News from the Skagit County Democrats

Skagit County Democrats Action Newsletter for May 6, 2024

 

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DEMOCRATIC EVENTS

1. UPDATED – This is Candidate Filing Week for 2024 – Monday, May 6 – Friday, May 10
All candidates for the 2024 election must 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 and filing can be done online. 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.

The Skagit County Auditor now has the Candidate Filing page up and running. It includes links for OnLine Filing as well as filing forms.

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

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

3. 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.

4. NEW – The Fidalgo Democrats' next meet Tuesday, May 14, 7:00pm, Anacortes Public Library, 1220 10th Street, Anacortes
"Marketa Vorel of the Anacortes based non-profit Sunflower F.U.N.D. will be talking about her efforts to help the people of Ukraine. They are providing critical aid for Ukrainian civilians through several volunteer organizations. For more information call Barbara Cooper, 360-770-3506."

5. NEW – The 39th Legislative District Democrats Executive Board will meet Tuesday, May 21, 7:00pm – 8:00pm, via Zoom
Click Here for the Zoom link.

6. NEW – The Skagit County Democrats will be holding our Endorsement Meeting on Saturday, May 25
More details about the Endorsement Meeting will be announced. We encourage all members to save the date. There will be no general membership meeting on Saturday, May 11th.

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.

• Washington seeks to fix discrimination from racially restrictive property deeds (Includes some local information)
• Supporting ‘democracy’ is hard for many who feel government and the economy are failing them
• Canadian oil tankers through the strait about to jump from 5 per month to 1 per day
• We’re in a new era’: the 21st-century space race takes off
• Here's What Happens When You Tip With a Credit Card

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COMMUNITY EVENTS

1. NEW – Time of the year for Farmer's Markets

• Anacortes – Saturdays, 9:00am to 2:00pm, The Depot, 611 R Avenue – Open Now
• Concrete – Saturdays, 10:00am – 2:00pm, Concrete Community Center, 45821 Railroad Avenue – Opens May 25
• Mount Vernon – Saturdays, 9:00am – 2:00pm, Skagit Riverwalk Park, 509 South Main Street – Open Now
• Sedro-Woolley – Wednesdays, 3:00 – 7:00pm, Hammer Heritage Square, 617 Metcalf Street (Ferry & Metcalf), Opens May 22
• Click Here for a listing of Skagit Valley farm stands and stores

2. NEW – May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
For more information, visit the following sites:

• Asian/Pacific Heritage Month
• The Asian American Foundation
• Arts Washington
• Federal Register
• Wikipedia
• goSkagit

3. NEW – The Mount Vernon School District faces a $2.7 million deficit and is considering staff reductions and other cuts
The next School Board meeting is Wednesday, May 8, 6:00pm, 2205 West Campus Place, Mt Vernon. Board members may also be contacted via email.

• Laura Cailloux – Director District 1 – lcailloux@mvsd320.org
• Marissa Guerro – Director District 2 – marissaguerrero@mvsd320.org
• Griffin Uchida – District Director 3 – guchida@mvsd320.org
• Wendy Ragusa – District Director 4 – wragusa@mvsd320.org
• Larry Otos – District Director 5 lotos@mvsd320.org

4. NEW – Concrete Turns 115!
"Party Saturday, May 11, 2024 – Noon to 2:00 p.m. – Come for the free refreshments and music in Veterans’ Memorial Park — STAY for the official town photo on Main Street at 1:30 p.m.! Everyone is welcome, whether you live in Concrete, wish you did, or just simply love this town!"

5. NEW – Skagit County Adopts Public Participation Program for 2025 Comprehensive Plan Update
"The Comprehensive Plan serves as a vital roadmap for the future growth and development of Skagit County. By adopting the PPP, Skagit County aims to ensure that residents, businesses, and stakeholders have ample opportunities to provide input, share insights, and actively participate in shaping the future of our community." Click Here to view the plan.

6. 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."
 

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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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