August 2008 Newsletter

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Note: Updates are added during the month. The 1st-of-each-month versions are archived under the News Button at top of this page, pull down to Archives. This one is the current news - with updates!

What's Here

Organizational Obama Meeting Monmouth July 16

New Polk Democrats Office Open House!

Western Days / 4th of July Parad

SummerBlue at Dancing Oaks, Aug 3

PolkDems Fundraiser at Airlie Winery Sept 14

News from Rich Riggs Campaign

News from Jason Brown Campaign

Some Registration & Voting Numbers

August Polk Dems Meeting

[Old News:]

The Monmouth Peace Vigil continues

List of Precinct Committee Persons for Polk

[Candidate Links:]

Links to Candidate Websites

Obama Meeting Monmouth July 16

Patrick New, the Obama field organizer for Marion and Polk County, led an organizational meeting at our newly opened office in Monmouth Wednesday July 16th. It was neatly accomplished in the hour alloted. A part two follow-up meeting was on Wednesday, July 23, at 7:30, preceded by a repeat of the first hour for those who could not make it on the 15th. Emphases included Voter Registration drive; spreading the word about the importance of voting the full ticket, not just the Presidency; finding active PCP's in every precinct

MONMOUTH MEETING
- Polk County Dems Office
- 340 Pacific Highway (on 99W, north of the intersection. Next to Hero Sandwich), H&R Block building. . Lots of parking.

Patrick New, field organizer, at Polk Dems Office July 16

Patrick New, Field Organizer, speaking with Polk Democrats at our office July 16

You are cordially invited to attend the
Open House
Of the office of
The Polk County Democrats

Located at 340 Pacific Ave
Monmouth, Oregon
From 4:00 – 6:00 PM
On Thursday, August 7, 2008

*Meet and greet candidates
*Gather campaign literature, buttons and brochures
*Volunteer for canvassing, phone banking, staffing the office, and registering people to vote.
*Enjoy delicious cookies and punch.

For more information, contact
Gloria Holland
At 503-551-0579
gloriabhs@comcast.net

Our Polk County Democrats Office opened Tuesday, July 8, in the H&R Block Building on Hwy 99 in Monmouth. Gloria Holland is taking on the task of Office Manager, and it is looking great!
Basic hours are 3-7 pm, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, and Saturday 10-2 thanks to Peter Wells. Many people have shown interest in the weekday shifts and we're still organizing them: Contact Gloria at the office (503) 838-0195 and 838-0305) or at (503)371-3920. The office will have much useful work for people to do, as well as campaign materials including a wide variety of buttons and bumper stickers for sale.

There are five phones and networked computers. Phone numbers are (503) 838-0195 and 838-0305
The office will also be available for candidates to meet, canvass. Candidate campaign materias will also be available.

We are fortunate to have an intern from the DPO, Kevin Dugan, working on the office and materials.

Please stop by!

note - We need to borrow an answering machine, a six-foot collapsible table, an electric teakettle... Please call Gloria, or the office, or stop by.

Western Days/ The Big 4th of July Parade Monmouth - Independence.

Polk Democrats had a booth for Voter Registration and Information, on Main Street at the Park in Independence, open from 10 am to midnight, Friday through Sunday.
Our voter registration teams wearing blue visor caps labelled REGISTER HERE went through the crowd with blank forms and pens. We registered 73 new voters.
We wish we had brought a camera to record the mother helping her
daughter register for the first time, on the 4th of July: they both looked so beatific. Gloria Holland made a touching registration on the 5th, when she recruited a young Latina who had never registered because she thought it would cost money.
Richard Riggs walked the length of the parade accompanied by a large contingent of marchers wearing Riggs for House T-shirts.

Alan Holland drove a truck for the Polk Democrats, directly in front of Jason Brown’s float. Jason's truck played a new "Brown for House!"campaign song the entire distance. (Jason didn't so much march as run circles around his float the entire distance, passing out candy on both sides of the street!)

