Benton County Elections – A Better Richland Petition

Posted on October 10, 2024

Good Afternoon,

This e-mail is to inform you that our office received a petition from the City of Richland yesterday and will begin the signature verification process next Tuesday, October 15^th at 8:30 am. The petition verification will take place at our current Voting Center located at 2618 N. Columbia Center Blvd., Richland. We will continue these processes from 8:30 until 4:30 daily until we have reached our validation numbers. I anticipate this to go no longer than end of day on Thursday, October 17^th.

In addition to the petition, I am attaching our process schedule for the General Election. I will be handing these out to all party observers tomorrow during our training.

If you have any questions on any of these items, please feel free to contact me.

Amanda Hatfield
Elections Manager
Benton County Auditor | Elections Division
(509) 737-3931  
Email: amanda.hatfield@co.benton.wa.us
www.bentoncountywa.gov/auditor

	
						
			
						
				
				
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				            Benton County WA Democrats
				        							Serving the Democrats of Benton County, WA
						
		
	

	
	
					
				Benton County WA Democrats
				 
			
			
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		"What’s being built in the Florida Everglades, for example — what they’re calling “Alligator Alcatraz” — is not just another immigration facility. It’s a political prison engineered not merely to detain, but to humiliate, dehumanize, and broadcast terror."hartmannreport.com/p/alligator-alcatraz-isnt-just-a-prison?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&fbcli...			
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				Alligator Alcatraz Isn’t Just a Prison. It’s a Mirror. And It’s Asking Us: Who Are We, Really?
			
		
					hartmannreport.com
		
					The most dangerous thing about Alligator Alcatraz isn’t the alligators. It’s the message...
		
	


	
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				Benton County WA Democrats
				 
			
			
 5 days ago 
			
	
		
	



	
		Trump budget cuts mentors for 700 Tri-Cities students. United Way hopes to save itStory by Cory McCoy, Tri-City HeraldMore than 700 Tri-Cities students were left without mentors after the sudden elimination of the federal AmeriCorps program in April.For more than a decade AmeriCorps members volunteered with the Attendance Matters program to help Tri-Cities elementary and middle school students build a pathway to successfully graduating high school.The unexpected closure of the agency left students to finish out the school year without the mentors they'd come to rely on.Now the United Way of Benton and Franklin Counties is looking to save the program with a scaled-back version using local mentors. They're hiring new mentors as staff members in order to ensure they can guarantee consistency in the program.While the fate of the AmeriCorps agency is currently wrapped up in lawsuits brought by a coalition of states, funding was eliminated in the final version of President Donald Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill" which set federal spending for fiscal year 2026.United Way leadership is hoping for the best, but preparing to do what they can to ensure students aren't left behind.The program averaged about 20 mentors at nine middle schools through support from AmeriCorps. With local funding the nonprofit hopes to start with six new mentors, who will be ready to support students once school is back in session.Each school district will get two mentors, one for an elementary school and its corresponding middle school, with the greatest need.United Way hopes to grow the program, but will need community support through partnerships and recurring commitments.Attendance MattersCommunity Impact Director Asta Bonheyo said in a news release that the goal is to ensure students continue to feel supported."We believe that consistent school attendance is a foundation for student achievement," Bonheyo said. "This program not only helps kids show up - it ensures they feel seen, supported and encouraged along the way."They're looking for people with strong relationship-building skills, a passion for youth development and a commitment to modeling positive habits.Bilingual candidates, college students pursuing education or social services and retirees with flexible schedules are encouraged to apply."Mentors become trusted adults in the lives of students who may need just a little encouragement to succeed," Bonheyo said. "This is about real relationships and showing up, literally and figuratively, for our youth."Candidates can apply online through the United Way of Benton and Franklin Counties' career page at uwbfco.org/careers. Applications are open until all positions are filled. The new mentors will start Aug. 21 and serve through June 2026.About Attendance MattersAmeriCorps provided about $315,000 in direct funding to the Attendance Matters Program in 2023, and about 20 volunteers in that cohort received $78,000 in education awards for their service. Volunteers living away from home were also eligible for a stipend paid through the agency.After AmeriCorps funding was cut in April, the program was completely eliminated in the FY 2026 federal budget.AmeriCorps was a national service program with several divisions that help communities with volunteering, disaster response, employment and more.The National Civilian Community Corps, which sends disaster response teams to communities, was the first to be cut in April. Shortly after, about 85% of the AmeriCorps administration was laid off and $400 million in grant funding was terminated.The Tri-Cities area benefited from a variety of programs funded and staffed by AmeriCorps.Those programs included Serve Tri-Cities, a nonprofit centered on increasing reading and math skills in elementary schools across Pasco, which received about $600,000 in funding in 2023 with 30 volunteers.The largest AmeriCorps program in the area was the Seniors RSVP program, which was a flexible program that relied on seniors to fill critical needs in the community and provide experienced volunteers to local food banks, nonprofits and other organizations.The seniors program was run through Catholic Charities of Central Washington. While Seniors RSVP only received about $135,000 in 2023, they paired 275 volunteers with local organizations. Their counterpart through Yakima Valley Community College had 350 volunteers that year.A second senior oriented volunteer program through the Diocese of Yakima paired 170 volunteers with home-bound seniors to provide help and companionship. That program was the most costly in the region, at $1.2 million in 2023.The cuts to Attendance Matters was the second major hit to the United Way of Benton and Franklin Counties because of federal cuts.Their Emergency Food and Shelter Program, which provided grant funding to local nonprofits through FEMA, saw its federal funding suddenly cut in March.They also saw a hit to funding to help pay for the Dolly Parton Imagination Library. Washington state leaders stepped in to keep that funding flowing for at least another year.To get involved or donate to the United Way of Benton and Franklin Counties, visit uwbfco.org.			
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				Benton County WA Democrats
				 
