Come See Ann Arbor's Democratic Candidate for the 2nd Ward Debate His Opponent - and Other Dem Updates
WASHTENAW DEMS UPDATE - 9/27/2005
EVENTS
MSA sponsored debate between the candidates for Ann Arbor's 2nd Ward
September 27 (tonight!), 7:30 pm
South Lounge, Markley Hall
Come support Democratic candidate
Stephen Rapundalo. To suggest a question email
Jesse Levine, MSA President. Free pizza, refreshments, and desserts will be made available thanks to the MSA External Relations Committee.
Last day to register to vote in the November 8 city elections:
October 11, 2005. For more information, see
Washtenaw County Elections website.
Sen. Basham's Fundraising Spaghetti Dinner to Support Targeted State Senate Races (including southern Washtenaw's 17th Senate District)
Thursday, October 6, 2005, 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm, at the Democratic Club of Taylor.
Fo more information call 734-946-0809 or e-mail
Amanda D'Angelo.
Women Progressive Activists public forum on election reform: "What We Can Learn from What Went Wrong in Ohio"
October 12th, 2005, 7 p.m.
Church of the Good Shepherd, 2145 Independence Ave, Ann Arbor
Event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact
Barbara Clarke.
NAACP 2005 Freedom Fund Banquet
October 15, 2005
Ypsilanti Marriott
For more information e-mail
Ypsilanti Branch of the NAACP.
Celebration of
Congressman John Dingell's 50th Year in Congress
October 16, 2005
Ford Center for the Performing Arts, Dearborn
For more information call Dawn Owen 248-414-5204
GET INVOLVED
Democratic Candidate for Ann Arbor's 2nd Ward, Stephen Rapundalo, needs volunteers to help him canvass voters and do lit drops between now and the November 8 election. This race will be very competitive - help a Democrat win this seat for the first time in 20 years! For more information, contact
Stephen Rapundalo.
Join a group of Washtenaw volunteers traveling to Richmond, Virginia to help Democrat Tim Kaine defeat
Jerry Kilgore and win his closely contested election for Governor. Free housing will be provided with local volunteers and campaign workers. Carpools leave for the weekend on October 14; return Monday October 17 or Tuesday October 18. For more information on the trip, contact
Laura by Saturday October 1st. For more information on the race, see
Tim Kaine's Election website.
Join the
online Dems, Progressives, & Liberals Book Club and participate in monthly, moderated discussions about a political book. For more information, contact Jim
via email or call 734.649.1622.
NEWS
The conservative magazine Spectator quotes a (Ways and Means Chair) Bill Thomas staffer saying
social security "reform" is "dead." We need to remain vigilant, but Bush's increasing unpopularity should doom his efforts to mess with Social Security for this near term. Congratulations to everyone who has worked locally to combat Bush's social security scam, particularly Doug Kelley and the Committee to Preserve Social Security.
After an unqualified Bush appointee, Mike Brown, botched Katrina disaster relief, Senator Carl Levin is one of many people challenging Bush's current nominees to the Department of Homeland Security. He put a hold on Julie Myers's nomination to head the Immigration and Customs Enforcement to get more information on interrogation practices of the CIA. And he is questioning the qualifications of Stewart Baker to be assistant secretary of homeland security for policy. To read more, go to
New York Times article and
AP Wire article.
TAKE ONE ACTION FOR CHANGE
One of the first things Bush did in response to Hurricaine Katrina was to make it possible to cut the wages of those workers rebuilding. He suspended the wage requirements of the Davis-Bacon Act, which requires Federal contractors to pay the "prevailing wage" in an area. This will allow contractors to pay people rebuilding the Gulf Coast minimum wage, rather than the prevailing $9-10 hour rate. In other words Bush's act allows contractors to make more money, while not paying workers enough to rebuild their own lives. 15th CD Congressman John Dingell led the country in condemning this act. And Democratic Congressman George Miller has introduced a bill to overturn Bush's act. But the act needs a Republican co-sponsor. If you live in the 7th CD, call Congressman John Schwarz and encourage him to co-sponsor
HR 3763 so the workers of New Orleans can rebuild their lives!
DC Office: 202-225-6276
Jackson Office: 517-783-4486
Be polite but persuasive - remind the Congressman that the last thing Katrina survivors need is a pay cut.
Note: This is the weekly update for the Washtenaw County Democratic Party. To get your announcement in future issues of this newsletter, send information to
Marcy by Saturday at 5:00 p.m. We reserve the right to refuse or edit submissions. Paid for by the Washtenaw County Democratic Party.
Learn How to Support Katrina Survivors, Help Dems Take Back the State Senate and Other Dem News
WASHTENAW DEMS UPDATE - 9/21/2005
In an effort to limit e-mails to members, WCDP is replacing most individual announcements with one weekly news update. These updates will include events, political news, volunteer opportunities, and one weekly action you can take to help Democratic causes. We have included updates from other groups we think might be of interest to WCDP members. To get your group's announcement in this weekly update, send information (including contact information) to
Marcy by Saturday at 5:00 p.m. We reserve the right to refuse or edit submissions.
EVENTS
MI List Street Luncheon for ChoiceTo support pro-choice Democratic women candidates
Saturday, September 24, 11-1pm
Arbor Brewing Company
$100 Individual Rate
$10 Student Rate
For more information email
Barb Fuller or call 734-428-9143.
Rally/Civil Rights March to Reform Michigan's Racially Biased Jury Selection
Saturday- September 24, 2005, 11:30am- 3:30pm
Liberty Square Plaza
Downtown Ann Arbor, between Division & Liberty St.
Rain/Alternate: Ann Arbor Community Center 625 N. Main
For info: call (734) 483-0365 or email
Casey.
