Democratic Central Committee to meet Sept. 4, 2014

September 2, 2014

The Lake County Democratic Central Committee will meet Thursday September 4, 2014 at the Lower Lake Methodist Church Community Meeting Room at 16255 2nd Street in Lower Lake at 6 p.m.

September 4 2014 Agenda for the Lake County Central Committee

Our guest speakers are:

Join us for the Annual Legislator’s BBQ and Fundraiser on October 5.

Visit our website www.lakecountydemocrats.org   and visit our Facebook page  www.facebook.com/LakeCountyDemocrats for more information.

The agenda for the Sept, 4, 2014  meeting also includes reports from representatives for Congressmen Mike Thompson and John Garamendi, Assemblywoman Mariko Yamada and State Senator Noreen Evans, as well as reports from the Stonewall Democratic Club Chair Essie Coons and representative from the Lake County Democratic Club Paula Mune.

Meetings are open to the public and committee membership is open to all registered Democrats.

The Lake County Democratic Central Committee is the official governing body of the Democratic Party in Lake County.

For more information about the Democratic party in Lake County our Facebook page www.facebook.com/LakeCountyDemocrats

Contact the Democratic Party of Lake County at 707-533-4885 or by email democratsoflakecounty@gmail.com.

Weekly Address: This Labor Day, Let’s Talk About the Minimum Wage

August 30, 2014

In this week’s address, the President wished Americans a Happy Labor Day weekend, highlighted the important economic progress we’ve made, and reaffirmed his commitment to accelerate our progress and ensure that our growing economy fuels a strong middle class.

Assemblymember Yamada Statement on Napa Earthquake

Wed 8/27/2014

SACRAMENTO- Assemblymember Mariko Yamada (D-Davis) issued the following statement regarding the 6.0 magnitude earthquake which occurred five miles northwest of American Canyon on Sunday, August 24, 2014.

“Yesterday’s early morning quake was a ‘wake-up’ call in more ways than one.  As relief and recovery efforts begin today, I wish to thank all of our local officials, first responders, emergency medical and hospital personnel, law enforcement, public utilities workers, Napa Red Cross, and everyday citizens for a well-coordinated response to this serious and unexpected event.  Special thanks to the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services for keeping our office apprised during those first critical hours and throughout the day.  The Standardized Emergency Management System (SEMS) was put to the test and once again, proved effective.”

Assemblymember Yamada represents the 4th Assembly District which includes all or parts of Colusa, Lake, Napa, Solano, Sonoma and Yolo Counties.  She also serves on the Select Committee on Local Emergency Preparedness.  More information on how to prepare for an emergency may be found at the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services website: www.calema.ca.gov.

Weekly Address: The Export-Import Bank

August 25, 2014

In this week’s address, the President highlighted the progress made towards rebuilding our economy, including the creation of nearly 10 million new private sector jobs in the past 53 months and the rise in the number of American exports to an all-time high.

Congressman Thompson joins local Democrats at Campaign Open House, Wednesday Sept 3

August 23, 2014

Lake County Democratic Campaign Headquarters Grand Opening

With the November 2014 election only 2 ½ months away, the Lake County Democrat Central Committee has announced the opening of the Lake County Democrat Campaign Headquarters in Lakeport.  The office, located at 390 North Main Street, will be open Monday through Saturday every week beginning on September 3, 2014 until the General Election on November 4, 2014.  Office hours will be 12 noon to 6 pm.

Lake County voters can pick up literature, signs, and other resources regarding Democrat candidates at the office.  In addition, residents will be able to register to vote, including new registrations, address changes, name changes, etc.

To kick off the “Election Season”, the public is invited to an open house at the new office on September 3, 2014, from 6pm to 8pm.

We are pleased to announce that Congressman Mike Thompson, one of our generous sponsors, will be joining us.

There will be refreshments and beverages.

In addition, volunteers are being recruited to help in the new office.  Even a few hours would be appreciated.  If you would like to spend some time helping in the office either for a few hour or on a regular schedule, please call  (707) 533-4885 or email at democratsoflakecounty@gmail.com.

Lake County News: Democrats opens headquarters in Lakeport

AUGUST 21, 2014  EDITOR

LAKEPORT, Calif. – With the November election only two and a half months away, the Lake County Democrat Central Committee has announced the opening of the Lake County Democrat Campaign Headquarters in Lakeport.

The office, located at 350 N. Main St., will be open Monday through Saturday every week beginning on Sept. 3, until the general election on Nov. 4.

Office hours will be noon to 6 p.m.

Lake County voters can pick up literature, sign and other resources regarding Democrat candidates at the office.