			
			
 5 days ago 
			
	
		
	



	
		"YES" to stopping the horror of unidentifiable and masked ICE agents.			
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				Murray, Padilla, Booker, Colleagues Unveil New Bill to Require ICE to Display Clear Identification, Stop ICE Agents from Hiding Behind Masks, Plainclothes - Senator Patty Murray
			
		
					www.murray.senate.gov
		
					Murray also joins Padilla and colleagues in a letter to DHS requesting information about ICE’s use of unidentified plainclothes agents Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) jo...
		
	


	
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				Benton County WA Democrats
				 
			
			
 5 days ago 
			
	
		
	



	
		Wall Street is calling Trump’s bluffStory by John Towfighi, CNNPresident Donald Trump is threatening to revive his trade war. Wall Street isn’t too concerned.Global markets were relatively calm Tuesday after Trump on Monday ratcheted up his tariff campaign — but extended the deadline to August 1 and said he was open to negotiations. That provided a sense of optimism for investors.Stocks across Asia — including in Tokyo, Seoul, Hong Kong and Bombay — opened higher on Tuesday. US stocks opened mostly higher: The Dow fell 57 points, or 0.13%. The S&P 500 rose 0.05% and the tech-heavy Nasdaq gained 0.3%.Market movements were relatively muted, signaling investors think Trump’s new tariffs are more negotiating tactics than firm policy. It’s a noticeable change from early April, when Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs sent stocks plummeting.Three months after Trump initially announced massive “reciprocal” tariffs and then instigated a 90-day pause, Wall Street is looking through the tariff rhetoric.“This latest round of tariff news feels more like an aftershock, one the market was prepared for, rather than the seismic event that shook markets on ‘Liberation Day’ over three months ago,” Tony Sycamore, market analyst at IG Australia, said in a note.Trump late Monday told reporters at the White House that the August 1 deadline is “firm, but not 100% firm.”The tariff letters are “more or less” final offers, Trump said. “I would say final, but if they call with a different offer and I like it, we’ll do it.”“If they call up and they say ‘we’d like to do something a different way,’ we’re going to be open to that,” the president said.“Yesterday’s letters and tariff tweets, I would categorize it as same threat, different goalpost,” Kurt Reiman, head of fixed income at UBS Global Wealth Management, said.Investors in recent weeks have embraced the “TACO trade,” betting that “Trump always chickens out” on his major tariff threats — especially if there is an adverse reaction in markets.“This opens the door for another round of ‘TACO Tuesday,’ Trump-style,” Sycamore said.Markets look through tariffsUS stocks fell on Monday after Trump announced a slew of new tariffs, but losses were relatively contained: The Dow, S&P 500 and Nasdaq finished the day lower by less than 1%.Wall Street has wrestled with Trump’s on-and-off tariffs for months. While the president is considering reigniting his trade war, investors say markets are taking it with a grain of salt.“Markets have broadly shrugged off the tariff news overnight,” Frederic Neumann, chief Asia economist at HSBC, said. “Essentially, the door remains open for individual economies to whittle down proposed tariffs through negotiations.”“Investors are taking the glass-half-full view at the moment, enjoying the reprieve from the deadline extension, rather than focus on the reiteration of the potential tariff levels should negotiations fall through,” he added.The new tariff announcements are a “speed bump” as opposed to something that would “derail” the momentum in stocks, according to Mohit Kumar, chief strategist and economist for Europe at Jefferies.