Monday, August 31, 2009

Seattle AIDS Walk, Saturday, September 26

----- Original Message -----
From: Lifelong AIDS Alliance
To: suzie2004@comcast.net
Sent: Monday, August 31, 2009 2:13 PM
Subject: Lifelong E-Newsletter: Seattle AIDS Walk, Saturday, September 26

Join Lifelong AIDS Alliance for the Seattle AIDS Walk & 5K Run, Saturday, September 26 at Volunteer Park on Capitol Hill. Together we can END the AIDS Epidemic.

The AIDS Walk is Lifelong's largest awareness-building and fundraising event of the year. Through the AIDS Walk, Lifelong is able to educate our community about the continued importance of fighting HIV/AIDS and raise vital funds to support the basic human services we provide to the community.

Please join us as we honor 23 years of walking together and offering hope for a future free of HIV and AIDS.

Walk. Educate. Fundraise. CHANGE THE FUTURE.

Special Thanks to our Seattle AIDS Walk Sponsors:

MOMS Pharmacy, Microsoft, Amgen, Amtrak Cascades, Swedish Medical Center, Aetna, Chateau Retirement Communities, Tibotec, Whole Foods Market Westlake, O.N.E. Drinks, Choke Shirt Company, Greater Seattle Business Association, and HRC Seattle

Special Thanks to our Seattle AIDS Walk Media Partners:

Seattle Weekly, MOViN' 92.5, 103.7 The Mountain, KING 5, Titan Worldwide, Clear Channel Outdoor, 90.3 KEXP, KISS 106.1, Windward Communications Group, Total Creative, and Bullseye Creative

-------------------------------------------

Upcoming Community Events

Whole Foods Market Redmond will be holding a Community Support Day in partnership with Chicken Soup Brigade on Wednesday, September 16.  Whole Foods Market Redmond will donate 5% of the day's net sales to Chicken Soup Brigade to aid with hunger relief efforts in the greater Puget Sound region.  In addition, the store will offer shoppers the opportunity to purchase pre-packed bags of groceries for clients of Chicken Soup Brigade. 

Secretary of State Intends to Certify Ref. 71 by Wednesday for the Nov. Election

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Washington Families Standing Together <info@wafst.org>
Date: Mon, Aug 31, 2009 at 10:45 AM
Subject: Contribute Today, Secretary of State Intends to Certify Ref.
71 by Wednesday for the Nov. Election
To: Susan Sheary <kcdcc1@gmail.com>

The Secretary of State's office is finishing the final steps of the
signature verification process and has indicated its intention to
certify Referendum 71 by Wednesday.

If you have been holding off contributing to see if Ref. 71 qualifies
for the ballot, or if you have given a small amount with the plan to
give more once the Secretary of State announces his decision, now is
the time to make your donation. Please make a contribution today to
Washington Families Standing Together — the Approve Ref 71 campaign to
keep our state's domestic partnership law.

The voters guide statements are already due, overseas and military
ballots are mailed out in only 4 weeks, and the rest of the ballots
hit the mail October 16th. That's just 6 weeks away.

Last week, the State Public Disclosure Commission unanimously rejected
a request from the far right opponents of the domestic partnership law
to hide their contributors from public disclosure requirements.  This
week there will be another hearing in federal court on their continued
efforts to hide all of the petition signers from public disclosure.
And we have a hearing today on their attempt to avoid disclosing who
circulated their petitions by leaving the declarations on the backs of
petitions blank, or stamping them with the name of their campaign
manager.

While it is important to vigorously challenge the far right's efforts
to skirt the law, and we have put together a top notch pro bono legal
team to do that, we can't afford to have those legal battles slow us
down.  Critical campaign activities that must be undertaken now.

Our field staff already have phone banks going out of our Seattle
office 5 days a week and will soon be adding phone banking locations
across the state, starting with Tacoma. We are working with our
coalition  organizations and congregations to coordinate resources and
educate voters. We have placards and other materials at the printer.
We have distribution centers identified across the state where people
will be able to pick up campaign materials.  And don't forget the
resources available on our website such as our handouts and online
store where you can buy everything from Approve Referendum 71 T-shirts
to tote bags to help get the message out wherever you can.

This is important work which will depend greatly upon your
contributions. These are hard economic times, and the protections
contained in the domestic partnership law are more important than
ever. We need everyone to make the largest contribution they can
afford!

