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The Benton County Democratic Central Committee is searching for a Newsletter editor. We have a group of approximately 5 volunteers who will continue to help with production and writing, and local democrats are very cooperative in writing up events. The main task is organization – working with the BCDCC chair and the newsletter committee to determine the contents and gather the articles. We meet 2 times a month: a planning meeting and a production meeting. At the planning meeting we share ideas for write-ups and authors, at the second meeting we actually put the paper together. If you are interested in volunteering or have any questions please contact Carl Baker (hodor@warmrock.net ).
Why is the newsletter important? BCDCC communicates using numerous venues: Facebook, the Website, as well as Twitter; these are considered mass communication and are subject to some restrictions based on state and federal elections rules. The newsletter, which is considered an internal communication, is not restrained by the same rules. For example we can do candidate interviews and it’s not considered an in-kind contribution.
Previous editions of the newsletter: http://bencodems.org/documents-and-resources/#newsletters
Your Benton County Democratic Central Committee Executive Board would like to take a moment to thank all of our wonderful, and tireless, candidates who ran this cycle. Your efforts have not gone unnoticed, locally or at the state level.
You stood up, against incredible odds, and bravely fought for our shared values. You didn’t compromise your ideals and you carried yourselves with dignity and grace. You are a wonderful example for future candidates who will build upon your efforts to continue to move us forward.
We saw our turnout numbers rise dramatically over previous elections. Benton County had a turn out of 55.09% in 2014, which is the same type of election as this year, and that was the final number after all votes were tabulated. This year we were at 56% at around 4pm yesterday, and those numbers will continue to rise over the next two weeks. Those voters were inspired and turned out because of you and your message.
Every election we fight in and every election in which we increase voter turnout moves the ball forward.
A huge thank you to Christine Brown, Leo Perales,Shir Regev, Christopher Tracy, Rebecca Francik, Everett Maroon as well as our candidates from the surrounding communities such as Jennifer Goulet, Matthew Sutherland, Diana Izaguirre, and Zahra Roach. We know what you went through and the sacrifices you made to offer yourself to our community. We appreciate you. Your community owes you a debt of gratitude.
Hold your heads high. You have a lot to be proud of.
Endorsements of the Benton County Democrats
✓ If you want to find our your voting information including history and ballot status: https://weiapplets.sos.wa.gov/MyVote/#/home
✓ The election results are coming 11/6 at 8PM https://www.bentonauditor.com/Current-Election
✓ Ballot Return Statistics for all counties: https://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/research/ballot-return-statistics.aspx
Shirley Miller, who died Sept. 21 at age 88, left a significant and lasting mark on the community she came to call home. She was a business owner, a political leader, a social justice warrior. The memorial service will be Saturday, 10/27, 2 PM at Events at Sunset Gardens, 915 Bypass Highway, Richland WA
The obituary can be viewed here: https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/tricityherald/obituary.aspx?n=shirley-jean-shriver-miller&pid=190556018
Services celebrating the life of Neil Norman were held Sunday, September 23rd, at 2 p.m. at Shalom UCC, 505 McMurray, Richland. (Shalom is behind Safeway.)
Richard Badalamente has shared some of the history of Neils extraordinary live of service: https://wa8thld-dems.blogspot.com/2018/09/neil-arthur-norman-1931-2018.html
By Judi Johannesen
The Blue Wave energy was palpable at the Washington State Democrats convention last weekend! I attended as a state platform committee member for the 8th LD, and as a Bencodems delegate.
Allison Dabler, Bonnie Kendall, and I rode up together Thursday night. Due to Bonnie’s quick response, she got a room at the convention hotel which she shared with us. That freed us up to focus on the convention rather than logistics. We lived, breathed, ate, and slept Democrat both days of the convention.
On Friday, I went to the Hispanic/Latino caucus, where Christine Brown for congress 4th CD and Leo Perales for state senate 8th LD were endorsed, as well as Susan Soto Palmer for Yakima Council position 3, a leader in the fight to de-gerrymander Yakima County. I also went to the Women’s Caucus.
The rest of the day was spent in the state platform committee meeting, working on recommendations for the sixty-some-odd resolutions submitted. Allison Dabler was a co-chair. By the end of the day, we had a platform and resolutions all ready for the plenum meeting on Saturday.
Friday night, I went to the Progressives Caucus and Socialist Pizza Party, where Shir Regev got an endorsement for Position 1 of the 8th LD.
