March and April, 2023 Newsletter

Posted on March 9, 2023 by John Durben

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 4^th election. If there is a chance that your ballot won’t be received on time (mail by March 27^th) 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 10^th.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 15^th 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 8^th Congressional District’s Convention will be held on April 29^th 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

News Update

Posted on October 18, 2022 by John Durben

Help Get America Back On Track Again… VOTE!

Posted on September 13, 2022 by John Durben

SHAWANO COUNTY DEMS 2021 NEWSLETTER FOR OCTOBER, NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER

Posted on October 11, 2021 by John Durben

NEED TO ELECT MORE PROGRESSIVES

Are you unhappy with your school board, county board or municipal board member? Then now is the time to get involved and run for office. At this time in our political environment, we need people who will govern with our best interests in mind. Decisions that are made locally can affect us all. To mask or not mask our children in school has exposed school board members who are not on the side of science. Elected officials may also have to weigh in on what is taught in our schools in regard to diversity and inequality.

Help in running a campaign is available through the State Democratic Party. The Shawano Dems are also eager to help. Let us know if you are considering a candidacy. Signatures can be collected beginning December 1^st and must be in to the County Clerk’s office by January 2^nd.

MORE U.S. SENATE CANDIDATES

The Shawano Dems’ meetings will continue to be in-person with the speakers on Zoom. At the Shawano Dems ‘October 20^th meeting Dr. Darrel Williams will be explaining why he is running for U.S. Senate. Darrel has been in the military for 28 years. He has been an educator, principal and school superintendent. He is Administrator of Wisconsin Energy Management. You can view his video on You Tube.

Also on Zoom will be Aaron Richardson, candidate for State Treasurer. He is the current mayor of Fitchburg (aaronforwi.com)

Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes will Zoom in at our November 17^th meeting (mandelabarnes.com). His video will be emailed out for those who can’t attend.

All meetings will begin at 7:00 pm at the Civic Center. Zoom links will be sent out a few days ahead of the meetings.

NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER EVENTS

The weekend of November 6-7 will mark one year out to the midterms. It is imperative that we re-elect Governor Evers and defeat Ron Johnson. Our work to engage in conversations with voters continues. We will be contacting infrequent Democratic voters through phone calls and canvassing. Consider helping us to spread the word that Democrats care about them and will deliver for them. Training will be provided. Contact us to help.

Rather than have a Christmas Party this year, the Shawano Dems will be giving of ourselves in the community. On December 2^nd will be taking a meal to SAM 25. Please consider helping us.

OCTOBER LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Our democracy is under attack from the right. There are efforts to make it more difficult for citizens to vote. At the same time that authoritarianism seems to be acceptable to Republicans, Democrats are called Marxists or even Communists just because they fight for social programs. We can have the human infrastructure that is a part of President Biden’s plan. Social programs like pre-school for all children, fast universal internet and free post-secondary education are possible while still maintaining our freedoms.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Oct. 14, Nov. 11, Dec. 9: Listen to WTCH’s Breakfast Club from 8:00-9:00 am on 960 AM & 96.1 FM.

Oct. 20; Shawano Dems 7:00 pm meeting at the Civic Center and on Zoom with Dr. Darrel Williams and Aaron Richardson.

Nov. 5-6: Weekend of Action—one year out!

Nov. 17: Shawano Dems 7:00 pm meeting at the Civic Center and on Zoom with Lieutenant Governor Mandella Barnes

Dec. 2: Providing a dinner at SAM 25

Chair’s Comments

A big thank you to all who attended our Fall Fundraising Dinner and those who donated to the local party. The funds will enable us to afford an office as we approach the midterm elections in 2022. We also want to educate listeners to our Democratic values through radio ads on WTCH. Go to wisdems.org/membership to join the state and local party or contact us for a form.
VOTE411.org is a platform that will give accurate data on candidate’s views so voters can make good choices when they go to vote. As we approach the next elections, combat conspiracy theories by sharing the truth with others.

Nelson Visits Shawano in 72 County Quest

Posted on August 9, 2021 by John Durben

Outagamie County Executive Tom Nelson has pledged to visit all 72 Wisconsin Counties as part of his quest to unseat the current Republican U.S. Senator Ron Johnson in next year’s election. Shawano County was the first visit on his list as he met local voters at Angie’s Main Café in Shawano recently. Area residents were provided an opportunity to get their questions answered by the Senate Candidate. (Nelson is slated to be one of the scheduled speakers at the Shawano County Democrats Fall Fundraiser at the Shawano Lake Golf Course on October 2, 2021.)

Shawano County Dems August, 2021 Newsletter

Posted on August 9, 2021 by John Durben

SUMMER PICNIC

Don’t miss the Shawano Dems’ picnic on Thursday, August 19^th from 5:00-7:00 pm at Kuckuk Park Pavilion (700 Oak Park Drive) in Shawano. Top tier United States Senate candidates Alex Lasry and Gilliam Battino will be there. Lasry is a Milwaukee Buck executive who worked as a White House aide during the Obama administration and has since championed social justice efforts and labor agreements.

Battino is a radiologist from Wausau who is pushing hard on the issue of Medicare-for-all.
There will be pulled pork sandwiches, potato salad, beans, dessert and ice cream for all who attend. We will be having a 50/50 raffle and quilt raffle tickets will be available. Come and bring liked-mined friends with you.

SHAWANO COUNTY FAIR

Our booth in the Commercial Building will be staffed the evening of Thursday, September 2^nd and from 10:00 am to 9:00 pm Friday September 3^rd through Monday, September 6^th Those who sign up to work 2-3 hour shifts will receive a complementary ticket to the fair which includes parking. At the fair we will sell quilt raffle tickets, “Proud Wisconsin Democrat” bumper stickers and will pass out information on the Democratic U.S. Senate candidates.
You can sign up at the picnic or call Jan at 715-296-6726.

