News from the Skagit County Democrats

Skagit County Democrats Action Newsletter for October 30, 2023

DEMOCRATIC EVENTS

1. NEW – The next Skagit County Democrats Executive Board Meeting is Thursday, Nov 9, 6:30pm via Zoom
Click Here for the Zoom link. Although only Executive Board officers may vote, all members are welcome to attend and participate in the meeting.

2. NEW – Legislative Committee Request
The Legislative Committee has been meeting to discuss priorities for the 2024 legislative session and would like your help encouraging our representatives to pursue the creation of bills that reflect our values as Democrats.

HB 1389 and SB5435 – Concerning residential rent increases under the residential landlord-tenant act and the manufactured/mobile home landlord-tenant act
We want to see HB 1389 reintroduced and passed in the 2024 state legislative session. This bill is intended to protect renters against predatory landlords by keeping rent increases in line with inflation up to a maximum of 7% annually. With the housing shortages we’re seeing in Skagit County, it is easy to see how competition can drive prices too high and push families out of their homes. There is really no need for landlords to increase rent more than 7% per year. Write to your legislator and ask them to support the reintroduction of HB 1389.

Contact your representative by clicking here (HB1389) or clicking here (SB 5435).

Recommended text: "I would like to see HB1389 / SB5435 reintroduced and passed in the 2024 state legislative session. This bill is intended to protect renters against predatory landlords by keeping rent increases in line with inflation up to a maximum of 7% annually. With the housing shortages we’re seeing in Skagit County, it is easy to see how competition can drive prices too high and push families out of their homes. There is really no need for landlords to increase rent more than 7% per year. Please support this bill and help your constituents."

Create a Gas Profit Cap to prevent price gouging
A gas profit cap would limit the profit margin of gas and diesel fuel sold in the state of Washington and return all excess profits to the people of Washington state through a yearly dividend payment. Fuel companies have seen an opportunity to price gouge the people of Washington well in excess of the recently enacted cap and invest costs that apply to fuel in our state. California has already enacted similar legislation and we should streamline the process they created for our own state. This will protect consumers from corporate greed.

Contact your representative to recommend such a bill. You can find your representatives at the League of Women Voters list of elected officials (Click Here).

Recommended text: "Please develop a gas profit cap in the state of Washington to protect consumers from price gouging. The recent cap and invest program in Washington has been seen as an opportunity by oil companies to price gouge residents well in excess of the cost for that program. It is time we create a program like this one https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320241SB2 but more streamlined. Let's return excess profits to the residents of Washington as a yearly dividend payment. This will protect consumers from corporate greed."

3. November 7 General Election Information
THE BALLOTS HAVE BEEN MAILED! Ballots are due November 7

Skagit County Democrats Endorsed Candidates

• Ashley Gregorious, Hospital Commission District 304
• Mary Hudson, Mount Vernon City Council, Ward 3
• Lucy Madrigal, Mount Vernon City Council, Ward 1
• Andrew Vander Stoep, Mount Vernon City Council, Ward 2
• Paul Cocke, Sedro Woolley City Council, Ward 5
• Hannah Oliver, Sedro Woolley School Board
• Celia Ponce Sanchez, Burlington-Edison School Board

Skagit County Democrats Recommended Candidates

• Heather Brennan, Anacortes School Board
• Bonnie Bowers, Anacortes Port Commissioner, Position 4
• TJ Fantini, Anacortes City Council, Position 3, Ward 3
• Laura Flores Cailloux, Mount Vernon School Board
• Christina Jepperson, Sedro-Woolley School Board

Skagit County Auditor's Office

• Phone: 360-416-1702
• Email: scelections@co.skagit.wa.us
• Mail: P.O. Box 1306, Mount Vernon, WA 98273
• Website: www.skagitcounty.net/elections

Ballot Drop-Box Locations (open for this election)

• 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 Street
• Conway
  • Conway Fire Department, 21020 Greenfield Street
• Hamilton
  • Fire District 8/Punkin Center Station, 34041 State Route 20
• La Conner
  • La Conner Regional 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
  • Sauk-Suiattle Reservation, 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

