Why Are You A Democrat? By Bud Cuffel, Pacific County Commissioner. Message from the Chair By John Adams, Chair PCD

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1 January 2010 Message from the Chair By John Adams, Chair PCD Why Are You A Democrat? By Bud Cuffel, Pacific County Commissioner What does it mean to be a Democrat? Recent events have made clear that it means different things to different people. Most people who consider themselves Democrats are self identified, meaning they aren t a member of an official organization. They vote regularly, but usually aren t actively involved in politics. If this is you, I m asking you to take the next step and become a member of the Pacific County Democrats. Why? To help shape party policy in Pacific County, get Democrats elected to local office, and to enjoy political and social events with like-minded people. In 2010 we have serious election work to take care of: county races for Auditor, Assessor, Treasurer, Prosecuting Attorney and 3 rd district Commissioner; both representatives and senator in our state legislative district; and Brian Baird and Patty Murray in Congressional races. We will also be dealing with a new system for electing delegates to county and state conventions this year. No more caucuses. Instead there will be a much more direct system for getting grass roots input at the state party convention. So, come be a part of it. Be an active participant in our Democratic system. Recently I was asked that question and no quick answer came to me. So I thought back to the thirteen presidents that have led our country during my lifetime, and the leadership they have provided. My earliest presidential memories were of FDR and his fireside chats. My parents had lived through the depression of the thirties and were avid Democrats who admired FDR and despised Herbert Hoover. They felt Hoover had destroyed the economy of this country. That was a definite influence on my thinking, but many other things came into play throughout the years. My party is inclusive. All are welcome: all races, all creeds, the poor, the halt and the lame, and even the wealthy who realize that with wealth comes social responsibility. I feel comfortable in the company of other Democrats. They tend to agree that everyone in this country has the right to a decent life with health care and a job with a wage that will allow them to own a home and even save enough to help send their children to college. I hear my fellow Democrats discussing events that are important in their lives. These lively debates revolve around jobs, discrimination, healthcare, poverty, fairness, protecting social Please see CHAIR, p. 2 Please see CUFFEL, p. 2

2 January 2010 Pacific County Democrat page 2 CHAIR, continued from p. 2 No more sitting on the bench. Get in the game! Annual dues are only $10, and meetings are held on the second Monday of each month (even months in South Bend, odd months in Seaview). Highlight annual events are the big crab feed in March, the picnic in July, the County fair in August. Parades include Loyalty Days in Long Beach in May, Old Fashioned Fourth of July in Ocean Park, Labor Day in South Bend and Tokeland, Willapa Harbor Days in Raymond. And this is just a partial list of the opportunities we ll have to get together and enjoy hanging out with fellow democrats. CUFFEL, continued from p. 2 security, protecting the environment, funding our hospitals, and providing support for fire, ambulance and police. My friends in the Democratic Party are willing to work for what they want and they hope to see a time when social justice is available to all our citizens, whatever their financial means. Local Democrats spend countless hours promoting these issues at club meetings, in this newsletter and at social events that are meant to bring good people together in a common cause. That cause is a good government that works for all the people. Lyndon Johnson once said, Any damn fool can burn down a barn, but it takes some brains to build one. I think that we Democrats have the brains and the determination to govern this nation for the benefit of all our citizens. Please come to our Pacific County Democrat meetings and join our efforts to elect worthy candidates, and enjoy the companionship of friends in the Democratic Party. No Rest For The Diligent President Obama is elected, happy days are here again and all is well, so let s get complacent. We Democrats never seem to learn. In fact, our work has just begun. There is still so much to do, and Obama needs all the help we can give him. He will need strong support from Congress, elected state officials and voters to get the job done. How can we help? It s simple: First get more Dems to join the club. Second get more Dems registered. Third get out the Dem vote. I know you have a full plate: work, family, volunteering, etc. Just remember one thing all of these will be in jeopardy if we don t have a strong and honest government. There s no room for complacency. Mike McNatt, Ocean Park and Vancouver, WA Pat Donnelly, Pacific County Democrat of the Year and Marshall Tate prepare for the soggy Labor Day- Parade in South Bend.

