Greetings Staunton Democrats and Happy Halloween ! My scary Halloween costume this year is Ben Cline ! Enclosed are more news, opportunities, future and past event details, and pleadings for volunteers and funds and whatever else we think of. We hope you will look forward to this post every Monday and use it to keep fighting for our democratic values and dedication to all members of our communities. If you wish to submit information to be published by the SDC then please email the information to publicity@staunton-democrats.care . We can publish to the blog weekly, and social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc) more frequently. Please send all comments and feedback to publicity@staunton-democrats.care . And now for the show ! This week: Opportunities and calls for action ! The SDC Candidate Forum for the Win ! VOTE ! Our Democracy at Stake ! Events SDC Coffee The SDC blog - NEW Posts ! What is a living wage for Staunton ? News from our friends Ben Cline (Sigh!) Jennifer Lewi
Greetings Staunton Democrats !
Enclosed are more news, opportunities, future and past event details, and pleadings for volunteers and funds and whatever else we think of. We hope you will look forward to this post every Monday and use it to keep fighting for our democratic values and dedication to all members of our communities.
If you wish to submit information to be published by the SDC then please email the information to publicity@sawdemocrats.care . We can publish to the blog weekly, and social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc) more frequently. Please send all comments and feedback to publicity@sawdemocrats.care .
And now for the show !
This week:
Our democracy at risk from the inside
Opportunities and calls for action !
The SDC Candidate Forum for the Win !
VOTE !
Some Good News for the Planet
Events
Other Candidate Forums (3 !)
SDC Coffee
The SDC blog
News from our friends
Democratic achievements and news
Meanwhile, the Republicans …
Ben Cline (Sigh!)
Jennifer Lewis (YAY !)
Staunton City Council and School Board races
From The Lincoln Project
Our Democracy at Risk From the Inside
This is really scary and I am not joking. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/21/opinion/republicans-democracy-elections-bannon.html
Some good news for democracy - The House just passed a bill that would make it harder to overthrow an election and House Passes Overhaul of Electoral Count, Moving to Avert Another Jan. 6 Crisis .
Opportunities and Calls for Action !
ANYTHING That You Can Do Is Helpful !
Where will your money go ?
Donations may be used in election related activities (mailings, radio issue ads, events for voter registration and candidate support, door to door canvassing for local regional candidates, etc).
Donations can also be used to support the SDC office and printing capabilities that are needed during the non-stop elections seasons. We are also looking towards the future since there is a Virginia Legislature election in a year then the 2024 elections. The fight is a continuing effort !
Join the Staunton Democratic Committee and Join an SDC Committee (SDC membership is required)
Volunteers are the lifeblood of our organization. Without volunteers you would not be reading this very fine publication !
The SDC is trying to organize some canvassing efforts and some individuals are interested in canvassing their neighborhood on their own. Regardless, we NEED volunteers since leaflets don’t distribute themselves.
answer phones, talk to visitors, data tasks, distribute canvassing and electoral information, etc.
The Jennifer Lewis for Congress campaign needs volunteers to help. Get in touch with Peri Price at peri@friendsofjenniferlewis.
The SDC Candidate Forum for the Win !
The SDC sponsored non-partisan Candidate Forum was an incredible success on September 13, 2022 ! We learned a lot about the candidate positions and I, for one, am a better informed citizen as a result.
The SDC Candidate Forum video is located here.
VOTE !
Since the 15th, 19th, 24th and 26th Amendments to the Constitution guarantee a right to VOTE, I think we ought to exercise that right !
Early Voting started September 23, 2022 and continues through November 4, 2022.
Early Voting Hours: 9-5, M-F located in the Staunton City Hall Lobby at 116 W. Beverley St
OPEN Saturday from 9-5 for Early Voting on October 29, 2022 and November 5, 2022
Send your selfies after you vote with your “I Voted” sticker visible to: publicity@sawdemocrats.care and we may post them in this newsletter and blog !
Some random person after voting !
Some Good News for the Planet
Senate set to approve treaty fighting climate super-pollutants - Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) has teed up votes this week on the Kigali Amendment to the 1987 Montreal Protocol, which compels countries to phase down hydrofluorocarbons, or HFCs — planet-warming chemicals used in air conditioning and refrigeration that are hundreds to thousands of times as powerful as carbon dioxide.
Clean energy just got a lot more cost-competitive, report says - The Inflation Reduction Act will cause the cost of renewable energy to decline dramatically over the next decade. The analysis from ICF Climate Center, a global consulting firm, concludes that the climate law will make clean energy projects easier to finance across the country, quickening the pace of America's energy transition.
Events !
