News from the Skagit County Democrats
Posted on December 31st, 2023
Skagit County Democrats Action Newsletter for January 1, 2024
DEMOCRATIC EVENTS
HAPPY NEW YEAR ! ! !
1. NEW – Legislative Send-Off, Thursday, Jan 4, 4:00pm – 5;30pm, Burlington City Council Chambers, 833 South Spruce Street, Burlington
The Skagit County Chamber Alliance will host legislators from the 10th, 39th and 40th districts for the annual Legislative Send-Off. Each legislator will share his or her priorities and expectations for the upcoming session. The audience will then have the opportunity to ask questions of the legislators.
2. NEW – Join Indivisible Skagit and other local pro-Democracy organizations to remember the January 6th armed attack on our nation's Capitol and defend our Democracy, Saturday, Jan 6, 2:00pm – 3:00pm, George Hopper Road and South Burlington Boulevard, Burlington
America Doesn't Want a Dictator! STOP MAGA Mayhem! Defend Our Freedoms! Protect Our Democracy! Sign up with Mobilize: https://mobilize.us/s/4vmcIv.
3. NEW – The Skagit County Democrats Membership Committee will meet Saturday, Jan 13, 10:00am – 12:00pm, via Zoom OR in-person, C2C Community Center, 224 Stewart Road (turns into Hoad Road east of Riverside Drive), Mount Vernon
This Membership meeting will be a HYBRID meeting. PLEASE NOTE LOCATION OF IN-PERSON VENUE. This will be a busy meeting, and we must start promptly at 10:00 a.m. If you choose the Zoom alternative, we ask that you log on no later than 9:45 a.m. Click Here for the Zoom link (Meeting ID: 231 460 3118 – Passcode: 98273).
4. The Fidalgo Democrats will host the Alliance for Gun Responsibility, Tuesday, Jan 9, 7:00pm, Anacortes Public Library, 1220 10th Street, Anacortes
Hazel Brown, Policy and Advocacy Manager, and Alex Castro, Field Organizer, will speak about the Alliance’s work and their 2024 Legislative Priorities. The local group Safe and Sane Skagit is a Chapter Team of the Alliance and will speak as well. Julia Hurd and Diane Studley will talk about what SaSS has been up to and plans for 2024.
5. NEW – Washington Secretary of State Hobbs’ Statement on Colorado Supreme Court 2024 Primary Ballot Ruling
"December 20, 2023
OLYMPIA — Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs issued the following statement regarding the 2024 Presidential Primary:
'As Washington’s Secretary of State and chief elections officer, it is my utmost responsibility to ensure Washington’s elections are free, fair, and conducted with full integrity in accordance with state and federal law. In RCW 29A.56, state law specifies how the Presidential Primary will be conducted when Washington holds this election on March 12, 2024.??
'Under this law, major political parties must provide my office with candidate names for the Presidential Primary ballot no later than January 9. The law forbids alteration of those candidate lists once submitted. RCW 29A.68 says a registered voter can go to court to contest ballot placement after a candidate’s name has been filed.??
'My staff and I are monitoring legal developments that concern Donald Trump’s eligibility for the ballot for potential applicability to Washington. However, Colorado state courts’ rulings are not binding here. The Office of the Secretary of State and county elections offices will continue to prepare for the March 12 Presidential Primary as Washington law directs.' "
6. National Democratic Party Training Resource
The National Democratic Training Committee (NDTC) offers free training for all Democrats on a variety of topics. Upcoming remote (Zoom) training include the following topics:
- So You Want to Run for Office? – January 8 – Click Here for more information.
- Running in a Red District – January 9 – Click Here for more information.
- What is a Democratic Precinct Chair? – January 17 – Click Here for more information.
7. UPDATED – Skagit County Democrats Headquarters reopens Monday, Jan 8
8. NEW – Tuesday, Jan 9, the 2024 Washington State Legislative Session begins
9. NEW – A Message from Chair Lynn Cambell
"I hope you all have had time over the holidays to reflect and re-energize. This year's election is vast. The Presidential Primary will be held on March 12. Ballots will be out before then, so when we return on January 8, we all need to ensure we are in full support and working hard to get President Biden re-elected. Trump is counting on low voter turnout for Democrats.
Additionally, we have the following elections which are being held this year:
U.S. Senate, U.S. House, Washington state Governor, Lt Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, State executive offices, State Senate, State House, Supreme Court (3 positions), Appellate courts, Local ballot measures, and
Municipal positions.
As you can imagine, this will be a hectic year. Our entire Local Party consists of volunteers. We all have very different lifestyles, timelines, and personalities. I can’t stress enough the importance of unity. I have never met a group of volunteers who work harder and contribute so much to the success of our organization. It takes an enormous amount of effort, often behind the scenes, to ensure the success of our party.
Often, it is easy to be the armchair quarterback or to criticize the work of a volunteer or one another. I have witnessed that tendency in paid jobs (such as hospitals, schools, mental health clinics, and law offices) and I've heard stories of other professions. We most certainly are living this out politically, both nationally and globally.
Democrats have a big tent with diverse thoughts and ideas. I love being inclusive and the fact that we do have such a big tent. Having such a big tent also can bring its own set of problems, including differing opinions. We need to do all we can to mitigate those problems. Let’s show one another grace. We all make mistakes, but we are all working incredibly hard.
Democrats will win if we show a spirit of unity and the ability to lift one another up. We must do this on a much broader scale with our Democratic candidates. We may share philosophical differences and different views than our candidates. However, this is the year of grace and helping our candidates to succeed. A generosity of spirit always wins."
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 Absolute Worst Political Predictions of 2023
- Public Christian schools? Leonard Leo’s allies advance a new cause
- The English-Muffin Problem – A simple explanation for economic discontent
- Congress passed so few laws this year that we explained them all in 1,000 words
- What is a mass extinction and are we facing a sixth? Experts weigh in
COMMUNITY EVENTS
1. NEW – The monthly Planned Parenthood rally is Saturday, Jan 6, 11:00am – 12:00pm, on the sidewalk in front of the Mount Vernon Health Center, 1805 East Division Street, Mount Vernon
Bring your signs, your friends, and your family. RSVP here.
2. NEW – The Anacortes Senior College is offering a 6-week course (Tuesdays at 4:00pm) on "Indian/Non-Indian Relations: Some Historical and Legal Context" beginning Jan 16
Click Here to register.
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."