News from the Skagit County Democrats

Skagit County Democrats Action Newsletter for July 24, 2023

DEMOCRATIC EVENTS

1. UPDATED – The 39th Legislative District Democrats Executive Board will meet Tuesday, Jul 25, 7:00pm via Zoom
Click Here for the Zoom link.  

2. Skagit County Fair, Aug 9 – 12
"The Skagit County Fair is less than a month away, and it's time to sign up to volunteer at our table. If you love meeting new people, looking at art, and petting animals, the fair is the place for you. We have 3 4-hour shifts all 4 days of the fair that need to be filled. We will provide training, day passes to the fair, and nice cold water for volunteers. If you have any questions, please reach out to Hannah at Hannah.Marie.Oliver@gmail.com or 360-421-7570. Click here to sign up for shifts August 9-12th."

3. Leadership and Volunteer Opportunities
Skagit County Democrats are looking for individuals to fill the following leadership and volunteer opportunities.

• Annual Gala Event Committee Chair
  • The annual Gala event, scheduled for June 2024, at the Swinomish Casino is THE major fundraising event for the Skagit County Democrats. Planning is started, and a committee is in place, but a committee chair is needed to lead the planning for this event. The Chair must be able to work collaboratively with other committee members, vendors, local party leadership, and the community. The committee chair must be prepared to engage the broad diversity within our community and our organization. Experience with event planning would be very helpful. If you are interested in this opportunity to serve the community in the very important 2024 election year, please contact Skagit County Democrats Chair, Lynn Campbell at chair@skagitdemocrats.org.
• Fundraising Committee Chair
  • The Fundraising Committee focuses on other fundraising opportunities in addition to the Annual Gala. Creative thinking and a willingness to explore new opportunities is critical to the success of this committee. The chair role requires the ability to work collaboratively with other committee members, and local party leadership. Contact Skagit County Democrats Chair, Lynn Campbell, at chair@skagitdemocrats.org for more information and to discuss this opportunity.
• Finance Committee Member
  • The Finance Committee is looking for individuals to join our committee as we manage and safeguard the financial resources of the local party. The Treasurer, the Committee Chair, and other members are ready to welcome your insights and suggestions as we develop and manage the financial controls and processes of our organization. For more information and to discuss this opportunity please contact Finance Committee Chair, Curt Huber, at finance@skagitdemocrats.org.

4. Membership Fees Increase
In May, the Executive Board voted to increase the membership dues by $5.00. Individual membership will be $25.00 and family membership will be $45.00. The change takes place at the time of next renewal or immediately for new memberships. We are in the process of updating our ActBlue forms, website, and membership forms to reflect this. Our membership income is one of the backbones of our finances. Thank you for everything you all do for our organization.

5. Recruiting Observers for the August 1st Primary
Once again we need Observers for the Primary Election process. If you are interested, we could really use the help. Please contact Angela Napoliello-Ivory at staff@skagitdemocrats.org. Please indicate your preferred day of the week and if you prefer morning or afternoon. Recent experience would indicate our observers' presence is important given Republican attitudes and antics. Click Here for a copy of the 2023 Observer Guidelines from the Skagit County Auditor's Office.

6. Skagit County Democrats Endorsed Candidates for the August 1 Primary Election
The following candidates and positions have been approved for endorsement by the Skagit County Democrats:

• Hannah Oliver – Sedro-Woolley School Board
• Paul Cocke – Sedro-Woolley City Council
• Ashley Gregorious – Hospital District 304 Board
• Celia Ponce Sanchez – Burlington School Board
• Mary Hudson – Mount Vernon City Council
• Andrew Vander Stoep – Mount Vernon City Council
• Lucy Madrigal – Mount Vernon City Council

7. August 1st Primary Election Information (Taken from the Skagit County Auditor's Elections website
The below is the Primary Election timeline:

• July 12 – Domestic ballots mailed
• July 18 – Official Logic & Accuracy test – 10:00 AM
• July 24 – Deadline to register or update existing registration online and by mail
• August 1 – Deadline for in-person registration and voter updates – Closes 8:00 PM
• August 1 – Primary Election – Closes 8:00 PM
• August 8 – Canvassing Board Meeting, Initial Review – 1:30 PM
• August 15 – Primary Election Certification – 1:30 PM

Below is a listing of the current Ballot Drop-Box Locations – Drop-box pickup will start Jul 17. (NOTE: Not all boxes will be open for every election. Boxes open for each election will be listed on the information wrap in your ballot packet. All locations that will be open for an election are open 20 days before Election Day and remain open 24 hours a day until 8:00PM Election Night.)