Jason's truck and song were also in the Sheridan parade July 5, to lots of applause. To hear the song, poke here: "Brown for House!" (return via back buttons)

In the three days at Independence, 25 Democrats helped with shifts
at the booth and/or in the crowd. Jackie Pierce, for example, did yeoman work; after six hours of registration outreach on the 4th she minded the booth Sunday for the toughest segment, the Christian Rock shift. We also sold many buttons and bumperstickers.




David Papen and Linda Williams ready with registration forms	A Booth Crew at Independence Fair: Jackie and Suzi

Rhetorical Question: Are Voter Registration Drives Worth It?

-- photos courtesy of Jackie

SummerBlue 2008 at Dancing Oaks,

Benton County Dems Event in Polk County:

August 3, Sunday, 1:30-7:00: SummerBlue 2008, a summer celebration of gardens, music, food and wine at Dancing Oaks Nursery. Live music by The John Bliss Xtet, 1:45; Quintessential Winds, 3:15; Antiquae Novae, 4:45; Ordinance, 5:30. Garden tours (between music performances) by owners and staff, signup at event. Wines by Airlie Winery. Food, beer, pop, free water, shaded tables. Silent auction. Tickets $10 at the event. Proceeds to benefit Democratic candidates, including Jason Brown. More info: Davi Richards, davirichards@hotmail.com.

PolkDems Fundraiser at Airlie Winery Sept 14

FUNDRAISER TO SUPPORT LOCAL CANDIDATES

Sunday, September 14 1-5 pm at Airlie Winery
Snacks and fruit juice
Wine available for purchase
Music at the lake side.
Join us and bring a friend for political chat with the candidates.
$7.00 donation at entry.
Music - Gumbo (Sid Beam, Joe Casprowiak, Truman Price)

News from Local Campaigns

Richard Riggs - HD 20

Upcoming:

1) Richard Riggs marched in the Monmouth-to-Independence Fourth of July Parade, backed by a contingent wearing Rich Riggs T-shirts. Richard spent the rest of the afternoon cheerily meeting and greeting passersby in front of the Democrats booth in the Independence park.

2) Everyone was invited to join Rich for an All-You-Can-Eat Spaghetti Dinner, Tuesday July 15 at 6-8 pm, at United Methodist Church i600 State Street in Downtown Salem. $5 ticket at the door, 2 for $7, kids under 10 eat free (!!).
Volunteers needed to help organize the event and also people to donate the dry pasta and sauces. Contact Rich's campaign manager, Sarah Hoyt, at RichardRiggs2008@gmail.com.

As of August 1, Rich has knocked on over 4800 doors; and volunteers have brought the total to over 7325 doors. The campaign is looking for people to help canvass local neighborhoods, work in the office and phone bank. Please contact the campaign at RichardRiggs2008@gmail.com or go online to RichardRiggs.com to volunteer. Rich's campaign office is at 250 Liberty Street, located in downtown Salem near the Ferry Street intersection across from the Phoenix Grand Hotel.

Rich has been endorsed by: UFCW Local 555, AFL-CIO, OSEA, OLCV, United Transportation Union, and

Stand for Children
Northwest Sportfishing Industry Association
Oregon Council of Police Associations
United Transportation Union
Oregon Education Association
Service Employees International Union Local 503

Endorsements continue to roll in. This month the following have been added:

Oregon State Building and Construction Trades Council
Teamsters Joint Council 37
Oregon War Veterans Association

The campaign needs volunteers for canvassing and phone banking. Can you spare a few hours to help spread the word about the campaign?

Please also plan to join us as we canvass door-to-door as we spread the word about Rich's campaign. Meet us at the Salem office, located at 250 Liberty Street, 30 minutes prior to the times listed below.
· Saturday August 2nd from 2 to 5 p.m.
· Sunday August 10th from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.
· Tuesday August 12th from 4 to 7 p.m.
· Saturday August 16th from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
· Thursday August 21st from 4 to 7 p.m.
· Saturday August 23rd from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
· Sunday August 24th from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.
For more information, or to RSVP for a phone banking session or canvassing date, contact Sarah at RichardRiggs2008@gmail.com.