"We Demand an Exit Plan" Peace MarchSaturday September 24, 12 noon
Millennium Club, 210 S. First, Ann Arbor
Sponsored by
Michigan Peaceworks and
Veterans for Peace.
Sen. Basham's Fundraising Spaghetti Dinner to Support Targeted State Senate Races (including southern Washtenaw's 17th Senate District)
Thursday, October 6, 2005, 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm. Held at Democratic Club of Taylor. For more information call 734-946-0809 or email
Amanda D'Angelo.
NAACP 2005 Freedom Fund Banquet
October 15, 2005
Ypsilanti Marriott
For more information email
Ypsilanti NAACP office.
Celebration of
Congressman John Dingell's 50th Year in Congress
October 16, 2005
Ford Center for the Performing Arts, Dearborn
For more information call Dawn Owen 248-414-5204.
NEWS
Senator Stabenow Presses for $5 Billion this Year for Communications Equipment for First Responders
Congressman John Dingell Leads the House in Speaking Out against Bush's Wage Cut for Katrina Reconstruction Workers
ONE ACTION FOR CHANGE
Help the Washtenaw Democrats' Katrina Survivors Help Committee support the survivors in our area. We will NOT have an Ann Arbor Farmers Market table THIS Saturday, 9/24, but the following Saturday, OCT. 1, we'll be there from 8 a.m. to Noon, accepting the following items needed by many of the over 200 Katrina survivors who have come to Washtenaw County. Please bring, in boxes or strong bags:
a) Kitchen equipment: matching, presentable dishes; tableware and glassware; utensils such as spatulas and can-openers; toasters; coffeemakers; small microwaves in working condition (with the instruction booklet if you have it)
b) men's and women's sweaters, sweatshirts and jackets IN 2XL and 3XL (or larger) sizes ONLY
c) Backpacks and other soft luggage
On Tuesday and Saturday mornings beginning at 10 a.m. (until 6 p.m. on Tuesdays; until 2 p.m. on Saturdays) you may take gently-used furniture to the Salvation Army's facility for Katrina folks, in the Ardis School on the north side of Ellsworth Road half a block east of Hewitt Rd. (One way to get there from Ann Arbor is to take Platt Rd. south to Ellsworth; then east on Ellsworth to Ardis school.) They are NOT able to pick up donations. Thanks for whatever you can do! On Oct. 1 at our Ann Arbor Farmers Market Democratic table you can also sign up for a "sorting donations" work session in the UM Sports Coliseum at 5th Avenue and Hill St. (Times will be listed at the table on Oct. 1.)
-- Susan Baskett & Doug Kelley, co-chairs
Note: This is the weekly update for the Washtenaw County Democratic Party. To get your announcement in future issues of this newsletter, send
information to
Marcy by Saturday at 5:00 p.m. We reserve the right to refuse or edit submissions. Paid for by the Washtenaw County Democratic Committee.
Washtenaw Democrats Aiding Katrina Evacuees
Local Democrats Process A Thousand Garments For Katrina Evacuees Coming To MichiganOn September 15th, the Washtenaw County Democratic Party's new
"Katrina Survivors Help Committee" sorted, rebagged and labeled an estimated 1,000 nearly-new cold
weather garments, backpacks, and items of soft luggage.
Fifteen volunteers did the job, working in the University of Michigan's Sports Coliseum building. The donated items were turned in at the Democratic table at the edge of the Ann Arbor Farmers Market on Saturday the weekend before.
At a meeting of approximately a hundred Washtenaw Democrats in the Pittsfield Township Hall Wednesday evening the 14th, the Katrina Survivors Help Committee was made an official committee of the Washtenaw County Democratic Party. The committee is focusing on helping Katrina survivors who come to Michigan, either temporarily or more permanently. UM retiree
Doug Kelley and Ann Arbor School board member Susan Baskett were appointed co-chairs of the committee, by Washtenaw County Democratic Party Chair Graham Teall.
Kelley and Baskett said that only children's and adult sweaters, sweatshirts, and jackets, and backpacks and soft luggage, will be accepted at the Ann Arbor Farmers Market table this Saturday, 8 a.m. to Noon. Those items in small children's sizes, and also such items in adult 2XL and 3XL sizes, are especially needed.
Donated items will be made available to Katrina survivors who are arriving in considerable numbers here in Washtenaw County, and will also be delivered to survivors being housed elsewhere in Michigan.
Michigan Democrats Sweep the 2004 Elections
Washtenaw Democrats not only helped win Michigan for John Kerry on November 2nd last year, but scored victories up and down the ballot:
- Kerry took 63.4% of the vote in Washtenaw.
- We took all four State House seats in Washtenaw County, electing Alma Wheeler Smith, Pam Byrnes, Chris Kolb and Kathy Angerer, adding two to the Democratic side of the aisle in Lansing.
- All of the county-wide offices went to Democratic candidates, with Larry Kestenbaum as the first Democratic clerk in 70 years.
- Statewide, House Democrats picked up a net of 5 seats, their largest gain since 1986, and will hold 52 seats in the 2005-06 Legislature.
- Six of eight statewide education board races were won by Democrats who control 3 of the 4 boards.
We have laid the groundwork for 2006 when we must:
- reelect Governor Granholm
- reelect Senator Stabenow
- retake the Michigan Secretary of State's office
- retake the Michigan Attorney General's office
- reelect our Members of Congress
- retake the Michigan State Senate
- retake the Michigan State House
- win education races
- turn the Michigan Supreme Court around
- win local offices
Enjoy a well deserved rest before we get back to work with ballot question petitions, candidate nominating petitions and more of the same great grassroots work that made us successful last year!
With your help Michigan will remain DEEP BLUE!
