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I. 2012 Election Calendar
II. Congressional Redistricting
III. Forum Book Club
IV. Democratic Women's Club Events
V. Other Forum Committees
VI. For Your Information
1. 2012 Election Calendar. We are now less than a year from the November 6, 2012 election. I've reviewed the 2012 election calendar with Talbot Elections Supervisor Patti Mitchell, with the following dates to place on your calendar:
January 11, 2012- Candidate filing deadline for the primary election
March 13- Deadline to register to vote or change party affiliation for the primary election
March 24-29- Early voting period-polls open 10 AM-8 PM except Sunday, 12-6 PM
April 3- Primary Election
April 6- Voter registration re-opens
October 16- Deadline to register to vote for the general election
October 27-November 1- Early voting period-polls open 10-8, Sunday 12-6
November 6- General election
2. Congressional Redistricting. Many thanks to all of you who responded to protest the proposed redistricting map for District 1. Unfortunately, the District map will remain unchanged, and will add 7-14,000 registered Republicans to already GOP heavy District 1.
In other words, the new map makes it even more difficult to elect a Democratic candidate to Congress from District 1. There are signs, however, that many independents are increasingly fed up with Andy Harris, particularly his egregious record as a "steward" for the Bay, his support of fracking, and his votes to send America in default. There has been conversation regarding a Democratic candidate, and I will have more on this in a later Update.
3. Forum Book Club. Forum member Vince DeSanctis has arranged a book club meeting at the St. Michael's Library conference room November 19 from 2-4 PM. To date, several members are planning to participate, and it should be a lively and interesting discussion.
The selected book is The Whites of their Eyes: The Tea Party's Revolution and the Battle over American History. Authored by Jill LePore, the 2010 book ($12.95) reveals how the Tea Party has attempted to change the narrative of American history to support their positions. Given the significant role the Tea Partiers will play in the 2012 election, it is useful to better understand their arguments and thus prepare Democrats in countering the distortions that have figured so prominently in their public discussions.
This is a terrific book-I've just finished reading it, and recommend it highly.
4. Democratic Women's Club Events.
What Health Care Reform Will Cost You in $ and Sense. This October 26 event featured nationally recognized health care advocate Vinny DeMarco, who gave a lively presentation regarding the Healthy Maryland Initiative, which would raise the tobacco tax in Maryland by $1 per pack to fund the state tobacco control program, health improvement process, address childhood obesity, long term care for seniors, and improved health care for Maryland families. A lively question-and-answer session followed with the overflow crowd at the Senior Center.
DWC Luncheon Meeting. On Saturday, November 5, the DWC met over lunch at Harrison's Chesapeake House in Tilghman, Maryland. During the meeting several items were discussed, including environment issues from the Sierra Club's Claudia Friedetzky, redistricting, ornaments for the Festival of Trees, and future events. The DWC also endorsed the Healthy Maryland Initiative, described above. The Forum board endorsed the initiative at it's October meeting.
5. Other Forum Committees. The Communications Committee will meet Friday, November 18 at 2:30 PM at the home of Bob and Blair Potter, 8607 North Bend Circle, in Easton. The always lively and very popular committee will discuss current local, state, and national issues with an eye to developing strategies as to how best communicate the Democratic message, through LTE's and Viewpoints, many of which have appeared in recent editions of the Star Democrat, and are posted on our website, www.demforum.com. Among recent postings that you should read regards Andy Harris' latest subterfuge on Health Care, "Did Harris Snooker the Non-Profits?", by Steve Bailey, and " Our Corporate Sponsored Congressman" by Rich Levy. For information contact Chair Steve Bailey at stephenmbailey@gmail.com.
Chair Blair Potter of the Legislative Committee will conduct a meeting of the Legislative Committee Thursday, November 17 at 7 PM at the Welcome Center in Easton, Maryland. Many items will be on the agenda, including congressional and local redistricting, discussed elsewhere in this Update. Contact Blair at blairbpotter@gmail.com.
Chair Charlene DeShields of the Minority Outreach Committee has set the next meeting Thursday, December 1 at 6 PM at the Welcome Center. For details, watch for a meeting notice or contact Charlene at cdeshields@goeaston.net.
Steve Bender, environmental representative of the Forum's Communications Committee, attended an October 20 meeting on Talbot's Phase II WIPs, which covered new information, dates and expectations from the MDE-EPA for locals, 2-year Milestones draft, and the Phase II WIP for all jurisdictions.
Dates to look for:
November 18-State sub-area (county) Phase II WIP report due to the state
December 15- MD Phase II report due to the EPA
Early January to March 30, 2012- comment period on MD Phase II WIP report
Up to July, 2012- MD refinement of Phase II WIP report with optional modifications
Anytime- send ideas on draft of 2-year TDML milestones for county to county chair Sandy Coyman
It should be noted that Andy Harris, among his other votes unfriendly to the Bay, voted recently to delay EPA emission rules for boilers, solid waste incinerators and process heaters for 15 months, which would require the EPA to re-propose the rules. Another profile in shame.