Join us for phone banking Every Monday and Wednesday in August, from 5:30 - 8:00 p.m.

Jason Brown - HD 23

I am continuing to work outside the campaign on establishing a job training partnership. The group I have been working with is now in the process of drafting bylaws for a non-profit so the project in Willamina can move forward. I find it gratifying to be a part of this community partnership gradually coming together. In some ways it is a distraction from the campaign, but ultimately it's all about investing in people.

-------

Jason's float/truck was in the 4th of July Parade from Monmouth to Independence, accompanied by a new campaign song, Brown for House! Next was the Sheridan parade on Saturday the 5th, then the Dallas Summerfest.

-------

Jason's website is at brownforhouse.org

The Statesman-Journal endorses Jason: "Running for the second time, he has a good sense of district issues."

Jason has also been endorsed by Linn County Farm Bureau, Marion-Polk-Yamhill Counties Central Labor Council, United Transportation Workers, SEIU, Teamsters No. 37, Oregon League of Conservation Voters

- - - - - - - - - - -

What are HD 20 and HD 23?

Here are maps to both. Take a look!: HD 20 HD 23

HD 20 while somewhat scattered is relatively focussed, including Monmouth, Independence, West Salem and a section of the Liberty Heights area in SW Salem, and areas geographically between those points.

HD 23 is an extremely awkward district including rural parts of five counties: Sheridan to Willamina and south from there; northeast to the edge of West Salem; Falls City and Dallas, then across SE Polk, avoiding towns, through a rural strip of south Marion County to Jefferson and the western city limit of Stayton; back to Dallas and down Kings Valley road avoiding Philomath, around to Monroe, then east to Halsey and Harrisburg in southern Lane County. It is hard to describe and essentially impossible to drive to all of HD 23 without driving through 5, count 'em, five, other House Districts.

Jason managed to cover the district thoroughly in 2006. Any contributions to the gasoline fund?

Some numbers: Registrations moving our way at last!

In April Alan Holland asked Polk Co. Clerk, Val Unger for a Voter Registration report.

Here are the statistics as of Apr. 29

	Dems	Repubs	Con	LBT	NA	PAC	IND	Others
Dec. 31	12988	16306	78	249	8105	134	204	109
Apr 29	14348	16400	79	243	8038	126	356	101
NET CHANGE:	+1360	+94	+1	-6	-67	-8	+152	-8

Note from Tina Calos May 8: Due to the upswing in registrations, HD 20 just tipped in our favor for the first time, giving Democrats a 2% lead in registration as compared to the 5-6% deficiency in the last election.

The voting totals from the May 20 primary are even more favorable.
Here they are: (totaled up from the Polk County official Precincts Primary Report,
at http://www.co.polk.or.us/tempimages/EL30.HTM)

REGISTERED VOTERS - TOTAL ..... 39525
BALLOTS CAST - TOTAL ..... 23662
BALLOTS CAST - DEMOCRAT ..... 11227
BALLOTS CAST - REPUBLICAN ..... 9743
BALLOTS CAST - NONPARTISAN ..... 2692

Perhaps the favorable margin was due to the more competitive primary races on the Democratic side... and consider this: of the 11227 Democrats who cast ballots, 3855 did not vote for a State Representative.

BUT! Let us not be complacent! Electoral-vote.com, which is about the best of the poll watchers, has Oregon as "Barely Democratic" with Obama, for example, leading McCain 48% to 45% as of July 15. That is much too close for comfort!

There are 3 things you can do right now:

1) Educate voters, especially new Democratic voters, about the importance of being informed on LOCAL elections and voting down the ballot.
2) Volunteer to solicit and collect new registrations during Dallas Summerfest July 24-27. Call Suzi Price at 503-606-3176
3) Help find PCP's for Independence and Dallas - and be Active as a PCP

Pick one of these, and do it now!