In addition, residents will be able to register to vote, including new registrations, address changes, name changes, etc.

To kick off the “election season,” the public is invited to an open house at the new office on Sept. 3 from 6 to 8 p.m.

Several local, statewide and congressional candidates will be in attendance to meet their constituency and answer any questions. There will be refreshments and beverages.

In addition, volunteers are being recruited to help in the new office. Even a few hours would be appreciated.

If you would like to spend some time helping in the office either for a few hour or on a regular schedule, please call 707-533-4885 or emaildemocratsoflakecounty@gmail.com .

Read more

Congressman John Garamendi is Looking to Fill an Intern, a Student or Community Volunteer Position

August 19, 2014

Congressman John Garamendi is looking for help in Lake County!
If you are interested in any of these positions as a  student or community volunteer or an intern, please contact Wesley Sagewalker at wesleysagewalker@gmail.com or 209-682-2372

Student Activist Program

Congressman John Garamendi’s Student Activist program is a youth-driven grassroots internship that focuses on impacting the community through public outreach efforts. What distinguishes this multifaceted organization from similar initiatives is its commitment to building the professional capacity of its participants. The Student Activist program will be open to all high school students throughout Lake County. This is a unique program in which interns are given the opportunity to gain valuable campaign experience through political management training that will build both their personal capacity and resumé. Student Activists responsibilities will include::

  • Leading Community Outreach Events
  • Learning Applied Political Management & Communication Skills
  • Planning Days of Action and Gaining Event Planning Experience
  • Gaining Valuable Business Skills That Will Strengthen a College Application.

Pathway to Progress Internship

Congressman John Garamendi’s Pathway to Progress college internship program calls upon young professionals throughout Lake County to advocate on behalf of core Democratic Values.  Interns are trained through the Garamendi campaign’s professional development program in how to write a business model, how to strategize and execute strategic plans, and how to become an effective project manager. Every participant will learn valuable professional skills that are applicable to both the public and private sector job markets. Interns will spend 12 hours each week:

  • Gaining Firsthand Experience on How a Federal Campaign is Structured
  • Engaging in Community Outreach & Learning Applied Political Management Skills
  • Becoming a Political Operative in Lake County
  • Learning Event Planning and Planning Days of Action

Team Leader Program

Congressman John Garamendi’s Team Leader program empowers community organizers to advocate on behalf of all coordinated Democratic campaigns throughout Lake County. Team Leaders impact the community and increase Democratic voter turnout by developing and executing their own strategic plans. The purpose of the Team Leader is to educate, advocate, and serve the larger community by influencing the political trajectory in Lake County. Team Leaders will:

  • Host Campaign Events for Local Democratic Candidates
  • Facilitate Letter-Writing Campaigns, Book Guest Speakers, and Organize Neighborhood Phone Banks
  • Work With Peers and Community Organizers to Execute Their Own Strategic Plans and Address Issues in Their Community
  • Plan and Execute Voter Registration Drives in Their Communities and Throughout Lake County.

Weekly Address: Everyone Should Be Able to Afford Higher Education

August 16, 2014

In this week’s address, with schools getting ready to open their doors again over the next few weeks, President Obama talked directly to students and parents about the importance of preparing for an education beyond high school.

Thank Senator Feinstein for Fighting to Release Post-9/11 Torture Report Publicly

August 15, 2015CADEM

Dear DSCC member,

By now I’m sure you’ve heard that Senator Dianne Feinstein is fighting tooth and nail to make public the results of the Senate Intelligence Committee’s investigation into post-9/11 torture and so-called “enhanced interrogation” techniques. Senator Feinstein is to be commended for this effort as uncovering the full extent of torture committed in our name – and how we keep it from ever happening again – goes to the heart of who we are as Americans.

Please click here to write Senator Feinstein to thank her for her efforts or better yet, call her office to say “thank you”: 202-224-3841

 

Peace and friendship,

John Burton Signature

Lake County News: Final fall city council races set

Friday, 15 August 2014

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The filing periods have closed for the city council races for Clearlake and Lakeport, with the makeup of the fall election fields now set.

The councils have two seats each up for election in the fall municipal elections.

The filing periods were extended from last Friday to the end of business on Wednesday due to the nonfiling of two candidates: Jeri Spittler in Clearlake, who is in a runoff with incumbent Jeff Smith for the District 2 seat on the Board of Supervisors, and Lakeport Councilman Tom Engstrom, who announced that he was not seeking a second term.

In Clearlake, a large field of seven has formed for the seats currently held by Spittler and Councilman Joey Luiz.

Luiz has signed up to run for a second term, according to City Clerk Melissa Swanson.

