News from the Skagit County Democrats
Posted on January 7th, 2024
Skagit County Democrats Action Newsletter for January 8, 2024
DEMOCRATIC EVENTS
1. Tuesday, Jan 9, the 2024 Washington State Legislative Session begins
2. 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 Hoag 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).
3. 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.
4. NEW – The 10th Legislative District Democrats will conduct a General Membership Meeting, Saturday, Jan 20, 10:00am via Zoom
Connection information will be forthcoming.
5. NEW – Legislative Committee Report
"With the State Legislature in session starting Monday our Legislative Committee is hard at work going through as many bills as possible to make sure we keep you well informed. Please review the following bills and express your support to your elected officials.
SB5102 – Would ensure that every board of directors will provide school library information and technology programs for school children.
This may be the most effective means to fighting misinformation and denial of access to books and educational materials. Local politicians and school boards too often fold to radical right-wing pressure to ban books and restrict free thinking. SB5102 would bring to school libraries needed technology providing access to instructional materials. Write your legislators to support this proposed legislation and encourage them to include requirements for free access to truth in educational materials and literature.
Email your Legislator to support SB5102
Recommended text:
'We must ensure that every Washington student has access to library materials and technology within their schools. School librarians and educators must be protected in their efforts to utilize technology and educational materials, including literature, to provide access to truth in education. At risk is an inferior education that will interfere with the ability of Washington youth to be competitive in the future workforce and to be deprived of a full understanding of truth in education. Please support SB5102.'
SB5335 – Developing the Washington health trust.
Universal health care is badly needed to reduce costs and ensure that nobody falls through the cracks at any point in life! We want to see SB5335 passed in the 2024 state legislative session. This bill is intended to create a single-payer system by establishing a Washington Health Trust. In 2021, the legislature established a Universal Health Care Commission to prepare the state for a health care system that provides coverage to all Washington Residents. Our state is already moving in the right direction on this! We just need to follow through on the vision. Please consider writing to your legislator and ask them to support this bill.
Email your Legislator to support SB5335
Recommended text:
'Please support and reintroduce SB 5335 in the 2024 state legislative session. Our state is already moving in the right direction on this! We just need to follow through on the vision. Please sponsor this bill and help get it through your chamber so we can make the lives of every Washingtonian better.'"
6. NEW – Democracy in Crisis: Taking Action, sponsored by the 10th Legislative District Democrats, Saturday, Jan 27, 10:00am – 4:00pm, Skagit Valley College Cafeteria, 2405 East College Way, Mount Vernon
Featured Speaker: Paul Benz, Director of WA Partners for Social Change. Workshops include Civil Survival, PFLAG Skagit, FairVote Washington. Lunch and snacks served. Click Here for more information.
7. NEW – Training Opportunity
This program is sponsored by the Best Practices Institute, a project of the Democratic Party.
"Do you want to do everything you possibly can to help protect Democracy and stand-up against Authoritarianism?
Activate 2 Win (A2W) is a Training Series sponsored by the Democratic Party that will help you sharpen your skills and put your best foot forward in the 2024 cycle.
A2W is a free 10-month, 10-part course, covering several aspects of grassroots campaigning designed to prepare you for Election Day in November. The first session will start on Tuesday, January 23, 2024. Each session will take place on the 3rd Tuesday of the month at 4PM PST. In order to receive access to the monthly completion quizzes, recordings, and slide decks by requesting access to the BPI Victory Vault. You must request access to the vault to gain access to the A2W Program.
You must register by Sunday, January 14, 2024!
A2W has a two-part registration:
- –Complete this form to begin registering for this exciting new program.
- -Sign-up for the Victory Vault to ensure you can access the training videos.
- (Contact bpi@dnc.org if you have any questions.)
Maximum participation by Skagit County Democrats will help make us all stronger together and be a formidable force for good in 2024."
8. 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.' "
9. 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.
10. Skagit County Democrats Headquarters reopens Monday, Jan 8
11. NEW – About the Break-in of our Headquarters Office
The following is from an email that was sent to our volunteers Jan 3 by our Chair, Lynn Campbell, and provides an excellent description of what happened and subsequent steps taken:
"On or about December 14 (Sunday), another tenant was in the building and could not get the front door locked. This is not uncommon; we've all struggled with the outside door, but I am proud to say that many of our folks who used the office on weekends would call for assistance.
The result was that a masked individual could easily pry our back door open, walk in, and steal some of our very expensive equipment. The police were called, and since this was a felony, they came right out. Both Roger [Phillip] and I met with the police, Cindy [Lane], and the other volunteer who was there. I have been in constant contact with Windermere, our leasing agent for repairs.
The cameras, both inside and outside the building, were fully operational, thus providing the police and me with important information. The thief wore a mask and a hoodie so he was unrecognizable . This was a crime of opportunity, and we weren't targeted. If you hear such speculation, it simply is not true. This person tried other office doors but then settled on our back door, which, sadly, was too easy to pop open due to poor installation.
In order to prevent further occurrences, we are requesting the following from the owner:
- Fix the front door and add a lock on the inside of the front door to prevent intruders from entering the building when tenants are busy inside their office/conference room.
- We will hire a locksmith to install the deadbolt properly on our back door.
- We will fix the doorframe outside of the back door.
I held an Emergency Board Meeting to fully inform the board. I am deeply touched by their generosity. The Executive Board members stepped up and donated the purchase [replacement] of our sound system and the Chromebook, which was also taken.
Volunteers were not under any threat whatsoever. This happened on a weekend, and the individual was simply a thief.
I look forward to our return on Monday, January 8. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me.
In solidarity, Lynn"
12. 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.
- Here’s what the Supreme Court faces as justices discuss Trump’s eligibility
- Measuring income inequality: A primer on the debate
- What Americans Think About Veterans and Military Service
- A Major Climate Force Has Been Ignored for Decades
- Should you leave your laptop plugged in all the time?
COMMUNITY EVENTS
1. NEW – Commissioners seek candidates for vacant Skagit County District Court Judge, Position 2
Skagit County District Court Judge Dianne Goddard will retire from her service on February 29, 2024. The retirement will create a vacancy in Skagit County District Court for Position 2. The Board of County Commissioners will accept applications from qualified members of the Washington State Bar Association to fill the vacated position from January 5, 2024, until 4:30 p.m. on January 19, 2024. Click Here for more information.
2. 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.
3. NEW – Skagit Valley Eagles
"The Skagit Valley Eagle Festival is no longer an organized festival, however winter-time is still a time for celebration during this eagle-watching season. The Skagit River Interpretive Center is a great place to start your eagle watching adventure. Winter eagle watching activities take place in Concrete, Rockport, and Marblemount." Click Here for more information.
4. NEW – 10th Annual Illuminight Winter Walk, Friday, Jan 26, 5:00pm – 7:00pm, Riverwalk Plaza, Mount Vernon
Click Here for more information.
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."