Subject: Sen. Smith Conference on aging

Hello All,
On August 14th, Gordon Smith will be having a conference on aging, in Salem. I would like to see this conference packed with Alliance members ready to ask tough questions of the Senator. It is a free event so call and reserve a place asap. Here is the information.

http://gsmith.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=WebsiteItems.Aging

If you cant get in be ready for our own Alliance rally outside the conference. Please let me know if you got a spot in the conference or if you would like to be at the rally outside.

Thanks,

--
Andrew Gonzales
Alliance for Retired Americans
Field Organizer
(310) 528-7973
agonzoman00@gmail.com
http://orarafieldreport.blogspot.com
http://www.orara.org/

Regular Monthly Meeting of Polk County Democrats

Thursday, August 14

Salem Electric, 33 NW 7th St, West Salem

6:30 pm: Refreshments and conversation

7:00 pm: Business meeting

9:00 pm: Adjourn. Business meeting

SOME REPEATS OR OLD NEWS:

Monmouth Peace Vigils - every Wednesday 5-6 pm

News from the Anti-War / Impeach Bush weekly demonstration

They've decided to keep on doing it, at least for now. The vigil reached some new numbers in the last month. May 9 marked a full year of the weekly vigil / drive-by demonstration. There were eight people on the sidewalk, including two high school girls who had just walked up and asked if they could protest too (of course!) and enthusiastically flashed V-for-peace signs at all the passing cars. 211 cars / carloads containing something over 300 people / responded positively with waves and horns, and 5 negatively.

May 28 was somewhat of a new statistic. The crew on the curb was down to a hard core of 3 and a dog, while 137 cars - something over 200 people - responded positively, so over 200 people took part. And there were Zero negative responses. When they began a year earlier responses ran about 30-to-1. Apparently the negatives are giving up, either on Bush or on vigilers.
The drive-by demonstration and Peace Vigil continues every Wednesday, 5-6 pm, at Main Street Park in Monmouth continues. It is a cheerful event. If you can't join us on the curb, drive by and be sure to honk or wave as you pass -- we appreciate it!


About half the folks who turned up for the March 19 vigil marking the 5th anniversary of the invasion of Iraq.	July 16: Add to those above about 141 carloads of passers who honked or waved positively (and 2 negatives)

Running Box Score:
Wed Jul 16 - 141 positive cars, 2 negatives
Wed Jul 23 - 148 positive cars, 1 negative
Wed Jul 30 - 121 positive cars (@ 200 people) Zero negatives
Wed Aug 6 - 161 positive cars, (@250 people), Zero negatives
Wed Aug 27 - 156 1/2* positive, 3 1/2* negative
& a thank you to Rick's Place, across the street, for the gifts of ice water for all the vigilers.
* An unusual car count - a driver honked, smiled, and waved broadly - while his passenger made a thumbs-down gesture.
(Rep. Darlene Hooley seemed to think that the feelings for impeachment and withdrawal from Iraq were some kind of elitism - despite repeated appeals from PolkDem leadership and unified meetings with PolkDem and all other county chairs from her district. The numbers reflect the grassroots feelings.)

DEMOCRATIC PRECINCT COMMITTEE PERSONS
POLK COUNTY: AS ELECTED MAY 20, 2008

Welcome to our new PCPs: Mary E. Ehly in 118, Norman Hesseldahl in 144,
Alex Mozell in 146, and Lois and Dale Deroin in 154, and Peter Wells in
134, and thanks Peter for all the hours helping with the Oregon
Democrats' State Convention in Monmouth June 19.
As you can see we dearly need PCPs in Independence and part of Dallas. If you or someone you know would like to volunteer, come to two monthly meetings, and let us know.

