34th Dems General Meeting Minutes
October 13, 2021 – Virtual meeting held via closed ZOOM
Pre-Meeting Special Program
- Derrick Belgarde – Chief Seattle Club, presented “The State of Housing and Homelessness in Seattle”
- Learn more: https://www.chiefseattleclub.org/
6:50 – Call to Order by Carla Rogers, Chair
Opening Ceremonies
- Land & People Acknowledgement – First Vice Chair Rachel Glass.
- Carla invited greater involvement in volunteering and mentioned that participation has been low
- https://www.wa-democrats.org/blog/release-wa-state-democratic-party-intervenes-in-election-lawsuits/
- Special Guests and Elected Officials are invited to speak: Joe Fitzgibbon, Eileen Cody, Chris Porter, and Norman Sigler
- Speak Up Survey Question: How Shall We Celebrate the End of 2021?
Approval of Tonight’s Agenda and Last Month’s Minutes
- Agenda: Ann Martin motioned to approve as amended; Chris Porter seconded. Approved with voice vote.
- Minutes: Ann Martin motioned to approve; Rachel Glass seconded. Approved with voice vote.
Budget and Membership Reports
- Treasurer Julie Whitaker reported on the budget, this month’s balance is slightly lower due to expected expenses on sample ballots and canvassing expenses.
- Membership is now at 553.
- Change Makes $ense!:
Announcements & Mark Your Calendar & Opportunities to Participate
- Participate on the Awards Committee
- Bylaws/Endorsement Rules Committee
- Sign Up to Canvas! Sign up for GOTV!
- Return to In-Person Meetings Still Uncertain
- Resignations/Opportunities on the Exec Board:
- 2nd Vice Chair
- Platform/Legislative Action Committee Chair
- State Party Rep (non-binary or female)
- Monthly eBoard Meeting is Wednesday, Oct 20 at 6:30pm, register
- Next Member Meeting – Wednesday, Nov 10, 6:00pm
- Environmental Program – more info soon!
Nick Bonazza presenting PCO Appointments and Overview of GOTV Activities
- Nancy Kick – Burien 1059
- Sam Mendez – Burien 1057 (won Hugo Garcia’s Sounder’s Game raffle for volunteers)
- Ann Martin motioned to appoint; Chris Porter seconded. Approved by voice vote.
- Burien sample ballots printed this year for GOTV campaigns
- Canvassing is happening every Saturday until the election
- Meet at Burien Press Coffee Shop 10am Saturdays and canvas with the candidates!
- New canvassers will be partnered with experienced canvassers to show them how it all works
Candidate Spotlight
- Vivian Song Maritz – Seattle School Board Dir 4; daughter of immigrants, first women in her family to graduate from college, and is working to ensure the opportunities she had continue to the next generation
- Laura Marie Rivera – Seattle School Board Dir 4; parent and educator, not a politician, only candidate in her race that has been an educator, and has taught at many levels
- Michelle Sarju – Seattle School Board Dir 5 (not present)
Stephan Thomas presented “Prosecutors: The Most Powerful Elected Official That You’ve Never Held Accountable”
- Formerly a prosecutor himself, with a varied and international family background, from Chicago, saw the “War on Drugs” growing up
- Prosecutors have a lot of discretion in carrying out their roles and majority are white men, lack diversity
- Democrats need to come together and address who is holding this power in our communities
- System is focused on punishment, not on mental illness, root cause problems, racism, etc.
- Learn more: https://www.patpwa.com/
Final Campaign Contributions
- Budgeted Campaign Contribution Balance = $500
- Executive Board Recommended $100 each to:
- Brandon Hersey
- Hugo Garcia – Burien City Council, position 1
- Sarah Moore – Burien City Council, position 5
- Krystal Marx – Burien City Council, position 7
- Highline Schools Levy
- Chris Porter motioned to disperse the funds as presented; Ann Martin seconded. Chris Porter spoke for the motion. Voice vote approval.
- Executive Board Recommended $100 each to:
Redistricting Status
- Thanks to the members who testified in person and those who wrote in testimony
- 4 Commissioners have submitted LD and CD Maps: https://bit.ly/34-redistricting
- Sims: gain SODO, part of Georgetown, lose S. Burien/Lake Burien
- Graves: northern WS goes to the 43rd, gain South Park, eastern Burien, Renton
- Walkinshaw: Vashon to the 26th, lose southern Burien, gain South Park/Georgetown, Pioneer Square
- Fain: Gain Pioneer Sq, lower First Hill, South Park and Boeing, lose most of Burien
- Bunny Hatcher presented on 34th District efforts, including 8 people presenting testimony
- The final maps will take affect in January
Executive Board Election
- Rachel Glass motioned and Nick Bonazza seconded to nominate Aaron Garcia as KCDCC Alternate Representative. Rachel spoke in favor of Aaron’s nomination. Voice vote in favor.
Good of the Order
- Colleen Hinton colleenmhinton@msn.com recruiting volunteers to hold signs at 148 and 1st Ave South reminding people to vote!
- Bunny Hatcher pyewacket23@comcast.net is recruiting for the Endorsements and Resolutions committee
- Katie Harris kate@crossroadstrade.com is recruiting for presenters and workshop
- Randy Litzenberger litzenbergerrandy@gmail.com recruiting for Energy, Environment and Land Use Caucus
- Rachel Glass – sign waving every Tuesday “VOTE” at 16th and Holden
- Elizabeth Heath –virtual webinar on Trees and its social justice connection 10/18 MaryFisher1@comcast.net.
Adjourned at 9:04 by Carla Rogers, Chair