ISLAND COUNTY: July 2024 ICD 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, Jennifer Haase Morris
Have you mailed in or dropped off your ballot? Has your neighbor voted? Has everyone in your coffee group voted?
According to the Washington Secretary of State Elections Division statistics, as of last Friday, July 26th, only 7.1% of eligible voters in Island County have returned their ballot. That represents 3,000 less ballots than this same point in 2020.
All of your hard work on campaign events, house parties, working at county fairs comes down to this – – ballots in the mail or drop boxes.
Let’s turn out the vote, Democrats! Keep up the momentum and enthusiasm that so many of you are feeling right now and encourage your network to get their ballot returned!
Jennifer
#voteblue2024
Message from Island County Commissioner, Janet St Clair
Upcoming events:
- Door-to-Door Canvassing: Data shows this is the best way to earn the votes we need to win this race. We have one more upcoming canvassing event. Please RSVP to attend on our events page (click here).
- Canvassing Arlington with the Washington State Labor Council:
- When: 10:00 AM, August 3rd
- Where: Terrace Park, 809 E 5th St, Arlington, WA 98223.
- Outside of the events mentioned above, we welcome anyone to join us at the doors whenever they are available. If you’d like to join us but are not available for the dates above, please send an email to [Ed. Note: email link omitted].
- Canvassing Arlington with the Washington State Labor Council:
- Phone Banking: We understand that not everybody is able to or wants to knock on doors. We have one more upcoming phone banking event before the primary election. Please RSVP to attend on our events page (click here).
- When: Sunday, August 4th – 4:00-6:00 PM
- Where: On Zoom, link provided upon R.S.V.P.
- Phone Banking can also be done independently on your own schedule. If you are not available on these dates or prefer to make calls independently, please send an email to [Ed. Note: email link omitted].
Message from State Representative, Dave Paul
Friends,
It was terrific to see so many neighbors and community members over the last month at parades, forums, and events. We are also hard at work knocking on doors across the district.
It’s clear that voters are extremely concerned about what is happening at the national level. Reproductive rights are under attack because the Supreme Court overturned Roe V. Wade. Ultra-conservative groups have laid out Project 2025, a blueprint to roll back LGBTQ+ rights, dismantle environmental protections, and further suppress voting rights. MAGA Republicans are openly stating that the Constitution—the foundation of our Republic—should be terminated. And, everyone knows the presidential election will be very close.
It’s also clear that many friends and supporters think that our own race will not be competitive at all—and that they can’t imagine how we can lose our election.
Folks, you should be very, very concerned about our race, too.
The presidential and governor’s race will mean extremely high turnout, and MAGA Republicans are very motivated to punish all Democrats. Democrats will be motivated, too—but people don’t vote all the way down their ballots. That hurts campaigns like ours—and I guarantee our election will be incredibly close.
Ballots drop in just over one week for the August primary—and our plan to win the primary depends on help from supporters like you.
We are knocking on doors nearly every day, and we’d love for more of you to join us. Please email us at [Ed. Note: email link omitted] if you’d like to get involved with the campaign.
You can also donate at [Ed. Note: donation link omitted]
Local primary elections are incredibly important, especially those in swing districts like ours. With times as dire as these, it’s also a time of political activism.
As always, it’s an honor to serve as your State Representative.
Dave
Message from State Representative, Clyde Shavers
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
In today’s political landscape, it’s easy to get caught up in the negativity and mudslinging that often accompany campaigns. However, I firmly believe that true leadership means rising above the hate and focusing on what really matters: serving our community with respect and dedication. Our reelection campaign is not about tearing others down but about building a brighter future for all of us. I am committed to addressing the issues that impact our daily lives, from improving our schools and infrastructure to ensuring that our veterans and seniors receive the care they deserve.
This journey has not been easy. The path has been fraught with challenges, personal attacks, and moments of deep frustration. Yet, through every trial, our resolve has only strengthened. We have faced these obstacles head-on, determined to remain steadfast in my commitment to our community. I am running for reelection because I believe in the power of positive change and constructive dialogue. Throughout my tenure, I have worked tirelessly to represent your interests and bring about meaningful progress.
Let’s continue to move forward together, focusing on solutions rather than division. Your vote is not just a vote for me but a vote for a campaign that refuses to succumb to hate and negativity. Together, we can create a community where respect, cooperation, and hope triumph over fear and discord. Vote for a future where we all rise above the hate.
Message from US Representative, Rick Larsen
You can make a difference in this election!
Last week, ballots were mailed to voters so they can make their voices heard in the August 6th primary.
The stakes of this election could not be higher, and everyone has a role to play helping to elect Democrats that will stand up for our shared values. Volunteering with a campaign is the best way to help members of our community understand what is at stake and how they can make a difference. So far this year, I have knocked on 500 doors in the 2nd District to talk to my friends and neighbors about the issues affecting them – and now it is time to ramp up that work.
