MARCH AND APRIL NEWSLETTER |

TIME TO FIRE UP THE BASE

There are several opportunities in March to volunteer before the spring election. On Sat., March 14th a phone bank will be held at the Shawano Civic Center between noon and 3:00 pm. Bring your cell phone or use a burner phone if available. We need to find more volunteers to knock doors on March 21 and 28 and to “Get Out the Vote” on April 4th. Let us know if you can help in any way.
We want to have more progressive nonpartisan candidates running for office at the state and local level. Spreading the word to vote for Jill Karofsky for State Supreme Court Justice is important. If you are interested in putting up a sign, let us know.

SHAWANO DEMS’ MEETING

The 7:00 pm March 18^th meeting at the Shawano Civic Center will feature some of the candidates running for county board. District 1 Dan Poels and Nancy Cramer; District 3 Milt Marquardt and District 24 Bill Switalla have been invited to participate. District 23 candidate Aaron Damrau can’t attend but has submitted his opinions on various topics.

MONEY IN POLITICS AND MEDICAID

The March op-ed will be about the influence of money in our politics. The passage of the Citizens United Supreme Court ruling in 2010 opened the flood gates to Political Action Committees (PACs) being able to spend as much money as they want to influence voter’s minds. Unfortunately, representatives who accept PAC money are beholden to their contributors instead of to the citizens they represent. Due to the grassroots United to Amend movement, states and municipalities are passing resolutions and referendums in support of a movement to get a Constitutional Amendment to reverse Citizen’s United. Residents of the Town of Wescott have an opportunity to vote “YES” in a referendum on April 7^th.
April’s op-ed will be about Medicaid. Wisconsin’s failure to accept funding and the Trump administration’s cuts have affected families’ healthcare. Amanda Stuck, candidate for Congress, will be on the Breakfast Club on April 9^th to further discuss this topic.

DELEGATES FOR CONVENTIONS

   This year the 6^th and the 8^th Congressional Districts will have a joint convention in Oshkosh on April 5^th. If you wish to be a delegate, text Dan Weidner at 715-250-1212.
   Those interested in being a delegate to the National Convention can start by submitting the form online at www.wisdems.org/convention by April 17th. Please keep in mind submitting this form only makes you eligible to attend the county level caucus which will be held on April 26^th at the Shawano Civic Center. Registration is from 1:00-2:00 pm.
   Delegates selected from the county level caucus will go to the 8th CD Caucus on May 17th. At the Congressional Caucus 6 delegates, 2 males and 2 females will be chosen to represent the 8th Congressional District in Milwaukee.
   Volunteers will also be needed at the Convention. Sign up online at www.Milwaukee2020.com/volunteer.

UPCOMING EVENTS

March 12: Listen to WTCH’s Breakfast Club from 8:00-9:00 am on 960 AM & 96.1 FM.
March 14: Phone bank at Civic Center noon-3 :00pm.
March 18: 7:00 pm County Board Candidate Forum and Shawano Dems’ Meeting.
April 1: Executive Committee Meeting 5 :30 pm, Shawano Civic Center
April 7: Vote in Spring Election!
April 9: Listen to Amanda Stuck on WTCH’s Breakfast Club from 8:00 am-9:00 am on 960 AM & 96.1 FM.
April 15: Shawano Dems’ Meeting at 7:00 pm at the Civic Center. Speaker to be announced.

Chair’s Comments

   What a difference a week can make from the narrowing of the presidential race to the unfortunate spread of the coronavirus. It’s hard to turn off the news with so much going on.
   It is crucial that our vote is protected in the upcoming elections. Attorney Steve Menard has volunteered to be our county liaison in case there are problems at polling places. But we also need poll watchers. If you are available on April 7^th and November 3^rd, your help would be greatly appreciated. You can sign up at http://tiny.cc/WisDemsVoPro. The spring election is a chance to get your feet wet so you are a pro by the general election.
   The Dems like to help out where we can. SAM25 will be selling brats and hamburgers at Charlie’s Red Barn on April 23 and 24. If you are able to help, please call Connie at 725 -851-7252.