Other Candidate Forums:
September 27, 7pm Marquis Memorial Church on W Beverly. All City Council Candidates have been invited. Sponsored by the Staunton West End Business Association. Questions for the candidates can be sent to kpharris2@verizon.net
October 2, 2pm Staunton Equity Coalition will be hosting a City Council Candidate forum at Ciders from Mars.
This event will be open to the public! Attendees will purchase their own ciders but we will likely have some light snacks available. This event is non-partisan and includes all current Council candidates, (not including the school board due to space limitations). Joamarie Garcia and Meghan Kramer will be hosting. Please message Meghan Kramer or Joamarie Garcia with your questions
They want to ask you:
What do you want to know from our candidates ?
What questions would you like us to ask ?
October 15, 1pm-4pm Gypsy Hill Gymnasium. All Local Candidates have been invited. Sponsored by Building Bridges. Questions for the candidates can be submitted to trasonyacrawford85@gmail.com
Next SDC General Meeting
October 11, 2022. 6 PM for social (and dinner if you want to order) and the meeting starts at 7 PM.
Clocktower Tempest Lounge. Main entrance at 27 W Beverley St, Staunton, VA 24401. The Tempest Lounge on N. Central Ave.
SDC Coffee at Serendipity – NEW DAY ! Serendipity has changed their hours so we have changed the date and time of the SDC Coffee to:
The first and third Thursdays from 9-11 AM. The next SDC Coffee is on Thursday October 6.
What could be better than sitting at a local coffee shop with a great cup of their fresh brew (supplied by the SDC) and talking to compatriots about the news of the day.
I have been attending the SDC Coffee at Serendipity Java Bar and Eatery since I joined the SDC in May 2022 and have met wonderful people and learned much in the subsequent discussions.
This happens on the first and third Thursdays of each month from 9-11 AM.
Donations are welcome to help pay for the coffee or you can order something else for yourself (including food).
Serendipity is located at https://bit.ly/3Pru44b .
The SDC Blog
The SDC blog is coming along slowly but nicely. There are 6 sections.
Learning from our Readers - We are now publishing letters to the editor from our readers. Three letters just this week. Go read them to appreciate our fellow local Democrats
Staunton Democrats Speak ! - this section is more issue specific and currently has articles like “Vote Like Your Pants Are On Fire !” and “Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House, is my HERO !”
Ben Cline. Where’s the beef ? - this section is dedicated to the appalling and anemic performance of our current VA 6th District Congressional Representative. With your help we can retire this section on November 9, 2022. Snippets of his record will occur weekly in this Email with more discussion of the bills and vote on the SDC blog.
Thoughts from Yvonne Surette - Yvonne is a well known local columnist who always (to use a basketball reference) swishes her jumpshots.
Democratic achievements - Democrats are generally humble people and think more about the world as a whole rather than just themselves. Thus, we are generally very bad at tooting our own horn when we do something good. Talking points included.
Community Voices - In this section the Staunton Democrats hope to soon publish content from users and organizations from the Staunton area that have a unique perspective on life and where they fit into the American melting pot. There are many voices that are not often heard so we hope to help them ! This may include contributions from the LGBTQ community, from younger voters, those who are struggling to help others and those who are just struggling. We want to hear about your lived experience. Knowing and caring about our neighbors better is why we are Democrats.
New Section coming - a section called something like “Thoughts from the Chair” does not encourage you to be sedentary but gives us the insights of the SDC Chairperson.
Of course I am going to ask for volunteers and writers and any ideas and feedback you may have.
The SDC blog is at https://blog.sawdemocrats.care
News from our friends
From Cindy Connors at the Staunton Visioning Coalition Steering Committee:
Greetings all !
With just over two weeks until early voting begins, our candidates Alice, Brad, Michele, Fontella, Kristin and Stephanie need our active support. What can you do ? We have lots of great suggestions! Don't stop reading here...check them all out and choose the best ones for you.
Candidate Forums:
September 27, 7pm Marquis Memorial Church on W Beverly.
All City Council Candidates have been invited. Sponsored by the Staunton West End Business Association
October 2, 2pm Staunton Equity Coalition will be hosting a City Council Candidate forum at Ciders from Mars.
This event will be open to the public! Attendees will purchase their own ciders but we will likely have some light snacks available. This event is non-partisan and includes all current Council candidates, (not including the school board due to space limitations). Joamarie Garcia and Meghan Kramer will be hosting. Please message Meghan Kramer or Joamarie Garcia with your questions
They want to ask you:
What do you want to know from our candidates ?
What questions would you like us to ask ?
October 15, 1pm-4pm Gypsy Hill Gymnasium.
All Local Candidates have been invited. Sponsored by Building Bridges
There are others in the works and we will keep you posted as we receive additional information
Volunteer on Election Day:
The Staunton Visioning Coalition plans to have a table/information supporting our candidates at each voting location.
