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

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

SHAWANO COUNTY DEMS: July, 2021 Newsletter

Posted on July 15, 2021 by John Durben

MARCH AND RALLY

On Saturday, July 17^th the Shawano Fairness Coalition will be having a march from Franklin Park to the Shawano County Courthouse. Participants can gather at 1:00 pm, sign petitions for fair (non-gerrymandered) voting maps and higher wages in Shawano County and pick up a sign. The group will then walk to the rally at the courthouse where former assembly woman Penny Bernard Schafer will be speaking about redistricting reform and how it is needed if we are to have any progress in making our state more progressive. Join them!

JULY 21 HYBRID MEETING

One of the six United States Senate candidates will be on Zoom with us at our July meeting. State Senator Chris Larson is from the Milwaukee area. He has been a champion for many progressive issues that we care about. The in-person meeting begins at 7:00 pm at the Shawano Civic Center or you can view on Zoom. The link will be sent out prior to the meeting.

SUMMER PICNIC

The Shawano Dems will be having a picnic on August 19^th at Kuckuk Park in Shawano from 5:00-7:00 pm. U.S.Senate candidates Alex Lasry and Gillian Battino have tentatively agreed to attend. We will have pulled pork sandwiches, potato salad, beans and dessert. No need to bring anything. At the picnic we will be a thanking our many volunteers who helped during the past year. Plan to attend.

JULY LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Governor Evers has signed the 2021-2023 budget. It increased funding for education beyond what the Republicans wanted to spend. Using his constitutional authority, he was able to ensure Wisconsin gets the American Rescue Plan money by adding $100 million in new federal money for schools. He also restored the state’s two-thirds funding to school districts by providing roughly $685 million in school aids. Now there will be more money for students with disabilities and mental health services.

UPCOMING EVENTS

July 21: 7:00 pm Dems’ meeting at the Shawano Civic Center and on Zoom

August 19: Picnic at Kuckuk Park 5-7 pm

Oct. 2: Fundraising Dinner at Shawano Lake Golf Course

Chair’s Comments

In August and September, we will be calling on our volunteers to help us reach out to voters. During the weekends of August 21 and 28 we can begin to knock doors and engage in face-to-face conversations. This year we will go back to having a booth at the Shawano County Fair. We will need volunteers to work 2-3 hours shifts each of days from September 2^nd through 6^th

You can sign up to work at the fair at our July 21^st meeting or at the August 19^th picnic. If you can’t make either of those events, please call me at the number listed below or email me at shawanodems2@gmail.com if you’d like to sign up. Those working at the fair will get a free pass which includes parking.

Our fall fundraising dinner is being held on October 2^nd. We will have raffle baskets. If you have any items that you would like to donate for the bucket raffles, please bring them to one of our events. Any grey donkey item (something you have that is in good condition but is taking up space) is fine too. Reservation information will be sent out next month. Tom Nelson, Outagamie County Executive and candidate for U.S. Senate, will be speaking.

We will also be having a quilt raffle. You can purchase tickets at the picnic, the fair booth or the fall dinner. The ticket will be drawn at the dinner.

BEST GOVERNOR EVER (S)

Posted on May 17, 2021 by John Durben

We are so fortunate to have a governor who is fighting for all of us. This sign says it all:

BEST GOVERNOR
EVER (S)

Here is information on the Governor’s Budget

MAY 19th MEETING
7:00 pm
Shawano Civic Center or on Zoom

Sarah Godlewski will be on Zoom discussing what she has accomplished as State Treasurer and why she is running to unseat Senator Ron Johnson. Join us in person or click on this Zoom link:

Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/6228488386

Shawano County Democrats April Membership Meeting

Posted on April 16, 2021 by John Durben

APRIL 21st MEETING
7:00 pm on Zoom
(Link will be sent out next week)
Speaker: Assemblywoman Katrina Shankland
Topic: Marijuana legislation

Shawano Dems News Update

Posted on March 15, 2021 by John Durben

March Meeting Reminder

Wed., March 17th
7:00 pm

Zoom link below

Jay Heck, Executive Director of Common Cause

Jay will speak about the voter suppression measures being introduced in the Wisconsin Legislature and about the fair maps redistricting process.

TEXT

For Our Future is a grassroots group calling voters across the state, reminding them about the election on April 6th.

Throughout the month, they are spending every Tuesday night hosting a fun virtual phone bank to educate voters about the candidates for the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) race and encourage them to request their absentee ballot ahead of the April 6th election.

Sign up for our next phonebank- March 16th @ 5:15pm- now! They will also be texting on March 23rd and 30th.

This year, we have a chance to elect Jill Underly, a state superintendent of schools who cares about all students and teachers, and who will take the necessary steps towards getting them back in the classroom safely and effectively.

Letter to the Editor

Below is a letter that was on the online Shawano Leader.

Can White people claim they’re not racist?

Published by andynewsengin on Thu, 03/11/2021 – 11:16am

To the editor:

Based on certain events of the past year including the infamous George Floyd affair, it has become increasingly embarrassing for me to be a White man in America. I have put a considerable effort into learning more about how deeply racism is ingrained in our society. I have come to agree that racism is systemic and that each White American bears a portion of the collective responsibility.

