News from the Skagit County Democrats
Posted on May 7th, 2023
Skagit County Democrats Action Newsletter for May 8, 2023
DEMOCRATIC EVENTS
1. NEW – Candidate filing week is May 15 – 19
Several local offices are open in cities, school districts, fire districts, port districts, and hospital districts, etc. Click Here for filing information. Click Here for Scheduled Races. Click Here for the Skagit County Candidates Guide. All information is available at the Skagit County Auditor's Elections webpage. The August 1 Primary is the next election.
2. NEW – The Fidalgo Democrats meets Tuesday, May 9, 7:00pm, Anacortes Library Meeting Room, Anacortes Public Library, 1220 10th Street, Anacortes
"We will be hosting 10th and 40th LD legislators for a wrap up of activity during the legislative session. Thanks to Dave Paul and Alex Ramel for confirming your attendance! It was a busy and productive session. Bills addressing gun violence, housing and homelessness, environmental issues, women’s privacy and health care were all successful. Hear the inside scoop on what passed and what still needs to be done. There will be time for questions following the presentations. Coffee and cookies will be served." Contact: Barbara Cooper, Chair, 360 770-3506.
3. 10th Legislative District Representative Dave Paul will host an in-person Community Town Hall, Wednesday, May 10, 5:00pm, Skagit Valley College, Room C172, Knutzen Cardinal Center, 2405 East College Way, Mount Vernon
4. The Skagit County Democrats Executive Board meets Thursday, May 11, 6:30pm via Zoom
Click Here for the Zoom link (Meeting ID: 892 7661 1191 Passcode: 959387). While only Executive Board officers may vote, members are welcome to attend.
5. NEW – The 39th Legislative District Democrats will conduct an Emergency Eboard Endorsements Meeting Thursday, May 11, 7:00pm – 8:00pm, via Zoom
Click Here for the Zoom link (Meeting ID: 816 6610 4902, Passcode: 446843).
6. Skagit County Democrats Candidate Endorsement Process
"Do you know of a candidate who has strong Democratic values running for office this year? If so, please encourage them to apply for certification and endorsement from the Skagit Democrats. That way, the party can formally support them through sharing their social media posts, allowing them to list the Skagit Democrats as an official endorser, giving access to the Votebuilder database, and sometimes even contributing a cash donation. If you know anyone interested in applying, please direct them to this link on our endorsement process.
7. UPDATED – "Masking up" is now OPTIONAL for volunteers and visitors at our Skagit Democrats Headquarters Office.
8. 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.
- Building an Agricultural Community through Crop Rotation and Land Trading (Skagit Version)
- Being Cisgender: What It Means, Where the Word Comes From, and the Privilege That Comes With It
- 5 ways a debt default could affect you
- How El Niño could affect U.S. weather
- All the Texts Fox News Didn’t Want You to Read
- The Chinese Exclusion Act reshaped America in 1882. And it's still echoing today
COMMUNITY EVENTS
1. The Northwest Agriculture Business Center and partners are sponsoring a series of financial workshops
- Basic finances and basic loan readiness, Tuesday, May 9, 5:00pm – 8:00pm, Catholic Community Services Farmworker Center, 2727 East College Way, Mount Vernon
- Different types of loans ranging from personal to business loans, Saturday, May 13, 10:00am – 1:00pm, Multi-purpose room, Knutzen Cardinal Center, Skagit Valley College, 2405 East College Way, Mount Vernon – At the end of this workshop, we will celebrate with catered food from Cocina Sabores.
All workshops will be presented in Spanish with live Mixteco interpretation. Contact: Juan Morales, Email – juan@agbizcenter.org, www.agbizcenter.org, Cell – (360) 770-0863.
2. NEW – The Healing Heart of Lushootseed, Friday, May 12, 7:30pm, Lincoln Theatre, 712 South First Street, Mount Vernon
"This event is free and open to all. Red carpet reception at 6:30 pm. Film begins at 7:30 pm . . . Feeling heartbroken by the tragic events of September 11th, 2001, Vi taq?s??blu Hilbert, an 83-year-old elder from the Upper Skagit Indian tribe in the Pacific Northwest, asked the spirit, "What can one person do to heal a sick world?" The answer she received was "music." The Healing Heart of Lushootseed, a short documentary film, tells the extraordinary story of how a diminutive great-grandmother gathered support for her most ambitious project yet, to heal the heart of the world through music."
3. NEW – Live Event: Speaking our Truth – LGBTQ+ and Allies with Luther Hughes, Saturday, May 13, 7:00pm, Lincoln Theatre, 712 South First Street, Mount Vernon
This event is free and open to everyone. "Poet Luther Hughes shares the stage with local LGBTQ+ high school students. Earlier in the day, the students will be participating in a poetry workshop; this event will feature the students performing their work alongside Hughes. Your hosts are Roberto Ascalon, Gina Touché, and Amos Miller (accompanying on piano). For more information, contact Steven Dolmatz at stevendolmatz@gmail.com or Linden Jorden at ljordan@pflagskagit.org"
4. NEW – Indivisible Skagit has posted 3 videos on their Facebook page regarding housing issues in Skagit County
See below for links to the videos
- All Skagitonians Need a Home We Can Afford
- Essential Housing for Essential Workers
- Skagit Sized Solutions
5. NEW – Farmer's Markets
The 2023 Farmer's Markets are beginning to open.
- Anacortes – Saturdays, 9:00am – 2:00pm, opened May 6
- Concrete – Saturdays, 10:00am – 2:00pm, opens May 27
- Mount Vernon – Saturdays, 9:00am – 2:00pm, opens May 20
- Sedro-Woolley – Wednesdays, 3:00pm – 7:00pm, opens May 24
6. NEW – La Conner Guitar Festival 2023, May 19 – 21, various locations, La Conner
Click Here for ticket, workshop, and concert information.
7. COVID-19 Information
Click Here for the most current report and resources.
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 – 12:00pm, Skagit County Democrats Headquarters, 2021 East College Way, Suite 104, Mount Vernon
Coffee and Cards meets on Wednesdays from 10:00am – 12:00pm. 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."