Also running for a council seat in Clearlake are Quincy Jackson, Russell Perdock, Michael Pesonen, Bruno Sabatier, Michael Walton and Andre Williams, Swanson reported.

In Lakeport, a smaller field has formed to fill the two seats up for election in November.

Lakeport City Clerk Janel Chapman told Lake County News that Robert Balentine, incumbent Stacey Mattina and Mireya Gehring Turner have all qualified to appear on the ballot.

The election is Nov. 4.

Read more

Governor Brown Signs Legislation to Put Water Bond Before Voters

 

 

August 13, 2014

Governor Brown Signs Legislation to Put Water Bond Before Voters i18653

SACRAMENTO – Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today signed legislation to put a comprehensive water bond before voters this November.

“Water is the lifeblood of any civilization and for California it’s the precondition of healthy rivers, valleys, farms and a strong economy,” said Governor Brown. “With this water bond, legislators from both parties have affirmed their faith in California’s future.”

The legislation signed by Governor Brown, AB 1471 by Assemblymember Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood), replaces the current $11.1 billion water bond on the November ballot. The bipartisan legislation passed the Senate 37-0 and the Assembly 77-2. The new bond includes $7.12 billion in new debt, plus the repurposing of existing unspent bond funds of $425 million for a total of $7.545 billion. None of the repurposed bond funds will be taken from existing projects. The measure will be Proposition 1 on the November ballot.

The bond provides for water use efficiency and recycling, groundwater cleanup and management and $2.7 billion for additional water storage. It invests in safe drinking water, particularly in disadvantaged communities, and provides for watershed restoration and increased flows in some of California’s most important rivers and streams. An outline of the final bond can be found here.

Governor Brown also announced that he vetoed identical legislation, SB 866 by Senator Lois Wolk (D-Davis). A veto message can be found here.

For full text of the bills, visit: http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov

McGuire’s Senate Campaign Launches “Next Gen Votes” Registration Drive

August 12, 2014

 

Mike McGuire announced today that his campaign has begun a grassroots initiative committed to increasing voter registration and participation throughout his district. McGuire is the leading candidate for the senate seat now held by retiring Senator Noreen Evans.

“After the historically low voter turnout in the primary election this June, we wanted to take up the challenge of getting more people registered, engaged and to the polls this fall,” said McGuire. “That is what Next Gen Votes is all about.”

The initiative’s first week of organization saw 124 new voters.

Next Gen Votes is working to make our democracy stronger and ensure our communities thrive.  You will see our motivated, trained and bilingual volunteers bringing positive change to our community at local events, festivals, storefronts, school campuses and neighborhood gatherings – because we know that organizing from the grassroots makes our neighborhoods stronger.

“Decisions are being made every day in Sacramento, Washington, DC and here at the local level of government that have huge impacts on our lives and the lives of our families. Yet, too many eligible voters have no voice in these decisions – because they’re not registered to vote and don’t go to the polls,” said McGuire.  “We have to turn this around and register the next generation of engaged voters.”

McGuire handily won his primary election in June, gathering over 57% of the vote against three other candidates. Prior to his current service on the Board of Supervisors, McGuire was a small business manager in the television and radio industries and served as the City of Healdsburg’s youngest Mayor and as a School Board President.

For more information, please see http://www.mikemcguireforsenate.com/announcing-next-gen-votes/.

 

Update on the Situation in Iraq

August 11, 2014

On Saturday morning, President Obama delivered an update on the situation in Iraq from the South Lawn of the White House. The President detailed the progress of current American operations in Iraq, and spoke about what the operations mean for our country.

Last week, U.S. forces began conducting targeted airstrikes against terrorist forces who were advancing on the city of Erbil, in addition to conducting humanitarian airdrops to Iraqi men, women, and children stranded in northern Iraq. Our forces have already delivered thousands of meals and gallons of water, and will continue to protect American personnel in Iraq.

Watch President Obama’s full statement.

 

Learn more about the current situation in Iraq:

See President Obama’s statement from earlier today on the latest political developments in Iraq.

Evans Responds to Parks Forward Commission Draft Plan

August 5, 2014

Sacramento, CA. – Senator Noreen Evans (D-Santa Rosa) issued the following statement in advance of the August 6th Parks Forward Commission meeting where their draft plan will be discussed:

“The most recent Commission report represents an overdue analysis of California’s struggling state park system.  I’m encouraged to see many of the challenges addressed and reviewed and look forward to additional discussions with the Commission and the public.”

