Minutes of the 43rd District Democrats – January 17th, 2006 Meeting at University Baptist Church Meeting called to order by Chair Richard Kelley at 7:36 p.m. * M/S/Pass Minutes approved FINANCE REPORT – Richard Kelley, Chair (for the Treasurer) Lynn Chadsey, our outgoing Treasurer, has resigned. Minimal changes in the proposed budget include increased sample ballot campaign costs and reduced contributions to other organizations. Also, budget for nominating convention meeting never occurred last year, but we do have caucus expenses of about the same amount anticipated. Total amount is slightly less than last year. If additional revenue comes in, could give money to specified races or organizations. * M/S/Pass Approved Budget as printed on back of agenda. CHAIR'S REPORT - Richard Kelley, Chair PRECINCT CAUCUS – Derek Stanford, Caucus Coordinator; Lisa Steubing, Assistant Caucus Coordinator First meeting Sunday, February 26th, will have Congressman Jim McDermott in attendance. February 28th and March 1st will have other persons in attendance, followed by the Precinct Caucus with elections of delegates on Saturday, March 3rd. Meetings on February 26th and March 4th will be at Washington State Trade and Convention Center – other meetings will be at locations to be announced. Each of the first three meetings will have platform amendments only, and the final precinct caucus on March 4th will have resolutions and elections of delegates. February 26th is 2 pm Sunday; February 28th and March 1st will be at 7 pm Tuesday and Wednesday; March 4th will be 10 am Saturday. Delegates are only elected on March 4th for delegates to Legislative District Caucus and King County Caucus. LD delegates will then elect delegates to the State Convention. PCOs are automatically delegates from their Precincts (not Acting PCOs, just appointed or elected PCOs). We will put a downloadable Call To Precinct Caucus on the 43rd District Website at www.43rddems.org for people to use. Status of Primary in Washington State: only Democrats and Republicans qualify as political parties for the primary this year. State is appealing court decision that gave us the Montana Primary – don't know when it will be finalized or even argued – probably decided late spring. Current prediction is an open partisan primary. Tally Committee for tonight's Treasurer election are: Jenny Eichwald, Timekeeper for tonight's election is: Steve Hartholz. ELECTIONS: [will be Friday and Saturday June 2nd and 3rd in Yakima WA] Election of Platform Committee member for State Convention – reviews platforms from districts and counties etc and produces a draft state platform for the state platform to be voted on at that convention. Election of Credentials Committee member – certifies credentials of those able to vote or participate in the state convention. Election of Rules Committee member – clarifies and decides on rules for convention. Nominations for Platform Committee: Linda Clifton, Charlie Bendock Announcement from Washington State Democratic Party (Misty): Mike McGavick is kicking off his campaign for US Senator, and we are helping create Truth Squads to show where the money from Safeco and others came from, at Seattle Center on Saturday. Contact at misty@wa-democrats.org or phone 583-0664. Results: Linda Clifton 14, Charlie Bendock 23 – Charlie Bendock appointed to Platform Committee from 43rd District. Nominations for Rules Committee: Rob Dolan, Will Affleck-Asch Friday, January 27th there will be a fundraiser for US Senator Maria Cantwell, featuring US Senators Maria Cantwell and Hillary Clinton, tickets start at $150 up to $1000 – contact Jean Carlson 329-2725 for more details. Legislature is in session right now, but we have their staff people here: Peggy from Sen. Pat Thibaudeau's office. Civil rights bill expected to be voted on this week in the legislature. Senate budget is contributing to the state pension this year, which was put off last year. Heating bill for low-income in hearings. Health care blue ribbon commission is being held. Pat is holding a Town Hall meeting for seniors on Feb. 4th, Saturday morning, Center for Urban Horticulture, just north of the University, for people to ask questions of federal officials. There is a bill for major employers to spend a certain amount on health care, similar to the Maryland bill for major employers. Note by audience it costs us $3 billion a day not to have single payer medical coverage. Note by audience that Health Care for all Washington that lobbying is ongoing during the session – the blue ribbon commission report is favorable since it has a better makeup but prior commissions were treated sceptically, since industry driven. Note by audience on Darfur Memorial – Sen. Kline jumped in first, everyone encouraging it. Uriel Gavarra for Sen. Ed Murray: unable to be here during session. Status of HB 2611 Civil Rights – should be voted on soon, to end legalized discrimination on gay and lesbian citizens. Note from members – unable