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
My plan is to structure my comments each month for our newsletter in a 3-2-1 format:
- 3 things on my mind (or worth sharing with the group)
- 2 ways you can get involved
- 1 thing to do in the next 30 days
Hopefully you will find this information and some tangible action steps each month to be helpful. Let me know what you think.
3 Things On My Mind:
- Lots of you have been asking about when the Executive Board meetings are scheduled and when our Regular meetings will be held. The E-Board has now scheduled to meet on the 3rd Thursday of each month from 7:00-7:45 pm. If you’d like to attend one of those meetings, please email me at icdchair@gmail.com for the Zoom login information. Our regular meetings will be held on the 2nd Saturday of the last month of the quarter (March, June, September, December). Be on the lookout for a short poll to vote for your preference on time and location (in-person options vs. virtual).
- You will see great updates below from our two Democratic County Commissioners and State Representatives, Dave Paul and Clyde Shavers. They are all hard at work on issues that I know are important to all of you reading this. I will have details soon about the possibility of participating in Town Halls with our State Representatives. I will send that from my Chair’s email address as soon as I receive those details.
- I had the opportunity to participate in a luncheon with a group of conservatives on Whidbey. The Republicans are continuing their agenda of comparing Clyde Shavers to George Santos and calling for his resignation. I am working with a small group of people to pull together some talking points and specific information to share with you early next week. I will be asking you to consider writing letters to the editor or having conversations with friends and neighbors. Stay tuned….
2 Ways You Can Get Involved:
1. We are in the process of recruiting volunteers for each of our standing committees. Below is a list of those committee opportunities. Please reach out to me (at icdchair@gmail.com) to express what interests you may have.
| Rise and Run Committee: identify candidates for open positions and make endorsement recommendations to the E-Board |
| PCO Committee: help your PCO Representative coordinate the training you feel that you need as a PCO |
| Events Committee & Subcommittees: plan and coordinate ICD events; recruit others to join the fun |
| Communication & Public Affairs Committee: brainstorm ways that we can spread the word to Democrats and to the wider community |
| Membership Committee: help identify ways to attract more members to get involved |
| Information Technology Committee: anyone out there willing to offer up some basic website and social media skills? |
| Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee: work together on ways to be more inclusive in our work and our outreach |
| Rules Committee: help provide critical attention to the way our committee can work more effectively and efficiently |
2. Participate in PCO training. More details on how you can access information and register for some group training will be coming soon
1 Thing to Do in the Next 30 Days:
- If you are in the Oak Harbor district, please vote in the Special Election on February 14thon the school bond issue. More information about this below.
Message from Island County Commissioner, Janet St Clair
The Island County Board of Commissioners began the year with some important legislation and new challenges. I think it is worth sharing both. As many of you know, I have been pushing to protect our forests and address climate change impacts. As forest practices is primarily a Washington State Department of Natural Resources responsibility, it has taken time to untangle the roles and find strategic paths forward. I have focused on three issues as a first step effort. My focus is inclusive of my view that we educate the public on the value of stewardship, incentivize “doing the right thing” where possible, and regulate where necessary. Here are some recent accomplishments:
1. The Board has ended the practice of lifting moratoriums and allowing developers to do “after the fact” conversion permits, essentially circumventing the critical areas protections of conversion permits. This direction was given to the Public Works Department last year by the Board. We still need to address whether we need to codify that direction.
2. The Board has approved modifications of our Public Benefits Rating System which provides tax incentives to property owners who share their property for public benefit. In January, the Board approved those modifications to protect privately owned forests in Island County and promote intentional forest stewardship plans. This will provide an off-ramp for property owners who have been in the state timber tax program to move from harvesting to stewardship. Our changes also included incentives to protect wetlands and natural drainage areas for aquifer recharge and stormwater retention. In 2024, the Board will consider a review of the entire PBRS program to modernize and update that county program.
3. I am continuing to work with community advocates on a loophole in the State forest practices to better protect our forests from unscrupulous developers. More to come…
These are important steps to me but there is still more work to be done. Climate change and recent flooding has only emphasized the importance of protecting forests and open space. The natural hydrology functions must be allowed to perform their work as we face the impacts of rising sea levels and more fierce winter storms from climate change. The County has incorporated a “climate in all policies” lens and I have been pleased to see this move forward as our staff bring forward proposals I also hope will allow us to join the ranks of governments working to mitigate against climate change. These include facilities proposals to be more sustainable and pursuit of grants for new EV charging stations.
The Board has also been responding to a recent horrific example of animal neglect and cruelty in our county. This case has moved through our law and justice system and is currently in the Prosecutor’s office. It also has highlighted the need to update our County code, aligning with State laws to better protect animal welfare in our county. We will be collaborating with our Sheriff on this work. I personally appreciate the outpouring of public concern, and more importantly the willingness of many to also be part of the solution. At the core of community is the importance of collaboration and the public/private efforts to work together is what will make our communities stronger. As always, I can be reached at j.stclair@islandcountywa.gov.
Janet St. Clair, Island County Commissioner District 3
Message from Island County Commissioner, Melanie Bacon
The big issues for citizens this month were continuing concern on two crises we saw in December: a horrific case of animal neglect in Oak Harbor, and shoreline flooding from king tides.
Thanks to some amazing citizens, our Sheriff, and our Prosecuting Attorney, the County was able to take action on the animal cruelty case and we’re also taking steps to revise the code to help ensure that nothing like that happens in the future.
There is not such a fix available for shoreline flooding. The December floods gave us a peek at what we need to be preparing for as we revise our Comprehensive Plan to establish climate resiliency for our islands’ future.
