News from the Skagit County Democrats

Skagit County Democrats Action Newsletter for May 12, 2025

DEMOCRATIC EVENTS

1. Tickets Are Now on Sale for the 2025 Skagit County Democrats Gala
Join us Saturday, June 7th at the Swinomish Casino and Lodge for our annual Gala — our biggest fundraiser of the year. Our theme this year, "Rooted in Democracy, Growing for Tomorrow", reflects our commitment to deep values and forward progress.

We know these are uncertain times, and some may wonder if a celebration is the right move. But coming together now matters more than ever. This event is about solidarity, hope, and growing local democracy for the future. Funds raised help us keep the office running, support local candidates, and build grassroots power in Skagit County. Let’s celebrate our community, our mission, and what we’re building together. Get your tickets and more information here.

2. NEW – Skagit County Town Hall with Representative Rick Larsen, Monday, May 12, 6:00pm – 7:00pm, Exact location will be provided on the morning of the event
Click Here to RSVP for the in-person event. "RSVPs will be first come, first serve and attendance may need to be capped if demand exceeds the capacity of the town hall location. Constituents will be prioritized over non-constituents. If you are unable to attend in-person, the town hall will be livestreamed on my Instagram and Facebook pages, and it will be posted on my YouTube page following the event. If you're not able to attend, you can contact me with your questions and feedback at https://larsen.house.gov/contact/." Editor's Note: Currently the in-person Town Hall is showing as "at capacity".

3. The Fidalgo Democrats meet Tuesday, May 13, 7:00pm – 9:00pm, Anacortes Public Library, 1220 10th Street, Anacortes
"Skagit County Commissioner, Ron Wesen, Anacortes City Council member, Ryan Walters, and Anacortes Port Commissioner, Bonnie Bower, will be discussing the impacts of federal cuts to local government and the services they provide. How will the Washington State budget issues affect local projects? How are the County, City and Port dealing with funding cuts? There will be time for questions. Cookies and coffee will be served. The meeting will be recorded and posted to the YouTube channel. Barbara Cooper – mcmooper46@gmail.com."

4. 10th Legislative District Virtual Town Hall, Tuesday, May 13, 5:30pm, via Zoom
"Get answers to your questions about the 2025 Washington State Legislative Session with your Senator and Representatives." Present will be Senator Ron Muzzall, Representative Dave Paul, and Representative Clyde Shavers. Click Here to register and to enter any questions and/or comments.

5. NEW – The 10th Legislative District Democrats General Membership Meeting is scheduled for Saturday, May 17, 10:00am – 12:00pm
The venue is unknown at this time.

6. NEW – The 39th Legislative District Democrats Executive Board meets Tuesday, May 20, 7:00pm – 8:00pm, via Zoom
"The Executive Board meeting is open to members and associate members of the party (not the general public), therefore we are requiring pre-registration in order to attend via Zoom. To register in advance for this meeting, Click Here. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting."

7. NEW – Legislative Committee Report
We had expected to provide an update on the state budget this week, but it has yet to be signed by the governor and we are still in the final stretch for many of the bills we have been promoting through the 2025 session. Most of the bills that were included in the last update remain unsigned with a few exceptions (below). Stay tuned for a budget update next week!

• SB 5181 – Amending the parents' rights initiative to bring it into alignment with existing law. This bill did not make it through reconciliation and to the governor’s desk for signature. This is disappointing but we will continue to promote this bill through the second half of the biennium.

Two additional bills that we promoted were signed into law:

• HB 1875 – Allowing the use of paid sick leave to prepare for or participate in certain immigration proceedings. Sponsored by Alex Ramel and Dave Paul
• HB 1971 – Increasing access to prescription hormone therapy. Sponsored by Alex Ramel

8. NEW – Have you renewed your membership for this year?
You needn't wait for a membership renewal letter. You can easily renew your membership on-line. Just go to https://secure.actblue.com/donate/scdmembership. Your membership fees help us keep the doors open and support Democratic candidates in Skagit County! We did well in Skagit County in the last Presidential election – let's keep the momentum going! Email staff@skagitdemocrats.org if you are unsure of your membership status.

9. 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.

10. NEW – [National DNC] Chair Ken Martin: Why the Democratic Party must stay neutral in primaries
Vice Chair Lynn Campbell submitted this missive for inclusion.

"In recent weeks, there's been renewed conversation about my longstanding support for a neutrality pledge within the Democratic National Committee. Some critics have wrongly framed this as an effort to shut people out of the party or to discourage contested primaries. Let me be unequivocally clear: that's not only false, it's the opposite of what I stand for.

I've always believed that we win elections through addition, not subtraction. The strength of the Democratic Party lies in its diversity of thought, background, and experience. We are the party that welcomes debate and dissent—it's what sets us apart from the Republican Party. Without new voices challenging the status quo, we never would have made progress on critical issues like civil rights, reproductive freedom, or marriage equality. Change doesn't come from the top down; it comes from the grassroots up, from new voices pushing the party to do better, to be better.

That's why l've championed the idea that every Democrat—whether you're young or old, progressive or moderate, rural or urban—deserves a fair and equal voice in our party. A neutrality pledge isn't about silencing anyone. It's about protecting everyone. It ensures that candidates, and the millions of supporters behind them, can participate in our primary process without interference from party leadership. It means no thumb on the scale, no backroom deals, no favoritism.

Imagine the message it would send if party insiders could quietly influence outcomes. If the perception takes hold that decisions are made behind closed doors by a few powerful actors, we risk alienating the very people we claim to represent. That's not democracy. That's not our party. Party officers have one job: to be fair stewards of a process that invites every Democrat to the table—regardless of personal views or allegiances.

