ISLAND COUNTY DEMOCRATS: September 2022 Newsletter

The Island County Democrats publish a monthly newsletter, which we are posting here. We believe that the statements made by the leadership of each party is of general public interest.

Message from ICD Chair, Joseph Busig

Hello ICD,

As October approaches, so too does voting! You can find a link to our endorsed candidates on our website. There, you can access candidate’s information and learn how you can best help the individual campaigns. If you are interested in helping the Washington State Democrats’ Coordinated Campaign, covering the 10th LD and Second Congressional District, you can contact our designated Field Coordinator Keria McBeth at: [Ed. Note: email link omitted] or at (360)-929-3706. Our endorsed candidates had very strong performances in Island County and within their respective jurisdictions. Let’s keep up that momentum and push them over the edge!

Voting for the November 8th General Election begins on October 21st, so make sure your voter registration is current and that you have a voting plan! For more information, please visit the Island County Elections Office website and the Washington Secretary of State’s website.

Are you interested in being an official party observer? Per RCW, the Island County Elections Office has allowed us to appoint two observers for the General Election this year. You will go through a brief training from elections officials and will be present to watch votes be tabulated. Any voting related questions will be answered by helpful elections staff. This is a great way to see how our local elections function and how we keep elections transparent. If you are interested, please email [Ed. Note: email link omitted] before October 14th.

Respectfully,

Joseph J. Busig

Chair, ICDCC

News from ICD

From the Events Committee

The events committee is hosting “Rock the Vote” event Saturday, October 1st.

At Victory Terrace Community Center at 7pm.

Featuring musical guests 2nd Line and appearances by Commissioner St. Clair, Representative Dave Paul,  and Candidate Clyde Shavers.

Next E-Board meeting

Next ICD E-Board meeting is Thursday October 6 at 7:00pm via Zoom. Contact Chair, Joseph Busig for an invite [Ed. Note: email link omitted.]

League of Women Voters of Whidbey Island Forums

The League of Women Voters of Whidbey Island (LWVWI) is hosting their annual candidate forums. LWVWI is a non-partisan organization which seeks to educate voters on issues, candidates, and civics. The forums provide an opportunity for voters to hear from candidates about their platforms in the spirit of making an informed vote. Both forums will be held via Zoom.

October 18th at 6:00 P.M. will feature the candidates for Island County Assessor, Auditor, Clerk, Sheriff, and Treasurer.

October 20th at 6:00 P.M. will feature the candidates for 10th LD Reps. Positions 1 and 2 alongside Island County Commissioner for District 3.

The Zoom registration link will be posted one day prior to the day of the forum on their website.

Message from Island County Commissioner, Janet St Clair

The door opened and the dog poked his head out

Long before the wary woman looked me in the eye

I smiled, scratching the dog right behind the ears

Where they like it best

I introduced myself and complimented the woman

On the beautiful pots of begonias that decorated

The porch where I stood

She cautiously engaged as I told her who I was

And why I came knocking on her door

On this warm summer afternoon

We talked, she shared, I listened while

I thought to myself that this, this

Is the work of the people

Show up

Listen deeply

Care enough

To follow up

This is the work of the people.

As I spend my free time in the last weeks of the campaign knocking on doors and listening to the people I work to serve, I am reminded that the life of a county commissioner, the life of a candidate is a privilege and for me, a sacred task.  So I work to show up, listen, care and ask for your support and your vote as we prepare for election day in November.  Thank you for hanging in there with me.  If you have a question or issue that matters to you, please reach out.  I’m pretty quick on email at [Ed. Note: email address omitted].  Join me at the upcoming forums and debates.  Details on my website at www.janetstclair.com.  See you all sign waving as we bring all of our candidates across the finish line so we can work together for you.  Thank you for your trust.

In gratitude,

Janet St. Clair

Message from State Representative, Dave Paul

Friends,  

We’ve had a busy month, and I’ve been working across the district with local leaders and officials on a range of projects. Here’s a list of what we’ve been working on:   

We have some exciting campaign events coming up as well: 

For more volunteer opportunities, email [Ed. Note: email link omitted] or visit votedavepaul.com. 

As always, it’s an honor to serve.  

Sincerely, 

Dave

Message from Congressman, Rick Larsen

On the campaign trail, people share with me the issues they care about the most. The answers are very often the same: Inflation and the economy. The cost of healthcare. Public safety.

My Democratic colleagues and I have put these issues squarely at the center of our agenda and will continue to do so in the next term.

We passed into law the Inflation Reduction Act to lower everyday costs and the federal deficit.

We invested a trillion dollars in construction jobs to repair our nation’s infrastructure.

