News from the Skagit County Democrats

Skagit County Democrats Action Newsletter for June 27, 2022

DEMOCRATIC EVENTS

1. NEW – Come join the Skagit County Democrats and march in the Anacortes Independence Day Parade!
Bring your family & friends. Candidates bring your signs. Meet us at 3rd Street & Commercial Avenue, 10:00am. Please check in with Charles Ivory. Wear your red, white and blue! This is an important opportunity for Democrats to show our strength and unity as we approach the November elections.We will have American flags for everyone to carry and some to give out to kids.

IN ADDITION: "On July 4, after walking with Skagit Democrats in the Anacortes Parade in the morning, carpool down to Arlington and support Clyde Shavers in the afternoon. The Arlington Parade starts at 4 pm. Let us know you are coming and bring your patriotic smile! https://clydeshavers.com/."

IN ADDITION: "Join Team Dave at the Independence Day Parade in Oak Harbor on July 4th–come walk with us! Email beth@votedavepaul.com if you'd like to join us. We are also looking for volunteers to walk in the Arlington Independence Day Parade.

2. Join Representatives Dave Paul & Alex Ramel for Doorbelling in Mount Vernon, Saturday Jun 25, 10:00am – 1:00pm,
Meet at the Skagit County Democrats Office, 2021 East College Way, Mount Vernon, 10:00am. Bring water and good walking shoes.All materials and snacks will be provided. Questions – Email: Beth@VoteDavePaul.com or Jeremy@AlexRamel.com.

3. The next scheduled 40th Legislative District Democrats Executive Board Meeting is Tuesday, Jun 28, 6:00pm – 7:30pm, via Zoom
Click Here for the Zoom Link.

4. NEW – House Party Fundraiser for 40th Legislative District Representative Alex Ramel's Re-Election, Thursday, Jul 7 5:30pm – 7:00pm, home of Mount Vernon City Council Member Richard Brocksmith
For more details email: Jeremy@AlexRamel.com. Please RSVP Here: https://secure.anedot.com/ramel/mv-event.

5. NEW – Community Conversation in Alger with 40th Legislative District Representative Alex Ramel Hosted by Karen Rentko, Saturday Jul 9 4:00pm – 6:00pm
Enjoy an afternoon with Representative Alex Ramel and hear about progress we've made in the legislature this past session in areas of climate change, affordable housing, transportation and education. Learn about what Alex's goals are for next session and where your input can make a difference! Questions Email: Jeremy@AlexRamel.com. Please RSVP: https://secure.anedot.com/ramel/alger-event.

6. NEW – Join Skagit Public Utility District Commissioner candidate Germaine J. Kornegay, Saturday, Jul 9, 1:00pm – 3:00pm, Farmstrong Brewing, 110 Stewart Street, Mount Vernon for her campaign kick-off
Click Here for more information.

7. NEW – Camano Island Democrats presents "Art off The Wall & More Auction", Saturday, Jul 9, 3:00pm – 8:00pm, at the picturesque Arrowhead Ranch, 615 Arrowhead Road, Camano Island
"The event will feature a wide variety of art, including paintings, pottery and more, from local and national artisans. Attendees will be able to purchase art through silent  and live auction segments.  Our Auctioneer is a well known artist, author and filmmaker, Jack Gunter. Admission is $10 per person and includes tickets for a complimentary beverage and dessert. Pure Smoke NW Barbecue will be onsite with food available for purchase and music will be provided by the exceptional Northwest duo, RT Collective. An art preview and more information can be found at camanoislanddemocrats.com."

