News from the Skagit County Democrats

Skagit County Democrats Action Newsletter for May 26, 2025

DEMOCRATIC EVENTS

1. UPDATED – The 2025 Skagit County Democrats Gala is Saturday June 7 – ONLY 12 DAYS AWAY!

TICKET SALES END TODAY, MONDAY, MAY 26. (We are required to provide a count to the Casino for preparations.)

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.

Here is our planned Schedule:
Meet and Greet on the Patio

• 4:00 – Doors Open – Bar Opens – Guests begin to arrive.
• 5:30 – Adjourn the Meet and Greet.

Main event in the Grand Ballroom

• 4:30 – Doors Open to display silent auction
• 5:00 – Bar 1 opens. (Bar 2 opens following the transition from the patio)
• 5:50 – Call to be seated for the 1st course.
• 6:00 – Salad
• 6:30 – Entree
• 7:15 – Dessert Dash
• 9:00 – Conclusion of our program

2. UPDATED – No Kings in America
The "No Kings in America" mass protest is functionally a counter-protest to Trump's birthday parade. Ostensibly, the parade is supposed to be celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States Army which was formed in 1775. Trump finds this a "happy coincidence" that it also falls on his birthday. Click Here for more information.

• The "No Kings in America" mass protest is scheduled in central Skagit County for Saturday, Jun 14, 2:00pm – 4:00pm, in front of Popeye's along Burlington Boulevard, 120 Cascade Mall Drive, Burlington. Click Here to register with Indivisible Skagit.
• The "No Kings in America" mass protest is scheduled in Anacortes for Saturday, Jun 14, 12:00pm – 1:00pm, outside of Safeway along Commercial Avenue & 12th Street, Anacortes. Click Here to register with Indivisible Skagit.

3. NEW – Legislative Committee Report – Final Report
"On Tuesday Governor Ferguson signed the 2025-2026 state budget. The budget delivered to the governor did not include the wealth tax that the legislature had been considering, and instead made up a significant shortfall with a combination of cuts to programs and new taxes. Before signing, Ferguson made some additional cuts to address fiscal challenges and federal funding cuts. Since our last update, he also signed the below bills into law.

Thanks again to everyone who promoted these bills with us through the session. Thanks to legislative committee members who diligently combed through thousands of bills to identify those that align with Skagit Democrats priorities and showed up weekly to compile information, discuss, and develop calls to action for the newsletter and website. And a huge thank you to our Democrat representatives who sponsored so many of these bills. Great work!"

• HB 1296 – Promoting a safe and supportive public education system. Sponsored by Deb Lekanoff
• HB 1102 – Increasing support and services for veterans. Sponsored by Clyde Shavers
• SB 5284 – Improving Washington's solid waste management outcomes. Sponsored by Liz Lovelett
• HB 1163 – Enhancing requirements relating to the purchase, transfer, and possession of firearms
• SB 5077 – Concerning expansion of voter registration services by government agencies

Editor's Note: Once again, we thank the Legislative Committee for their sustained hard work in keeping us informed of the several critical bills and actions during and past this legislative session!

4. NEW – The Fidalgo Democrats have posted the video to their latest meeting of 5-13-25 about the "Impacts of Federal Cuts on Local Government"
Click Here to watch the video.

5. Have you renewed your membership for this year?
You don't have to 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.

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.

• Is violent crime increasing or decreasing in the US
• Low prices and Trump's trade war are pushing these Northwest farmers to the brink
• Fiona Hill: Trump is terrified of Putin, I’ve seen it first-hand
• So what happens to America’s 114 billion pennies once the US stops making them?
• Semicolons: Our best punctuation mark is dying out; people need to learn how to use it

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COMMUNITY EVENTS

1. Memorial Day is Monday, May 26
Most Federal, State, County, and City offices & services will be closed.

Memorial Day Events:

• Anacortes – Community Memorial Day Ceremony, Causland Memorial Park, Monday, May 26, 11:00am, 710 N Avenue
• Concrete – the Forest Park Cemetery in Concrete will have a Memorial Day service at 1:00pm Monday on the 26th, 44826 Compton Lane
• Mount Vernon – Memorial Day Celebration at Pleasant Ridge Cemetery, Monday, May 26, 9:00am – 10:00am, 17666 Valentine Road

2. NEW – The Guemes Island car ferry will not return to service for Memorial Day Weekend
"At this time, the best estimate for return to service would be Friday, June 6th. There is a possibility the ferry could return sooner if all remaining work and testing goes smoothly. The passenger-only ferry, Arrow Launch, will continue operating on the normal schedule until the car ferry returns." Click Here for more information.

3. NEW – Fix-it Days Repair Cafe at the Anacortes Farmer's Market, Saturday, May 31, 9:00am – 2:00pm, 611 R Avenue, Anacortes
"Open to all! Donations are greatly appreciated to help keep this program going. Bring something by for our skilled volunteers to fix, mend, and sharpen at one of our fix-it days! Our mission is to give new life to broken items and divert repairable waste from the landfill."

4. 2nd Annual Sedro-Woolley PRIDE!, Sunday, Jun 1, 11:00am – 3:30pm, Riverfront Park, 1001 River Road, Sedro-Woolley
"Sedro-Woolley PRIDE Demonstration – Parking for the Demonstration is at Fruitdale Rd, at The Cascade Trail. The trail is paved, and wheelchair accessible . . . Community PRIDE Potluck and Picnic at Riverfront Park from: 12pm-3:30pm"
 
5. The League of Women Voters of Skagit County present a Mount Vernon High School Debate, Monday, Jun 2, 6:30pm, Mount Vernon High School, Old Main Building, 1075 East Fulton Street, Mount Vernon
Free admission. "Topic: 'Resolved: We regret the expansion of presidential power.' This event is open to the public and we know you’ll want to support these amazing students. The Mount Vernon Debate Team recently took second place in State Competition.

6. NEW – 2025 Safe & Sane Skagit WEAR ORANGE!, Saturday, Jun 7, 10:30am, 5800 Cains Court, Edison
"Join us at i.e. Gallery in Edison to commemorate all those affected by Gun Violence. This is the one time of year set aside for us to remember our friends, relatives, neighbors, acquaintances, or anyone who's been near this national epidemic. Sign up here. Let's recommit however we're able. This is one easy way. Stop by and Wear Orange! We have plenty of signs, or bring your own. We also celebrate the passage of this year's major WA GVP bill, 'Permit to Purchase'."

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

8. Farmer's Markets 2025

• Anacortes, The Depot, 611 R Avenue – Saturdays – 9:00am – 2:00pm – Opened May 2
• Concrete, Not open – From the Concrete Herald, May 2025 – "Planned renovations to the Concrete Community Center meant the market couldn’t utilize that facility in 2025."
• Mount Vernon, Riverwalk, 501 Main Street – Saturdays – 9:00am – 2:00pm – Opened May 17
• Sedro-Woolley, Hammer Heritage Square, 640 Metcalf Street – Wednesdays – 3:00pm – 7:00pm, Opened May 21

9. Information about Alfredo "Lelo" Juarez
We have received no new information this week.

"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.

"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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