We passed the CHIPS Act to strengthen our supply chain and create high-paying manufacturing jobs.

We invested billions in renewable energy jobs.

We are lowering prescription drugs prices and capping out-of-pocket costs.

We passed the first federal gun safety legislation in thirty years.

We reauthorized the Violence Against Women Act.

Just this week, the House passed the Invest to Protect Act, which will increase funding for local police departments if and when it clears the Senate.

And, because it is the right thing to do, we passed the PACT Act, the largest single bill to address our service members’ exposure to toxins in our history. 

Our work to grow the economy, make healthcare and other costs more affordable, and keep our communities safe is far from complete – but we have made significant steps in the right direction.

Rick

News from the State Party

Fe Mischo and I represented Island County at the quarterly meeting of the Washington State Democrats Central Committee (WSDCC) held in the heart of Washington apple country, beautiful Wenatchee, on Saturday, the 17th of September. 

At this meeting we covered some very important items: 

– Finishing the outstanding nominations of Democrats across the state (including Dave Paul & Clyde Shavers for 10th LD Positions 1 & 2, and Janet St Clair for Island County Commissioner District 3), 

– Determining procedures for virtual or hybrid reorganization meetings that will occur in December (more to follow from our Chair in the near future)

– Conducting a deep dive into the upcoming midterm election and the GOTV work that needs to be done for success, 

– and Passing 12 Resolutions that encompass the following calls to action:

     992 Declaring and Responding to a Climate Emergency

     993 Modify Growth Management Act with Regard to Single-Occupancy Vehicles

     994 Resolution For Housing Affordability

     995 Calling for Passage of the Local Journalism Sustainability Act

     996 Support a Program to Prepare Students to Vote and Encourage Voter Registration for Youth in High School

     997 Calling for a Temporary Waiver of TRIPS Restrictions on COVID-19 Vaccines, Tests and Treatments

     998 Reinstating the Expanded Child Tax Credit 

     999 Save and Improve Social Security

     1002  A new Approach to Forestlands

     1003  Climate Commitment Act (CCA) Funds be Managed with Accountability and Transparency

     1004  Adopt Responsible and Lasting Affordable Housing Laws

     1005  Resolution Honoring the Life and Career of Sandy Williams (a resident of Spokane and a true advocate for human rights who sadly was killed in the plane crash off of Whidbey Island – condolences to her and her family and friends)

[Full details of all Resolutions can be found on the Washington State Democrats Website]

Thanks for all you do as we make our final push to the General Election!

Albert Ondo and Fe Mischo, Island County State Committee Members

Messages from the Candidates

Clyde Shavers

Hi Friends,

As ballots are prepared to be mailed in the next few weeks, I would like to express my deep appreciation for your unwavering faith and confidence in our campaign.

As a first-time candidate, running for office to represent you has been an honor and journey of a lifetime. In no other endeavor would I have had the privilege of connecting with so many people in the absolute pursuit of public service. 

As part of a generation defined by the war on terrorism, the financial crisis of 2008, and the COVID-19 global pandemic, my entry into politics came from a desire to inspire all of us to stand up for a better and more compassionate future. 

I have – and will always – fight for the lost and forgotten, less fortunate, and kind hearted. I have spoken with single mothers who wonder how they’re going to pay for the mortgage. Week-after-week, I have had lunch with staff and residents at Skagit Friendship House to better understand their struggles in homelessness. I have seen the fortitude of our farmers and farmworkers as they are forced to adapt to a changing, challenging environment. And I have felt the disillusionment of many of our young people who have given up on fighting for their own, better future. 

Through all these stories of challenges and hardships, I remain hopeful because so many community members continue to step up and help others. 

With less than 40 days until the end of this election, I ask you to keep doing what you’ve been doing – calling and texting friends, writing postcards to colleagues, and doorbelling neighbors – so that everyone has a chance to be part of our victory in November. 

You are all amazing – and I look forward to fighting for your story to be heard in Olympia. 

Your Friend,

Clyde

As #HotLaborSummer Blazes Into the Fall, Let’s Remember the History of Labor Day

Joseph Busig, ICDCC Chair

As we leave September and Labor Day behind, the labor movement shows no signs of quitting. This summer saw record spikes of labor and union action, union elections, and petitions to hold union elections. The so dubbed #HotLaborSummer, as it trended on social media multiple times, was inspired by President of the Amazon Labor Union, Chris Smalls. Not only were the victories at Amazon historic, but this trend of unionization follows with workers at Starbucks, REI, in large and local newsrooms, fast food restaurants like Chipotle, adult entertainment workers, and nursing.