8. The 39th Legislative Democrats will NOT be meeting in June

9. NEW – Skagit County Democrats Endorsed Candidates
Below is the list of candidates endorsed by the Skagit County Democrats to date:

• Patty Murray, US Senate
• Rick Larsen, WA-02 US House
• Jason Call, WA-02 US House
• Barbara Madsen, Washington State Supreme Court
• Steve Hobbs, Washington Secretary of State
• Dave Paul, 10th LD House
• Clyde Shavers, 10th LD House
• Jessica Wadhams, 39th LD House
• Claus Joens, 39th LD House
• Debra Lekanoff, 40th LD House
• Alex Ramel, 40th LD House
• Sandy Perkins, Skagit County Auditor
• Melissa Beaton, Skagit County Clerk
• Jackie Brunson, Skagit County Treasurer
• Don McDermott, Skagit County Sheriff
• Lisa Janicki, Skagit County County Commission
• Germaine Kornegay, Skagit County PUD Commission
• Jennifer Howson, Skagit County District Court Judge

10. The Skagit County Democrats Annual 2022 Gala has been postponed until Oct 8
"The gala team has made the difficult decision to postpone our 2022 fundraising gala and auction from our original date of Saturday, June 4th to Saturday, October 8th.  

We continue to sell tickets! – $75.00 per person or $600.00 per 8-person table. If you have already purchased gala tickets, you can either keep them for the October date or you can request a refund by calling: 360-336-1555. The theme for this year is: "Ensuring our Democracy Together." To secure your tickets please make a donation using this link. Please indicate "Gala" and the number of tickets in the "Purpose" box.

We will continue to gratefully accept any auction item donations through spring and summer in preparation for our fall gala. Donations can either be dropped off at our Headquarters, 2021 East College Way, Suite 104, Mount Vernon, from 12:00pm – 4:00pm, Monday-Thursday or you can request an item be picked-up – email: staff@skagitdemocrats.org.

SAVE THE DATE CARDS – The Gala Team has created Save The Date cards to be handed out to help advertise our upcoming Gala. They include information on the Gala and are designed to act as both invitations to attend and reminders of the event. If you would like some to hand out, please pick some up at headquarters at 2021 E College Way, Suite 104, Mount Vernon, or request some be mailed to you by contacting Sheila Mulligan at 360-899-4220 or sjmulli62@gmail.com.
     
11. Skagit County Democrats will continue to mandate facemasks at our Headquarters Office
While the Statewide mask mandate has been lifted for many situations, we will continue to require facemasks at our Headquarters until further notice.

12. NEW – Senator Murray announced a new ad on her fight to make sure the Supreme Court doesn’t get the last word on reproductive freedom. You can watch it here
In addition, Senator Murray's campaign provided the following talking points:

• Now that the Supreme Court has overturned Roe v. Wade, reproductive rights are in jeopardy right here in Washington state. With just one flipped Senate seat, Mitch McConnell and MAGA Republicans will be able to bring a national abortion ban to the Senate floor. And they’re counting on their handpicked candidate in Washington state, Republican Tiffany Smiley — who praised the Supreme Court’s decision overturning Roe in a statement today — to help them do it.
• Smiley is, in her own words, “100 percent pro-life”.  She even supported the Texas abortion ban, which makes abortion a crime and includes no exceptions for rape or incest. Some of the first GOP senators to endorse Smiley’s campaign are drafting legislation to ban abortion nationally and questioning the validity of the Supreme Court ruling allowing contraception.
• While Tiffany Smiley wants extreme Republicans to control women’s health care decisions, Senator Murray will continue to fight every single day for every woman’s right – in Washington state and across the country — to make her own decisions about her own reproductive health care.
• For anyone who believes politicians have no place in personal reproductive health care decisions, it is critical Senator Murray, ‘the single most effective Democratic combatant against Republican attempts to restrict abortion’, be re-elected to the U.S. Senate this fall.