We said it before, but you'll hear us say it often - Ballots mail on
October 16th.  That gives us just 6 weeks. Donate today.

Sincerely,

Joshua Friedes
Washington Families Standing Together
Campaign Manager

Saturday, August 29, 2009

Stand Up for Health Insurance Reform Rally!

Have you had your voice heard on Health Insurance Reform yet?  Here's an opportunity that I hope you won't miss!

Stand Up for Health Insurance Reform!

Join Congressman Jim McDermott, along with Organizing for America, Health Care for America NOW, SEIU, UFCW 21, the Washington State Labor Council, WashPIRG, and Planned Parenthood Votes for an evening rally at Westlake Park. We will release the full list of speakers and acts once confirmed. Please join us as we send the strongest signal yet to Congress that Washingtonians support strong Health Insurance Reform.

You can view the details of this event at any time by going to:

 http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/gpfzwj

Time(s):
           Thursday, September 3 from 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Location:   Westlake Park
           4th Ave & Pine St
           Seattle, WA 98101

Directions:
   We strongly encourage you to take public transportation.
   Parking will be limited.

Please pass this on!


--
Chad Lupkes - http://chadlupkes.blogspot.com
Chair, 46th District Democrats - http://46dems.com
1st Vice Chair, King County Democrats - http://kcdems.org
Webmaster, Washington State Democratic Chairs Organization - http://wa-demchairs.org

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Can you join me and Sen. Cantwell in Seattle on Friday?



---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Susan Sheary <kcdcc1@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, Aug 26, 2009 at 2:05 PM
Subject: Fwd: Can you join me and Sen. Cantwell in Seattle on Friday?
To: KING COUNTY DEMOCRATS <kingcountydemocrats@msn.com>


KCDCC Fourth Vice Chair is sharing this message with you -

Dear Washington MomsRising member,

The healthcare debate is heating up this summer and you have an opportunity to share your experiences directly with your Senator as decisions are being made.

Can you join me at a meeting in Seattle with Senator Cantwell's staff, Friday, August 28th at 9:00am? Click here to RSVP.

During this short meeting, we'll have an opportunity to share our unique perspectives as parents and caregivers. Too often the voices of women and families are left out of important debates. We can't afford to be overlooked now.

According to a recent study, a shocking 7 out of 10 working-age women have no insurance, are underinsured, or are in debt because of medical bills.1 And an estimated 5 million children remain without healthcare.2

Make sure that your Senators know how the current healthcare system is failing our nation's families. This is our chance to make sure Congress hears from real people, not just corporate industry lobbyists.

I hope you can join me - RSVP now!


Thanks!

-- Alison, MomsRising member

Questions? Email healthcare@momsrising.org

[1] S. D. Rustgi, M. M. Doty, and S. R. Collins, Women at Risk: Why Many Women Are Foregoing Needed Health Care, The Commonwealth Fund, May 2009.

[2] Children's Defense Fund, Give Voice to Children in the Health Care Debate, http://www.childrensdefense.org/helping-americas-children/childrens-health/health-coverage-for-all-children-campaign/give-a-voice-to-children-in-health-care-debate.html

Like what we're doing? Donate: We're a bootstrap, low overhead, mom run organization. Your donations make the work of MomsRising.org possible--and we deeply appreciate your support. Every little bit counts. Donate today on our new, secure website.

On Facebook? Join the MomsRising Facebook Cause. Follow us on Twitter.

What should MomsRising tackle next? Tell us what's on your mind.


--
Thank you,
Susan Sheary

Friday, August 21, 2009

Invitation to Senator Karen Keiser and Representative Eileen Cody Public Meetings on Federal Health Care Reform

Good Morning-
Senator Keiser and Representative Cody would like to invite your organization and members to attend a series of town halls of federal health care reform. Dates and times are listed below. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Please Join
State Senator Karen Keiser
Chairwoman, Senate Health and Long-term Care Committee
and
State Representative Eileen Cody
Chairwoman, House Health Care & Wellness Committee
For a State-Level Discussion with Washington residents on
Federal Health Care Reform:
Impact and Opportunities for Washington State
Dates and locations listed below:
Monday, August 24
7:00pm-9:00pm
Robert J. Drewel Building
3000 Rockefeller Ave.
Everett, WA 98201
Tuesday, August 25
7:00pm-9:00pm
Temple B'nai Torah
15727 NE 4th St.
Bellevue, WA 98008
Wednesday, August 26
7:00-9:00pm
Kent City Council Chambers
220 Fourth Avenue South
Kent, WA 98032
Saturday, August 29
2:00pm-4:00pm
Cowlitz County PUD
961 12th Avenue
Longview, WA 98632