to run trains up to Vancouver BC from Seattle – what are you doing about passenger rail service. Results: Will Affleck-Asch 16, Rob Dolan 20 – Rob Dolan appointed to Rules Committee from 43rd District. Nominations for Credentials Committee: Neal Traven * M/S/Pass to elect Neal Traven to Credentials Committee. Nominations for Treasurer: Tara Gallagher * M/S/Pass to elect Tara Gallagher as Treasurer. King County Democrats Honors Banquet is February 17th, to be held – we will have a table of ten people at that. Nominations at www.kcdems.org for Honors Banquet for male Dem, female Dem, and other notables. HOLIDAY PARTY – Julian Wheeler, Events VC Thanks to many people for helping out at the party, Jenny Eichwald, Katy Carter, [more] PROGRAM - Neal Traven, Program Vice-Chair www.washclean.org is website of group talking tonight. Program is on Campaign Finance Reform in Washington. Note there is a presentation by Bill Moyers on this, available at the website. Wyatt King spoke on behalf of Washington Public Campaign. Maine and Arizona have full public funding, with more diverse candidates and ones who didn't receive special interests funding. Most candidates in both state who won received no private special interest funding. Also opened to more women and minority candidates of all parties. Contested primaries increased, even though incumbents mostly ran “clean” too. Also movement in Vermont, New Mexico, Virginia, Connecticut and other states for “clean” elections for judicial and statewide races. Also State Democrats in Washington State have endorsed this move to clean elections, as of the 2004 State Convention. Currently focused on repealing provision that disallows local public funding for municipal and other elections in Washington State. RESOLUTIONS - Resolution to support House Joint Memorial 4024 regarding Darfur: * M/S/Pass adopted unanimously Resolution to support enactment of Federal Voters Rights as HB 2594 enacts in our state law: * M/S/Pass adopted Resolution on Sexual Violence (by Bill Sherman, handed out at the meeting): Whereas sexual violence is a severe problem in our community; [many more whereas clauses] BE IT RESOLVED that we, the members of the 43rd District Democrats, urge our legislators to stand strong in opposition to House Bill 2476, and for the protection of victims of sex crime * M/S/Pass adopted unanimously Resolution to the Seattle City Council for a sensible cable franchise agreement (by Charlie Bendock, handed out at the meeting): Therefore be it resolved that we, the 43rd District Democrats, on this day January 17, 2006, call on the members of the Seattle City Council to reject the currently proposed franchise agreement with Comcast; and Be it further resolved that we request the members of the Seattle City Council to only approve a cable communications franchise agreement with Comcast that provides for the following community needs outlined by the Seattle Grassroots Cable / Broadcast Coalition: 1. Consumers' rights protections 2. Community media for local culture and local democracy 3. Broadband Internet access 4. Workers' rights for those employed by the evermore profitable cable giant 5. Community input and accountability 6. Availability of cable and cable media for low-income citizens * M/S/Pass adopted unanimously (as amended (friendly)) Downtown Seattle Development Resolution: RESOLVED, that the 43rd District Democrats support changes in the downtown development plan that promote livability and mitigate the impacts to low- and moderate-income citizens. We encourage changes that protect and generate significantly more low-income and affordable housing, contribute to living wage jobs, emphasize neighborhood amenities, include environmental and transit provisions, address increased human service needs, and preserve historic buildings; and, be it further RESOLVED, that the 43rd District Democrats inform Mayor Nickels and the City Council of its position and encourage its members to lobby the City Council for changes that will guarantee no net loss, to maintain a level proportional to population growth, of low-income and affordable housing downtown and city-wide and contribute to good jobs and smart growth in downtown and city-wide; and, be it further RESOLVED, that we will urge the Mayor and City Council to adopt the use of developer impact fees allowed under the growth management act and other cost-sharing tools to ensure that developers benefiting from the added densities allowed in the new downtown plan also will pay their fair share of the enormous public cost accompanying such growth; and be it further RESOLVED, that this resolution be forwarded to the King County Democratic Central Committee Executive Board for its consideration and action in the interest of maintaining this region's livability. * M/S/Pass (as amended (friendly) above) Note by Chair that Javier Valdez, a candidate for appointment to Seattle City Council vacancy was present – applause. GOOD OF THE ORDER MEETING ADJOURNED