“In order of importance, I believe the following issues represent the greatest challenges for our state parks:

1.  Fix the bureaucracy. The Department needs long-term, stable and visionary leadership, with strong legislative support and cooperation.
2.  Stabilize funding.  The Department needs a long-term and sustainable funding source that is sufficient to provide the services expected by the public. Part of the funding must include an expanded and improved parks pass program.
3.  Create a new vision for State Parks.  The way we’ve managed these precious public resources in the past is simply insufficient now. We need to improve and modernize facilities, incorporate technology where appropriate, and improve access.

Overall, the report offered many good ideas that would benefit from further public discussion.   I look forward to working closely with the Commission in the coming months to develop a plan that will protect these wonderful resources while benefiting every Californian. ”

State Senator Noreen Evans is the chair of the Senate Banking & Finance Committee and represents the Second Senatorial District, including all or portions of the Counties of Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino, Marin (caretaker), Napa, Solano and Sonoma.

Read more

The Democratic Party of Lake County relayed the following letter to State Senator Noreen Evans

August 9, 2014

 

Senator Noreen Evans

200 South School Street
Ukiah, CA 95482

 

Re: AB 2145 (Bradford) *              OPPOSE

 

Dear Senator Evans,

 

 I am writing on behalf of the Democratic Party of Lake County in strong opposition to the amended AB 2145. AB 2145 remains nothing more than a corporate monopoly power grab to destroy competition from Community Choice clean energy programs and further entrench the monopoly utilities. It should be thrown out in its entirety.

 

AB 2145 contains:

 

1) Anti-competitive Geographic Barriers

2) 5 Year Rate Setting Community Choice Poison Pill

3) Unprecedented Complaint Process Bureaucracy

 

1) Anti-competitive Geographic Barriers: With its three-county restriction, AB 2145 would prevent cities and counties from grouping together to serve larger numbers of customers in order to buy and generate energy at lower bulk rates and compete on electricity prices with the monopoly utilities. Many small, rural, and lower income communities would find it impossible to launch Community Choice programs, because they would be forced to do so with a prohibitively small customer base. To limit the size and buying power of Community Choice programs undermines their competitiveness, especially when the utilities have no such restrictions.

 

Building a larger customer base for group buying power is crucial. When Marin’s program expanded to bring in additional customers in the working class city of Richmond, rates for customers went down. Marin’s inclusion of Napa County is projected to lower rates by 3%, while still delivering a greener energy mix than PG&E. If AB 2145 becomes law, communities all over California will be blocked from repeating Marin’s successes.

 

2) 5 Year Rate Setting Community Choice Poison Pill: AB 2145’s requirement that Community Choice programs set rates for customers five years in advance (while the monopoly utilities have no such requirement) is an unacceptable double standard. It is yet another attempt to place regulations on Community Choice that the utilities themselves don’t have to follow. It would be impossible for any energy provider to set rates five years in advance. This provision would expose Community Choice to endless lawsuits over even the smallest unexpected rate changes, and could potentially shut down every Community Choice program in the state.

 

3) Unprecedented Complaint Process Bureaucracy: AB 2145 takes customer relations oversight away from local accountable elected officials, and places it in the vast state-level bureaucracy of the CPUC. No other local public water or power systems are placed under such a heavy handed, distant, state agency governing process. This section would tie local Community Choice customer relations in knots, would create a financial burden both locally and at the CPUC, and would delay timely resolution of customer communications and concerns.

 

Conclusion:

 

California’s two operating Community Choice programs in Marin and Sonoma counties are already exceeding the state’s renewable portfolio standard, and are doing so at lower prices to customers than the existing monopoly utility. Over a dozen other California cities and counties are preparing similar programs to provide a wide array of strong community benefits including greatly expanded local renewable energy and energy efficiency, stimulation of local economies by localizing energy spending, improved local health outcomes (through shutting down fossil fuel power plants), resilience against power outages and shortages, and increased clean energy sector union jobs.

 

All of this is providing powerful new competition with the monopoly utilities.

 

AB 2145 is an insidious attempt to undermine Community Choice competition with the utilities and further entrench their antiquated business model. Enactment of AB 2145 would not only be bad for consumers and workers. It would also interfere with California’s ability to meet its climate action goals, which are crucial to the California economy and the sustainability of the planetary environment.

 

We urge you to strongly oppose AB 2145.

 

Sincerely,

 

Rebecca Curry

Chair, Lake County Democratic Party

 

*Currently AB 2145 is in the State Senate Committee for Appropriations. The Bill has been placed in the suspense file. The suspense file is for a bill or set of bills, with a fiscal impact, set aside in Appropriations Committee by a majority of Members present and voting. These bills may be heard at a later hearing.