WEEKEND OF ACTION

The 2022 election is just around the corner and we are working to build our volunteer base. Our action for the week of August 21 will be to again engage voters in face-to-face conversations at their doorsteps. We will be offering training for our new volunteers on Wednesday, August 18^th at the Civic Center at 7:00 pm and again on Saturday, August 21^st at 9:00 am. If you would like to join our efforts, please let us know you plan to attend. There is a lot at stake in the next election and we want to be sure we are ready to get out our positive messages to as many people as possible. At this time, we will be telling voters about how President Biden’s American Rescue Plan increased the Child Tax Credit benefit to put $250-300 per child in working parents’ pockets.

AUGUST LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Democrats should be given credit for the strides they have made since President Biden took office. The Covid-19 stimulus bill gave citizens direct payments of $1400 and $300-a-week federal bonus unemployment benefits. Because of his bill we have free Covid testing and vaccinations. Governor Evers is also trying to improve the lives of Wisconsinites despite all the push back from the legislature. We can see a middle-class tax cut and more funding for education, roads and health care because of his efforts.

UPCOMING EVENTS

August 19: Picnic at Kuckuk Park (Shawano) 5-7 pm

Sept. 2-6: Shawano County Fair Booth

Oct. 2: Fundraising Dinner at Shawano Lake Golf Course. Speaker will be U.S. Senate Candidate Tom Nelson.

Chair’s Comments

It was heartening to see so many people sign the petitions that the Shawano Fairness Coalition had at their ShawanoFest booth in July. Some signed the petition to see stable and competitive wages for employees working in Shawano County and others signed the petition to have the Wisconsin State Legislature pass nonpartisan redistricting legislation.

It is important that we call our representatives at 800-362-9472 and tell them we want them to pass Senate Bill 389 and Assembly Bill 395. These bills would end gerrymandering by creating a fair, nonpartisan procedure for drawing future maps.

U.S Senate Candidates

Posted on July 19, 2021 by John Durben

State Senator Chris Larson will be on Zoom at our July 21st in-person meeting
Shawano Civic Center
7:00 p.m.

Here is the Zoom link if you can’t make the meeting:
https://zoom.us/j/6228488386

Outagamie County Executive Tom Nelson will be stopping by on his 72 county tour across the state July 28^th 9:00 a.m.

Angie’s Main Café back room

132 S. Main St. Shawano, WI

Soon to be announced:

Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes will be the seventh candidate to take on Johnson. We will be inviting him to a future event.

MAKE SOME IMPORTANT PHONE CALLS

Contact your representatives and tell them to support these bills to have fair maps and end gerrymandering. The bills define a new procedure for the drawing of nonpartisan legislative and congressional redistricting maps. If we want popular progressive legislation passed by our Legislature, we need to let them know that we want these bills passed:

Senate Bill 389:
Senate District 2: Robert Cowles 608-266-0484

mailto:Sen.Cowles@legis.wisconsin.gov

Senate District 12: Mary Felzkowski 608-266-2509

Sen.Felzkowski@legis.wisconsin.gov

Assembly Bill 395:
Assembly District 6: Gary Tauchen 608-266-3097

Rep.Tauchen@legis.wiscnosin.gov

Assembly District 36: Jeffrey Mursau 608-266-3780

Rep.Mursau@legis.wiscosin.gov

Assembly District 35: Calvin Callahan 608-266-7694

Rep.Callahan@leg.wisconsin.gov

This is Tauchen’s last term. Tell him he needs to do what is best for our democracy—let the people choose their representatives, not the other way around. Call the Legislative Hotline if you aren’t sure of your representatives (800-362-9472).

JULY LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Sent to the Shawano Leader:

This past year students and their families, schools and educators had to sacrifice so much. The one-time $2.3 billion in federal funding from the American Rescue Plan was meant to help public schools recover. However, the funding was not meant to relieve the state of its responsibility. By law federal funding will NOT be received by any Legislature that fails to increase education funding by at least $387 million over the next two years.

The original Republican supported 2021-2023 budget sent to the governor cut Evers’ budget to $128 million, thus putting the federal aid in jeopardy. The governor, who cares deeply about education, did not want Wisconsin lose the federal funding. Therefore, he used his constitutional authority to revise the budget adding $100 million in recovery funds to invest in Wisconsin’s classrooms.

Districts will now be able to use these funds for non-pandemic-related expenses such as hiring educators and staff, providing additional educational or mental health supports or buying computers.

This is such a breath of fresh air after Wisconsin had been ranked 49^th in the nation for per-pupil education investment increases. Over the past decade, Wisconsin’s investment in K-12 per pupil spending had increased a measly 4.3% compared to 18.9% nationwide. The Joint Committee on Finance had a chance to change that in the 2021-23 budget, but it took the governor to prioritize our children and their education.

In the past the State of Wisconsin had one of the best public school systems in the nation. Part of this was due to state funding which provided two-thirds of the cost. For two decades this has not been the case and the local tax payers have had to support their school districts. This made it difficult for many rural school districts to provide a quality education. Thanks to Governor Evers the 2021-23 biennial budget provides roughly $685 million in additional net general and categorical school aids. This funding restores the state’s commitment to providing two-thirds of the cost.

There will be $89 million that the governor put into reimbursement for students with disabilities and $19 million in school mental health programs. These services had been drastically underfunded.

As a retired educator, it is heartening and a relief to see our state putting money back into the education of our children.

Jan Koch