Not only are unions forming successfully, often with resounding support, but the calendar year so far has seen a historic increase in strikes that have yielded important wins for workers. In our area alone farmworkers, educators, concrete workers, truck drivers, rideshare drivers, nurses, airline workers, and food industry workers have striked and gained better worker protections along with meaningful benefits.

We can’t forget the history of Labor Day itself. Most Americans in the late nineteenth century worked six days a week and twelve hour days. The vast majority of jobs were unsafe, unsanitary, and unsuitable for people. Wages were low, benefits scarce, and breaks few and far in between. Trade unionism had been on the rise since the Industrial Revolution, but gained traction. This didn’t come without consequence from industrial bosses who used scabbing, threats, cuts to what little wages were made, and even violence from Pinkertons, local police, or federal/state National Guard troops to quash labor union activities.

In 1893, one of the largest labor strikes at the time took place. Off the heels of the Panic of 1893, one of the worst economic recessions, the American Railway Union which was founded by Eugene V. Debs recruited workers from Pullman (now a part of Chicago, IL) to join. The ARU increased its membership as one-third of all Pullman railway workers joined. On May 11, 4,000 ARU workers went on strike and launched a national boycott from May 11 to July 20, 1894. The boycott drew attention from the railway industry, other major corporations who relied on rail to transport their goods, and the federal government. Throughout this time nearly 125,000 workers, both affiliated and unaffiliated with the ARU, refused to work on trains with Pullman cars. This immense show of solidarity garnered national attention and inspired workers globally.

However, in 1894, President Grover Cleveland decided to put a stop to the boycott and strike. Cleveland, along with pundits in the media, played into anti-immigrant and anti-socialist rhetoric since many who participated in the boycott and strike were immigrants, refugees, and against the constant economic exploitation. 10,000 local police, private security, federal/state troops, and deputy marshals were deployed but could not contain the strike and other demonstrations in support of the workers. Cleveland ordered the U.S. Army to clear the railways, which were largely in private ownership at the time, and provide support to end the strike. On July 7, National Guard troops opened fire into picketing workers and demonstrators, killing 30 and wounding many more. The violence only swelled anger among working-class Americans and caused subsequent, intense nationwide protests which lasted for several months.

Recognizing the tipping point he had just moved, Cleveland along with Congress sought to appease workers and unions alike with the passage of Labor Day. Labor Day had been something long desired by workers and unions, but the federal government saw an opportunity to placate enraged Americans. The same year, Cleveland signed bill S.730 into law which made Labor Day a federal holiday. The day was only a holiday for federal workers, however. So throughout the years workers have striked and bargained for the day off. Cleveland and those in Congress chose September over May 1, or May Day, due to its internationalist and global trade unionist associations. They were weary of creating a mix of anti-capitalist and pro-worker ideas that had a global connected platform.

The first Labor Day parade was held in New York City, NY on September 5, 1882. Over 10,000 trade workers attended which were mostly bricklayers, carpenters, printmakers, painters, dressmakers, and other industrial laborers. The parade was jointly organized by the Central Labor Union and the Knights of Labor. Participants marched from City Hall to Union Square, marching with signs bearing their local’s logo and statements such as “Vote the Labor Ticket”, “8 Hours Constitute a Work Day”, “The True Remedy is Organizing”, “No Pay, No Rent”, “Labor Generates All Wealth”, “Abolish Convict Labor”, and “All Men Are Created Equal.” Since the holiday was not recognized by all businesses or even local governments, workers often took a chance of being fired for going to Labor Day events. Following parades, there were often picnics and labor leaders would give speeches to the crowd.

As we look at history, we have to remember we are the ones that shape it. In both researching and recalling my knowledge of Labor Day it is inspiring to see the same energy right now. Unions have the highest approval rating among the American people. Though doing the right thing isn’t beholden to an approval rating, this show of support is historic. Upcoming generations are realizing their worth. That dignity is reflected in wages, benefits, treatment, and conditions. That the workplace, like democracy, is only as strong as the people. There is an intersectional approach to the labor movement that takes a true assessment of capitalist exploitation, gender, race, class, sexuality, and immigration status. We are at a point where people are not only rejecting top-down, or trickle-down, economics but they are also rejecting the neoliberal status quo. The labor movement, in solidarity with the movements for social, environmental, and economic justice, will be the safeguard of direct democracy. The labor movement has, and will be, one of the forefront forms of organizing working-class people to secure a better future.

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• Host local community education and information events
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• Train and inspire PCOs to action
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For the biggest bang for your buck, mail your checks to:

[Ed. Note: donation information omitted]

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