Updated August 29, 2008
Chair Ivan Weiss' Message for September Crunch Time
The primary election is over and the last of the numbers are trickling in. In this chairman's opinion, one statistic is more relevant to the 34th District Democratic Party organization than any other:
King County voter turnout: 31.88 percent.
This more than anything illustrates the task we have at hand between now and November 4 - Get Out The Vote, GOTV.
We know the turnout in the 34th will be higher than 31.88 percent. It's probably higher for the primary than the King County average. Our turnout in 2004 was 85 percent, with a 72 percent Democratic vote for the top of the ticket. We can meet or beat this, and that is our goal. After Labor Day, it's crunch time for this election ...
Updated August 15, 2008 Primary Election was August 19th - see our endorsements here. King County Initiative 26 is on the ballot. Be sure to vote "NO" on question 1 (should either of the ordinances be adopted) and then also "COUNCIL PROPOSED ALTERNATIVE" FOR QUESTION 2. See full text of the initiative here. Also, in the 34th District, we also have at least 153 people who have filed for PCO
positions. That list of candidates for PCO is
here.
Updated August 10, 2008 Garden Party was Friday, August 8th
We'll post more information about the results, a list of donors and photos shortly. In the meantime, there is more information here
Updated July 30, 2008 Nels Ekroth Passes
Nels Ekroth, long-time 34th District Democrat and PCO, passed away on July 29th. He was born in 1918 and was 8 days short of his 90th birthday when he died. See additional information and photos on his tribute page. If you have a quote or thought or photos to share as a tribute, send them to the webmaster.
Updated August 1, 2008
Chair Ivan Weiss' Message for August
The 34th District Democrats and the Top Two Primary
All our endorsed Democratic candidates are unopposed by other Democrats in the primary, so we don't have to do anything until November, right?
Wrong. This is not your normal primary. This is "Top Two," foisted on us by Republican Secretary of State Sam Reed, the Washington State Grange, and a whole lot of misguided voters who thought they were getting their old unconstitutional blanket primary back.
The top two vote-getters for each office, regardless of party, will advance to the November election, including all the candidates for statewide races. For several reasons, these are the races that deserve our utmost efforts for the primary.
Barack Obama is going to win in Washington state, by a wide margin. That's not even in doubt. John Kerry won here handily against an incumbent president in 2004, and Obama is a far better candidate than Kerry was.
Jim McDermott and Adam Smith will win their House seats without breaking a sweat. Jim can really use your contributions, but that's about it. Our three incumbent state legislators are deservedly unopposed. Not even a "ha-ha" candidate filed against them.
Governor Gregoire, on the other hand, needs a huge primary vote, and the widest possible margin, to send her challenger, Dino Rossi, a message that this is a Democratic state, and will be one in November. If he has a decent primary showing, Rossi will continue to crow that the 2004 election was "stolen" from him by "fraud," and that he is the people's choice. We can't allow him to do that.
John Ladenburg needs the strongest possible primary vote for Attorney General, where his legal experience and qualifications trump those of the incumbent, Rob McKenna, by a wide margin. Beating McKenna, the conservatives' darling who poses as a "moderate," would help us cripple the right wing in this state more than anything else.
Peter Goldmark needs the strongest possible primary vote for Land Commissioner. We need Peter to ensure that our state-owned shorelines and tidelands in Puget Sound and our state-owned timber lands are managed for the taxpayers, and not for the highest bidder. This race could markedly affect the future of the Maury Island Marine Reserve.
The Coordinated Campaign and hundreds of 34th District Precinct Committee Officers and volunteers will be calling on all of us to get the vote out for the primary. Soon after the absentee ballots are received, every day until the August 19 primary we will be getting lists of people who have voted from King County Elections (not HOW they have voted, don't worry), and matching these back against our own lists of voters.
These daily "matchbacks" will enable us to call people who we know have not voted, but only those people. Once we know that voters have mailed in their ballots, we won't be calling them.
Usually, daily matchbacks are done only in November. Doing them in a primary is a sure sign that the campaigns and the state party take the "top two" very seriously.
We need to take it seriously, too. If we remember anything at all about 2004, it is that every vote counts. A higher-than-average turnout in the 34th could mean the difference in a close statewide race.
Please help your PCOs in your precincts. We still have unrepresented precincts, so please consider helping there, too. Please volunteer to canvass or phone bank your precinct, and always remember those three magic words: "I'm your neighbor."
Garden Party
Planning for our 13th Annual Garden Party and Auction are in full swing, and high-quality donations continue to roll in. Garden Party Coordinator Tyler Smith, "Solicitor General" Bruce Stotler, Auctioneer Rachel Glass and others are putting together an unforgettable evening of entertainment, great food, beer, and wine, and a show of Democratic solidarity. The Garden Party will be Friday, August 8 at West Seattle Nursery, 6 PM, admission $34. Deadline for donations is noon sharp Wednesday, August 6.
And once we have all that money . . .
