LET'S DEBATE
Democratic Congressional Candidate Jay Clough has challenged incumbent Rep. Hastings to a series of debates around the 4th CD.
- Wenatchee Valley Community College Candidate Forum. October 12th
- The Benton PUD auditorium, October 15th from 7-9pm
- The North First Street conference room in Yakima, October 22nd from 7-9pm
He needs our help to make sure at least ONE of these debates happen! Please take a moment to call Congressman Hastings' office, at (509) 736-1510, email him at info@dochastings.com, or write him a letter, at P.O. Box 2926, Pasco, WA 99302. You could also write a letter to the editor of the local paper, publicly encouraging him to debate Jay. We can't let him slide by unchallenged!
See the full text of Jay's letter to Doc Hastings here.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
In case you missed Norm Luther's excellent response to Doc Hasting's guest editorial in the Enterprise, you can read it in full here. This includes a link that was edited out in the paper. If you write a letter to the editor, please send a copy to info@klickitatdemocrats.org as well, and we'll include it in our OpEd section of the website.
ELECTIONS PAGE
Informational links for Ballot Initiatives are now available on the Elections Page.Get Ready for Huckfest
Klickitat Democrats will be hosting a booth at the Huckleberry Festival Sept 10-12th. Local candidates will be stopping by, we hope you will too!
Important Updates on Our Elections Page
With the fall races heating up, check in on our Elections page for new information as we receive it ... New information posted recently includes:
- Assessors Race Fact Check
- Online Voters Guides
- Candidate Information
An Exciting State Convention
Over 650 Delegates attended the Washington State Democratic Party Convention June 25 and 26 in Vancouver, including */seven/* of our own Klickitat county delegation! State Committeeman Bob Hansen, Committeewoman Lorrie DeKay, Delegates Steve Carothers, Ann Stephenson, Mary Pierce, and Alternates Shelley Baxter and Brooke LeBlanc, as well as Mt. Brook PCO Janet Turner, attended committee meetings, workshops, caucuses, social events, and the main convention.
What an inspiring time to be with be with so many who share our values and to hear heart-felt speeches from leaders Patty Murray and Chris Gregoire and others like Jay Clough who are willing to step up to the plate because the right thing to do.
The main purpose of the annual convention is to build a party platform from all the ideas submitted by party members all over the state. Resolutions submitted by party members requiring our Democratic State and Congressional delegations to work for particular legislation are voted on. In addition, candidates for office are presented and endorsed. Finally, state wide initiatives are endorsed.
A reading of the platform reveals just how progressive our state is in all areas of social and environmental justice. For example, one of the resolutions passed was to establish public funding for state-level campaigns. Another calls /sustainable/ agriculture and aquaculture methods.
A reading of the platform reveals just how progressive our state is in all areas of social and environmental justice. A sample of the resolutions passed include:
- To establish public funding for state-level campaigns.
- A call for /sustainable/ agriculture and aquaculture methods.
- A call for revision of the War Powers Act to assure that Congress can declare an end to a war.
- A call for a comprehensive single-payer national health care plan.
- Opposition to the Supreme Court ruling that corporations are people.
- Opposition to charter schools and vouchers.
Other highlights include:
- Nominations of Senator Patty Murray, Denny Heck (3rd CD), Clyde Cordero (5th CD), as our Democratic Party Candidates (all other nominations were made at the January Washington State Democratic Central Committee meeting, including that of Jay Clough, our CD4 candidate).
- Endorsements of Charlie Wiggens and Stan Rumbaugh (State Supreme Court)
- Endorsement of Initiative 1068 legalizing marijuana in Washington State and
- Opposition to Initiative 1100 and 1105, closing state liquor stores but allowing liquor sales in grocery stores.
For video of speeches, and a complete list of endorsements, visit the Washington State Democrats' website.
2010 Platform and Resolutions
Read about platform planks, resolutions, and how to write them. And join us at the county convention to share in a discussion about platforms and resolutions.
Note: A platform is a statement of principles. Resolutions are formal expression of opinion.
BECOME A DELEGATE
TO THE STATE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION!
Every two years, the Washington State Democrats host Caucuses, County Conventions, and a State Convention. You are invited to take part in these events, which play a big part in defining and building the Washington State Democratic Party. This year, the State Convention will be held on Saturday, June 26th, in Vancouver, Washington. By taking part in the Caucus and Convention cycle you can define what the Party stands for by helping to develop our platform. You can meet other Democrats and work together to make the Party stronger. You can become involved in the Party and lay the groundwork for further political work in your community.
In 2008 we began the Caucus and Convention cycle with over 6,000 precinct caucuses across the state. Because this is not a Presidential election year, we will not hold precinct caucuses. **This year, the first step to be a delegate to Vancouver will be the Legislative District Caucuses on Sunday, March 14th. These are followed by the County Conventions on April 10th and our State Convention on June 26th. The Klickitat County Convention will include the LD15 Sub-caucus instead of participating in the LD event in March.**
You may run for Delegate if:
- You are a resident registered voter in Klickitat County.
- You are available to serve at the State Convention June 26 in Vancouver.
To run for Delegate:
- Sign the nomination list at the registration table at the County Convention... Nominations do not require a second.
- If you cannot be present at the Convention/LD subcaucus, submit a written statement that you will serve if elected, and that you are a Democrat and willing to be known as such. Your letter will be read by the sub-caucus chair and shall constitute a nomination.
At the Convention/LD Sub-caucus:
- Each candidate will be given one minute for speech on their behalf.
- Voting is by signed ballot.
- Delegates and alternates will be selected from the same set of ballots, in order of vote tally.
- Each delegation will be equally divided between women and men in both the delegate and alternate categories (unless there are insufficient nominees from one gender to fill available positions).
Once elected:
- Delegates and alternates will be given a certificate of election.
- Each delegate will be requested to pay a $50 state convention registration fee.
- No person shall be excluded or disqualified at any level on the basis of non-payment of the fee.
New Year, New Board, New Election Season
Klickitat Democrats ring in the new year with changes to the Executive Board. With great regret, the resignations of our chair and vice chair were accepted in the past few months, and we continue to work together to keep moving ahead despite adversity. Past Chair and current State Committeeman Bob Hansen has stepped up as Acting Chair of the County Party. Bob is willing to remain in this postion for 2010, so we will be looking for a new State Committeeman. Lorrie DeKay, current State Committeewoman, has volunteered to act as Vice Chair until a new recruit is found. She prefers to remain as State Committeewoman, having just completed her first year in that role. According to our bylaws, the chair and vice chair must be of opposite gender, so we are looking for a new Vice Chair to work with Bob. If your new year's resolutions include getting more involved with your local Democratic Party, here are some opportunities for you!
With the 2010 Election cycle underway, we are also in need of neighborhood leaders for our precincts. We will be updating our precinct page so you can see if your precinct has a vacancy you can fill. If your precinct already has a PCO, your help will be invaluable to them. The Executive Board will be holding a meeting on Tuesday, February 9th at 6:30 pm, Los Reyes Restaurant in Bingen. We encourage all PCO's to attend, as well as anyone who would like to learn more about being a PCO. Our CD4 Candidate Jay Clough is developing his network for his race to unseat Doc Hastings, and we need everyone's energy!
We remind you all that annual dues are only $5, so remember to send in your renewals or join NOW. We all volunteer many hours to keep you informed, but we do have expenses (like website domains, copying, and other services). You are important to us, and we want you to be informed. Be sure to check out our Blog, and if you would like to be on our email list for newsletters, please click the link on the left to subscribe.