Promptly at 5 p.m., the scheduled start of Genevieve Steidtmann’s School Supply Drive  celebration a clap of thunder introduced a 45 minute rain shower. But the rain did not dampen the spirits of the women, men and children attending in support of Genevieve Steidtmann for MO House 101. The 101st includes much of Chesterfield and Wildwood.  The school supply drive netted nearly $1,200 dollars worth of school supplies.

Attending in support of Genevieve’s campaign were sitting representatives Deb Lavender of the 90th, and, all the way from Springfield, MO Crystal Quade. Quade represents the 132 district in that Southwest Missouri City, most notably around the city core and Missouri State and Drury Universities. Yes, there are Democrats in Greene County. Boris Abadzhyan, a candidate in the 71st  facing a primary challenge joined the women giving all those in attendance a glimpse of what the Missouri House might look like come January, 2019.

Steidtmann was non-plussed about the rain. “Right now, I am running a campaign here;  I have to let someone else handle the weather.” Steidtmann said that the drive isn’t over and she encouraged constituents to purchase schools supples for their respective school districts.

In light of the growing wave of endorsements and support she’s received, her positions on healthcare, education, jobs and civil rights the

CHESTERFIELD TOWNSHIP DEMOCRATS CLUB

ENDORSES WITHOUT RESERVATION

GENEVIEVE STEIDTMANN

for the Missouri House of Representatives serving District 101.

Click on the image above to visit the Steidtmann for Missouri website

Genevieve will be at the Chesterfield Township Democrats August 14 and September 11th meetings seeking your support. Be sure to attend, meet Genevieve and other candidates and prepare yourself to get out the vote in November.

Wendy Geckler, a long time member and leader of the Chesterfield Planning Commission identified the infiltration of dark money in the campaign for a Ward 4 council person last spring. She has brought this up before the City Council and procedure stipulated that the issue be presented and debated at a meeting on Monday, July 23 at City Hall before going to the Council.

The meeting is the Finance and Administration meeting and will commence at 5:30 p.m.. Though we will not be aloud to speak, the matter of moving the topic to the agenda for a City Council meeting will be addressed. A show of interested citizens will help that cause.

Several Chesterfield Township Democrats have committed to attend the meeting. It is a matter of number not representation this time. Please, if you can, attend the meeting.

Thanks for considering,

Mark Kumming

Co-Chair, Chesterfield Township Democrats

Tuesday evening’s membership meeting of the Chesterfield Township Democrats opened with a rousing greeting from lead facilitator Mark Kumming, Co-Chair, as he greeted more than 100 people in attendance at the Candidate Forum for aspirants to the Democratic Nomination for Congressional District 2 to oppose the incumbent Republican and Trump puppet Ann Wagner.

The meeting was co-sponsored by West County Democrats with Glenn Koenen, Co-Chair, in attendance.  Glenn is a noted authority on both national, state and local legislative activities and has the honor of contending with Rep. Wagner in 2012. 

The heart of this meeting was the Candidate Forum featuring, in alphabetical order, Bill Haas, Robert Hazel, John Messmer, Mark Osmack and Cort VanOstran all facing each other in the August 7th primary.  The format was a panel fielding questions composed by audience members and read by meeting facilitator Kumming and CTD Co Chair Mike Kean.

The questions and answers covered the candidate’s positions on everything from medical marijuana, education, and earned benefits to tax reform, campaign finance, healthcare and gun violence.  Each candidate opened and closed with a two minute campaign appeal.  In all, the Forum lasted an hour and half. 

Candidates received vigorous applause and cheers for specific issues or when a notable Republican foible received mention, which were many.  At both the outset of the meeting and afterwards candidates networked by supporters.  One attendee commented:  It was fun to be able to applaud and cheer our candidates.”

Also in the audience were members of the United Auto Workers (UAW.)  Attending too were candidates vying for state positions and who were featured at the Candidate Forum held by CTD in May.  Included in this group were Genevieve Stiedtmann in the 101st, Chuck Triplett contending in the 98th, Boris Abadzhyan (71st) and Don Klein (70th) who are facing primary challenges. John Kiehne for State Senate 26 was also present. 

Kumming closed the meeting with an appeal for membership to join one of several committees forming — The Programs Committee and Community Outreach Committee.  Both, Co-Chair Kumming said, were essential to CTD club sustainability.  He also invited all to attend CTD’s next membership meeting slated for July 10 at the Daniel Boone Branch of the SLCL and that will feature strategies for voter registration and for getting out the Democratic vote.

WHAT       

Meet the Candidates for the Democratic Nomination

for Second Congressional District of Missouri

WHEN      

Tuesday, June 5, 2018

6:30 p.m. to 8:45 p.m.

WHERE     

Daniel Boone Public Library

300 Clarkson Road

Room 1

WHO

Currently scheduled to appear:   

Bill Haas

Robert Hazel

John Messmer

Mark Osmack

Cort VanOstran

 

On Tuesday evening, 57 people crowded into room 1 of the Daniel Boone Branch of the St. Louis County Library to meet and vet 10 MO House District Candidates.  We’re six months ahead of the the general election on November 6th and three ahead of the primary on August 7th, but by the strategies detailed by the candidates  and the passion evident in the presentations you’d think the elections were next Tuesday.