One of the things we'll be doing at our August 13 meeting is deciding how to spend it in the 2008 campaign. There are a few things to remember:
These decisions are the property of the membership, and not of the Executive Board or any perceived "insiders." Even so, our options are somewhat limited by law.
• The LD organization can't give any money to Obama, Jim McDermott, Adam Smith, or Darcy Burner. Federal law considers the Democratic Party in any state to be one entity—no difference between the state, county, and LD organizations. The state party has already "maxed out" to our federal candidates.
• State law, though, is different. We can donate 40 cents per registered voter in our District as of the previous year's general election. For 2007, that number was 69,126 (see why voter registration is so important?). That means we can donate $27,650.40 per statewide (state office) or Legislative District candidate.
• We cannot donate as an LD organization to Legislative candidates outside our District. But whereas all three of our Legislators are unopposed, any contributions to them would be "surplused" to the Senate and House Caucus Committees to support Democrats all over the state.
• And, of course, we can be very generous to our statewide candidates.
So please think about all these things, and we'll see you at the Garden Party, August 8, and at our meeting Wednesday, August 13, for "all the democracy you can handle."
--
Ivan Weiss, Chairman, 34th District Democrats
PO Box 860
Vashon WA 98070 206-463-4647
"When they're working, we're working
When they're sleeping, we're working."
Calendar Events in August, 2008
Friday, August 8, 2008 34th District Democrats' Annual Garden Party and Action
• West Seattle Nursery
• See garden party page on this website for more information
Saturday, August 16, 2008 Benefit for Congressman Jim McDermott
• Hosted by the Vashon Democrats and Vashon Winery
• 5:30 to 7:30 PM, Vashon Winery, 10317 SW 156th St, Vashon
• Includes the Vashon Democrats annual potluck - if you are attending the potluck please bring a dish to share
• RSVP to Thomas Pitchford via e-mail or at 246-9609
Sunday, August 17, 2008 Joe McDermott Fundraiser
• Marcee Stone and Max Vekich host a fundraiser for Senator Joe McDermott, also celebrating his upcoming primary victory
• at Marcee's Place, 4511 - 40th Ave. SW, 4:00 to 7:00 PM, refreshments and libations will be provided
• for more information call Marcee 206-456-1963
Wednesday, August 20, 2008 Adam Smith House Party
• Adam and Sara Smith cordially invite you to join their family for the 10th Annual Adam Smith House Party
• Wednesday, August 20th, 2008, 5:30 - 8:00 pm, The Smith Residence, 1822 Mariner Circle NE, Tacoma, WA 98422
• Donations greatly appreciated. Please make checks payable to: Adam Smith for Congress Committee, PO Box 23626, Federal Way, WA 98093
• Please RSVP to Matt Perry at (253) 572-6125 or adamsmithevent@gmail.com
Tuesday, August 26, 2008 34th District Leadership Development Team
• Working to improve the leadership of the 34th District Democrats - this meeting will finalize the proposed new organization structure and rules for the Executive Board, based upon input from many sources. All 34th District members are welcome to attend.
• Meets 7:00 PM, Ann Martin's home, contact Steve Karbowski or webmaster for directions
• Meeting minutes and the proposed Rules document are on the leadership development committee page.
• Contact Steve Karbowski via email or at 935-9207.
Tue, August 26, 2008 CANCELLED - King County Democratic Central Committee
• NO KCDCC this month!
Wed, August 27, 2008 Drinking Liberally - Talking Politics
• 7:00 PM, Mick Kelly's Irish Pub - 435 SW 152nd Street, Burien
• Sign up at drinkingliberally.org
• Host: Joe Fitzgibbon - burien@drinkingliberally.org
• An informal, inclusive Democratic drinking club. Raise your spirits while you raise your glass, and share ideas while you share a pitcher. Drinking Liberally gives like-minded, left-leaning individuals a place to talk politics. You don't need to be a policy expert and this isn't a book club - just come and learn from peers, trade jokes, vent frustration and hang out in an environment where it's not taboo to talk politics.
• Bars are democratic spaces - you talk to strangers, you share booths, you feel the bond of common ground. Bring democratic discourse to your local democratic space - build Democracy one drink at a time.
Thursday, August 28, 2008 West Seattle Democratic Women
• West Seattle Democratic Women meeting location Flora Belle Key's home. 11:30 AM.
• Cost is $10 for lunch;
• Potluck on Flora Belle Key's patio
• For more information e-mail Lynne Ingalls or Peggy Abby.
Thursday, August 28, 2008 Barack Obama's Acceptance Speech
• Democratic National Convention Party - Watch Senator Barack Obama Accept The Democratic Party Nomination LIVE!
• The 11th LD Democrats and their friends will celebrate the start of a historic journey to the White House!
• Thursday, August 28 - 5 to 10 PM - Live TV Coverage! at Gordon's on the Green (Foster Golf Course) - 13500 Interurban Ave., Tukwila, WA
• More info in the flyer here, RSVP to Chris Hintz chrishintz1@yahoo.com 435-442-0153
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