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

• Attorney General Merrick B. Garland Statement on Supreme Court Ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization
• How Ukraine Will Win – Kyiv’s Theory of Victory
• The Problem Is Gun Culture, Not SCOTUS
• The Science Behind Grilling the Perfect Steak
• Covid Shots for Little Kids Are Finally Here. Now for the Hardest Part

 

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COMMUNITY EVENTS

1. NEW – Schools are out! Be aware and drive with caution – Watch out for the kids!

2 NEW – Independence Day Celebrations around the area

• Anacortes
  • Town Photo & Patriotic Program: 10:00am
  • Parade: 11:00am
  • Rock The Dock: 5:00pm – 10:00pm
  • Fireworks over Fidalgo Bay: Dusk
• Big Lake (July 3)
  • Fireworks: Dusk
• Concrete
  • Parade: 3:00pm
• La Conner
  • Parade: 12:00pm
  • Picnic at Pioneer Park: after parade
  • Evening Concert: 5:00pm
  • Fireworks: 10:00pm
• Mount Vernon
  • Fireworks at Edgewater Park: 10:00pm
• Sedro-Woolley
  • Parade: 11:00am
  • Rodeo: 2:00pm
  • Concert at Riverfront Park 5:00pm – 9:30pm
  • Fireworks at Riverfront Park: Dusk

NOTE: There is no Carnival at the Sedro-Woolley Loggerodeo this year.

3. NEW – No More Bomb continues to protest nuclear weapons by bannering the 1st and 3rd Fridays of the month at 4:00pm at the downtown Mount Vernon I-5 overpass above the Skagit Valley Food Co-op parking lot
"We’ll have our “NO NUKES” banner plus American, Ukrainian, and Peace flags. Parking is available North of the overpass on Fulton Street, where the old YMCA was, or South in a parking lot for $1/hour, or on the street. Bring your own sign, use ours, or simply wave at motorists!"

In addition: they inviting people to join them in the Anacortes Independence Day parade. "We will be marching in the Anacortes Independence Day Parade, July 4th, beginning at 11 am. Come march with us! Look for our “NO NUKES” banner. We’ll have extra Peace, American, and Ukrainian flags or bring a sign. We will be walking with the Skagit County and Fidalgo Democrats and Safe and Sane Skagit. Line up at 10 am at O Avenue, one block West of Commercial, beginning at 3rd Street."

4. NEW – Safe and Sane Skagit will be marching in the Anacortes Independence Day Parade, July 4th, beginning at 11:00am
"Come march with us! Look for our SaSS banner and signs. We’ll have extra signs or bring your own and Wear Orange! We will be walking with the Skagit County and Fidalgo Democrats. Write to safeandsaneskagit@gmail.com for more info or simply show up. We'll line up around 3rd and O an hour early."

5. NEW – Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is set to begin construction on two fish passage culverts on State Route 20 between Van Horn Lane and just east of Sauk Connection Road between Concrete and Rockport
The work runs beginning July 1, 2022 through September 30, 2022. Construction is scheduled to take place at night between the hours of 8:00pm and 6:00am.

6. UPDATED – COVID-19 Information
Current Skagit County Information – The following is taken from the Skagit County COVID-19 Update of Jun 22



Click Here for the full report and resources.
 

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

1. Coffee & Cards is BACK! Wednesdays, 10:00am, Skagit County Democrats Headquarters, 2021 East College Way, Suite 104, Mount Vernon
"Are you looking for a way to make a positive contribution to our democracy while enjoying the company of others?  Coffee and Cards is starting up again on Wednesdays from 10-11 am.  This is a group that was previously led by Carol Sullivan (who sadly moved away) and is a way for us to express ourselves about issues of importance to us all.  

We will write messages of encouragement and support to people who are making positive contributions as well as messages of concern and opposition to people who are negatively impacting our world.  This includes legislators on the local, state, and federal level as well as CEOs of corporations and other people having a significant impact in our world.  We will share ideas for people to write to and issues to address.  

Postcards and stamps will be provided, but we ask that people bring money to cover the cost of the postcard stamps which are currently $.40 (and will be going up to $.44 in the summer).  Coffee will be provided or bring your own.  As Carol always reminded us, “We are stronger together.” Our office is located at 2021 East College Way, Suite 104, 360-336-1555."
 

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