This is not a new position for me. After the 2016 election, I helped usher in superdelegate reforms to reduce insider influence. I championed neutrality pledges before they were common practice and successfully enacted a neutrality policy in the Minnesota DFL—one of the most grassroots—driven state parties in the country.

When I ran for DNC Chair, I ran on a platform of democratizing the party. That meant expanding committees to include more voices from the rank and file, giving up unilateral appointment authority in favor of direct elections, and holding ourselves—party officers—to a higher standard of neutrality. These reforms weren't about any one person, and they certainly aren't about me versus David Hogg, someone I deeply respect. They're about principle, not personality. Long before David was ever involved in politics, I was pushing reforms within our Democratic Party—as I've said many times over the years, I represent the Democratic wing of the Democratic Party and will continue to advocate for a party that is open, fair, transparent and honors the grassroots voices within our Party.

Whether you're a challenger or an incumbent, 18 or 80, the rules must apply equally. Do I have opinions? Of course.

But when you lead the institution tasked with calling the balls and strikes, you don't get to also swing the bat. Our role is clear: let the voters decide, then work like hell to support the nominee they choose.

I am more committed than ever to introduce the slate of structural reforms that enshrine these values into the official rules of the Democratic Party. These reforms will require all party officers—including myself—to remain neutral in primaries. They will ensure no party official can abuse their position to tilt the outcome of an election.

The Democratic Party's charter says it best: “A party which asks for the people's trust must prove that it trusts the people.” That's a principle worth fighting for—and one I intend to uphold, now and as long as I am Chair of this great institution."

10. 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.

• What the Constitution, Supreme Court say about 'due process' for Trump deportees
• The Supreme Court’s birthright citizenship case isn’t really about birthright citizenship
• The Actual Math Behind DOGE’s Cuts
• WA State Supreme Court upholds ban on high-capacity ammo magazine sales
• The Real Evil Empire May Surprise You

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COMMUNITY EVENTS

1. NEW – PeaceHealth employees at St. Joseph Hospital in Bellingham are planning a strike over unfair labor practices, Monday – Friday, May 12 – 16
Click Here for full information.

2. NEW – Governor Ferguson has declared May 2025 as Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and People Month
Click Here to read the proclamation.

3. NEW – All My Relations Powwow 2025, Friday – Sunday, May 16 – 18, SVC Tennis Courts, Skagit Valley College, 2405 East College Way, Mount Vernon
"Skagit Valley College (SVC) will host its annual powwow, “All My Relations,” May 16-18. The powwow brings together students, families, and Tribal Nations to celebrate Native American singing, drumming, dancing, food, and arts and crafts."

4. NEW – La Conner Guitar Festival 2025, Friday – Sunday, May 16 – 18, Main Venue & Box Office: Maple Hall, 104 Commercial Street, La Conner
Click Here for ticket information.

5. NEW – Anacortes Boat & Yacht Show, Friday – Sunday, May 16 – 18, 10:00am – 6:00pm daily, Cap Sante Marina, 1019 Q Avenue, Anacortes
Click Here for ticket information.

6. Farmer's Markets 2025

• Anacortes, The Depot, 611 R Avenue – Saturdays – 9:00am – 2:00pm – Opened 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

7. UPDATED – Information about Alfredo "Lelo" Juarez
"On March 25, 2025, Lelo was violently detained by ICE while driving his partner to her workplace. ICE agents broke his car window when Lelo tried to exercise his rights. He is currently detained inside an ICE facility in Tacoma, Washington.

Lelo has been a farmworker and community leader in Washington since he was 12 years old, and has worked tirelessly for immigrant and farmworker rights. He was one of the initial founders of the independent union Familias Unidas por la Justicia (FUJ), where he helped agricultural workers win paid breaks and overtime. As an organizer with Community to Community Development (C2C), he has been involved in multiple campaigns, most recently working on educating the community and legislators about the exploitative H-2A program.

?We believe that ICE may have targeted Lelo for his leadership in standing up for farmworkers and immigrants in his community.

"UPDATE ON LELO'S DETENTION: On Thursday morning May 8 Alfredo (Lelo) Jurez Zeferino, with his attorney Larkin Vanderhoef, for the first time, went before an Immigration Judge in a hearing room located within the Northwest Detention Center. The hearing was scheduled by Homeland Security at the request of Lelo and his attorneys to ask that he be released on bond until his deportation order could be reviewed for dismissal. Lelo has no criminal record, has strong ties to his community, family, and a commitment to his union, Familias Unidas por la Justicia.

Community to Community and Lelo's colleagues and over 175 friends and allies traveled to the Detention Center to be at the hearing, including Lynn Campbell. The hope was that lelo would be released on bond. Homeland Security Legal Counsel opposed his release and the outcome of Alfredo ‘Lelo’ Juarez Zeferino was not what we hoped. We were updated this morning from his legal team that the judge for his bond hearing determined that she did not have jurisdiction to order his release on bond.

At this time, Lelo will have to remain in custody until his Immigration Hearing which is expected to be held later this month. Tonight, over the phone from the Detention Center, Lelo thanked everyone that is supporting him. He remains unfailingly optimistic as always. Let us remain unfailingly in solidarity with him!"

You can help:

• Email Senator Patty Murray
• Email Senator Maria Cantwell
• Email Congressional Representative Rick Larsen
• Contribute to the Alfredo Juarez Legal Fund

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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 $.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."
 

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