John T Elder
Legislative Assistant
To Senator Karen Keiser
33rd District of Washington
360-786-7664 Office 360-786-7450 Fax
PO Box 40433 Olympia, WA 98504
District Office-
22525 Marine View Dr. S Suite 206
Des Moines, WA 98198
206-878-2748 Office
To Receive Senator Keiser's Weekly Enews, Click Here

New Edition of "The King County Democrat"

What a great week:  another successful election cycle with great Democratic candidates!!  And the best news of the day from the State Party in a press release from WSDCC Chair Dwight Pelz:
 
"...SEATTLE – Judge John Coughenour today denied a motion by the State and the Grange to dismiss the lawsuit brought by the State Democratic, Republican, and Libertarian Parties against the Top Two Primary in 2005, holding that it was clear that some of the Parties' constitutional challenges to the primary system had not been resolved by the US Supreme Court in 2008..." (complete press release available at the KCDCC website blog, www.kcdems.org
 
Remember to sign on for the annual picnic (flyer on page 2 of the newsletter and also at our website) on Saturday August 22nd - 4:00 pm.
 
Newsletter available for viewing at,
 

Thanks to all great Democrats,
Susan Sheary
KCDCC Chair
425.255.2679

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Victory in Court Ruling on Top Two Primary

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Dwight Pelz <dwight@wa-democrats.org>
Date: Thu, Aug 20, 2009 at 6:02 PM
Subject: Victory in Court Ruling on Top Two Primary
To: wsdcc

horizsig.jpg

For Immediate Release
August 20, 2009
Contact: Dwight Pelz, (206) 583-5880

US District Court Rules That Constitutional Challenges to Washington's Top Two Primary Remain

SEATTLE – Judge John Coughenour today denied a motion by the State and the Grange to dismiss the lawsuit brought by the State Democratic, Republican, and Libertarian Parties against the Top Two Primary in 2005, holding that it was clear that some of the Parties' constitutional challenges to the primary system had not been resolved by the US Supreme Court in 2008.

"We are very pleased that Judge Coughenour has agreed with the State Democratic Party that Washington's Top Two Primary may be unconstitutional," said Dwight Pelz, Chair of the Washington State Democratic Party.

Coughenour has invited the Plaintiffs (the political parties) to offer further evidence that the Top Two Primary confuses voters about the relationship between the candidates and the political parties.


"The Court concludes that Plaintiffs have alleged as-applied challenges to I-872's modified  blanket primary scheme and that these claims remain unresolved. Plaintiffs may submit evidence to demonstrate that (1) the State's actual implementation of I-872 (including its interaction with the state's campaign disclosure laws) leads to voter confusion, and (2) that this resulting confusion severely burdens the political parties' freedom of association. Plaintiffs may also demonstrate that the application of I-872 to certain elected offices (e.g.,Party PCOs) specifically burdens the party's right to associate. Accordingly, Defendants' motions to dismiss are DENIED with respect to these as-applied challenges."


In addition, Judge Coughenour noted that the way in which the State has implemented I-872 may be "particularly problematic" when precinct committee officer (PCO) elections are taken into account. 

"This order makes clear what we have been saying since March of 2008: I-872 has substantial constitutional defects and Secretary of State Sam Reed and Attorney General have been incorrect in their repeated statements that the US Supreme Court had ruled that I-872 is constitutional," said Pelz. "At a minimum, the State will have to amend the current law."

Unfortunately the District Court agreed with the State that it could, by means of I-872, dramatically increase the burden on third parties' ability to get to the general election ballot. In the 2006 US Senate race, for example, voters in November could vote for a candidate from the Democratic, Republican, Libertarian, or Green Parties. Under the Top Two Primary system minor parties hold out little hope of making it through to the general election ballot. 

 

###

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

FW: ADVISORY: Election results posted



                 Media Advisory

Date: August 19, 2009

Contact:   Kim Van Ekstrom, 206-296-1552

                Megan Coppersmith, 206-296-2796

 

Election results posted

 
King County Elections today added 34,422 additional ballots to the vote totals. 
 

