News from the Skagit County Democrats

Skagit County Democrats Action Newsletter for April 15, 2025

   

DEMOCRATIC EVENTS

1. UPDATED – Gala News
Mark your calendar – this year's Gala will be Saturday, June 1 at the Swinomish Lodge and Casino. This year's theme is "Preserving Democracy Together". Tickets are now on-sale! Click Here to purchase yours!

Festivities will include:

• A special "Meet and Greet" with many endorsed state-wide and local candidates
• Guest Speakers and Dignitaries
• Fantastic items and experiences at our Dual Action Auction
• Door Prizes
• Delicious, locally sourced food and drinks
• Dessert Dash!
• And most important of all, sharing the evening with great friends and allies

Please think about items to donate for the Live and Silent Auctions. Click Here for Auction Items DOs and DON'Ts. Click Here for some ideas for baskets and other auction items ideas. We will be accepting donations for the Gala until May 5.

2. The 39th Legislative District Democrats Executive Board meets Monday, Apr 15, 7:00pm – 8:00pm, via Zoom
Click Here for the Zoom link.

3. Tax Day to Earth Day Rally, Monday, Apr 15, 4:30pm – 6:00pm, Wall Street, between Wetmore and Oakes Avenues, Everett
"Join No More Bombs and Washington Against Nuclear Weapons, (WANW), for a Tax Day rally and meeting with [2nd Congressional District] Representative Rick Larsen’s Aid (Casey Ryan) in Everett. We want tax dollars spent on social and environmental needs, not warfare and nuclear weapons. This is part of a state-wide effort." Click Here for more information.

4. UPDATED – The 40th Legislative District Democrats will conduct a Early Endorsement Meeting, Sunday Apr 21, 6:00pm, via Zoom (Please note change of time.)
Click Here for the Zoom link – Meeting ID: 372 671 4899; Passcode: 40th. " . . . We will consider EARLY ENDORSEMENT of Democrat Incumbents. As approved by the Executive Board, this includes all the 40th LD Legislators and our CD 2 Congressional Representative."

Also, please note regarding Delegate selection: "LD 40 is actually just below the number of candidates to require an election for delegates, and as such all delegates who pledged to Joseph R. Biden will be seated at the conclusion of the election process this weekend, so no balloting or further action is necessary . . ."

5. The Janet St. Clair for State Senate campaign is recruiting volunteers
"Our campaign will be beginning a small field effort in the precincts of the 10th LD in Skagit and Snohomish County where Janet has never been on the ballot. We'll largely be gathering information about what voters already know and what issues they care about. We are looking for willing members of Skagit Dems to assist in that effort in the Skagit County 10th LD precincts starting as soon as possible next month. If they want to branch out to Snohomish as well, we'll certainly take the help." Click Here to register as a volunteer for Janet's campaign.

6. NEW – Endorsed Candidates
At the last Skagit Democrats Membership Meeting, (April 13) the following candidates were endorsed:

• Heather Shand, Skagit County Superior Court Judge
• Dave Paul, 10th Legislative District Representative
• Clyde Shavers, 10th Legislative District Representative
• Debra Lekanoff, 40th Legislative District Representative
• Alex Ramel, 40th Legislative District Representative
• Liz Lovelett, 40th Legislative District Senator
• Rick Larsen, 2nd Congressional District Representative
• Maria Cantwell, Washington State Senator
• Steve Hobbs, Washington Secretary of State
• Pat McCarthy, Washington State Auditor
• Mike Pellicciotti, Washington State Treasurer
• (Bob Ferguson – Governor, and Janet St. Clair – 10th LD Senator, were endorsed at a previous meeting)

We encourage all members to follow and support their efforts for election/re-election.

We will be holding our next Endorsement Meeting on Saturday, May 25th. More details about the Endorsement Meeting will be announced in the coming weeks. We encourage all members to save the date. There will be no general membership meeting on Saturday, May 11th.

7. NEW – REMINDER – Submit your vote on Proposition 1, "Continuation of Emergency Medical Services Levy (Skagit County EMS System), before the Tuesday, April 23 deadline
All the usual Ballot Drop-Box locations are available.

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.

• The real reason Republicans oppose efforts to cancel student debt
• Mexican officials try to stop US-bound migrants
• Unauthorized ACA plan switches drives call for action against rogue agents
• AI makes the fight for net neutrality even more important
• 7 computer maintenance tasks you should do every month

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COMMUNITY EVENTS

1. NEW – Annual Farm Workers March (Annual Marcha Campesina), Sunday, Apr 21, 10:00am, starting at Edgewater Park, Mount Vernon
"March with us to learn about critical issues Farmworkers are facing now and what actions you can take with us! March with us to celebrate the strength and resilience of farm worker families working towards a better food system. We invite our friends and allies working for food and economic justice to join us. We need volunteers! If you are interested, contact us at marchacampesina87@gmail.com."

2. UPDATED – The Skagit Valley Tulip Festival runs throughout April
This week's activities include:

• Neighbors Night in the Tulips, Wednesday, Apr 17, 4:30pm – 7:30pm, Tulip Valley Farms, 15245 Bradshaw Road, Mount Vernon
• Bloom Ball, Thursday, Apr 18, 5:00pm – 9:00pm, Tulip Valley Farms, 15245 Bradshaw Rd, Mount Vernon
• 40th Annual Tulip Festival Street Fair, Apr 19, 20, & 21, Friday & Saturday, 10:00am – 6:00pm, & Sunday, 10:00am – 5:00pm, Downtown Mount Vernon
• Safe and Sane Skagit and No More Bombs will be tabling at the Mount Vernon Tulip Festival Street Fair. SaSS will be giving away safe storage devises for firearms and celebrating 4 gun violence prevention bills that passed this year.
• Tulip Tunes at the Tulip Festival Street Fair, Friday, Apr 19, 10:00am – Sunday, Apr 21, 5:00pm, Pine Street, Mount Vernon

3. NEW – 2nd Annual "Rhythm of Giving" fundraiser for Meals on Wheels, Apr 25, 6:00pm, Bertelsen Winery, 20598 Starbird Road, Mount Vernon
Click Here for ticket information.

4. NEW – The Mountain Film Festival, Thursday – Sunday, Apr 18 – 21, Concrete Theatre, 45920 Main Street, Concrete
"The Mountain Film Festival in Concrete, Washington, is a 4-day event featuring documentaries, multimedia presentations, photography workshops, special guests, and more." Click Here for the schedule.

5. NEW – Anacortes Community Meeting scheduled for Apr 22, 5:00pm – 7:00pm, Anacortes Senior Activity Center, 1701 22nd Street, Anacortes
"The meeting is free and open to the public. The Skagit County Commissioners and representatives from Planning & Development Services, Public Health, Public Works, the Department of Emergency Management, Facilities Management, and the Sheriff's Office will be in attendance to respond to community questions. For more information about this meeting, please contact the Skagit County Commissioners’ Office at (360) 416-1300 or email jrogers@co.skagit.wa.us".

6. NEW – Earth Day is Monday, Apr 22
Click Here for local activities in celebration of Earth Day.

7. NEW – Skagit County Planning and Development Services announces the start of the Skagit County 2025 Comprehensive Plan Update
"This will be a detailed process of data collection, community engagement, and policy updates that will influence county actions for the next ten years. Between April 9th to May 14th 2024, we invite you to participate in the project’s first survey. This survey is meant to capture the most important topics the community is facing since the last comprehensive plan update in 2016. The survey is nine questions and should only take 10 minutes to complete. Go to the project website to complete the survey."
 

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

1. 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 $.53. 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."

2. 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.
 

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