News from the Skagit County Democrats
Posted on April 27th, 2025
Skagit County Democrats Action Newsletter for April 28, 2025
DEMOCRATIC EVENTS
1. IMPORTANT – Candidate Filing Week is May 5 – 9
This is the week all candidates for the 2025 General Election will officially file their declarations of candidacy. There are many local positions to be filled. They range from municipal and school board positions to fire district commissioners. Click Here to see a listing of the scheduled races. Click Here for candidate filing information including how to file, filing fees, forms, deadlines, etc.
2. NEW – Worker Memorial Day Event, Monday, Apr 28, 12:00pm – 1:00pm, Lee Memorial Lawn, 210 Central Avenue, Bellingham
"The Northwest Washington Central Labor Council will be hosting a worker memorial event on April 28th at noon. The event will be held at Lee Memorial Park which is lawn area behind the Bellingham Public Library. This event is held on the date when OSHA was signed into law. Every year we highlight the continued need to focus on worker safety by reading the names of Washington workers who died due to a workplace accident, injury, or exposure in the preceding year. Our council would like to renew our ties to the Democratic party and are extending an invitation to Whatcom, Skagit, and San Juan Dems. Please consider attending, any and all of your membership and their families are invited. Please contact me if you have any questions. I’ve also provided the following link to our web based invitation."
3. NEW – May Day Rally, Thursday, May 1, 4:00pm – 6:00pm, Skagit County Courthouse, 205 West Kincaid Street, Mount Vernon
National Day of Action, "We are the many, they are the few."
4. NEW – Legislative Committee
The 2025 Legislative session closes, Sunday, Apr 27. Our thanks to the Legislative Committee for their hard work and diligence throughout this Legislative Session!
5. This year's Gala, themed "Rooted in Democracy, Growing for Tomorrow," will be held on Saturday, June 7th at the Swinomish Casino
"Planning is well underway, and we are currently seeking volunteers to assist with collecting auction items and sponsorships. The Gala Committee holds hybrid meetings every Wednesday at 5:30 PM.
If you're interested in joining the committee or if you have an item you would like to donate for the silent auction, please contact Isaac Cavazos, our Gala Committee Chair, at galatix@skagitdemocrats.org.
6. Important Information for Candidates!
The Skagit County Democrats Endorsements Committee has begun meeting, and we encourage all prospective candidates to apply for endorsement in order to get access to Votebuilder, campaign contributions, and other Skagit Democrats' resources. For more information, please click the link here. If you have any questions, please contact the Endorsement Committee at endorsements@skagitdemocrats.org.
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.
- Renewing America’s Civic Education
- How Pakistan-India border dispute could escalate into new chapter of war
- Scientists develop pneumatic propellers that could replace diesel engines in ferry boats
- ‘This Is Not How We Do Science, Ever’
- These Countries Own The Most U.S. Debt, and It's a Big Deal
COMMUNITY EVENTS
1. NEW – Skagit County to Host Unclaimed Remains Remembrance Ceremony, Friday, May 2, 11:00am, Mount Vernon Cemetery Chapel, 1200 East Fir Street, Mount Vernon
"The ceremony will honor the memory of 59 individuals who have been unclaimed at the Coroner’s Office since 2019. The community is welcome to join the ceremony to recognize those being laid to rest. 'While we may not have known who they were in life, we will respect and honor who they are at death,' said Skagit County Coroner Hayley Thompson. “It is important that we show dignity to the lives of those in our community.'” Click Here for more information.
2. The monthly Planned Parenthood rally is Saturday, May 3, 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 – 2nd Annual Cinco de Mayo Parade, Sunday, May 4, 5:00pm – 7:00pm, South First Street, Mount Vernon
"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. Parade will start down 1st Street in Downtown Mount Vernon right at 5pm so show up early and grab a good spot to watch!" Click Here for a Skagit Valley Herald article on student preparation for the parade.
4. NEW – Farmer's Markets 2025
- Anacortes, The Depot, 611 R Avenue – Saturdays – 9:00am – 2:00pm – Opens May 2
- Concrete, Concrete Community Center, 45821 Railroad Avenue – Saturdays – 10:00am – 2:00pm – Opens May 25
- Mount Vernon, Riverwalk, 501 Main Street – Saturdays – 9:00am – 2:00pm – Opens May 17
- Sedro-Woolley, Hammer Heritage Square, 640 Metcalf Street – Wednesdays – 3:00pm – 7:00pm, Opens May 21
5. NEW – La Conner Nuclear Disarmament Resolution
"The Town Council of La Conner unanimously passed a nuclear disarmament resolution during their regularly scheduled council meeting Tuesday, April 22. What a way to
honor Earth Day!" Click Here to read the full resolution.
6. NEW – Skagit Transit Long Range Transit Plan Open for Public Comment
"Skagit Transit has developed a Draft Long-Range Transit Plan. This plan provides Skagit Transit with a framework for enhancing and expanding transit over the next decade to better serve existing riders and attract new riders. The plan and feedback form can be found here. Public comment on this plan is open until Wednesday, May 14th, 2025, and Skagit Transit wants to hear from you! Complete the survey available on their website, email custserv@skagittransit.org, or call (360) 757-4433 to provide feedback. Paper copies of the survey are available at Skagit Station (105 E Kincaid St, Mount Vernon, WA 98274) at the customer service desk."
7. Skagit County to Accept Glass for Recycling at All Transfer Stations
Glass will again be accepted for recycling at Skagit County Transfer Stations starting Friday, April 18, 2025. Glass recycling had been paused for eight months because a regional glass bottle manufacturing facility in Seattle closed, which meant there was no local manufacturer to purchase our recycled glass. A second regional glass recycler in Seattle has since found new markets out of state to sell the glass so they are now able to accept glass from Skagit County. 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."