Message from the Chair

Hi all,

This Thursday is the fourth Thursday of the month and so it is time for our LD meeting. We know you wait with bated breath for these meetings and we aim to please with our programs .

This month we have a representative, Ben Chapman, from the Approve 8201 campaign. He will help us hone our message on why folks need to VOTE YES and get others to VOTE YES on Senate Joint Resolution (SJR) 8201.

The full text of SJR 8201 can be found in your state voters’ pamphlet which you should have received last week in the mail. There are statements for and against the Resolution and the vote tally by our state legislators on this resolution. It says something when a super majority in both the state House and Senate approved this. The House had 86 out of 98 representatives vote yes and the Senate had 42 out of 49 senators vote yes. This means  both Republicans and Democrats voted for this – not something that happens much any more. So, please do your part and VOTE YES on SJR 8201.

There is just over two weeks until Election Day and that means all candidates and campaigns are going to be very busy trying to reach as many possible voters as they can and persuade them to vote for their candidate/campaign. This is where we can really show our impact by turning out the vote.

There are still things happening that give folks an opportunity to learn more about what is on their ballot and what our government is all about. Please avail yourself of these opportunities. One is this coming Saturday, October 25 at the Norm Dicks Meeting Center from 12-3 pm. It is a Community Café focusing on next steps and constitutional civics. As an enticement, attendees will get a pocket Constitution so you will know for yourself what the Constitution actually says and not what others tell you it says. This comes to you thanks to the Kitsap Black Student Union and Kitsap County Democrats.

On a somewhat related note, I found out that something I had shared online because I thought it was worth sharing was written by our own Adi Hayduk. There had been no attribution otherwise I would have gladly shared that. So, to correct that omission, here is what Adi wrote:

Ignore how groups like Turning Point USA have fueled the very climate of anger and fear that makes violence more likely. When conspiracy theories are pushed as truth, when Black women, brown communiti4s, LGBTQ+ people, and trans communities are turned into targets of hate, it is not just “debate.” It is a deliberate strategy to divide us, to escalate tensions, and to profit from polarization.

We must condemn violence without creating martyrs out of those who built their careers by inflaming it. They are not victims of politics gone wrong, they are architects of a toxic culture that leaves everyone less safe, ultimately, including themselves.

Reject the violence. Reject the martyrdom. Reject the lies that pit us against each other. Our future depends on building politics rooted in truth, dignity, and justice for all people.

Thanks for this, Adi. As the Jewish saying goes, from your mouth to G-d’s ears!

Val

VOTING REMINDER:

By now you should have received both the state and county voters’ pamphlets. There are two different voters’ pamphlets, one from the state, the other from Kitsap County. They are different because they focus on the races over which they have jurisdiction.

Thus, the state pamphlet has information about the race for the state Senate seat in the 26^th Legislative District and the proposed constitutional amendment to allow the state funds dedicated to providing long-term care benefits for seniors and people with disabilities to be invested.

The county voters’ pamphlet has information about the candidates who are running for the local positions that are on the ballot. These positions are on school boards, city councils, fire, port, water districts, municipal court judges, etc. There is also information on the various measures that are to be decided.

For more information about voting in general, the link below will take you to the Kitsap County Auditor’s office where you can view videos that will answer questions most people have about our election process. If you have questions that cannot be answered there, please contact the Auditor’s office directly: auditor@kitsap.gov or 360-307-VOTE (8683).

https://www.kitsap.gov/auditor/Pages/Elections-101.aspx

Ballots have been mailed and you should have received yours. If you did not receive a ballot, please contact the Auditor’s office (contact information is above). If you want to avoid phone calls reminding you to vote, VOTE right away and deposit the ballot in a ballot drop box. That guarantees your ballot make it to the Auditor’s office to be counted.

Exercise your right to VOTE – it really is the most important thing you can do.

Val

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