• 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
• Concrete
  • Skagit Upriver Services, 45770 Main South
• Mount Vernon
  • Mount Vernon Police Department, 1805 Continental Place
  • Skagit County Auditor's Office [Courthouse] (in U-shaped parking lot accessed from 3rd Street near Kincaid), 700 South 2nd Street, Room 201
• Sauk-Suiattle
  • 6020 Mountain Goat Way, Darrington
• Sedro-Woolley
  • Sedro-Woolley Post Office (in alley between Eastern Ave and Metcalf), 111 Woodworth Street

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.

• In the wake of Dobbs v. Jackson, there has been a 100% increase in calls to the National Domestic Violence Hotline about reproductive coercion
• "Train and socialize": Expert on linguistic anthropology explains how Trump is warping MAGA minds
• Business Model Fueling Silicon Valley Tech Companies May Be Illegal
• Men are lost. Here’s a map out of the wilderness
• The Overlooked American President Who Can Offer a Lesson for Today

 

---

COMMUNITY EVENTS

1. NOTE CHANGE IN DATE – Planned Parenthood rally Saturday, Jul 29, 11:00am – 12:00pm, on the sidewalk in front of the Mount Vernon Health Center, 1805 East Division Street, Mount Vernon
An statement from Jade Phillips, Community Organizer, jphillips@mbpp.org
"One update I would like to share is that there is a change in the scheduled sign-waving date in August. Instead of meeting the first Saturday of August (8/5), we will gather on Saturday, July 29th from 11am-12pm. This date will align with the anniversary of the Women's Right to Vote and the 14th Amendment (August 1920). Stay tuned for more information! Thanks everyone for your continued support! Let me know if you have any questions."

2. UPDATED – Skagit County Farm Venues Hearing, Tuesday, Jul 25, 6:00pm – 7:00pm, Skagit County Board of Commissioners Hearing Room, 1800 Continental Place, Mount Vernon
This hearing has to do with Agritourism management and specifically with "Farm Venue Events". Updated extensive background from Skagit County can be found in this document and this document. A group in opposition to the proposal can be found here. Click Here for a thorough article from goSkagit on the subject.

How to Participate Virtually: You may watch the meeting in person or watch live streaming of the Planning Commission meeting through Skagit 21 TV and remotely through your telephone or from your computer, tablet or smartphone with this Zoom link or by calling: 1 (253) 215-8782 (Tacoma) Meeting ID: 892 4400 5472 Passcode: 0982730.

3. NEW – 1st Annual Boys & Girls Club of Swinomish Tribal Community Golf Tournament, Thursday, Jul 27, 10:00am – 4:00pm, Swinomish Golf Links, 12518 Christianson Road, Anacortes
Your support will help provide healthy meals and snacks, supplies for enriching programs, and opportunities for local youth to be Club kids.

4. NEW – The 22nd Annual Lyman Car, Motorcycle, & Craft Show, Saturday, Jul 29, downtown Lyman
Proceeds from the event will again go to the Lyman Cemetery and City Park
 

---

ANNOUNCEMENTS

1. Anacortes Sunday Demonstrations
Progressive folks regularly demonstrate each Sunday, 12:00pm – 1:00pm at the corner of 12th Street and Commercial Avenue in Anacortes. While this is not an official Skagit County Democrats activity, turnout is encouraged.

2. UPDATED – 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 led quite capably by Judy Farrar and Judith Chilcote. 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 $.51. 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."
 

---