Letter from John Kelly, Chair of the 26th LD Democrats
Thanks for all who supported me in my bid to become Chair of the 26th LD Democrats. I look forward to working with you on the challenges ahead, specifically electing three Democrats to the State Legislature in 2018. I will soon be announcing the time and place for the first meeting of the new executive board so that we can get down to work.
It is my goal to unify our members behind candidates recruited, vetted and endorsed by our Candidate Recruitment Committee. The process will be fair, open, transparent and inclusive. It is time, at last, to put to an end the bitterness of the primary election and work together to promote our progressive principles.
The 26th LD Democrats will continue and expand fund-raising efforts to support our candidates. With wider participation from membership, we can raise more money and help more deserving Democrats. I look forward to hearing your ideas.
Traditionally, the Vice Chairs have been responsible for recruitment of new members. I would like to create a Recruitment Committee, preferably chaired by a younger member, with a focus on recruiting more young people and young families.
For those of you in Gig Harbor and Key Peninsula, I encourage you to attend your local Democratic discussion group. The groups are an excellent opportunity to meet and greet government officials, candidates and evaluate initiative and advisory votes. A group is also being planned in the South Kitsap area. So, watch for program announcements and bring a friend!
Before I finish, I want to once again thank outgoing Chair George Robison for his great contribution to the Democratic Party. George was the top financial contributor to the 26th LD, and volunteered countless hours working for our legislative candidates. I trust that George will remain active in the District, and I intend to call on him as needed for help and advice. Please let George know that you appreciated his efforts as well.
But, now, I would like to hear from you. Please let me know what you think we could do better as an organization, or to improve meetings. Tell me what issues are most important to you as a progressive. Recommend a candidate for 2018. Let me know if you are interested in joining or leading a committee. As I have said before, I cannot be successful without more folks stepping up to help us achieve our goals. So, let’s hear it!
New Officers Elected
At our re-organization meeting on Thursday December 1, 2016, the following people were elected to our Executive Board.
Chair: John Kelly
Vice Chair (Kitsap): Johanna Baxter
Vice Chair (Pierce): Cecilia Hardy
State Committeewoman: Joy Vartanian
State Committeeman: Andrew Williams
Secretary: Dan Ransom
Treasurer: Wes Morgan
At Large:
Payton Swinford, Kaitlyn Gervais, Roxanne Simon
Representatives to Pierce County Democrats Central Committee:
Barb Trotter, Rick Offner, Margaret Gaspari
Call To Order For The 26th LD Democrats Re-Organization Meeting
Date: Thursday, December 1, 2016
Time: 7 PM
Location: Givens Community Center, 1026 Sidney Ave, Port
Orchard
Please save the date to attend the 26th LD Democrats Re-Organization Meeting.
**Only ELECTED Precinct Committee Officers are allowed to vote during this election**
Bylaws and amendments will be adopted.
During this meeting we will be electing the following positions: Chair, Vice Chair (Kitsap), Vice Chair (Pierce), State Committeeman, State Committeewoman, Secretary, Treasurer, Additional Executive Board Members and three delegates to the Pierce County Democrats Central Committee E-Board.
We will also be conducting new business in determining meeting dates and place, and a monthly new candidate training.
From the Desk of Larry Seaquist
This Sunday is September 11th, the fifteenth anniversary of that terrible day. 9/11 is now a national day of reflection, a day for our nation to pause to celebrate the heroism of our First Responders. Every one of our own firefighters, EMTs, police officers and sheriff’s deputies go to work every day ready to act just as selflessly as those remarkable firefighters did when they rushed into the collapsing buildings at the World Trade Center fifteen years ago. My own memorial on 9/11 also includes the many First Friends we all have — the friends and neighbors who immediately jump into action when someone, anyone in our community is in need.
We’re blessed in America with a spirit of taking care of each other, of respecting each other. “We’re all in this together” is still the instant American reaction to crisis.
“Never again,” is another American touchstone. To honor those lost in a tragedy, we Americans learn the lesson, plan the prevention, and act.
In the fifteen years since the World Trade Center attacks, we’ve seen too many more acts of homicide/suicide violence, most of them entirely homegrown. With school just restarted this is a good time to ask ourselves if we’re doing everything we can. I believe our efforts at prevention should center on reducing the risks to our children and our schools. Out doorbelling yesterday, I talked with one of our local school counselors. Already in the first week of school it was clear, she said, that many of our high school students are stressed out. Some are homeless. Many are stuffed into overcrowded classrooms. We need to do better.
So in addition to remembering the First Responders and the victims of the World Trade Center fifteen years ago, part of my personal 9/11 Memorial tomorrow will be to redouble my insistence that we honor our commitment to Never Again by ensuring that our kids are in physically safe, emotionally healthy, fully funded schools embedded in a fully supportive community.
Your thoughts? We all remember where we were when we heard the awful news about the planes flying into the World Trade Center. What are your thoughts fifteen years on?
Larry Seaquist