We need volunteer "Captains" to adopt each of the 5 polling locations to assist with volunteer recruitment, set up and clean up.
We need pairs of volunteers to work two hour shifts (with the exception of the first shift). 6-9am, 9-11am, 11am-1pm, 1-3pm, 3-5pm, 5-7pm
We need canopies and tables.
The locations are:
Ward 1 Third Presbyterian Church 1313 Barterbrook Rd
Ward 2 Christ United Methodist Church 1500 Churchville Ave
Ward 3 Gypsy Hill Park Gym 229 116th Regimental Rd
Ward 4 Seventh Day Adventist Church 1000 North Coalter St
Ward 5 Memorial Baptist Church 224 Taylor St
RSVP to stauntonvisioningcoalition@gmail.com if you are interested in Captaining a location (we have a captain for Ward 4). A sign-up sheet will be sent at a later date for the shifts, but we are happy to hear from you now if you are interested.
Educate yourselves on all the candidates:
There have been several articles in the Augusta Free Press (no need for a subscription), hopefully they will cover all the candidates soon.
Alice Woods: https://augustafreepress.com/woods-seeks-to-bring-unity-of-purpose-to-staunton-city-council/
Eric Curren: https://augustafreepress.com/why-would-anybody-want-to-run-for-staunton-city-council-erik-curren-gives-his-reasons/
Brad Arrowood: https://augustafreepress.com/talk-about-the-city-we-want-brad-arrowood-runs-for-staunton-city-council/
Michele Edwards https://augustafreepress.com/focus-on-good-governance-michele-edwards-is-running-for-staunton-city-council/
Yvonne Wilson https://augustafreepress.com/diversity-of-ideas-yvonne-wilson-is-running-for-staunton-city-council/
Communicate your support for our candidates
Door Knock - the number one way to help candidates earn more votes
Donate - help them pay for materials to connect with donors
Write your own letter to the editor - News Virginian is currently the only paper we are aware of doing LTEs - https://newsvirginian.com/site/forms/online_services/letter_editor/
Share your support on your social media pages - write your own post or share from their sites
Reach out directly to the campaigns and offer assistance:
Democratic Achievements and Related News
Congressional Democrats are advancing the Electoral Count Act to strengthen democracy but eliminating loopholes in how the Senate certifies the presidential elections. Good articles here and here from WaPo.
A judge blocks the Indiana abortion ban a week after it took effect
Senate Republicans block bill to require disclosure of ‘dark money’ donors
Youngkin’s meeting with Va. delegation gets heated over trans policy . Go Abigail Spanberger !
Remember to vote BLUE in Roevember !
Meanwhile, the Republicans …
School book bans and challenges, at record highs, are rising again.
Arizona judge re-instates near-total abortion ban dating from 1864. No exception for incest or rape. Arizona’s Republican legislature specifically did not repeal the 1864 law in their recent 15 week abortion ban. Now confusion reigns and women are stripped of more rights that endanger them.
The GOP Commitment to America. A vapid pile of slogans and the entire plan fits on a single page. Really ? Who does not want a better economy and more freedom and less crime and less inflation ? No specifics and Biden is already accomplishing all of it anyways ! Paul Waldman says in WaPo “Most of what they promise in their Commitment is about the outcomes that will magically be produced by a Republican House: no more illegal immigration, crime eliminated, children well educated and prosperity for all. Indeed, according to The Post’s reporting, part of the reason the Commitment is so empty is that there are internal disagreements about exactly what policy course Republicans ought to follow.” “It’s hard to get everybody’s wishes in a document that fits on a card,” said Rep. Scott Perry (Pa.), the chair of the hard-right Freedom Caucus, explaining the bottom line of the GOP message to voters. Another very good analysis from Heather Cox Richardson.
Ben Cline (sigh!)
This section of the SDC Weekly Email has been voted the hands down favorite of our readers ! Not really but like a fender bender on the highway you cannot avert your eyes from Ben Cline’s appalling voting record !
More detailed information about Ben Cline’s voting record is located on our Staunton Democrats Speak ! Blog – Ben Cline has his own section called “Ben Cline. Where’s the beef ?”
Here is a compilation of what we know about Ben Cline so far based on his voting record - What does it tell you ?
Remember to vote BLUE in Roevember !
Jennifer Lewis
More about Jennifer at:
Staunton City Council and School Board Races
The Staunton Newsleader has summary profiles of some of the Staunton, Augusta and Waynesboro School Board candidates.
From the Lincoln Project
Kevin's Plan - A Commitment to America - compare this vapid political commercial to actual accomplishments by the Democrats.
Another MAGA candidate - this one is running for Pennsylvania Governor.
Thanks for reading !
If you have any suggestions or corrections then please email to publicity@sawdemocrats.care and put Feedback for Weekly Email 9/26/22 in the subject line.
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