President Biden fights to maintain democracy at home and abroad standing up to authoritarian leadership which suppresses the rights of their citizens. He continues to work across the aisle to secure appropriate gun safety laws. Community infrastructure has been improved by repairing roads/bridges, removing lead pipes, protecting clean air/water, and addressing climate change by expanding alternative sources of energy, He has consistently proved concern for the safety of all Americans.
Monday Message
President Biden’s policies reach people who rely on maintaining programs for their health and well being. His administration has succeeded in greatly lowering prescription drug prices and protecting social security and Medicare/Medicaid. He supports family needs like child care coverage, lower insurance costs, women’s rights and student debt. Economically he has successfully attained fair wages and has opened the door for more business and employment. He has consistently proved to care for all Americans.
DO YOU HAVE POLITICAL CONCERNS?
The Shawano Democrats have them too. Join in the conversation at the Shawano Civic Center (225 S. Main Street) on Wednesday, October 18th at 6:00 pm. At 7:00 pm Jay Heck from Common Cause, a grassroots group exposing disinformation, will talk about the recent gerrymandering battle in the Wisconsin Legislature, the attempts to remove the Elections Commission Administrator and the idea of another Constitutional Convention. Snacks provided.
CONTEST EVERY RACE
Consider championing your community and running for office this spring. By running for office, you can speak out and make a difference on issues that you are passionate about and are important to your community. Talk with us about running for office on Wednesday, November 1st at the Shawano Civic Center beginning at 6:00 pm.
You bring your own unique perspective and background to the campaign. Running for a local office, like County or Town Supervisor or School Board Member not only gives you a say in your community, but it gives voters a say as well. All too often these important elected offices are unopposed. Voters deserve better, they deserve a choice of who will represent them. That can only happen if local residents step up to take on these important roles.
For the Spring 2024 Election Cycle, the first day candidates can begin circulating nomination papers is December 1st, 2023.
ONE YEAR TO WIN
November 4th and 5th will be a Weekend of Action to reach out to infrequent voters to tell them how important it will be to vote in the 2024. election. There will be opportunities to reach voters at their doors and on their phones. Please sign up to volunteer.
GIVING BACK
Our yearly wrap-up meeting will be on Wednesday, November 15th at 7:00 pm at the Civic Center. Instead of having a Christmas party, we will be sevring dinner to the folks at SAM25 on Friday, December 1st and Sunday, December 3rd. We will need volunteers to provide and serve these meals. Please let us know that you will help by reaching out to one of our officers.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Oct. 12: WTCH Breakfast Club 8:00-9:00 am on 960 AM
Oct. 14: Fall Fundraising Dinner at the Lumberyard Bar and Grill. The $35 dinner cost can be paid at the event. Call Jan ASAP at 715-296-6726 to make your reservation.
Nov. 1: Running for Office Event 6:00 pm at the Shawano Civic Center
Nov. 15: Yearly Wrap-up Meeting 7:00 pm Shawano Civic
Center
Dec. 1 and 3: Meal serving at SAM25
Chair’s Comments
The Shawano Dems were busy at OctoberFest on Saturday, Oct. 7th. Many supporters stopped by to sign up for our newsletter and get informatiion about the Republican’s attempt to remove your Supreme Court Justice, Janet Proasiewizcz. The Court will be hearing critical cases on redistricting, abortion, voting rights, and the environment. They are the last remaining safeguard of a free and fair presidential election in Wisconsin.
Call Republican District 2 Senator Robert Cowles who is presently undecided at 608-266-0484. Tell him to vote NO on impeachment because in a democracy, your vote should count.
In 2024 we will need a new office space. Let us know if you have any ideas. We may also be looking for a camper that would allow us to set up in different locations around the county.
Thanks for your support in 2023. Now, on to 2024!