On a positive note: this month we passed a revision to the Public Benefit Rating System (PBRS) that will encourage people to put their forests into the PBRS program instead of the Forest Management program—which should result in protection of trees that otherwise might have been harvested.
In my weekly newsletter, I keep citizens apprised of the steps their County Commissioners have taken on Island County issues such as these. To suscribe, email me at district1@islandcountywa.gov.
Thanks for your support,
Melanie
Message from State Representative, Dave Paul
We are already in the 4th week of the 2023 Legislative Session, and here’s a quick update on my work for our community. It’s clear that all parts of our economy are experiencing workforce shortage—and we cannot solve any of the major issues facing our state without addressing workforce training. Simply put, we need more skilled workers to increase housing supply, improve mental health outcomes, and address public safety concerns.
Towards that end, I’ve sponsored several bills to expand access to post-secondary education. For example, HB 1316 will ensure that high school students will have the opportunity to enroll in college classes in the summer and will lower the costs of College in the High School for working families. I’m also working on a major proposal to better coordinate K12 career and technical courses with apprenticeship, community and technical college, and other workforce training programs.
I’ve also sponsored HB 1058, which streamlines the process for individuals to earn their Commercial Driver’s License—or for retirees to renew their CDL. This common-sense and bipartisan bill will help get more truck drivers on the road without compromising highway safety.
On a personal note, I’d like to thank everyone for their kind words and prayers after my Mom passed away during the second week of session after a long battle with cancer. Many of you met my Mom over the years, and she loved our community. I truly appreciate your support during this challenging time for our family.
As always, it’s an honor to serve as your state representative.
Dave
Message from State Representative, Clyde Shavers
[Ed. Note: The newsletter included the entirety of Rep. Shavers’ email to constituents from Jan. 21, 2023.]
Message from US Representative, Rick Larsen
Fifty years ago, the Supreme Court stood up for reproductive freedom in their historic decision, Roe v. Wade.
But instead of celebrating that milestone, I am gravely concerned about the future of safe and legal abortions across America in the wake of the Dobbs decision that struck down Roe.
If you are confused about where abortion is legal, under what circumstances, and what these bans mean for folks – even here in Washington, where abortion remains legal – that is exactly what the radical anti-abortion forces want — chaos, confusion, and uncertainty.
They are even trying to prosecute doctors, nurses, and patient advocates in pro-freedom states like Washington for helping women around the country get the care they need.
That is not OK.
And the new, radical right-wing majority in Congress? They want to ban abortion nationwide. They have already forced a vote on it in the US House of Representatives.
I voted no, because my job is to protect your ability to make decisions about your body — and to keep the politicians, judges, and radical activists out of it. Abortions are deeply personal medical decisions that should be between someone who is pregnant and their doctor.
As long as I have the privilege of serving the people of Washington in Congress, I will stand for the right to safe and legal abortions.
Rick
News from the State Party
From your State Committee Members:
The first meeting of the Washington State Democrats Central Committee (WSDCC) for the 2023-2024 cycle was held on Friday Saturday, January 27th and 28th 2023. The primary purpose of this session is State Party re-organization. The following Officers were elected:
Chair: Shasti Conrad; 1st woman of color and youngest chair in WA State History
Vice Chair: David Green
Secretary: Rob Dolin
Treasurer: David Young Kim
And our 2nd CD Representative remains: Bennett Massey Helber
We also received reports from our Democratic National Committee (DNC) Representatives:
State Sen Javier Valdez: Jamie Harrison, as DNC Chair stressed the need to continue to reach out to underserved communities – identifying and supporting outreach volunteers that look like the people we are trying to reach and represent; there remains much work to be in the future as we look forward to 2024.
Sharon Mast: There are 24 National Level Resolutions to be considered at the next session of the DNC including Voter Rights, Recognizing the American worker and labor; condemning dark money in politics and identifying solutions to eliminate it, recognizing the positive Impact of young voters and increasing youth voter turnout; and advocating for universal free school meals.
David McDonald: The Rules committee is considering an amendment of national bylaws to add a representative from the Rural Caucus to the DNC E-Board! (I would say that it is about time!) Also, a resolution regarding rank choice voting has been referred to Rules Committee. Disappointingly, it is unlikely to get discussed soon because the review of Delegate Selection Plans for the 2024 Primary will be underway soon.
David Green: Sadly, the average State Party Chair tenure has been 1.75 years (when normal terms are 2 years in length) so we have had incredible stability with Tina Podlodowski as chair for the last 6 years. Also, we need to begin year around organizing in support of the 2024 general election and local elections in 2023 MATTER! Let’s build organization NOW for 2024.
Lastly, Outgoing Chair Tina Podlodowski provided her last Chairs Report. Over the last 6 years we were able to grow from a 1 seat minority in the State Senate to 7 seat majority; to grow from a narrow 2 seat majority in the House to a 17 seat majority. And while we are still not fully represented (especially in Rural areas) we continue to move the needle and importantly in rural areas to lose by less! Our State Party budget has grown to support this change from $1.5M budget to now $9M, allowing us to organize better and move the needle. However, If we don’t continue to do the work, we will find ourselves in the position of NY State – where we end up with folks like George Santos as Congressional Representatives. It starts with local races in 2023 – School Boards, Councils, etc.… For anyone considering running for local office and needs organization and communications support on a small budget, check out the Universe.app to support local candidates!
– Fe Mischo and Albert Ondo
Donate
Your generous contributions will directly help ICD:
- Host local community education and information events
- Coordinate local Democratic Party volunteers activities
- Train and inspire PCOs to action
- Provide tools, materials and space for local Democratic Party planning and organizing
For the biggest bang for your buck, mail your checks to:
[Ed. Note: donation information omitted]
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