“Singling out certain countries for higher tariffs is a way of putting pressure on these and other countries to agree to a deal sooner rather than later,” Kumar said.Trump so far has only announced frameworks for trade deals with the United Kingdom, China and Vietnam. Peter Navarro, White House senior counsel for trade, had said in April the administration would pursue “90 deals in 90 days.”Trump on Monday sent letters to 14 countries outlining proposed tariff rates. Investors are still keeping their eyes peeled for announcements about potential deals or tariff letters for dozens of trading partners including India, Taiwan and the European Union.The S&P 500 has notched four record highs since June 27 as investors have begun to look past tariff anxieties. Wall Street heavyweights are expecting a push to higher levels.Bank of America on Tuesday raised its year-end forecast for the S&P 500 to 6,300 from 5,600. Goldman Sachs on Monday raised its year-end forecast for the S&P 500 to 6,600 from 6,100, citing expectations of sooner-than-anticipated Federal Reserve rate cuts, “fundamental strength” of large US stocks and “investors’ willingness to look through likely near-term earnings weakness.”Analysts at Barclays said in a June note that markets were beginning to “turn the page” on tariffs to focus more on how artificial intelligence is impacting corporate earnings and how economic data continues to hold up.David Wagner, portfolio manager at Aptus Capital Advisors, said he thinks tariffs are at the lower end of the list of things markets are concerned about.“I think the market has moved on from it,” he said. “If there was some market volatility, Trump’s probably going to give in.”Investors are now viewing tariff uncertainty within the broader context of Trump’s agenda, Michael Reynolds, vice president for investment strategy at Glenmede, said. Trump last week succeeded in passing his budget bill, which provided more clarity for Wall Street.Uncertainty lingersWall Street is betting Trump won’t push for tariff rates that would destabilize the global economy, enabling stocks to grind higher. Some analysts warn of complacency.“This modest reaction is perhaps a function of the market pricing in the ability to negotiate down tariffs, or perhaps a continuation of the TACO trade,” said Michael Wan, senior currency analyst at MUFG, in a note. “We are not so sure on our end, and it does seem to us like overall risk assets seem too sanguine to these tariff rates which are essentially quite similar to Liberation Day.”Sarah Bianchi, senior managing director at Evercore ISI, said in a note that Trump is “feeling good about recent victories” and with stocks near record highs, he is more likely to lean into imposing his tariff agenda.Inflation data for June will be released next week, providing more insight into the economic impact of tariffs. In the meantime, investors will be on the watch for announcements about potential trade deals or tariffs.“With the proverbial can likely to be kicked further down the road, leaving negotiators a bit more room to maneuver … markets are pricing little signs of concern,” analysts at Barclays said in a note. “However, it remains prudent to consider all possible scenarios, given the narrative around tariffs remains quite fluid and Trump maintains a ‘do whatever we want’ position.”			
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				Benton County WA Democrats
				 
			
			
 5 days ago 
			
	
		
	