On the good news front, Forum Board member Jane Johnson reports that the MDE recently denied a wetland permit for the construction of the Cross-Country Connector, which would have bisected Mattawoman River, the 4th most endangered river in the country, and would have opened the area up for development, according to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.
6.. For Your Information.
Clean Water Week. Alan Girard of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation reminds us that Clean Water Week happens in downtown Easton November 14-18, with music, film, art, and the latest ways to make our local waterways clean and healthy again, Clean Water week is fun for all ages, and admission is free with refreshments served most nights. For details, visit www.cbf.org/cleanwaterweek. The following events;
November 14- Clean Water Forum and Film Preview, Avalon Theatre, 6 PM (free)
Preview of Sierra Club's Let Our Rivers Flow
November 15- Children's Clean Water Poster Competition, 6 PM Wagner-Witte Gallery
Created with Talbot County Public Schools
November 16- Clean Water Concert: Kentavious Jones and the Poets of Unk
Avalon Theatre, 8 PM (free) Local bands sponsored by the Maryland
Eddie Chen, (410) 440.8120
November 17- Maryland Environmental Legislative Preview, 6 PM (free)
Historical Society of Talbot County Auditorium
November 18- Wild and Scenic Environmental Film Festival, Avalon, 6 PM ($25)
Hosted by the Midshore Riverkeeper's Conservancy. Includes food and
Eastern Shore Summit. The Maryland Democratic Party is organizing an Eastern Shore Summit, which will involve all Eastern Shore clubs & DCC's. The event will be held in Easton, with tentative dates of April 21 or April 28. The Forum's representative is Board VP Bob Potter. We'll have more on the Summit in future Updates, as details become available.
Cardin for Senate. Those who are interested in volunteering in the Cardin campaign can contact Ben Cardin for Senate, PO Box 21093, Catonsville, MD 21228, or www.bencardin.com. The Campaign Director is Shelly Hettleman.
Re-elect the President. Those interested in volunteering in the Obama campaign can contact Jason Waskey at jwaskey@barackobama.com. Also, Carl Widell is heading up the mid-shore effort to re-elect President Obama. If you have any interest in helping the campaign by throwing a small get-together in your home, by participating in a phone bank, or even by traveling with the campaign to neighboring states, please call Carl at (410) 714-9555 or at carlwidell@me.com.
A Good Day for Democrats. The Off-Year election November 8 yielded mostly good results for Democrats. The following:
In Ohio, voters repealed a law backed by conservative Governor John Kasich that would have eliminated employee's collective bargaining rights and right to strike by an overwhelming 61-39 margin, a solid victory for unions. This powerful victory has given Wisconsin unions and Democrats momentum in their efforts to recall Governor Scott Walker, which begins today. On the down side, a symbolic amendment barring the individual mandate to buy health insurance easily passed, 65-35, the only GOP victory of the day.
In Mississippi, the controversial "personhood" initiative, which if passed would have criminalized abortion, in vitro fertilization and most birth control forms, was surprisingly defeated by a sound 58-42 margin. The initiative would have amended the state constitution to give fetuses the full rights of "persons" from the moment of fertilization. Even red-state Mississippi voters found the possibility of criminal investigations of miscarriages a vast overreach, and reacted accordingly. Republicans, as expected, held on to the Governor's office.
In heavily red-state Kentucky, the home of Mitch McConnell, a Democrat, Steve Beshear, won the Governor's seat easily. His victory is seen as a template for how Democrats can win in a difficult economy, by discrediting your opponent early in the race and staying on message.
In Maine, voters overturned a Republican law that would have ended same-day voter registration, which had been in place for nearly 40 years. This "people's veto" undid another GOP overreach, as they have been using majorities in a single election to make it difficult for minorities, young people, and the disabled to cast ballots.
The voter's war against overreach extended to Arizona, where State Senate President Russell Pearce, who spearheaded the viciously anti-immigrant, "papers please" legislation, was recalled and defeated by a moderate Republican who will scale back this draconian law.
In Iowa, Democrats held their state Senate majority in a special election engineered by Iowa's Republican governor with the election of Democrat Liz Mathis. Mathis' defeat would have opened the way for the Iowa Republicans to push through corporate income tax cuts and the banning of same-sex marriage, among other overreaches.
In Virginia, expectations were that the GOP would take over the Senate, but elections results ended in a 20-20 tie, thanks to an 86-vote GOP victory in one district. Had Democrats came out in any numbers, the difference would have created a Democratic majority in the state Senate. The anemic voter turnout should be a lesson to all Democrats to get off their hands on election day. However, the Democratic successes in the DC suburbs and Hampton Roads, areas that President Obama needs to win in 2012, were very encouraging.
These are very good signs for 2012. You can rest assured that the Forum will be vigorously involved on behalf of Democratic candidates, and need your support as we begin contemplating the costs of opening an office this summer, unity events and the annual meeting, door-to-door canvassing, phone banks, and many other activities. You can join and support the Forum by going to our website, www.demforum.com, and click "Join Us" or "Donate", or by sending your support to the Forum at PO Box 66, Easton, MD 21601.
Thank you,
Richard Calkins
President, Talbot County Democratic Forum
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Talbot County Democratic Forum