3 January 2010 Pacific County Democrat page 3 Are You Ready For 2010? By Beverly Olson, PCD State Committee Woman, Bay Center As I write this, 2009 is coming to an end. I and probably you have taken a much needed hiatus from the entire election process this past year. Remember how ecstatic we were in November 2008? And then the excitement of the Inauguration? And then a full year with our new President Barack Obama and our Democratic Congress? Congrats to all of us but now it s time to go back to work. We here in Pacific County are well represented by Democrats. Do you realize that at the national, state, and county levels all of our elected officials are Dems, except two? We need to obtain 100%. YES WE CAN IN In 2010, five partisan races will be on the ballot for Pacific County voters. These positions are currently held by five hard-working Democrats: U.S. Senator Patty Murray WA State Reps Brian Blake and Dean Takko Pacific County Commissioner Clay Harwood. UPDATE: Brian Baird announced on 12/9 that he will not be seeking re-election. Exactly how this will affect the 3rd Congressional District is unknown at this time. The Top 2 Primary and the WA State Central Committee rules and actions will definitely impact this election race. Please say yes, when the Murray, Blake, Takko, and Harwood campaigns come calling and ask for help. I am encouraging you to get involved. You will probably enjoy it and I know you can make a difference. Yes we can in Election: the Unpresidental Election! By Pat Donnelly, Pacific County Democrat of the Year This is the election that will either keep the U.S. House and Senate strong supporters for our President or leave us in gridlock. I believe in supporting the candidates who will work toward democratic ideals. Our job did not stop on January 20, We will need to work twice as hard in this election to elect people who support these ideals because the opposition is feeling battered from the last election and they are raring to go. No one person can do it alone. Join me and other Pacific County Democrats in working just as hard as we did in I will be working hard because we still need Medical Care reform. We still need to improve Human Rights, Women s Rights and Civil Rights on a world-wide basis. And, of course, I will be working hard to elect all democratic candidates in Pacific County and in Washington State. Join me! Don t Rain On My Parade! Important Dates in 2010 March 14, th Legislative District Caucus April 10, 2010 Paci3ic County Democratic County Convention. June 26, 2010 Washington State Democratic Con- vention. A state platform will be adopted. November 2, 2010 Election Day Pat Donnelly, Beverly Olson, Marshall Tate, Clay Harwood, Diana Thompson, David Burke, Renée Goodin, John Adams and Melissa Goldberg at the Labor Day Parade in South Bend

4 January 2010 Pacific County Democrat page 4 Why it s important to join the PCD in 2010 During the next year the Republican Party is going to conduct an aggressive assault on our legislative delegations, trying to win the offyear elections to put an end to Barack Obama's legislative agenda and change our legislative priorities in Olympia. But in the end, all politics is local and the place to confront the republican threat is here at home where Pacific County Democrats nourish our party s grass roots. It isn t much to ask Democrats to support our party. It doesn't take much ($10/member), but when we all join the party, it adds up. Frank Logan, State Committeeman, Ocean Park this coming year to raise money and awareness to support their efforts and fight the spread of misinformation that is already blanketing the political landscape. Let s be there to lend them a hand. Tip Wonhoff, PCO, South Bend The year 2010 will be a very important year for the Pacific County Democrats. This is the year most of the county offices are open for election; Assessor, Auditor, Clerk, Prosecuting Attorney, Treasurer, Sheriff, North District Court Judge, South District Court Judge and County Commission District 3. The Pacific County Democrats consistently step up to support progressive ideas and Democratic candidates is shaping up to be another contentious mid-term election year, and we know all too well what s happened during recent mid-term elections with sitting Democratic presidents. They have been rough over the past forty years. In 1966, LBJ lost 4 seats in the U.S. Senate and 47 in the House. In 1978, Jimmy Carter lost 3 in the Senate, 15 in the House. Bill Clinton, in 1994, lost 9 in the Senate and 54 in the House. Right now, President Obama's approval rating is hovering near 50%, and the Democratic Congress falls even lower than that. Not only will Democratic candidates at the federal level face this dilemma as they seek election or support for their legislation, but local candidates will also face an uphill battle as they are often identified only with the national party. Democratic candidates need our support All the incumbents are Democrats. It is our responsibility to see that we keep the county government running smooth and working for our people. Join the Pacific County Democrats and support our candidates by voting in Not only are the county offices open in 2010 but there are several M&O levies that will be run for the school districts. An M&O levy is a maintenance and operation levy used to fund school districts. As a Pacific County Democrat, I feel that we need to support these levies and show the voters of our communities that we support the school operations within our county. These elections could be run in 2010 in February, April or May. Please watch for these elections in your local newspapers. All your election information can be found on the Pacific County Auditor s web site, select Auditor, then Elections. If you have questions call (360) or (360) Pat Gardner, Pacific County Auditor

