News from the Skagit County Democrats

Skagit County Democrats Action Newsletter for November 7, 2022

DEMOCRATIC EVENTS

Get those ballots in! All must be submitted or postmarked by Tuesday!

1. Skagit County Democrats Election Night Party, 500 South 1st Street, Mount Vernon
Skagit County Democrats will be hosting a thank you Election Watch party for all of our candidates and their staff, all of our members, volunteers, and voters, doorbellers, phone bankers and the postcard writers (who wrote nearly 5,000 postcards)! A taco bar and tickets for 2 drinks will be included. Please RSVP to Charles Ivory at cmivory69@gmail.com so we can give Temperate Habits a general idea of how many people will come.

2. NEW – The Skagit County Democrats Executive Board will meet Tuesday, Nov 15, 6:30pm via Zoom
Minutes, agenda, and Zoom link will be forthcoming.

3. NEW – The Rick Larsen team is sign waving in the area this Monday, Nov 7 – Come out and wave a Rick Larsen Sign or bring the Sign of your favorite local candidate!!

• 8:00am – 9:00am – Sign Wave in Stanwood (corner of 72nd and 268th Street NW)
• 9:30am -10:30am – Sign wave in Mount Vernon (outside of Courthouse)
• 10:30am – 12:00pm – Sign Wave in Mount Vernon (corner of College Way and Riverside)

Please email, call or text Hannah Oliver if you plan on attending – 460-421-7570, hannah@ricklarsen.org.

4. NEW – Huge thanks to all the volunteers who stepped up to write postcards for our Get Out the Vote Campaign. You completed 4,000 postcards which were sent throughout the County. Great job!

5. UPDATED – Election Observers
"Thank you for your overwhelming response to our request for Election Observers. This is the first time we are allowed to have two observers per shift, and I am happy to report that all the shifts are filled. There is a monitor in the rotunda outside of the Elections Office which shows views of the 4 different locations in the office where the ballot processing takes place. Anyone can go to the rotunda to watch. I have observed the process this week and can say that the other party has been pleasant and there have not been any issues from them. The counting process is progressing well, and the Elections Office staff are very busy. But be sure to get your ballot in early and encourage your friends and family to do the same. Thank you again for all your help!"

6. Washington State Democrats Voter Protection Hotline
Volunteers are staffing the hotline now through Election Day to answer questions about voting and to help resolve any voter protection issues that come up. If you or anyone in your community has questions or concerns about voting, please direct them to this resource. The hotline number is (206) 309-VOTE, or (206) 309-8683.

7. UPDATED – The Fidalgo Democrats next meet Tuesday, Nov 15, 7:00pm via Zoom
The meeting is the third Tuesday in November since the second Tuesday is Election Day. "We will be joined by Anacortes City Council member Ryan Walters for a presentation and discussion of Housing for our Whole Community – Anacortes and Skagit county. Ryan has been focused on these issues and has made several presentations recently. What are the problems and what are some of the solutions? Learn how the lack of affordable housing affects our whole community. Hear what the City of Anacortes is doing about these issues, working with non-profits and other cities. Learn how you can help. Discussion and audience questions will follow the presentation. call Barbara Cooper 360-4123 if you have any questions."

8. 2022 Election Information (from the Skagit County Auditor's website)

Click Here for the Registration page. People may check their Washington State Voter Registration status on the Washington Secretary of State website Voter Portal (Click Here). After voting, they may also use this same portal to track their ballot.

Timeline:

• November 8 – Deadline for in-person registration and voter updates – Closes 8:00 PM
• November 8 – General Election – Closes 8:00 PM
• November 22 – Canvassing Board Meeting, Initial Review – 1:30 PM
• November 29 – General Election Certification – 1:30 PM

Ballot Drop Box Locations
Click Here for a map of locations

• Anacortes
  • Anacortes Public Library (behind library near drive-up book-drop), 1220 10th Street
  • Skyline Beach Club – 6041 Sands Way
• Bow Edison
  • Fire District 5 Fire Station, 14304 West Bow Hill Rd
• Burlington
  • Burlington Parks and Recreation Building (north side of Fairhaven Ave parking lot), 900 East Fairhaven Street
• Conway
  • Conway Fire Department, 21020 Greenfield Street
• Concrete
  • Skagit Upriver Services, 45770 Main Street
• La Conner
  • La Conner Library, 614 East Morris Street
• Mount Vernon
  • Mount Vernon Police Department, 1805 Continental Place
  • Skagit County Auditor's Office [Courthouse] (in U-shaped parking lot accessed from 3rd St. near Kincaid), 700 South 2nd Street, Room 201
• Sauk-Suiattle
  • Last Chance Casino, 6020 Mountain Goat Way, Darrington
• Sedro-Woolley
  • Sedro-Woolley Post Office (in alley between Eastern Ave and Metcalf), 111 Woodworth Street
• Swinomish
  • Social Services Building, 17337 Reservation Road

9. NEW – Letter from the Chair, Lynn Campbell
"Clyde Shavers does not need to defend himself against false allegations. I stand both with him and behind him. This past week I have spoken with Clyde and the pain he feels about the deception and public shaming his father lodged against him is just unfathomable. How can one truly defend themselves against blatant lies? Their true goal is to get Democrats to turn against Democrats.

I come from a Republican family. My parents were not pleased with me for being a Democrat, but they have always respected both my values and me. They are no longer with us, but I am very close to my siblings, their kids, and grandchildren. They are Republicans. This week has moved me into a space of extreme gratitude for my family. My family places love, respect and family loyalty above politics. I know they would never turn on me nor attempt to sabotage me in any way. They may disagree with my views, but their disagreement stays between us.