PRECINCT
102 (2)
Maren Sohn 2889 Oak Knoll Rd NW Salem 97304 503-399-1797

106 (3) (none)

110 (1)

118 (7)
Jason Brown 10725 Briedwell Rd Dallas 97338 503-838-2500
Mary E. Ehly 1157 Willow Creek Dr. NW Salem 97304 503-585-8282
Lisanne Pearcy 10725 Briedwell Rd Dallas 97338 503-838-2500
Kathleen A. Smits 12070 Uppenback Pl Monmouth 97361 503-838-3189
Patricia A. Wheeler 12090 Rolling Hills Rd Monmouth 97361 503-838-1436

122 (1)
134 (8)
Carol Joy Ferron 1630 Wallace Rd NW #50 Salem 97304 503-581-7940
Jackie Pierce 1991 Westport Ct NW Salem 97304 503-362-5524
Peter Wells 1910 Harritt Dr NW Salem 97304 503-585-0750

144 (10)
Steve Evans 1936 Orchard Hts Rd NW Salem 97304 503-588-1092
Norman Hesseldahl 1705 Onyx St. NW Salem 97304
Kristin Kuhns 590 Rosemont Ave. NW Salem 97304 503-375-2060
Timothy Markwell 1643 Olympia Ct. NW Salem 97034
David N. Papen 1516 6th St NW Salem 97304 503-364-7963
Linda E. Williams PO Box 13555 Salem 97309 503-463-6892

146 (7)
Alan Holland 530 Riverview Dr NW Salem 97304 503-371-3920
Alex Mozell 471 Eola Dr. NW Salem 97304 503-391-6301
Timothe Seelbach 125 Eola Dr. NW, Salem 97304 503-581-2869

152 (8)

154 (6)

Lois Derouin 497 SE Walnut Ave Dallas 97338 503-623-6340
Dale Derouin 497 SE Walnut Ave Dallas 97338 503-623-6340
C.R. (Dick) May 309 SE Ironwood Ave Dallas 97338 503-623-6870
Dick Reynolds PO Box 160 Dallas 97338 503-580-1048
Sharon K. Reynolds PO Box 160 Dallas 97338 503-580-6744

162 (9)

166 (1)

178 (7)
Jeanne Deane 22 Ivy Lane E Monmouth 97361 503-838-2278
Waeil H. Eltelbany 797 Monmouth Ave S Monmouth 97361 503-999-7093
Paul Evans 744 E Main St Monmouth 97361 503-606-2052

182 (6)

Links to Candidate Web Sites /for Democratic Primaries

A wealth of information lurks below. Poke any photo or highlighted name.

House District Candidates

House District 20		House District 23

Richard Riggs		Jason Brown

Senate District 12

Kevin Nortness

U. S. 5th Congressional District. (former Rep. Darlene Hooley's seat).

Kurt Schrader

State Sen., Ex-State Rep., Veterinarian & Farmer

Note: The Republican candidate, Mike Erickson, has already loaned his own campaign over $1,000,000.

U. S. Senate


Jeff Merkley State House Speaker, Ex-Non Profit Group Executive & Ex-Congressional Budget Analyst

Other Statewide Races:

Secretary of State

Attorney General

State Treasurer

Kate Brown

State Senate Majority Leader, Ex-State Rep. & Attorney

John Kroger

Law Professor, Ex-Assistant US Attorney, Ex-Congressional Aide & USMC Veteran

Ben Westlund

State Sen., Agribusinessman, Ex-Republican & 2006 Gubernatorial Candidate

The Republican candidates are:

Secretary of State: Rick Dancer (R) - Ex-TV News Anchor
Treasurer: Allen Alley (R) - Businessman & Ex-Gubernatorial Aide
Attorney General: None (Democrat John Kroger received more votes as a
write-in on the Republican ballot than any other candidate, so there
will be no Republican candidate)

For a complete guide to Oregon candidates (and some nice old buttons) see http://politics1.com/or.htm

Contributions or material for the newsletter are needed and welcome. Send to Truman Price, truprice@oldchildrensbooks.com , (503) 606-3176

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