Let me give a personal example. If I see a White person walking on the street in front of my house, unless that person trespasses onto my property, I don’t give the matter a thought. If that same incident involved a Black person, I would have the reflexive reaction of “What is he or she doing in my neighborhood?” Another example, have you ever had the automatic verbal or internal response of “Gee, he sure does not sound Black”? I’m not proud of my reactions but they are real.

It is absolutely true that no white person can experience the daily profiling that occurs. No matter how successful in life, every Black dad or mom has to have the “talk” of how to act around a White police officer. Every Black person regardless of how successful has in effect had to start 20 yards behind a similarly qualified white person in life’s 100-yard race. Most white people’s ancestors came here by choice in search of a better life. Black people starting in the early 17th century came here as property.

Here is food for thought:

Consider the reaction of government to the events of Black Lives Matter protests compared to the insurrection of Jan. 6 largely put on by White people.
Consider that Wisconsin still does not formally acknowledge Black History Month. Politicians like Robin Vos and Jim Steineke let the matter slide and when asked why offer no response.
Consider the actions of Republicans to suppress the scope of absentee voting and voting by mail for the implicit purpose of impairing the process for people of color — a modern day version of Jim Crow.

I have submitted this piece as a form of personal and public shaming. I need to take ownership. Though not a traditional Christian, I do believe that Jesus came not only to comfort the afflicted but to afflict the comfortable. Think about it.

Ken Kroenke, Shawano

Mark Your Calendar!

Posted on March 9, 2021 by John Durben

UPCOMING EVENTS
March 11 and April 8^t: Listen to WTCH’s Breakfast Club from 8:30-9:00 am on 960 AM & 96.1 FM.

March 17: 7:00 pm Dems’ meeting on Zoom with Jay Heck

April 6: Primary Election Day 7am-8pm. VOTE!!!

April 21: 7:00 pm Dems’ meeting on Zoom with Katrina Shankland

May 2: 12:30 pm 8^th Congressional District Meeting on Zoom.

ZOOM MEETINGS

We will continue with our Zoom meetings for two more months.
On March 17^th at 7:00 pm Jay Heck, Executive Director of Common Cause, will be speaking about the voter suppression measures being introduced in Wisconsin and how the redistricting process could be better than in 2011.

On April 21^st we hope to have Assemblywoman Katrina Shankland tell us about cannabis reform and marijuana legislation at our 7:00 pm meeting.

Membership Meeting February 17th.

Posted on February 16, 2021 by John Durben

FEBRUARY MEETING
Wednesday, February 17th
7:00 pm

Join on Zoom with this link:
https://zoom.us/j/6228488386

Meeting ID: 622 848 8386
By Phone
Dial 312 626 6799

Speakers will be Lee Snodgrass and Karl Jaeger. Lee is the 2nd Vice Chair for the Wisconsin Democratic Party and 57th Assembly Representative. She will be giving us updates on what is happening in Madison. Karl is running for the open 89th Assembly District seat.

Election Day is Tuesday, February 16th
Jill Underly is endorsed by the Wisconsin Education Association Council. Shelia Briggs is the current Assistant Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Listen to the Candidate Forum for the Court of Appeals 3rd District
between Attorney Rick Cveykus and Judge Gregory Gill, Jr.
February 18th @ 5:00 pm
RSVP at: www.wisjustice.org/forum2021

Shawano Dems January/February Newsletter

Posted on January 18, 2021 by John Durben

Scroll down to get the video link.

SPRING ELECTIONS
It seems like yesterday that we elected Joe Biden President and Kamala Harris Vice-President. Now it’s time to take our enthusiasm for change into 2021.

The only state election is for State Superintendent of Public Instruction. There are seven candidates who will be on the ballot in the February 16^th primary. Two of them have been invited to come to our January 20^th Zoom meeting which will be held at 6:00 pm since the candidates will be involved in a Forum from 6:30-8:00 pm. Shelia Briggs is presently the Assistant State Superintendent of Public Instruction. Jill Underly is the Superintendent of Schools for the Pecatonica Area. Also reaching out for support from the Shawano Dems was Dr. Shandowlyon Hendricks who is an author and consultant in Milwaukee.

The Wisconsin Court of Appeals for District 3 has three candidates. Antigo attorney Aaron Loudenslager and Wausau attorney Rick Cveykus have both wanted help from the party.
Website information about all the candidates can be found on our website.

Those living in the School District of Shawano have an opportunity to vote for Robin Raber Bergeron for the Shawano School Board in the at-large member position. Robin works as a clinical social worker and substance abuse counselor In her private practice in Shawano . She is active in her daughter’s school’s PTA and PTO.

Also, in the primary will be candidates for Shawano Alderperson for District One. Maureen (Muffy) Culhane and Daniel Poels will be on the ballot with two others. Muffy is a pharmacist at ThedaCare and board president for SAM25. She is also on the board for Red River Riders. Dan is an insurance agent for Humana with 12 years of experience in the Medicare industry. He has done volunteer work for Shawano Pathways and is a volunteer driver with SHHS to bring people to their doctor’s visits.

Continue reading →

APRIL 21st MEETING 7:00 pm on Zoom (Link will be sent out next week) Speaker: Assemblywoman Katrina Shankland Topic: Marijuana legislation

APRIL 21st MEETING
7:00 pm on Zoom
(Link will be sent out next week)
Speaker: Assemblywoman Katrina Shankland
Topic: Marijuana legislation