News from the Skagit County Democrats

Skagit County Democrats Action Newsletter for April 29, 2024

   

DEMOCRATIC EVENTS

1. NEW – Candidate filing week for 2024 is May 6 – 10
All candidates for the 2024 election will officially file their declarations of candidacy during this week. Candidates for Precinct Committee Officer (PCO) will file at this time also – both incumbent and new candidates. There is no filing fee for PCOs. PCOs are the neighborhood-level elected representatives of the party and under state law PCOs are the very basis of political party democracy. All single-county Legislative, Superior Court, and Court of Appeals positions now file with the Office of the Secretary of State. Contact the Skagit County Auditor's Elections office for all other offices.

Candidate Filing Schedule:

• April 22 – First day filing office can receive filings by mail
• May 6 – Online and in-person candidate filing begins
• May 10 – All candidate filing ends
• May 13 – Last day to withdraw from ballot
• May 21 – Last day to submit Voters’ Pamphlet content

Editor's Note: According to the Skagit County Auditor's Office, links for forms and instructions for filing for office will be posted on their website on May 6. Click Here for the Washington State Secretary of State's Candidate Filing Forms.

2. Gala Information
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.

3. The 39th Legislative District Democrats will meet IN-PERSON, Saturday, Apr 27, 11:15am – 12:30pm, Marysville Library, 6120 Grove Street, Marysville
"We'll have food and socializing from 11:15-11:30, then the [meeting] from 11:30-12:30 . . . This meeting will be predominantly focused on candidate endorsements and an opportunity for candidates to speak. Please join us and help lend your vote to our endorsement decisions."

4. NEW – The Skagit County Democrats Executive Board next meets Thursday, May 9, 6:30pm – 8:00pm, via Zoom
Click Here for the Zoom link. Meeting ID: 231 460 3118.

5. 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.

6. The Fidalgo Democrats' latest meeting video has been posted online
The April 9 meeting hosted the 10th and 40th Legislative District legislators who provided an update to the last legislative session. Click Here for the video.

7. 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.

• No, a Shadowy Figure Is Not Buying Tents for Columbia Student Protesters
• Federal regulators just passed two new worker-friendly rules
• Is there a downside to mandatory reporting laws meant to protect children?
• Jakarta Is Sinking. Take a Look at Indonesia's New Capital, Nusantara
• Cause for concern: US watching China’s ‘breathtakingly fast’ space development ‘very, very closely’, top commander says

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COMMUNITY EVENTS

1. NEW – League of Women Voters of Skagit County public meeting: “News & Media Literacy: Informed or Influenced?”, Monday, Apr 29, 6:30pm – 8:00pm, PUD Aqua Meeting Room, 1415 Freeway Drive, Mount Vernon
"Our speakers will be 3 Local Librarians and the Skagit Valley Herald editor."

2. NEW – The monthly Planned Parenthood rally is Saturday, May 4, 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.

3. NEW – 1st Annual Cinco de Mayo Parade, Sunday, May 5, 5:00pm – 6:30pm, 1st Street, Mount Vernon
"Mark your calendars for a brand new event coming to Downtown Mount Vernon- The First Annual Cinco de Mayo Parade! Hosted by MV Mariachi and Latinos in Action, this event will bring mariachis, folklorico dancers, dancing horses and more through the heart of downtown for a lively celebration of Cinco de Mayo. This inaugural event promises to be a fiesta like no other, bringing together the entire community to celebrate! Parade will start down 1st Street in Downtown Mount Vernon right at 5pm so show up early and grab a good spot to watch!"

4. Mt. Baker Planned Parenthood is partnering with Puget Sound Energy (PSE) to provide a Bill Discount Application Workshop for Spanish-speakers, Thursday, May 9, 1805 East Division Street, Mount Vernon
"PSE employees will be available to assist with the application process in Spanish and MBPP staff will be available to help attendees get set up with appointments at our Mount Vernon Health Center, if they choose. Full page flyers are [available here] in both English and Spanish."

5. NEW – Support for the Follstad Children, Wednesday, May 1, 11:00am – 6:00pm, Dockside Dogs Gourmet Dogs, 1019 Q Avenue, Anacortes (Little Chicago at the Cap Sante Marina)
The Follstad children experienced the tragic loss of mother and Island View Elementary teacher Caitlin Follstad and father Kevin Follstad. A fundraiser to help cover expenses directly related to the needs of the children will be conducted at the Anacortes Dockside Dogs. 100% of all sales and gratuities (not just profits), will go to support the kids.
 

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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.