I am a proud Democrat, and I am committed to codifying Roe vs. Wade, fighting fentanyl in our communities, and building an economy that works for everyone. My grassroots campaign needs volunteers to help spread this message by knocking on doors, phone banking, text banking, writing a letter to the editor, putting up yard signs, and/or hosting a virtual house party. Sign up here to join us: https://www.ricklarsen.org/volunteer/
It will take energetic, grassroots campaigning to defeat the Republican Chaos Caucus and win back the House. Together, I know we can do it.
Thank you for your ongoing support!
Rick
Email: [Ed. Note: email link omitted]
News from the Washington State Democratic Party
As we head into the election cycle, party unity is key! So, with that in mind we would like to share some key “Values Messaging” from the Washington State Democrats:
* WA Democrats are united and ready to defend our rights and freedoms. Together, we will defeat MAGA Republicans and their extreme Project 2025 agenda.
* This election we have a strong and diverse group of candidates who are laser-focused on:
Protecting abortion rights;
Addressing the climate crisis;
Creating more good-paying jobs;
Making our communities safer; and
Driving down costs for working families.
* WA Democrats stand for freedom – the freedom to live one’s life without fear of government overreach, hate, or bigotry.
* We believe that every single person – no matter their zip code or party affiliation – deserves to have their needs met and the opportunity to live a fulfilling life.
* All communities — including LGBTQIA+, Black and Brown, Jewish, Muslim, and our many immigrant communities — deserve to feel safe.
* While MAGA Republicans are focused on giving handouts to corporations and their ultra-wealthy donors, Democrats are focused on driving down costs for working families.
Remember to get your ballots turned in and stay safe.
– Your WSDCC Representatives, Marti Anamosa and Albert Ondo
Message from Candidate for Island County Commissioner, Marie Shimada
Friends,
Thank you to the many of you who have tried submitting letters to the editor in our local newspapers. We will be self-publishing the letters that have not been getting printed, so that everyone can still read about the broad support this campaign has gathered. Today, we are kicking off a series of letters with this recent submission from someone who supported me in my Ebey’s role:
I met Marie several years ago when she first took the job of Reserve Manager at Ebey’s Landing NHR. Her arrival on the scene was a breath of fresh air—perhaps gust better described it. She had an open-mind, radiated an energy that hadn’t been associated with the trust board for years, and set out to meet and listen to people, to hear out the residents, partners of the Reserve, gov’t agencies, tourism folks, NGOs, and former associates of the Reserve like myself. She is a quick study and did her listening sessions in a methodical manner. She exuded a vitality while maintaining a calmness of understanding as she listened to everyone tell her what was going well and what needed more attention. It was so exciting to see this new manager who was honored to be working in a unit of our national park system, who cared about both residents and visitors coming here. She was going to lead the charge for returning the Trust Board and the Reserve to a position of relevance in the community, and yet she understood the Reserve belongs to the Nation, not a small group of locals to call their own.
She has not let me down with her ideas and visions and talk and intentions, and her actions speak louder than her words. Marie brought in new ideas and implemented new programs. But first she had to rebuild trust in the community that had eroded with divisiveness and a lack of a common vision. She restored the ever-popular Ebey’s Conference and Community Potluck which the Trust Board had eliminated. While continuing with established relationships with organizations like the Museum for interpretive programs and the County and Town for design review, she sought out new partnerships with Historic Whidbey, Island Transit, the Navy, and the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation’s Maritime WA National Heritage Area, among others. She restored relevant training for the Historic Preservation Commission and brokered solutions for challenging design review applications. Marie initiated a long-overdue review of design guidelines for the Reserve. She is a strong advocate for historic preservation and the protection of the unique cultural landscape we have inherited. She expertly mended relationships with estranged groups to further benefit the Reserve. Most importantly, Marie sees partnerships as opportunities, not burdens. She understands collaboration as something that makes everyone stronger.
She has accomplished so much in such a short time. This may have been off-putting for those who thought it best to remain low-key, and especially for those who view visitors to the Reserve as a blight. This is an age-old argument for the Trust Board who have long debated whether the purpose of the Reserve is to protect a few iconic farms or to preserve and interpret the entire historic district for the American people.
Marie is a woman of action. She engages. She follows through. She is smart. And her diverse work resume, values and goals will serve her well in serving the larger community in which she lives, here in Island County. She is the fresh-face upstart we need in County government. She understands the needs for affordable and workforce housing, living wages, good health care, clean environment, open space for recreating in nature, among other issues of concern to Island County residents. And she will continue to be that strong, passionate advocate for the Reserve. The difference with Marie is that she is ready and willing to go forth and make thoughtful good change happen. Marie gets my vote for County Commissioner.
Gretchen Luxenberg, Freeland
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