Significant dates concerning our General Election on Nov 7

• September 22 – Military and Overseas ballots mailed
• October 2 – Accessible Voting Unit test – 10:00 AM
• October 2 – Official Logic & Accuracy test – 1:00 PM
• October 18 – Domestic ballots mailed
• October 30 – Deadline to register or update existing registration online and by mail
• November 7 – Deadline for in-person registration and voter updates – Closes 8:00 PM
• November 7 – General Election – Closes 8:00 PM
• November 21 – Canvassing Board Meeting, Initial Review – 1:30 PM
• November 28 – General Election Certification – 1:30 PM

Felony Convictions and Voting Rights – Effective January 1st, 2022, if you were convicted of a felony in Washington State, another state, or in federal court, your right to vote will be restored automatically as long as you are not currently serving a DOC sentence of total confinement in prison. Click Here for more information.

4. Theft of Campaign Signs
"Theft of campaign signs is a crime. A candidate has had their signs stolen 3 days in a row and other candidates are experiencing the same thing. If you have a tile, air tag, or other trackers, put them in/on your sign or put the signs in front of cameras (i.e., Ring doorbell cams). Write down a license plate if you see someone stealing a sign. Charges will be filed as the thief is quite literally stealing freedom of speech."

5. Skagit Democrats business emails to Lynn Campbell need to be addressed to: chair@skagitdemocrats.org
Lynn has requested that all emails addressed to her related to Skagit Democrats should be addressed to the above email address. This allows her to differentiate between personal business and Skagit Democrats business. In addition, it allows more appropriate sharing within the organization. Finally, it is consistent with our organization's commitment to Role-Based communication and management.

6. 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 Christian Nationalist Ideas That Made Mike Johnson
• What we learned from our Florida voting rights investigation
• Here’s how a strong El Niño can impact WA winter weather
• How Insurance Companies Get You to Pay Higher Costs for Less Coverage
• Voters in at Least 10 States Are Trying to Protect Abortion Rights. GOP Officials Are Throwing Up Roadblocks
• Here’s the Truth Behind the Biggest (and Dumbest) Battery Myths

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COMMUNITY EVENTS

1. NEW – Daylight Saving Time ends 2:00am, Saturday night/Sunday morning (Nov 5)
Turn your clocks back 1 hour before you go to bed Saturday night. Enjoy the extra hour of sleep.

2. NEW – Halloween Celebrations

• Anacortes Downtown Business Trick or Treat!, Tuesday, Oct 31, 4:00pm – 6:00pm, downtown Anacortes
• Concrete Trunk-R-Treat, Town Center municipal parking lot, 4:00pm
• Mount Vernon Trick or Treat, Tuesday, Oct 31, 4:00pm – 6:00, 1st Street, Mount Vernon
• Sedro-Woolley Downtown Trick or Treat Parade (followed by Trunk or Treat), Tuesday, Oct 31, 4:30pm, Metcalf Street

3. NEW – Washington's Baker River sockeye salmon run smashes record, despite hydroelectric dams
Puget Sound Energy has earned kudos for their efforts at salmon restoration on the Baker River system. Click Here for an article from King 5 News detailing the story.

4. NEW – The Comment Period for the North Cascades Grizzly Bear Restoration Plan/Environmental Impact Statement closes Monday, November 13

• Click Here to submit comments.
• Click Here for an article on the benefits of grizzly restoration.
• Click Here for a Public Comment Sample Letter.
• Click Here to comment on the 10(j) management plan.

5. NEW – Skagit Transit Celebrates 30 Years of Connecting Communities, Wednesday, Nov 1, 11:00am – 1:00pm, Skagit Station, 105 East Kincaid Street, Mount Vernon

6. NEW – Skagit County Superior Court appoints new Commissioner
The Skagit County Superior Court judges are pleased to announce the appointment of Rebecca Carroll to serve as a Superior Court Commissioner. Commissioner Carroll will preside over Involuntary Treatment Act hearings and other court calendars as needed. Click Here for more information.

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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. 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."

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