	
		Tri-Cities potluck picnic is this Friday at 6PM. Everyone is welcome!			
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	July 2025
Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
		1 TCD Democrats Protest Tuesday TCD Democrats Protest Tuesday July 1, 2025 3:45 PM - 5:45 PM John Dam Plaza, 815 George Washington Way, Richland, WA 99352, USA "Protest Tuesday" at John Dam Plaza on GWay in Richland from 3:45pm to 5:45PM. Bring your own sign or flag or one will be provided. Join our stalwarts and protest whatever is bothering you most that day. https://www.facebook.com/events/999996418325987/999996484992647/ See more details Richland City Council Richland City Council July 1, 2025 7:30 PM - 8:30 PM Richland City Hall, 505 Swift Blvd, Richland, WA 99352, USA See more details • •	2 One Bad Billionaire Bill Protest One Bad Billionaire Bill Protest July 2, 2025 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM John Dam Plaza 815 George Washington Way, Richland, WA Invisible Tri-Cities is hosting a protest tomorrow Tuesday 7/2 from 4 PM to 6 PM at John Dam Plaza in Richland. See more details Benton County Democrats Organizing Committee Benton County Democrats Organizing Committee July 2, 2025 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM Richland Public Library. Conference Room A K Buxton is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.Join Zoom Meetinghttps://us06web.zoom.us/j/89327803527?pwd=BTPoaTPTCdPLppKjuLoKRKc75blL0n.1 Brainstorming session to develop a recruiting message for Precinct Committee Officers. See more details • •	3 Indivisible TC - Founder Hour, Thurs Indivisible TC - Founder Hour, Thurs July 3, 2025 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM https://zoom.us/j/94107976607?pwd=qZeb9jUuH9e3DwVvukrhqxuwrNTWvv.1 Join in and ask questions, get updates or just say hi! Zoom link below, let me know if you need the mobile version. These are held every Thursday at 12pm and occasional weekends. See more details •	4 July 4th Parade July 4th Parade July 4, 2025 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM Corner of Sylvester and N. Tacoma, Pasco, WA Meet at the corner of Sylvester and North Tacoma. Bring your smiles - sunscreen - hats - water - walking shoes See more details •	5
6	7 Benton County Democrats - Executive Board Benton County Democrats - Executive Board July 7, 2025 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM Richland Public Library Conference Rm A 955 Northgate Richland, WA Proposed AGENDA: Executive Board, July 7, 2025 Call to Order Adopt Agenda Approval of Prior Meeting Minutes Secretary's Report Treasurer's Report Chair's Report Vice-Chair Report Organizing Committee Elections Committee State Committee Members Platform and Resolutions Events & Tri-City Dems LD Reports Good of the Order PCO Comments and questions New Business Adjournly See more details •	8 TCD Democrats Protest Tuesday TCD Democrats Protest Tuesday July 8, 2025 3:45 PM - 5:45 PM John Dam Plaza, 815 George Washington Way, Richland, WA 99352, USA "Protest Tuesday" at John Dam Plaza on GWay in Richland from 3:45pm to 5:45PM. Bring your own sign or flag or one will be provided. Join our stalwarts and protest whatever is bothering you most that day. https://www.facebook.com/events/999996418325987/999996484992647/ See more details Kennewick City Council Workshop Kennewick City Council Workshop July 8, 2025 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM See more details • •	9	10 Indivisible TC - Founder Hour, Thurs Indivisible TC - Founder Hour, Thurs July 10, 2025 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM https://zoom.us/j/94107976607?pwd=qZeb9jUuH9e3DwVvukrhqxuwrNTWvv.1 Join in and ask questions, get updates or just say hi! Zoom link below, let me know if you need the mobile version. These are held every Thursday at 12pm and occasional weekends. See more details 8th Legislative District Democrats General Meeting 8th Legislative District Democrats General Meeting July 10, 2025 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM Round Table Pizza 3300 W Clearwater Ave, Kennewick, WA 99336 Proposed Agenda: Call to Order Adopt Agenda Approval of Prior Meeting Minutes General Meeting Location, planning, topics, etc. Upcoming Event Planning and Communications. Current or New Business Adjourn See more details • •	11 Tri-City Democrats Meeting/Potluck Tri-City Democrats Meeting/Potluck July 11, 2025 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM For current location please visit https://www.facebook.com/TriCityDems/ See more details •	12 2025 Loveland Dinner 2025 Loveland Dinner July 12, 2025 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM UA Local 598 - 1328 N Rd 28, Pasco, WA We are excited to invite you to the 2025 Valoria Loveland Dinner. Our annual fundraising event was named after the last Democrat elected to the state legislature from Franklin County - Senator Valoria Loveland. Last year’s event was sold out and we are thrilled to have you all join us again in celebrating the service of former State Senator Loveland while encouraging the next generation to step up to run for office. https://secure.actblue.com/donate/lovelanddinner2025 See more details •