Ballot Count Totals To Date

34,422

Mail ballots counted today

216,105

Total mail ballots counted

353

Accessible ballots counted

 
King County Elections' director Sherril Huff estimates 67,000 mail ballots are on hand and remain to be counted.  This number does not include ballots still to be delivered by the United States Postal Service. 
 
Mail ballots received in the mail each day will be posted online at http://your.kingcounty.gov/elections/abstats/.  This number is updated at 8 p.m.

 

To view election results from the August 18 primary and special election, visit http://your.kingcounty.gov/elections/200908/results.aspx.     

 

###

 

 

 

RELEASE: Special filing periods held for General Election



Subject: RELEASE: Special filing periods held for General Election
Date: Wed, 19 Aug 2009 15:23:37 -0700
From: Megan.Coppersmith@kingcounty.gov

              News Release

 

Date: August 19, 2009

 

Contact:  Kim Van Ekstrom, 206-296-1552

                Megan Coppersmith, 206-296-2796

                              

 

 

Special filing periods held for General Election

 

King County Elections will be holding two separate special, three-day filing period to fill positions that became vacant after June's candidate filing week.  All candidates will appear on the November 3 General Election ballot.

 

The first special filing period opened this morning at 8:30 a.m. and will end at 4:30 p.m. Friday, August 21 for the following offices:

  • King County Assessor - unexpired 2 - year term, filing fee: $1460.40
  • City of Algona, Council Position No. 1 - unexpired 2-year term, filing fee: $30.00
  • City of Bellevue Council Position No. 7 - unexpired 2-year term, filing fee: $198.00  

The second special filing period will begin on Wednesday, August 26, at 8:30 a.m. and will end at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, August 28, for the following offices.  These offices do not have a filing fee.

  • Des Moines Pool Metropolitan Park District Commissioner Position No. 1
  • Des Moines Pool Metropolitan Park District Commissioner Position No. 2
  • Des Moines Pool Metropolitan Park District Commissioner Position No. 3
  • Des Moines Pool Metropolitan Park District Commissioner Position No. 4
  • Des Moines Pool Metropolitan Park District Commissioner Position No. 5

Candidates who wish to file during these special, three-day filing periods must complete a declaration of candidacy in person at King County Elections located at 919 SW Grady Way in Renton. Click here to learn more about special filing periods.

 

More information on today's election and the full schedule for results is available online at can be found at www.kingcounty.gov/elections.  

 

###

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Who you should vote for



---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Dwight Pelz, Washington State Democrats <chair@wa-democrats.org>
Date: Tue, Aug 18, 2009 at 6:59 AM
Subject: Who you should vote for
To: Chad Lupkes <chadlupkes@gmail.com>


Dear Chad,

Today is Primary Election Day and your last chance to make a difference in important local races. Because of low turnout and the high number of candidates in some races, your vote could mean a win or a loss for a candidate.

To make sure your vote is counted, mail your ballot, deliver it to a dropoff location near you, or go to the polls (Pierce County only) today! (Click here for a list of dropoff locations.)

Not sure about that City Council or Mayor's race? Visit our candidates and endorsement page to see who you should vote for:

http://www.wa-democrats.org/2009candidates

If you do not see endorsements for your area on this page, contact your local Democratic Party organization to learn about their recommendations.

We've also created a page where you can find answers to your voting questions:

http://www.wa-democrats.org/2009votinginfo

If you don't find an answer to your question, call your County Auditor's office. If you need further help, call our office at (206) 583-0664.

Thank you for voting today,



Dwight Pelz
Washington State Democrats Chair

p.s. Local Democratic organizations are the backbone of our endorsement process and the work that we do. There is a local Democratic organization in each Legislative District and County. To find out more about your local Democratic organization, click here to contact them or view their website: http://www.wa-democrats.org/index.php?page=display&id=50

p.p.s. All counties in Washington State vote by mail except Pierce County, which will still have voting at the polls on election day. Go to the website for Pierce County Auditor's office for more information, like polling locations.

Please forward this email to friends and family

Paid for by Washington State Democratic Central Committee
PO Box 4027 Seattle, WA 98194 - (206) 583-0664 - www.wa-democrats.org
This communication is not authorized by any federal candidate or candidate's committee.




