Updated January 6, 2010 Chair Tim Nuse's' Message for January
Happy New Year! I hope your holidays have been filled with family and
friends and lots of good spirit. Now is the time to reflect on the
previous year, ponder the next, and refocus on what matters most in
our lives.
Just eleven months ago Dow announced he was running for King
County Executive and we helped jump start the campaign with an
endorsement and a generous donation. In June, we hosted one of the
best attended and well organized candidate forums in the area. Our
July endorsement meeting was a packed marathon. In August,
Congressman Jim McDermott joined us to discuss health care with
close to 400 people in attendance.
With your help, we lobbied Cantwell to be an outspoken supporter of
the public option. We collaborated with Organizing For America to give
Congressman Adam Smith the support to vote for health insurance
reform. The year culminated with a huge victory for Dow, preservation
of domestic partnership rights, and defeat of I-1033 in November. By
December, we turned our attention to getting Senator Joe McDermott
appointed to the King County Council with a resolution, a letter and
phone campaign, and a strong presence at the Council meeting on
December 14.
Yet, 2009 was also a very difficult year for many of us. Jobs and businesses have been lost, homes have been
foreclosed, and family and friends have passed away. On December 13, the 34th District lost one of our finest when
Cherisse Luxa passed away after a battle with stomach cancer. She was a devout community organizer, an
outspoken member, and a friend. Cherisse was the go-to person in Burien and fought tirelessly for her community.
At our meetings, you knew to expect a pithy question or well-thought point when she took the microphone.
While campaigning to Chair the District last December, my computer crashed completely. It would take weeks for
my new laptop to be delivered and Cherisse offered her brand new, cherry red laptop until mine arrived. During the
great snowstorm she met me at Westwood Village to hand off the computer that helped me continue my campaign.
That was the kind of friend Cherisse was. Whenever I took a position or acted in a way she disapproved of, my
phone would ring and she would pull no punches. That was the type of integrity and leadership she provided.
With all the issues facing our community and the world today, we could probably use a little divine intervention.
May you organize the heavens, Cherisse. We still need you and we miss you.
The new year will be filled with campaigns to re-elect Senator Murray and Congressman Smith and McDermott. We
will also be working to elect Senator Joe McDermott to the King
County Council. The legislative session will be a fight to preserve
critical funding and support new revenue sources.
With all the important issues we work on and all the contention of
politics, what a great time this is to remember what's most
valuable. Nothing is more important than family, friends, and
health. I wish you a healthy and prosperous 2010 enjoyed with
your loved ones.
Onward,
Tim Nuse, Chair, 34th District Democrats Email Tim here.
Updated January 6, 2010