13 A Better Richland Fundrailser A Better Richland Fundrailser July 13, 2025 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM RSVP for location Friends, Food, & Fundraising for We need volunteers and money to blanket the city before the November election with yard signs and door hangers! A Better Richland Sunday, July 13, 2025 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM RSVP for the location See more details •	14 The People's Town Hall in Pasco The People's Town Hall in Pasco July 14, 2025 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM HAPO Center 6600 Burden Blvd, Pasco, WA You are invited to our People’s Town Hall in the 4th Congressional District with the Attorney General Nick Brown speaking, a welcome from Ana Ruiz Kennedy, and moderated by 16th LD Democrats Chair Jeff Strickler on July 14th! We want to hear from you and listen to your stories about how Trump’s extreme agenda has impacted you and your communities. Please share this invite with democrats in your area and members in your local parties! Please join us at HAPO Center in Pasco WA, on July 14th from 5:30 - 7 PM. Please RSVP HERE: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeJ_-EgxjT-kmgPxydwARVvdmzk68yAMq6aVb95Gtv3W9bcUg/viewform to have a guaranteed seat in the auditorium. See more details Benton County Executive Board Benton County Executive Board July 14, 2025 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM Meeting details will be provided over email from the Benton County Democrats Chair. See more details • •	15 TCD Democrats Protest Tuesday TCD Democrats Protest Tuesday July 15, 2025 3:45 PM - 5:45 PM John Dam Plaza, 815 George Washington Way, Richland, WA 99352, USA "Protest Tuesday" at John Dam Plaza on GWay in Richland from 3:45pm to 5:45PM. Bring your own sign or flag or one will be provided. Join our stalwarts and protest whatever is bothering you most that day. https://www.facebook.com/events/999996418325987/999996484992647/ See more details Richland City Council Richland City Council July 15, 2025 7:30 PM - 8:30 PM Richland City Hall, 505 Swift Blvd, Richland, WA 99352, USA See more details • •	16	17 Badger Club - Regional Transportation Planning Badger Club - Regional Transportation Planning July 17, 2025 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM https://badgers.clubexpress.com/content.aspx?page_id=4091&club_id=392306 Over the past 50 years, three small towns along the Columbia River have developed into five cities within a contiguous metropolitan area with a population exceeding 330,000. This rapid growth is expected to continue. Do our transportation agencies have far-sighted plans that will improve the connectivity for the population that is here and the growth that is coming? We'll ask the experts. See more details Indivisible TC - Founder Hour, Thurs Indivisible TC - Founder Hour, Thurs July 17, 2025 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM https://zoom.us/j/94107976607?pwd=qZeb9jUuH9e3DwVvukrhqxuwrNTWvv.1 Join in and ask questions, get updates or just say hi! Zoom link below, let me know if you need the mobile version. These are held every Thursday at 12pm and occasional weekends. See more details Good Trouble Lives On - Demonstration Good Trouble Lives On - Demonstration July 17, 2025 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM Corner of Columbia Center Blvd. and Canal St., Kennewick, WA Let's get into Good Trouble National Day of Action Join us and let's get into good trouble together See more details • • •	18	19
20	21	22 TCD Democrats Protest Tuesday TCD Democrats Protest Tuesday July 22, 2025 3:45 PM - 5:45 PM John Dam Plaza, 815 George Washington Way, Richland, WA 99352, USA "Protest Tuesday" at John Dam Plaza on GWay in Richland from 3:45pm to 5:45PM. Bring your own sign or flag or one will be provided. Join our stalwarts and protest whatever is bothering you most that day. https://www.facebook.com/events/999996418325987/999996484992647/ See more details Richland City Council Workshop Richland City Council Workshop July 22, 2025 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM Richland City Hall, 505 Swift Blvd, Richland, WA 99352, USA See more details • •	23	24 Indivisible TC - Founder Hour, Thurs Indivisible TC - Founder Hour, Thurs July 24, 2025 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM https://zoom.us/j/94107976607?pwd=qZeb9jUuH9e3DwVvukrhqxuwrNTWvv.1 Join in and ask questions, get updates or just say hi! Zoom link below, let me know if you need the mobile version. These are held every Thursday at 12pm and occasional weekends. See more details BCDCC General Public Meeting BCDCC General Public Meeting July 24, 2025 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM Meeting details will be provided over email from the Benton County Democrats Chair. See more details • •	25	26
27	28	29 TCD Democrats Protest Tuesday TCD Democrats Protest Tuesday July 29, 2025 3:45 PM - 5:45 PM John Dam Plaza, 815 George Washington Way, Richland, WA 99352, USA "Protest Tuesday" at John Dam Plaza on GWay in Richland from 3:45pm to 5:45PM. Bring your own sign or flag or one will be provided. Join our stalwarts and protest whatever is bothering you most that day. https://www.facebook.com/events/999996418325987/999996484992647/ See more details •	30	31 Indivisible TC - Founder Hour, Thurs Indivisible TC - Founder Hour, Thurs July 31, 2025 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM https://zoom.us/j/94107976607?pwd=qZeb9jUuH9e3DwVvukrhqxuwrNTWvv.1 Join in and ask questions, get updates or just say hi! Zoom link below, let me know if you need the mobile version. These are held every Thursday at 12pm and occasional weekends. See more details •