Jan Koch, Chair 715-296-6726 (cell)
Dan Weidner, 1st Vice Chair 715-250-1212 (cell)
Patty Luff, 2nd Vice Chair /Membership Chair 725-851-5761
Website: https://shawanocountydems.com
Facebook Page: “Shawano County Democratic Party”
Twitter Handle: @ShawanoDems
State Convention
Are you ready for the hottest convention in the Midwest this summer? The Wisconsin Democratic Convention will be held at the Radisson Hotel & Convention Center in Green Bay June 10-11. Anyone can attend the convention. On Saturday caucus meetings begin at 10:00 am. Convention programming begins at 5:30 pm. Officer & Democratic National Committee Member elections begin at 10:00 am on Sunday. Let us know if you want to be a delegate so you can vote. Click on this link to register: our State Convention
Membership Blitz
Goals for 2023 include increasing the number of members in the Democratic Party of Shawano County. The state has been sending us monthly stipends based on our numbers in 2022. We want to increase our party numbers so our payout amount will be greater in 2024. It is easy to join. Pick up a form at one of our events or go to https://wisdems.org/membership
The cost for limited income and veterans is only $10. Regular membership is $25 and couples pay $35. If you wish to send a donation, you can send it to Carrie Pitt, Box 9, Bonduel. Indicate if your check is for membership and/or a donation. Thank you!
Poll Workers Needed
Every municipality in Shawano County can have an equal number of Democrats and Republicans as poll workers. More Democratic poll workers are needed to safeguard our elections. We know the Republican party will be more proactive in the future so we need to get ready. By Wisconsin law municipal clerks must put forth any names they have received from the county chair. Those persons should be chosen to work at all elections in v 2024-2025. There will be training workshops sponsored by the state Democratic Party beginning this summer. Anyone in Shawano County can work at any polling place. Let Chair Jan Koch know you are interested.
UPCOMING EVENTS
May 11: Breakfast Club on WTCH 960 AM from 8:00-9:00 am
Senator Tammy Baldwin will be on the phone from 8:15-8:30.
May 17: aMAYzing Night Out 6:00 pm pot luck at Civic Center
June 25: Forever Blue Music Festival 12:30-4:30 pm. Badger Park, Peshtiigo
July 19: Picnic at Kuckuk Park 5:00 pm
October 14: Fall Fundraising Dinner at the Lumberyard
Chair’s Comments
This may not be an election year but we plan to have an active year none-the-less. We will have a relational volunteer training on June 21st from 5:30-6:30 pm at the Civic Center. Regional Coordinator, Sean Lindsey, will walk us through calling and/or texting using a smart phone.
On July 8th we will have a downtown booth at ShawanoFest. This is an opportunity for Dems to sign up for our newsletter and become members. August 30th –September 4th is the Shawano County Fair with another opportunity to talk to voters.
Before you know it we will be one year out from the 2024 presidential and senatorial election. “Biden and Baldwin in ‘24” will be our theme. Please make yourself available to volunteer. Our democracy needs all hands on deck to defeat authoritarianism.
WHAT’S ON THE BALLOT?
The future freedom in our state depends on the election of Judge Janet Protasiewicz to the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Experts believe there is a clear-cut case that would overturn the 1849 abortion ban which is already working its way through the lower courts. But if the Supreme Court continues its pattern of right judicial activism, then it’s a near-certainty the Supreme Court would declare the ban in full effect. Voter suppression, gerrymandered maps and anti-union decisions will continue if we fail to elect a progressive justice.
Also on the ballot are two constitutional amendment changes. Question 1 is about conditions of release before conviction. Question 2 is about cash bail before conviction. The ballot questions are ambiguous and misleading. Increased pretrial detention and denial of bail will violate the rights of those who are innocent until proven guilty, increase costs for rural jails, and adversely impact the less affluent. Please vote NO on these amendments.
There is a quick turnaround between when absentee ballots will be sent out (March 15) and the April 4th election. If there is a chance that your ballot won’t be received on time (mail by March 27th) voters are asked to either early vote with their municipal clerk from March 21-31 or vote on election day. Any voting questions can be answered by calling the Voter Protection Line at 866-336-3232.