Each candidate presented her or his credentials and a thumbnail sketch of why they were running.  Highlights of the evening including Genevieve Steidtmann, who is running in the 101st (mostly Chesterfield and Wildwood), and who highlighted clear and concise talking points.  Helena Webb, running in the 100th, who couldn’t be in the room but who sent a video message via tablet highlighting her campaign strategy.  Also in attendance in non-primary races were Chuck Triplett in the 98th, Mike LaBozzetta in the 99th.  Al Gerber, Committeeman for the Missouri River Township stood in for Kevin Fitzgerald, 89th, who could not be at the meeting.

Five candidates who are vying in primaries joined this group.  Paula Brown, Don Kline, and Greg Upchurch seek nomination from the 70th and Boris Abadzhyan and LaDonna Appelbaum from the 71st.

After these brief speeches, the candidates held mini-caucuses for their voting constituents.  Seated around tables spread throughout the room, those attending could ask direct questions of the candidate.  These caucuses lasted through the remainder of the evening and in some cases bumped up to the library’s closing time, they were that engaging.

If you were there, you will attest to the vibrancy of the meeting and the energy in the room.

If your weren’t there and live in one of these districts, you missed an opportunity to feel some real hope for the future of our region and our state.

Do you have to be a Township Committeeman to have an impact in your community?
Emphatically, no, you do not. And in fact, we encourage you to be involved in your community and in township activities before committing to such a position of responsibility. You can do this step by step by joining your local Township Club. We of course recommend Chesterfield Township Democrats Club. We meet on the 2nd Tuesday of each month beginning in July, 2018 (May 1 and June 5th prior). It has been famously attributed to anyone from Ben Franklin to Woody Allen that “90% of success is just showing up.” Few would disagree.

The next 10% — and we need you at this level — is as simple as joining one of the numerous Action Committees that are the lifeblood of Chesterfield Township Democrats. Committees currently forming include:

Membership
Recruitment
Retention
Recognition
Community Outreach
Local Government Liaison
Business Associations
Labor Alignments
Media and PR
Internet Presences
Collateral Development & Distribution
Outlet Announcements
Programming
Topic Generation
Speaker Selection
Venue Preparation
Finance
Budget Formation
Fundraising
Compliance

All of these represent current needs of any organization seeking sustainability, seeking a continued legacy of community integration and involvement. We strongly believe that in Chesterfield, MO, Chesterfield Democrats and their representative Township Club is a seamless part of the community and our adherence to social justice, fair mindedness, civility and dialogue are part of our shared community fabric.

Joining and participating on one of these committees, perhaps even leading it, is a way to give back, to pitch in, and to achieve. The work is not onerous and really is just what you wish it to be. None of us judge, measure or evaluate. We only are grateful for one another’s participation and affiliation.

So, join CTD, attend meetings, participate on a committee. That is how you and we can “just show up” and make a difference!

CLICK HERE to download an Adobe Acrobat PDF document of this list.

Saturday, April 7, 11:30-12:30  WE CAN Black Lives Matter vigil at Chesterfield Commons, near Sonic

1:00-2:30  WE CAN ASSIST Team (Stay in School) monthly mtg re: Kirkwood and Parkway Schools, @ Kaldi’s in the valley

Saturday, April 7, 6:30-9:30  Town Hall for US Senators and Representatives (or their opponents) sponsored by March for Our Lives, as part of a national effort. Kirkwood Baptist, 211 N. Woodlawn Ave, 63129.  https://www.facebook.com/events/239592749944949/ 

Monday, April 9, 7 PM, “Moms Demand Action” briefing by Mary Gross @ Craft Chameleon (back room), Clayton and Clarkson next to Walnut Grill.

Thursday, April 12, 7 PM, “Criminal Justice Ministry” presentation by Anthony DeAgostino and friend, St Claire of Assisi,  15642 Clayton Rd, Ellisville (east of Clarkson)

Saturday, April 14, 8:00-4:00, “Equity in Education Conference: Actions for Social Justice in Education” , Billie Mayo featured speaker.  $25 Webster U, webster.edu/equity-in-education-conference

Mon April 15, 7 PM, Maplewood Comm. Builders Public Forum on Prop P funds, New Destiny Church, 7174 Manchester Rd. (present survey results, prioritize, present to city council)

Thursday, April 19, 6:30 PM, Democratic Candidates Forum (some), County Library HQ. S. Lindbergh. Hosted by Indivisible.  M. Osmack, H. Webb, K. Fitzgerald, S. Unsicker, M. LaBozzetta, L. Applebaum.

Saturday, April 21, 11:30-12:30  WE CAN vigil for BLM @ Clarkson and Clayton, signs available or bring your own.

Sunday, April 22, 2-4:00, “MultiCultural Competency Training” by Mary Ferguson of YWCA, sponsored by WG Action Group, location TBD in Webster Groves.  dokmille@gmail.com for info and registration

Wednesday, April 25, 6-9:30 PM, Forward Thru Ferguson “#STL2039 Launch”, Windows on Washington, snacks

Saturday, May 5^th, Charlie King (folk singer of note) Benefit Concert, 7:30 PM at Marianist Retreat Center, off 109 in Eureka, Tickets $15.00 in advance (cf: Jim Moore, moorejd59@gmail.com) or $20.00 at the door.  $10.00 goes toward building three tiny houses for the homeless; Social Justice 4 All project.