Monday, August 17, 2009

Obama and the Public Option



---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Dustin Lambro <dustin.lambro@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, Aug 17, 2009 at 3:52 PM
Subject: Obama and the Public Option
To: lambrod@dnc.org


Dear Democratic Party Leaders,

There has been a lot of back and forth this last weekend about the administration no longer supporting a public option, and I wanted to help dispel that myth.  The press went hyper crazy on the public option yesterday, despite the fact that White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius have been saying essentially the same or something similar for some time now.

Please feel free to share a couple of quotes from the administration to help counter what the press is saying about the President's position:

"Nothing has changed," said Linda Douglass, communications director for the White House Office of Health Reform. "The president has always said that what is essential is that health insurance reform must lower costs, ensure that there are affordable options for all Americans and it must increase choice and competition in the health insurance market. He believes the public option is the best way to achieve those goals."
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0809/26158.html

Jim Messina  (White  House deputy chief of staff): "Nothing has changed. POTUS [President of the United States] has always said that what is essential is that health insurance reform must lower costs, ensure that there are affordable options for all Americans and increase choice and competition. He believes the public option is the best way to achieve those goals."

At a time like this it is even more important than ever to make sure we reach out to our Members of Congress and let them know how much we support a strong public option as part of any health insurance reform package.  We need to make sure that we are getting as many people to call into Congress as possible.

You can use our Health Care Action Center online at http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/health-care-action-center/?source=feature.  From this site, you can make calls into your members of Congress, share your health care story, sign the declarations in support of the President's Health Care principles, make calls or knock on doors of voters, or read our blog. 

Please let me know how I can be a resource for you. 

And a big thank you for everything you do for our party!

--
Dustin Lambro
Washington State Director
Organizing for America
(253) 882-6126 mobile
lambrod@dnc.org


Election Night Parties

Publicola has done a great job of gathering the info on Election Night Parties in downtown Seattle - take peek:
 
scroll down and view all the known venues,
 

--
Thank you,
Susan Sheary

Sunday, August 16, 2009

One of the most important elections of our time...


and the the ballots are slowly coming in:
--------------------------------------------------------------

http://your.kingcounty.gov/elections/abstats/

  

Last updated: 8/15/2009 8:00 PM

King County Cumulative Total

District

Total Issued

Received Today

Cumulative Received To Date

% Received

COUNTYWIDE

1092543

15

151447

13.86

Last updated: 8/15/2009 8:00 PM

 ------------------------------------
Let's do all we can to encourage King County voters to mail or deliver their ballots.
 
A list of 24-hour ballot boxes are available here:
 
Thank you,
Susan Sheary
KCDCC Chair
 

Friday, August 14, 2009

Town Hall Meetings



---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Susan Sheary <kcdcc1@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, Aug 14, 2009 at 3:09 PM
Subject: Town Hall Meetings
To: KING COUNTY DEMOCRATS <kingcountydemocrats@msn.com>


The WSDCC has done a great job of keeping track of all town halls across the state at their website, http://wa-democrats.org/index.php?page=display&id=507
 
Please encourage your friends and neighbors to attend the town hall meetings in support of our platform, petition, and our representatives.  The time is now for health care reform!!

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Dwight Pelz <dwight@wa-democrats.org>
Date: Fri, Aug 14, 2009 at 12:54 PM
Subject: Inslee Town Halls
To: Misty Shock <misty@wa-democrats.org>, Aaron Ostrom <aaron@fusewashington.org>, Dustin Lambro <dustin.lambro@gmail.com>, Benjamin Lawver <blawver@wslc.org>, Bill Phillips <billphi@aol.com>, Susan Sheary <kcdcc1@gmail.com>, Carl Olson <kitsapdemocrat@yahoo.com>


Let's keep turning people out for these!

 

From: Hutchins, Kiersten [mailto:kiersten.hutchins@mail.house.gov]
Sent: Friday, August 14, 2009 12:44 PM
To: dwight@wa-democrats.org
Subject: Town Halls

 

Inslee health care town hall meetings

 

POULSBO, Wash. – U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee will hold two town-hall meetings in Washington's 1st Congressional District this August.  He plans to host the hour and a half long public events to hear the views of his constituents and provide an update on the congressional response to the health care debate. 

