law up for a public vote this November.” Click Here for the Approve 90 website. You can now contribute to “Donate to Safe & Healthy Youth Washington” through ActBlue – Click Here.

4. Census – Everyone should be counted!
If you have not yet completed the Census, Click Here to complete it on-line. It only takes a few minutes and it is important that everyone participates!

5. Drive-through COVID-19 testing is open 9:00am – 4:00pm, Monday through Friday, at the east parking lot of Skagit Valley College
Online registration is no longer required. No appointments are needed. Spanish speaking interpreters on site to assist with registration and testing. Skagit County Public Health will test anyone seven years of age or older that feels they should be tested, and is encouraging anyone who fits into the following guidelines to get tested:

  • Those who are essential workers
  • Anyone with any COVID-19 symptoms
  • Anyone whose physician recommended they be tested
  • Anyone who lives or works in a congregate setting
  • Pregnant women
  • Anyone who is a close contact or has a known exposure to COVID-19
  • Beginning on Monday, August 31, use of the Drive-Thru testing site will be limited to those who live in or work in Skagit County. Those who do not live in or work in Skagit County should seek testing in their own communities or through their medical provider.

Click Here for more information.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

1. Listen to We Do the Work, Tuesdays, 5:00pm, and Sundays, 5:30pm at KSVR, 91.7 FM or KSVU, 90.1 FM
A weekly local worker radio program that features news, interviews, music, and comments, “We Do the Work” believes American workers are at the heart of our economy and culture, deserving dignity, respect, and a decent family wage. To hear our other shows, go to We Do The Work Archives. Questions about interviews? Email – ksvrwedothework@gmail.com.

NEW – We Do The Work’s program for Tuesday, Sep 15, 5:00pm and Sunday, Sep 20, 5:30 – “Learn Yourself” with Conor Casey, Labor Archivist for the Labor Archives of Washington, Ellie Belew, author, and Megan Cornish, retiree from Seattle City Light, Part 1
Interview by Mike Dumovich: Conor, Ellie, and Megan examine Seattle City Light’s Electrical Trades Program and how the first trade’s women were treated as well as the effects of affirmative action and other organizations of the 1970s. For more information or to buy the book ‘High Voltage Women’ by Ellie Belew, go to https://www.lib.washington.edu/specialcollections/laws/ or http://www.redletterpress.org/highvoltagewomen.html.

We Do The Work Comments:

  • Why is the nation a barrel and the people considered fish?
  • The nation is co-dependent.
  • #LaborRadioPod

2. Listen to Speak Up! Speak Out! Radio
Listen to Speak Up! Speak Out! – a half hour weekly radio show committed to community, peace, justice, and non-violence issues. The show airs on Community Radio stations (times subject to change) – KSVR 91.7 FM (Skagit Valley College), Wednesdays 5:00pm, rebroadcast Sundays 8:00pm; KSVU 90.1 FM, Hamilton, Sundays 8:00pm and Thursdays 8:00am; KMRE102.3 FM, Bellingham, Sundays 11:00am and Wednesdays 7:30am. Our shows are available online. Stream or download a show at http://speakupspeakoutradio.org/ anytime.

NEW – Sept 16 2020 – Interview with Damani Johnson, lifetime peace recipient honoree
Host jim justice speaks with Damani Johnson, longtime faculty member at Western Washington University in Bellingham, about the Whatcom Peace & Justice Center’s Lifetime Peace Award he has just been given. Listen in to find out more about all the work he has done to bring people of diverse backgrounds together to learn about others.

3. Coffee ‘n Cards via Zoom: Each Monday, 10:00am, Zoom meeting ID: 728 6695 7807, password: 3G1teP
You are invited to attend. Contact Carol Sullivan at carolosully@yahoo.comfor details. 2020 card total: 4,737, Grand Total: 12,891.

  • Sept. 14: Film: “Suppressed 2020: the Fight to Vote” Pt. 2 of Fix Democracy First 101
  • Sept. 14: Mohit Nair, FairVoteWA, explains RCV (Ranked Choice Voting) and what bills will be presented in the Washington State 2021 legislative session
  • Sept. 28: Mount Vernon Mayor Jill Boudreau will be our guest for informal “Coffee with Mayor Jill”

Meeting ID: 728 6695 7807, password: 3G1teP.

4. Anacortes Weekly Demonstrations
Do you have a cause or a candidate that you are passionate about? If yes, join us at the “protest corner” in Anacortes, 12th Street and Commercial Avenue (the Safeway Corner) EVERY Sunday from 12:00pm – 1:00pm – wet or sunny, hot or cold, all year around. Bring your own signs or use one of our extras

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