SIGNS AND FLAGS
Our office at 1404 E. Green Bay Street will open on Friday, March 10th. It will be open on Fridays and Saturdays from 11:00 am – 4:00 pm until the election. We will soon be getting yard signs for Judge Janet. We will also have progressive flags for sale. Stop in and talk to Carrie. Sign up to make phone calls or write postcards to encourage others to vote in this important election.
“HOW THE SUPREME COURT RACES BECAME SO PARTISAN”
Matt Rothchild, the executive director of the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, will be speaking on this topic at our March 15th 7:00 pm zoom meeting. This nonprofit group is dedicated to clean, open democratic government where everyone has an equal voice .It is a nonpartisan watchdog that tracks and exposes money in politics. The zoom link will be sent out via email.
UPCOMING EVENTS
March 9 and April 6: Breakfast Club on WTCH 960 am. 8:00-9:00 am.
March 10: Democratic office open from 11:00 am–4:00 pm
March 15: 7:00 pm Zoom Membership Meeting with Matt Rothchild from the WI Democracy Campaign
March 21: Early voting begins
April 4: Spring General Election 7:00 am—8:00 pm
CONVENTION DATES
The 8th Congressional District’s Convention will be held on April 29th in Sturgeon Bay. The State Convention will from June 10-11 in Green Bay. If you wish to be a delegate, let Jan Koch know. You don’t need to be a member to attend.
Chair’s Comments
We were successful in putting Judge Janet on the ballot. Shawano County increased primary voter turnout from the low 20s to over 30 percent. Some of the increase may be attributed to TV advertisements but we also had volunteers calling Democrats across Shawano County to inform them to vote for one of progressive candidates (Thank You!). We also invested in radio ads on WTCH and WOWN.
We plan to continue our calling efforts and will also have postcards in the office for volunteers to pick up. Weekends of Action will inform voters of the election’s importance through door canvassing and phone calls. Please volunteer.
Jan Koch, Chair
Republican Extremism Not Recent Phenomenon
I’m often asked why so many people don’t challenge what is being said by Republicans, especially Donald Trump. I try to make sense of it, and I think it has a lot to do with what has been happening the last fifty plus years in the Republican Party.
Author David Corn’s recent book, American Psychosis, An Historical Investigation of How the Republican Party Went Crazy, traces Republican extremism, beginning with McCarthyism up to its current form — Trumpism. Senator Joseph McCarthy’s impact is still with us. His picture is displayed above the jury box in the Shawano County Court House. Why?
From 1950-54, McCarthy lead a witch hunt to root out alleged communists in the US government, Hollywood and elsewhere. Most of those he accused had nothing to do with the Communist Party, yet they were still blacklisted and/or lost their jobs.
The John Birch Society picked up where McCarthy left off. They even accused President Dwight D. Eisenhower, of being a Communist.
More recently, we have had the Tea Party, which falsely repeated over and over that President Obama was not born in the United States, that he was a Kenyan nationalist seeking to take over the government with socialism. Now we have Qanon with its unexplainable conspiracy theories.
Our nation is struggling to hold onto its democracy. In the past, the two major opposing political parties worked cooperatively. Today, it has become a money-fueled winner take all power struggle. Republicans make assertions that Democrats want to destroy our country. Democrats say Republicans are actually doing it: with stacked courts that render blatantly partisan decisions, and legislatures that seek to suppress the vote, even intent on controlling the voting process itself and the final outcome as well.
History has shown us that some people can and will say and do anything for power. History will also show that the elections next month can and will determine America’s future based on who we choose: whether it be a renewed effort to maintain our democracy, or acceptance of a radical right wing shift towards an authoritarian takeover by people who will not accept election results unless they win.
We need to vote wisely for our future and that of our families. That is, if we want to remain the United States of America. As Abraham Lincoln cautioned during a similar time of great peril: “a house divided cannot stand.”
The Shawano County Democrats held their annual Fall Fundraiser on Friday, September 24. The event was held at the Lumberyard Bar & Grill in Bonduel. Activities included a few key speakers, raffles with an assortment of prizes and a delicious meal.
Aaron Richardson attended the Fall Fundraiser
Judge Everette Mitchell addresses the guest in attendance
William Switalla with attendees