 

            Inslee's first public forum will take place in Poulsbo on Saturday, August 29, during the August district work period.  His other town hall will be held on Sunday, August 30 in Edmonds.   Attendees are asked to RSVP via email to inslee.rsvp@mail.house.gov or by phone at 206-361-0233.

 

Poulsbo town-hall meeting

11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 29, 2009

North Kitsap High School

The Gymnasium

1780 NE Hostmark St
Poulsbo

 

Directions from Silverdale:

Take SR 305 in the direction of Poulsbo/Bainbridge Island

Turn LEFT (East) onto NE Hostmark St

North Kitsap High School will be on your left about a half mile up Hostmark

 

Directions from Bainbridge:

Take SR 305 in the direction of Poulsbo/SR-3

Turn RIGHT (East) onto NE Hostmark St

North Kitsap High School will be on your left about a half mile up Hostmark

 

 

Edmonds town-hall meeting

1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 30, 2009

Edmonds-Woodway High School

The Gymnasium

7600 212th St SW

Edmonds

Directions from I-5N and I-5S:

Take Exit #179 220th Street SW

Head west (away from I-5) onto 220th Street SW  

Continue west on 220th Street and cross Highway 99

Turn RIGHT onto 76th Avenue West

Continue north on 76th

School will be on the left

 

Kiersten Hutchins

District Scheduler

U.S. Representative Jay Inslee (WA-01)

18560 1st Ave NE, Suite E-800

Shoreline, WA 98155

PH: (206)-361-0233

FAX: (206)-361-3959

TOLL FREE: 800-226-7144

 


Fwd: RELEASE: Elections Office announces special Saturday hours



---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Susan Sheary <kcdcc1@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, Aug 14, 2009 at 2:14 PM
Subject: Fwd: FW: RELEASE: Elections Office announces special Saturday hours
To: kingcountydemocrats@msn.com


 

Subject: RELEASE: Elections Office announces special Saturday hours
Date: Fri, 14 Aug 2009 12:36:29 -0700
From: Megan.Coppersmith@kingcounty.gov

           

 

                  News Release

Date: August 14, 2009

Contact: Kim Van Ekstrom, 206-296-1552

               Megan Coppersmith, 206-296-2796

 

Elections Office announces special Saturday hours

 

With Election Day fast approaching on Tuesday, King County Elections will be open on Saturday to assist voters.
 
According to Sherril Huff, Director of Elections, "Even voters who have forgotten to update their addresses or lost their ballots still have an opportunity to vote.  It is not too late to be part of this election."
 
To accommodate voters, King County Elections will have Saturday office hours tomorrow, Aug. 15, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Voters who have not yet received their ballot can come to have a new ballot issued to them. 

 

King County also has options for voters with disabilities.  Three accessible voting centers are available for voters who may need assistance casting their ballot.  The hours and locations are as follows:

 

Renton, King County Elections, 919 SW Grady Way, 98057

Friday, August 14: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Saturday, August 15: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Monday, August 17: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Tuesday, August 18: 7 a.m. – 8 p.m.

 

Bellevue City Hall 450 110th Avenue NE, Bellevue, 98009, and

Seattle, Union Station 401 S. Jackson St, Seattle, 98104

Friday, August 14: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Saturday, August 15: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Monday, August 17: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Tuesday, August 18: 7 a.m. – 8 p.m.

 

Each center is operated by trained staff and has equipment designed to make voting accessible and private for everyone.  The touch screen accessible voting unit features lap paddles and sip-and-puff devices, an audio option, and large and high contrast font to aid voters.  

 

Don't forget to vote in Tuesday's primary.  Voters can return their ballots in either of two ways: via the US Postal Service, postmarked on or before August 18, or at a designated drop boxes up until 8 p.m. on August 18.  Visit www.kingcounty.gov/elections for more information on the upcoming election.   

 

###

 


Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Ref. 71 Signature Count Continues; the Nov. election is less than 90 days away

Date: Mon, 10 Aug 2009 23:11:42 +0000
From: info@equalrightswashington.org
To: kingcountydemocrats@msn.com
Subject: Ref. 71 Signature Count Continues; the Nov. election is less than 90 days away


Dear Susan,

Below is an update on the latest developments for Referendum 71 and Washington Families Standing Together. Many of you have been asking how you can help. Beginning today, WAFST will run weekly phone banks from the ERW and WAFST offices at 7th and Columbia in downtown Seattle.

