Minutes of the 43rd District Democrats – February 21st, 2006 Meeting at University Baptist Church Meeting called to order by Chair Richard Kelley at 7:34 p.m. * M/S/Pass Minutes approved FINANCE REPORT – Tara Gallagher Doing fine with finances, membership dues slowly coming in (not as fast as usual, our main source of income this time of year). SPECIAL GUESTS – Dwight Pelz, Sally Clark, Mark Wilson State Rep. Ed Murray – when in the minority showed up at more in-session meetings, but being in the majority have more duties. Finally after more than 20 years, with groundwork by St. Sen. Cal Anderson, Ed, and others, have finally passed an Equal Rights bill which was signed. Talked about: Health Care, Basic Education, Higher Education, Biofuel, Transportation. Last year's transportation package trying to pass on Regional Transportation proposal for RTID – propose saving the Monorail MVET for other Seattle transit purposes. Q&A: Q. What are your candidate plans for coming year? A. Plan to be a good serving member. Q. What about bio-diesel? A. Trying to pass a bill about bio-fuels in this state. Q. Why do we have more than $50 million in tax breaks proposed? A. From various sources – Governor, House, Senate – some will vote against, some will support. Q. What about proposal for Cross-base Expressway? A. No proposal by State, not sure what will happen on this, as it will be opposed by Seattle. Key person to talk to on this is Dow Constantine. Cross-base Expressway is proposal in rural Pierce County to build a highway in wetlands and other protected wildlife areas. State Committeeman David Kunselman – two candidates rose to the top in terms of votes they gathered, and many others. Wonderful candidates to choose from, with many similar views of the future, and many ideas from the new state chair candidates. State Committeewoman Lisa Steubing – repeated many of the same reflections, and ended up choosing Dwight Pelz as the new State Chair. State Chair Dwight Pelz – Went to DC for meeting with State Party Chairs last week, we are one of the strongest PCO states, good fundraising base, just got a County party organized in Columbia County – have 80 of 87 LD's organized (except for Garfield County) – raised well due to DNCC Chair Howard Dean at our meeting on Monday in Olympia, WA. Howard still trying to get DNC to work with Congressional Democrats. Gore had a pollster, Kerry had a pollster, now we have a pollster (much duplication). Dwight said to DNC that we want to know where Democratic Party stands on the War in Iraq and we should push this. Party budget will be $7 million, with $5 million coordinated campaign, with 50-70 people working for our candidates. Every other year we get bigger like a balloon. A thought: In 2004, we had a lot of people get involved in the Democratic Party. In 2008, the same thing will happen. We weren't ready for them in 2004 – in 2008 we need to be ready for them. Need to register people to vote and get them to the polls, not just getting those already registered to vote. And remember the telephone is a dying tool – many people don't use landlines – but personal relationships at the doorstep will work. In 2008, we will need to register people to vote in the Spring of 2008. 2006 won't be the big year. Instead of having one official in a precinct, have five officials in a precinct (Strive for Five). Try to increase voters, especially in the 43rd, one of our top districts in the state. We need to get 98 percent registration in our district and 100 percent turnout. Maybe we should export workers to the 11th district or other districts that have voters, but not people to register them. The GOP is destroying our country, and we need to take it back. City Councilmember Sally Clark – have the job that Dwight Pelz originally was going for. Newest Seattle City Councilmember, of the 98 applicants. Councilmember Compton stepped down to go teach in Egypt. Worked at Lifelong AIDS Alliance, have lived many times in the 43rd District in various neighborhoods. Looking at women-owned or minority-owed contracts. Focus on living wage jobs and benefits for employees in her primary committee chaired, and vice-chair on affordable housing, and serving on Environment, Energy, and Utilities committee. Much email on Sonics and Downtown Zoning, and effects on Affordable Housing downtown. Q&A: Q. Affordable housing and Broadway, with six-story but no requirement for affordable housing? A. Looking at. Q. Plans to rezone in this district this year? A. Some look at University District. Q. What do you think about the Sonics? A. Love their uniforms, not sure about more money spent on Key Arena. Vice Chair Community Outreach of KCDCC, Rob Holland – baptized at Mount Zion Baptist Church, got involved when Dino Rossi showed up at his church. This got him involved in outreach. As Democrats we have been taking communities of color for granted, but we can do better. Need to do relationship building. This Sunday we have a relationship building event with the Native American community, at 2 pm at Burien Library (info on www.kcdems.orgs). Also: any volunteers who want to do outreach, if you want to work in East King County, communities of color, and other communities, email me. CHAIR'S REPORT - Richard Kelley, Chair Resigning as District Chair, as is resigning for the open seat for the 43rd District State Representative. We brought out 9,000 people for the precinct caucus in 2004, out of 22,000 voters in primaries in our district. Happy for opportunity and priviledge of being the Chair. In 2002, had only 200+ people show up for caucuses. Two years ago, we got 9,000 people. It's Caucus time again, and how many people are we going to have show up. How big a room should we rent? How many platform copies should we print? Budgeted $5000 for the caucuses, don't know how many will really turn out. Process of