5 January 2010 Pacific County Democrat page 5 Letters To The Editor: Good job on the newsletter, and the blog! I appreciate reading the updates, even if we continue to miss the meetings and activities. I am hoping a large majority will vote down I Lietta Ruger, Bay Center, WA I would like to commend you on a great newsletter and all the work you do on it. Pat Gardner, Pacific County Auditor, Raymond Interesting and informative. Thanks to all who wrote it. Beverly Olson, PCD State Committeewoman, Bay Center From the Editors: We wish to thank all those who have generously contributed articles, letters and photos to the PCD Newsletter, and special thanks to our invaluable proofreaders: Pat Bray, Lynette Dowty, Sue Staples and Sharon Van Heuit. (You mak us look so much bettr than we wood without you.) Many thanks! Peter Janke and Marshall Tate, Co-Editors Calendar of Events Dec. 14, 7 pm. General Meeting, So. Bend Jan. 11, 7 pm. General Meeting, Seaview Feb. 8, 7 pm. General Meeting, So. Bend Mar. 8, 7 pm. General Meeting, Seaview Mar. 13 Crab Feed, South Bend April 12, 7 pm. General Meeting, So. Bend May 10, 7 pm. General Meeting, Seaview JANUARY MEETING January 11, 2010 Seaview Transit Center, 7 p.m., Seaview, WA Pacific County Democrats P.O. Box 455 South Bend, WA Chair John Adams jodi@reachone.com First Vice Chair Colleen Cohern taileenwilson@hotmail.com Second Vice Chair Bill Grennan willgrennan@hotmail.com Treasurer Renee Goodin rgoodin@co.pacific.wa.us Secretary Marshall Tate mctate65@pondhouse.com State Committeeman Frank Logan logans@javacs.com State Committeewoman Beverly Olson paradise@wwestsky.net We meet at 7 p.m. on the second Monday of each month, alternating between South Bend (even months) and Seaview (odd months). Pacific County Democrat Newsletter Co-Editor: Peter Janke pjanke@centurytel.net Co-Editor: Marshall Tate mctate65@pondhouse.com

6 PACIFIC COUNTY DEMOCRATS P.O. BOX 455 SOUTH BEND, WA Return Service Requested Stamp First Name Last Name Home Street Home City, Home State Home ZIP It s Time to Renew Your PCD Membership The Pacific County Democrat Club is a forum to present and discuss your ideas for future actions by the Democrat party in Pacific County. Meetings are often attended by State and County elected officials. You can express your views to your elected representatives by participating. Membership provides you unique opportunities to become involved in the Party and participate as a club member, a Precinct Committee Officer, or as a member of various local and statewide committees. Join us. Make your voice heard. Our members are our lifeblood and we need you. We need your support to maintain the course. Your membership in 2010 will help keep Pacific County Blue!..... PACIFIC COUNTY DEMOCRATS MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION Annual Dues --- $10 Per Year New Membership Renewal Name Mailing Address City State Zip Phone Mail to: Pacific County Democrats, PO Box 455, South Bend, WA Thank you for your support!