Please send an email to volunteer@wafst.org to participate in one or more phonebanking days or evenings. Hours for phone banks are Monday through Thursday, 10am until 8 pm, and Friday, from 10 am until 5 pm. Additional questions or immediate scheduling can be directed to Kate Fredenberg by phone at (206) 324-2570. We also ask those who are able to bring personal laptops or cell phones to use during your phonebank session.

As our coalition moves forward, we ask that you make a personal commitment through both financial support and volunteering your time. Join us for this important work.

Sincerely,
Connie Watts
Executive Director


CAMPAIGN UPDATE: Washington Families Standing Together (WAFST), the campaign to retain the Domestic Partnership law, has had teams of observers every day from 7:30am to 10:00pm in Olympia monitoring the signature vote count. Please contribute today so that WAFST can continue to vigorously work on behalf of Washington families.

Remember, there is a very low threshold in Washington State to qualify a referendum for the ballot. Even with that low number of signatures needed, because so few were turned in by those trying to repeal the Domestic Partnership law, the Secretary of State must review every signature. WAFST will have trained observers there every day, three shifts a day, until every signature has been checked.


The signature verification process has three steps to it, and the initial numbers reported in the press and on line were based only on the initial step. After signatures are initially checked, any that appear to be invalid are re-checked, and can be added back as valid, if additional information is found. The third step is that counties are consulted to see if they have voters on file who are not in the statewide database. If so, those are added back as well. That's why initial numbers change as the process continues. It will take until the week of August 17 or later before this multi-step review is completed.


That means, if the Secretary of State determines there are enough valid signatures, there will be fewer than 8 weeks before mail-in ballots for the November election will start going out to voters. We cannot sit back and wait. WAFST is moving forward with fund raising, voter contact, social networking, media and all of the other critical elements of a campaign. The WAFST coalition now includes more than 130 organizations and continues to grow daily.





Today we ask you to make a meaningful contribution to the campaign so that we are all doing our part to keep the religious right from rolling back the Domestic Partnership Law. This law protects thousands of families all across Washington State. If Referendum 71 is on the ballot, voters will be asked whether they want to APPROVE or reject the law. To keep the law, we have to make sure voters know they vote to APPROVE it.


Key rights and obligations in the law include death benefits for the partners of police and firefighters killed in the line of duty, pension benefits for the partners of teachers and other public employees, victims' rights, including the right to receive notifications and benefits allowances, t
he right to use sick leave to care for a seriously ill partner, to have workers' compensation benefits if a partner is killed in the course of employment, to receive unemployment benefits if an employee must leave a job to care for a seriously ill partner and to adopt a partner's child without paying for a home study.


Phone Bank Volunteers Needed: We have already started phone banking out of our Seattle office. We are calling Monday-Thursday 10am-8pm, Friday, 10am-5pm. If you live outside Seattle we do have the ability to allow people to do phone banking from their homes and in the future will have other phone bank locations. If you would like to volunteer sign up by e-mailing - volunteer@wafst.org or calling 206-324-2570.


Together we will win

Joshua Friedes
Campaign Manager Washington
Families Standing Together


PS: Click here to download our approve Referendum 71 placard that you can hang in your window or post at your favorite coffee shop. Use this as your personal image on Facebook:





Friday, August 7, 2009

Have you tried tracking your primary ballot online?


Subject: RELEASE: Have you tried tracking your primary ballot online?
Date: Fri, 7 Aug 2009 15:23:31 -0700
From: Megan.Coppersmith@kingcounty.gov


News Release


Date: August 7, 2009

Contact: Kim Van Ekstrom, 206-296-1552

Megan Coppersmith, 206-296-2796

Have you tried tracking your primary ballot online?

Ballots were mailed last week to over 1 million registered King County voters for the August 18 all-mail primary and more than 70,000 have already been returned. Voters can check to see if and when their ballot arrived back at King County Elections' office by using our on-line mail ballot tracker feature that reports each ballot's journey at three different checkpoints.

"The on-line ballot tracker providers every voter with an opportunity to follow their mail ballot as it proceeds toward being counted on Election Day," said Jacqueline Timmons, King County Elections Voter Services Manager.

