UNITED STATES SENATE CANDIDATES
Now there are six candidates vying for the chance to defeat Ron Johnson in the November, 2022 election. In addition to Tom Nelson, Alex Lowry, Sarah Godlewski and Gillian Battino, the following candidates have announced their candidacy.
State Senator Chris Larson wants to unrig the system in addition to stopping the fascism that has been taking over America. He believes in affordable child care, paid family leave and access to healthcare for all. He will Zoom with us at our July 21st meeting. https://voteforlarson.org/
Steve Olikara is the founder and former CEO of the Millennial Action Project which trains young elected officials to build diverse coalitions for real change. He wants to lead with the values of dignity, inclusion and compassion. You can find out more at https://www.stevenolikara.com/.
JUNE 16TH HYBRID MEETING
Our next meeting will be in person at the Shawano Civic Center (225 S. Main St.) as well as on Zoom. A Zoom link will be sent out prior to the meeting. Our in-person speaker will be Tom Mandli, newly elected Chair of the 8th Congressional District. He will be talking about the Rural Task Force that is being initiated in Marinette County.
JUNE’S LETTER TO THE EDITOR
This month Julie McCain wrote about how the workers in Shawano County need a living wage. She sites United Way’s ALICE Project which researches how many families are living on the edge of financial insecurity. Thirty-four percent of workers in Shawano County are below the ALICE threshold. The workforce shortage should not be used as an excuse to end worker’s unemployment benefits prematurely. They continue to need the extra money to cover housing and monthly expenses.
SHAWANO FAIRNESS COALITION
This bi-partisan group is about promoting fairness in government. They are getting behind the forming of a fair redistricting process which ends gerrymandering. By taking up the issue of living wages for workers, they are striving to involve more young people in politics in Shawano County. All are invited to an ice cream social at 7:00 pm on Thursday, June 10th at the office across from Perkins. On Saturday, July 17h they are planning a march and rally. Learn more at Shawano Fairness Coalition on Facebook.
UPCOMING EVENTS
June 10: Listen to WTCH’s Breakfast Club from 8:00-9:00 am on 960 AM & 96.1 FM.
June 16: 7:00 pm Dems’ meeting at the Shawano Civic Center and on Zoom
Oct. 2: Fundraising Dinner at Shawano Lake Golf Course
Chair’s Comments
The 2021 Democratic State Convention is in the books. Hearing speeches from candidates and incumbents is always motivating.
The overall convention message that stands out to me is the need to remind voters that “Democrats Deliver”. They delivered in the American Rescue Plan without any Republican votes, and they plan to deliver in the Build Back Better plan. This is not only a basic infrastructure plan but also includes an American Families Plan. Affordable child care is a big problem for adults who must work to have enough money to make ends meet. A plan that helps working families is something that has been lacking in the United States. Fortunately, beginning in July families will be receiving money payments for each of their children.
One of the Shawano Democratic Party’s goals for this year is to build our membership numbers. For as little as $10 a year, you can become a member of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin and our local county party at the same time. If you wish to mail in your membership, you can print out the form on our website listed below. Just click on the button and you will be taken to the form. If you don’t have access to a printer, we can mail you the form. You can send it in to Madison yourself or send it to our treasurer, Carrie Pitt at PO Box 9 Bonduel, WI 54107. If you want to pay by credit card on ActBlue, you can become a member on the web at www.wisdems.org/membership.