Benton County was seated in the FRONT ROW of the convention hall. Due to malfunctioning microphones, ALL the action was taking place at the mics right in front of our seats. Like when the members of 3 tribes requested time to welcome us to their land. Initially, Tina wanted to stick to the agenda, but when she asked for whether the body wanted to allow the tribes time, it was a BIG affirmative. A song about unity, love, and peace was sung, and it was very touching. Tina later apologized and promised to include tribal welcome in future convention agendas. Our Kate Moran was one of the Sargent at Arms keeping the unruly in line, and our tally counter was Jeffrey Robinson.
First, we dealt with a bylaws change to move the beginning of the year to December 1 to coincide with the new PCOs taking office, which passed. After going through the platform and tagging the sections with questions or objections, I moved to adopt the balance of the platform, which passed. We then addressed the questions and motions to amend. There weren’t many changes, and none I would characterize as substantive. I then moved that we approve the balance of the platform as amended, which carried. On to the resolutions, which were handled in a similar fashion. A resolution against the use of superdelegates to the national convention was initially ruled out of order because it wasn’t in proper format (the first therefore isn’t an action). A motion was made to overrule the chair. Before that could go to a vote (thank goodness), another motion was made to send the resolution back to the makers to fix and then take up at the September meeting, which carried. I was feeling pretty naked there for a while, sitting in the front row in full view of a chair I like and admire, but feeling very strongly about the ill effects of superdelegates. I was very relieved at the solution that carried. At the end, we had the bylaws amendment, platform, and resolutions all dispositioned, almost all as recommended by the platform committee.
Allison brought us home through a deluge, and the beauty of the Wenatchee area farmland, the Columbia basalt cliffs and Rattlesnake Mountain made me glad for where I’m planted. Thank you all for the opportunity to represent us at the state convention!
The Legislative District Caucuses/County Convention was held March 24, 2018 at Desert Hills Middle School. The platform was adopted. In addition the resolution supporting the initiative to create the nation’s first universal single payer health insurance system, originally passed at the March 15 General Membership Meeting, was adopted.
Resolution Supporting Whole Washington State Universal Healthcare Initiative (I-1600)
WHEREAS Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights says “Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control establishes a fundamental right to healthcare”
WHEREAS the Declaration of Independence declares the responsibility of government to protect universal and “unalienable” rights to “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness,” and health care is essential to life and to the pursuit of happiness
WHEREAS more than half a million people in our state are uninsured, more are underinsured, and lives could be saved by ensuring access to healthcare
WHEREAS the 2016 Platform of the Washington State Democratic Party affirms that “Health care is a basic human right,” and states that we must establish “An affordable universal single-payer system to provide the most equitable and effective health care, serving both individual and public health needs;
WHEREAS a single-payer resolution was adopted by the Washington State Democratic Central Committee in April of 2017
WHEREAS people of color, people with disabilities, and low-income people are the most likely to lack affordable, comprehensive healthcare
WHEREAS Whole Washington has crafted a ballot initiative guaranteeing universal healthcare to all Washingtonians, with a funding mechanism devised by a noted economist, which demonstrates that Washington state residents will save over $10 billion dollars annually when universal healthcare is implemented;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Whatcom County Democrats support Whole Washington state universal healthcare initiative (I-1600);
THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the Whatcom County Democrats will use its mailing list and online presence to mobilize voters and collect signatures;
THEREFORE, BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED THAT upon adoption of this resolution, Whatcom Democrats will publicize.
Adopted by unanimous vote at March 15, 2018 General Membership Meeting
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As we enter this holiday season, the Benton County Democrats would like to wish you, and yours, the very best. We’d also encourage you all to take a moment to think of the public servants who will be working this holiday season, away from their friends and family, to ensure you’re safe and that the ship sails true. Their sacrifice ensures that we can enjoy this holiday. Many of us have met and forged bonds over this chaotic year. We are grateful to those of you who have shown up and invested your time in creating a stronger community. Whether standing in the cold with signs, knocking on doors for candidates, or mailing postcards to officials – you have made this growing movement a great thing to be a part of. The holiday season begins with a call for thankfulness and the Benton County Democrats are certainly thankful for you, and your support. It is because of Progressives like you that we are able to hold the line and to promote our candidates and issues. With your help we will continue the work of making our community, our state, and our nation a better place to live for every citizen. We Democrats also strive to be mindful of the great harm our founders, and our ancestors, did to the indigenous people of this land. Only through inviting their voices to the table can we ever hope to begin the long process of making amends and creating bonds built on trust. How ever you celebrate the holidays, the Benton County Democrats are here to ensure that your voices are heard. We look forward to the work ahead, the many hands that will make the load light, and the many victories that will make the work worth it. |