I am sad that Clyde Shavers has the parents he has. I am even more outraged that Greg Gilday would take advantage of what should be a very private matter, the broken relationship between a father and his son. Clyde’s father chose to send his letter to Greg Gilday. Gilday chose to share this letter with the media and use its content to make various campaign videos for the purpose of winning this election. (It hasn't escaped my notice that both the GOP and the local papers have splashed these stories singling out our only candidates who are both People of Color.) This is the work of the new MAGA Republicans……sow division, deceit and hatred; create chaos, and encourage family and neighbors to turn against one another. Greg Gilday is capitalizing on this. He is everything that is wrong in our political environment.

I have heard some folks say “If his father said it, it must be true.” That is not how we should be thinking. The real question is just what type of father could do this to his son? I feel a man who was proud to attend the insurrection and publicly turning against his Democratic son has zero credibility. Instead, we need to ask, “What did the father have to gain?” I don’t know the answer to this, but I can tell you I find Greg Gilday to be despicable and I don’t want him to represent us in public office. If he stoops to this level, how much lower will he go simply because he was losing . . . I don’t want to find out. VOTE HIM OUT!!!!

Clyde is the real deal. We stand proud to continue our endorsement of Clyde, and I am honored to call him my friend."

10. 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.

• The Only Way to Navigate the Election Storm Ahead
• Lessons Learned from the COVID-19 Outbreak – Preventing and Managing Future Pandemics
• What Can We Learn from Losing Presidential Candidates?
• Deer-Car Collisions Rise When Daylight Saving Time Ends
• New view on the brain: It’s all in the connections

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COMMUNITY EVENTS

1. NEW – Skagit County Veterans Day Parade & Activities

• PANCAKE BREAKFAST – 8:00am – 10:00am; Burlington Community/Senior Center, 1011 Greenleaf Avenue, Burlington; Free to Military Veterans and by donation for all others
• MILITARY DISPLAY & REFRESHMENTS – 10:00am – 12:30pm; Burlington Visitor Center, 520 Fairhaven Avenue, Burlington; Heritage Planes will fly over the parade route
• VETERANS DAY PARADE and HERITAGE PLANE FLYOVER – 11:00am – 12:30pm; Fairhaven Avenue from Walnut Street to Skagit Street, Burlington
• SOUP AND SANDWICH LUNCHEON – 12:00pm – 1:00pm; Burlington Community/Senior Center, 1011 Greenleaf Avenue, Burlington; Free to Military Veterans and by donation for all others

2. NEW – The Skagit County Board of Commissioners is seeking two (2) applicants for Commission Members of the Housing Authority of Skagit County Board
Applications are due by Nov 30. Applicants must be residents of Skagit County. Click Here for the application process. Click Here for a description of the Housing Authority of Skagit County.

3. NEW – Tenant Legal Aid Advisory Group
" . . . Skagit Legal Aid is looking for local tenants to join a Tenant Legal Aid Advisory Group. Our first meeting will be held at the Burlington Public Library on Thursday, November 10, 2022 from 11:30am – 1:30pm. Lunch will be provided and the Advisory Group members will receive a $50.00 stipend per meeting unless your employer prohibits you from receiving such payments. Interested tenants can sign up here! Meetings will occur on the second Thursday in November, January, March, April, and June and will cover (1) updates on evictions in Skagit County and San Juan County, (2) trainings followed by questions and answer periods about timely legal topics affecting the landlord/tenant relationship, and (3) an open forum period for Group members and meeting guests to provide input about tenant legal services. Please contact SLA Executive Director Andy Dugan at director@skagitvlp.org if you have any questions."

4. NEW – Community Input and Comment on the 2023-2028 Six-Year Transportation Improvement Program
"Skagit County Public Works is in the process of compiling proposed projects for the 2023 – 2028 Six-Year Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). The STIP is considered a mid-range planning tool for regionally significant transportation projects that may have State and Federal funding. These projects include new construction or improvements to the transportation system under the jurisdiction of the County, such as road projects, bridge projects, ferry projects, and trail or non-motorized projects. The County will be accepting public comment until 4:30 p.m. on November 23, 2022." Click Here for more information.

5. Sedro-Woolley seeks new planning commissioner
"Those interested in the position must live within city limits or within the city’s urban growth area. They are asked to submit a one-page letter of interest by Nov. 22. For more information, email jcoleman@sedro-woolley.gov or call the Planning Department at 360-855-0771." Click Here for the article in GoSkagit.

6. Veteran's Community Park Ribbon Cutting
"The community is invited to attend the Veterans Community Park Plaza Ribbon Cutting event to take place at the Northern State Recreation Area located on 25625 Helmick Road in Sedro-Woolley, Washington on Thursday November 10, 2022, at 3:00 p.m. An open house is scheduled in advance of the ribbon cutting at 12:00 p.m., with light refreshments provided." Click Here for more information.

7. UPDATED – COVID-19 Information

COVID-19 Testing Site at Cascade Mall to Reduce Hours Beginning October 31, 2022
"Effective October 31, 2022, the hours of operation at Skagit County Public Health’s COVID-19 testing site at Cascade Mall, located at 150 Cascade Mall Drive in Burlington, will be changing. Testing services will be available the following days and times until further notice."

• Mondays: 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
• Thursdays: 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Click Here for the most current report and resources.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

1. 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, Wednesdays, 10:00am – 11:00am, Skagit County Democrats Headquarters, 2021 East College Way, Suite 104, Mount Vernon
Coffee and Cards meets on Wednesdays from 10-11 am. This is the group that was previously led by Carol Sullivan and is now lead quite capably by Judy Farrar. The group 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 $.44. 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, Mount Vernon, 360-336-1555."

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