News from the Skagit County Democrats
Posted on February 16th, 2025
Skagit County Democrats Action Newsletter for February 17, 2025
DEMOCRATIC EVENTS
1. NEW – National Day of Protest, Monday, 12:00pm – 2:00pm, Skagit County Courthouse, Kincaid Street & 3rd Street, Mount Vernon
"Local organizers plan a Skagit observance of the National Day of Protest called for by the organizers of the 50501 protests in Olympia last week. Bring signs focused on Musk’s illegal take-over of our government. This is a strictly peaceful, non-violent demonstration."
2. The 39th Legislative District Democrats Executive Board meets Tuesday, Feb 18, 7:00pm – 8:00pm, via Zoom
Click Here for the Zoom link.
3. UPDATED – The 39th Legislative District Democrats Membership Meeting is Saturday, Feb 22, 11:00am – 12:00pm, Stanwood Library, 9701 271st Street Northwest, Stanwood
Click Here to RSVP. This is an in-person meeting.
4. NEW – Legislative Committee Report
Please support our Legislative Committee by emailing our Senators & Representatives using the "Email your legislators" links and with the Suggested Text (or similar sentiments).
- SB 5123 and HB 1855 (companion bills) – Expand student protections to promote inclusivity in schools
- These companion bills aim to add protected classes to the nondiscrimination provisions that apply to Washington public schools: ethnicity, homelessness, immigration status, and neurodivergence. It also separates sexual orientation, gender expression, and gender identity into three separate protected classes, as well as provides definitions for these protected classes that apply to public schools. This is in response to a Federal Injunction started by M4L that voids 2024 Title IX protections for any school in our state that has a M4L parent as a member.
- Email your legislators to support SB5123
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- Suggested Text: Please vote yes to support marginalized students. Federal protections provide a foundation but state action is needed to ensure equity and justice for all students in Washington State.
- SB 5020 – Property tax relief for senior citizens
- Property owned by citizens 75 years of age or older would be exempt from state and local property tax, regardless of combined household income and in accordance with this section. The exemption must be for the principal residence which was occupied by the person at the time of filing. The exemption can be on only one residence in any one year.
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- Suggested Text: Rising property tax assessments disproportionately affect senior homeowners. In many instances, retirement income has not kept up with rising property taxes. Exempting them from state and local taxes would free up funds from limited resources for essential expenses like health care, medicine, and property maintenance.
5. NEW – The Fidalgo Democrats YouTube recording of their most recent meeting about the Comprehensive Plan regarding climate action plans is now available.
Click Here for the Fidalgo Democrats recording. Click Here for the Anacortes 2025 Comprehensive Plan Update. Click Here Transition Fidalgo website.
6. Call for Volunteers – Endorsement Committee
The Endorsement Committee will be starting up its work again soon, and we're looking for volunteers! This committee is charged with determining endorsement procedures, interviewing candidates, recommending candidates for endorsement, and making recommendations for candidate financial contributions. 2025 will be sure to be an interesting year with so many local seats up for election. No previous experience is necessary, and we'd estimate it should be about 2 hours of work per week during the busy season between March and June. Please email Chair@skagitdemocrats.org and bmasseyhelber@gmail.com soon if you are interested.
7. NEW – Local Party Organization Officer Trainings
"Welcome to Democrat University! The State Party staff will be hosting a series of training sessions to help new and returning officers learn skills around building up their local party organizations. These will include a variety of topics from compliance to social media, and help give LPO officers the skills they need to successfully run their own organizations. Please Register for each training you would like to attend . . . All training will take place on zoom and will be recorded for future use and review." The trainings will be as follows:
- -Votebuilder Data 101 Training
- Get trained on the ins and outs of our data system Votebuilder. This will be helpful for all PCOs and those who use votebuilder to run canvasses and events during election years.
- February 19th at 6 PM
- Registration Link <https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/KNGkvP1gSBmTl2jMn0WQtg#/registration>
- -How to Grow your Social Media Training
- Learn how to increase your followers, effectively spread the word about events, and connect with people in your district online!
- February 22nd at 12 PM
- Registration Link <https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/sYO5FhaFRFC2-SGlnTvJiw#/registration>
- -How to Recruit Diverse Voices Training
- Our Affirmative Action Co-Chair, Satin Desiree Arnett will lead this training and explain good ways to recruit diverse voices into your local party organizations.
- February 22nd at 2 PM
- Registration Li?k <https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/d1FTi4MJTkW880fBSiSh2w#/registration>
- -How to Grow Your LPO [Local Party Organization] Membership and How to Run an Organization Training
- This training will go over how to recruit new members to join your organization and how to be successful at leading your party organization.
- February 27th at 6 PM
- Registration Link <https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/bFfrInioRGmDwlqLCMb3og#/registration>
- -How to Build a Website with Hey Victor Training
- Learn how to create a website for only $25 a month to help your organization stay organized and available to the public. Hey Victor is a great company that helps local and national organizations have a more professional online presence and they are ready to help you build a new LPO Website!
- March 1st at 12 PM
- Registration Link <https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/X07mswadSmmjhAFO9Quk-A#/registration>
- -How to Run a Political Event Training
- This training will go over the basic structures and plans for how to run any event from a 200 person fundraiser, to a small get out the vote rally.
- March 1st at 2
- Registration Link <https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/0eUX46akRDGye0iukZ2Rtw#/registration>
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 Indo-Pacific: What You Need to Know Now
- The Bridge? What Are EREVs, and Why Are They Being Hailed as a Breakthrough Powertrain?
- Politicians step up attacks on the teaching of scientific theories in U.S. schools
- A study has been following 'gifted' kids for 45 years. Here's what we've learned
- What Trump’s Gulf of America obsession is really all about
COMMUNITY EVENTS
1. Monday, Feb 17, is President's Day
Most schools and local, county, state, and federal offices will be closed.
2. NEW – Applications Now Open for the 2025 Master Composter Recycler Volunteer Training
"If you are interested in composting and recycling, a sustainable future, and being part of a great community, consider becoming a Certified Skagit County Master Composter Recycler. The certification training, hosted by the Skagit County Solid Waste Division, provides participants with tools and knowledge to share back to the community as official waste reduction educators." Click Here for more information.
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 $.56. 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."