To use the online mail ballot tracker, voters can enter their first and last name and birthday at http://info.kingcounty.gov/elections/mailballottracking.aspx. The Web site pulls information from several steps in the tabulation process and allows voters to track their ballot at three locations to confirm the following:

1. Your ballot packet was assembled and delivered to the U.S.P.S. by Elections.


2. King County received your returned ballot packet.


3. Your signature was verified and you will be credited with voting.

If you have not received your ballot, or need a replacement sent to you, contact King County Elections right away to have your ballot mailed with enough time for you to vote and return it by the August 18 deadline.

"We're really appreciative of those voters who are proactively contacting us to let us know if they haven't received their ballot in the mail or if they have an address change," said Timmons. "We rely on voters to help us make sure that our database has the most up-to-date information."

Voters with questions about their registration or the August 18 primary can call 206-296-VOTE or visit www.kingcounty.gov/elections.


###


Looking for Town Halls?

So are we!

If you find out about one of our members of Congress, either House or Senate, please let us know by contacting Chad Lupkes, 1st Vice Chair for Technology and Communications. The State Party is providing a list of events here.

We need to get to these town halls so that our Representatives and Senators can hear our voices and our platform positions!

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Fwd: This is the moment

This is the moment our movement was built for.

For one month, the fight for health insurance reform leaves the backrooms of Washington, D.C., and returns to communities across America. Throughout August, members of Congress are back home, where the hands they shake and the voices they hear will not belong to lobbyists, but to people like you.

Home is where we're strongest. We didn't win last year's election together at a committee hearing in D.C. We won it on the doorsteps and the phone lines, at the softball games and the town meetings, and in every part of this great country where people gather to talk about what matters most. And if you're willing to step up once again, that's exactly where we're going to win this historic campaign for the guaranteed, affordable health insurance that every American deserves.

There are those who profit from the status quo, or see this debate as a political game, and they will stop at nothing to block reform. They are filling the airwaves and the internet with outrageous falsehoods to scare people into opposing change. And some people, not surprisingly, are getting pretty nervous. So we've got to get out there, fight lies with truth, and set the record straight.

That's why Organizing for America is putting together thousands of events this month where you can reach out to neighbors, show your support, and make certain your members of Congress know that you're counting on them to act.

But these canvasses, town halls, and gatherings only make a difference if you turn up to knock on doors, share your views, and show your support. So here's what I need from you:

Can you commit to join at least one event in your community this month?

In politics, there's a rule that says when you ask people to get involved, always tell them it'll be easy. Well, let's be honest here: Passing comprehensive health insurance reform will not be easy. Every President since Harry Truman has talked about it, and the most powerful and experienced lobbyists in Washington stand in the way.

But every day we don't act, Americans watch their premiums rise three times faster than wages, small businesses and families are pushed towards bankruptcy, and 14,000 people lose their coverage entirely. The cost of inaction is simply too much for the people of this nation to bear.

So yes, fixing this crisis will not be easy. Our opponents will attack us every day for daring to try. It will require time, and hard work, and there will be days when we don't know if we have anything more to give. But there comes a moment when we all have to choose between doing what's easy, and doing what's right.

This is one of those times. And moments like this are what this movement was built for. So, are you ready?

Please commit now to taking at least one action in your community this month to build support for health insurance reform:

http://my.barackobama.com/CommitAugust

Let's seize this moment and win this historic victory for our economy, our health and our families.

Thank you,

President Barack Obama

Become a community organizer





Sent: Monday, August 03, 2009 2:31 PM

Subject: Become a community organizer


Organizing for America
You're invited to join Organizing for America as we help train Washington's next generation of community organizers.

It'll take a strong grassroots movement -- like the one that helped put President Obama in the White House -- to deliver the change we need on major issues like health care. Camp OFA, our community organizer training, is specially designed to give you the skills you need to help build support in your area. This is the perfect chance to take your local efforts to the next level and make a huge difference.

Register now to reserve your spot in Camp OFA.

We'll be holding four Camp OFAs, so you can attend the one nearest you:

Eastern Washington -- Spokane: Saturday, August 15th, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

South Puget Sound -- Tacoma: Saturday, August 15th, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Southwest Washington -- Vancouver: Sunday, August 16th, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Central Puget Sound -- Seattle: Sunday, August 16th, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

RSVP


Register here:

http://wa.barackobama.com/WACampOFA

I can't wait to see you there,

Dustin

Dustin Lambro
Washington State Director

Organizing for America