News from the Skagit County Democrats
Posted on July 3rd, 2022
Skagit County Democrats Action Newsletter for July 4, 2022
DEMOCRATIC EVENTS
1. 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. 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.
3. NEW – League of Women Voters Forum, 2nd Congressional District Candidates, Thursday, Jul 7, 6:00pm – 7:00pm, via Zoom
"Co-Sponsored by LWV Bellingham/Whatcom, LWV Skagit County, LWV Snohomish County, and LWV Whidbey Island. The format will be via Zoom, broadcast live on City of Bellingham BTV, Comcast channels 321 (HD) and 10 (SD). Recordings will be available on the City of Bellingham's YouTube channel and this page. Translation will be provided and recorded in Spanish and Punjabi. All candidates are listed in ballot order . . . Candidates: Cody Hart, Dan Matthews, Doug “Yoshe” Revelle, Bill Wheeler, Jon Welch, Brandon Lee Stalnaker, Jason Call, Leif Johnson, Carrie R. Kennedy, Rick Larsen."
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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 Barbeque 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."
7. NEW – Fidalgo Democrats next meets Tuesday, Jul 12, 7:00pm, via Zoom, with special guest 40th Legislative District Representative Debra Lekanoff
"40th District Representative Debra Lekanoff will join us to talk about past legislative session. Representative Lekanoff has been in the forefront of environmental activism in the legislature. We can learn more about how these issues impact our communities and what we can do to help. Also joining us will be several local candidates for legislature and county offices. They will have the opportunity to introduce themselves to the group. There will be time for questions following Representative Lekanoff’s presentation. For more information, call Barbara Cooper 360-293-4123."
8. NEW – Meet and Support 10th Legislative District Representative Dave Paul and Candidate Clyde Shavers, Thursday, Jul 21, 5:30pm – 7:00pm, La Conner Civic Garden Club, 622 South Second Street, La Conner
RSVP to bridget@bobmanconsulting.com.
9. NEW – Candidate Signs available at Headquarters, 2021 East College Way, Suite 104, Mount Vernon, 360-336-1555
"Skagit County Democrats currently has candidate yard signs in our office. Come support your candidates by putting up yard signs. We are closed Mon July 4, but otherwise our office hours are Mon through Thursday noon to 4:00 p.m."
10. 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 Commission
- Germaine Kornegay, Skagit County PUD Commission
- Jennifer Howson, Skagit County District Court Judge
11. NEW – Enjoy this year’s Skagit County Democrat’s Gala & Auction!
"This year’s Gala & Auction, themed “Ensuring Democracy Together,” will occur on Saturday, October 8th, at the Swinomish Casino and Lodge. Hillary Franz, State Commissioner of Public Lands, is our headliner. Festivities start at 4:00 with a Candidate Meet & Greet, to be followed by a buffet with options for all appetites. Silent and Live Auctions cap the evening of fun and camaraderie.
You may secure a seat or table online under Donate at SkagitDemocrats.org. In the Purpose box at the bottom of the Donation Page, enter “Gala” and the number of seats being purchased. In-person payments can be made at 2021 E. College Way, Suite 104, Mount Vernon, from 12:00-4:00 Monday-Thursday. An individual seat is $75, a table for eight is $600.
We are accepting Silent and Live auction donations into the Fall. You may drop them off at Headquarters or request an item be picked up by emailing staff@skagitbemocrats.org. The more desirable auction items, the more opportunities for all to participate. Thank you in advance."
12. Skagit County Democrats continues to mandate facemasks at our Headquarters Office
13. NEW – 2nd Congressional District Representative candidate Jason Call penned an op-ed on the need for Medicare For All
Click Here for the article in the Cascadia Daily News.
14. NEW – Clyde Shavers appeals for help
"As we enter the closing days before the August 2nd primary, I need your help. Ballots will be mailed to voters on or about July 15th. Off year elections, especially the summer primaries, face traditionally lower voter turn-out. But with human and constitution rights of women being taken away and gut-wrenching gun violence in our cities, schools, stores and places of worship, now is not the time to be on the sidelines. Send a clear message to Republicans up and down the ballot that Enough is Enough. From Langley to Mt. Vernon, Camano to Arlington I ask for your time and energy. Join our campaign Now! Help me turnout the vote. Walk with me as we knock on doors and send a message that Enough is Enough. Please go to my website www.clydeshavers.com and volunteer to knock on doors with me or call Andrew Linton, my Campaign Manager, at 610-952-5957."
15. 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.
- Supreme Court agrees to hear redistricting case that could have major implications for voting rights
- WHO official says the more times an individual gets COVID-19, the more likely they are to be 'unlucky' and get 'long COVID'
- The Race to Build Wind Farms That Float on the Open Sea
- Russia’s Perpetual Geopolitics – Putin Returns to the Historical Pattern
- The Christian Right is winning in court while losing in public opinion
COMMUNITY EVENTS
1. 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
- 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.
2. No More Bombs 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."
3. 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."
4. NEW – Skagit Valley Highland Games, Saturday, Jul 9, 9:00am – 5:00pm, Edgewater Park, 600 Behrens Millett Road, Mount Vernon
"The Skagit Valley Highland Games is part of an annual circuit of Scottish competitions held in the Pacific Northwest and Lower Mainland of British Columbia. As such, the quality of performers in solo bagpiping and drumming competitions, bagpipe bands, fiddling, traditional Scottish athletics (the “heavy” events) and Scottish Highland dancing is at an extremely high level. Attend for Free!" Click Here for the 2022 schedule.
5. 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 29
Click Here for the full report and resources.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
1. NEW – Anacortes Sunday Demonstrations
Democrats are again demonstrating in Anacortes each Sunday, 12:00pm – 1:00pm at the corner of 12th Street and Commercial Avenue. "We carry signs for Dem candidates, get out and vote signs, women's right-to-chose in healthcare and so on and so on. We need more people to show up."
2. 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."