electing delegates took two hours, and had no time to talk about issues, especially platform and resolutions. Requested from the State Party that we could have alternative versions of the caucus, and 43rd and Thurston County are experimenting this year, with three district-wide area caucus on one piece of the district platform, each such meeting broken into four different sections, to actually create the district platform. This plus two other nights should help create a better platform, and open it up to the grassroots. PROGRAM – PCO Caucus Training – Derek Stanford and Katie Evens Passed around volunteer lists for district-wide area caucus for Sunday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, and Saturday precinct caucus. To volunteer, just show up early and find Katie. Will elect precinct delegates, will draft platform amendments, and pass resolutions. First three meetings are to just draft platform amendments. Have to show up with it in writing. Platform amendments need to be written, signed (name and precinct) and then seconded. Resolutions are only at the March 4th meeting, but will need to bring copies so everyone can read them. At March 4th, when you sign in, indicate you want to be a delegate, or submit a delegate candidate letter (which will be at three prior meetings) beforehand. PCOs will automatically be delegates from their precincts, if elected or resident/appointed. Acting PCOs have to run as delegates for their actual precincts. Will vote on platform at March 4th meeting. If resolutions aren't heard and passed at March 4th meeting, you can propose it at the Legislative District Caucus, if a delegate. Tonight we need to approve our agenda and rules for the precinct caucus meetings – passed out. US Congressmember Jim McDermott will be speaking at the first caucus on February 26th. March 4th has a cutoff time for people running as delegates. LD caucus will elect delegates to go to the state convention. Precinct caucus will elect delegates to the district and county conventions. Non PCOs can attend and participate in discussions, but if you want to be a delegate you need to indicate that ahead of time. On March 4th, after sign-in is closed, any precinct that needs to hold elections will be notified that contested races need to be held, by precinct. Other precincts just need to appoint a chair to fill out the paperwork. PCOs will be the chair if there is an elected PCO. Q: Do we come back after the breakouts? A. Yes, but just to report what has been approved. Q: How long will each topic session last? A. About 1 to 1.5 hours each. * M/S/Pass Approved Precinct Caucus Rules and Agenda as printed. * Volunteers sought for making up directional signs so people can find the addresses and entrances? Six signs. Also please publicize and post the Precinct Caucus meeting notices in your own precinct – on telephone polls, in coffee shops and grocery stores, etc. * M/S/Pass Approved March 4th Precinct Caucus Rules and Agenda. Phone 206.524.1737 or email Derek from our website at www.43rddems.org if you want to volunteer, help, or have questions. PCOs should attend the March 4th meeting at least. Q: Can state party sent out emails by district? A. Yes, state doing that tomorrow. RESOLUTIONS - Resolution in opposition to the anti-equal rights initiative and signature efforts Therefore be it resolved, The 43rd District Democrats urge members and voters to refuse to sign the anti-equal rights initiative and referendum. Adoption of this resolution would also allow the campaign against these ballot measures to list the 43rd Democrats as opposing the signature gathering effort. * M/S/Pass adopted unanimously Resolution of Endorsement for the Energy Security Initiative signature effort: Be it resolved, that we encourage our members and friends to sign the Washingtonians for Energy Security (WES) initiative and authorize WES to use the name of the 43rd District Democrats as endorsers of the signature drive. Q&A: For this initiative, major hydroelectric is not considered, but small projects are, so this will help develop new renewable energy sources and permits trading. between utilities. Does not include nuclear technology. * M/S/Pass adopted, one abstention. Resolution on the Restoration of order in restricting voter rights for incarcerated felons: BE IT RESOLVED that the 43rd District Democratic Organization supports the passage of SB 6651 or HB 2873, and, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the 43rd District Democratic Organization urges State Representatives Frank Chopp and Ed Murray and State Senator Pat Thibaudeau to join in the sponsorship and passage of this legislation. [friendly amendments: define release of imprisonment to include the completion of probation; change mistyped number in original] * M/S/Pass adopted, one abstention Jim Street, candidate for 43rd LD State Representative, Position 1, spoke on his candidacy for the position. Bill Sherman, current KCDCC committeeman, candidate for 43rd LD State Representative, Position 1, spoke on his candidacy for the position, his prior work, and some of his issues, which he will expand on in the future. Stephanie Pure, city council aide, candidate for 43rd LD State Representative, Position 1, spoke on her candidacy for the position, primary issues are representing our urban core, K-12 education, and protecting civil rights. Daughter of small business owners (80 percent of our work force). Campaign at www.peoplefor pure.com Jamie Petersen, lawyer at Preston Gates & Ellis, past chair of Lambda Legal, candidate for 43rd LD State Representative, Position 1, spoke on his candidacy for the position, family of public school teachers, will work on civil rights, education, and transportation. GOOD OF THE ORDER 1. Saturday, May 20, 7-10 pm, Washington Pioneer Hall, 43rd District Democrats Spring Party. MEETING ADJOURNED