Author: Brian Legate

Large Turn Out for Candidate Forum

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.

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Just Show Up and . . .

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!

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Your Township Politics

By Jo Ann Hughes

Community members do not have to take part in something huge to have a voice. A little known secret to getting involved on a local level begins with township politics. The smallest elected office has limited power, but it is vital to each political party.

Township committees are involved in planning and organizing political events and caucuses and require the time and effort of many individuals. They also organize voters in neighborhoods and promote political involvement at the grassroots level.

Their job is to identify where all the people who vote for their candidate or your party are and make sure that every one of those voters get to their polls on election day.

Township committees were established as part of Missouri Revised Statute 115.605, which states that each party committee shall be selected as provided for the purpose of representing and acting for the party in the interim between party conventions. Each township includes a man and a woman from each party who are elected by the voters to lead that township. Committee members are elected every four years when the governor is elected, and candidates must have lived in the township for at least one year and be a registered voter. Township positions are totally unpaid, volunteer positions.

St. Louis County townships include Airport, Bonhomme, Chesterfield, Clayton, Concord, Creve Coeur, Ferguson, Florissant, Gravois, Hadley, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lemay, Lewis & Clark, Maryland Heights, Meramec, Midland, Missouri River, Normandy, Northwest, Norwood, Oakville, Queeny, Spanish Lake, St. Ferdinand, Tesson Ferry, University and Wild Horse.

Committee members, who are elected by the voters, have the job of organizing residents of a particular township for the purpose of information and getting out the vote.

All the township committeemen and women elected are automatically members of the County Central Committee, which helps to elect local party members and assist the state of national party committees. These committees elect delegates to go to the state convention to choose presidential electors, become delegates to the national convention and vote on the party platform.

Your township is listed on your voting card, and meetings are open to the public.

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Upcoming Social Justice and Political Events – by Jim Moore

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 5th, 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.

 

 

 

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Chesterfield Township Elects Officers

At the March 6th meeting of Chesterfield Township Democrats held at the Daniel Boone Branch of the St. Louis County Library, membership elected the following officers:

Mark Kumming, Co-Chair (2 year term)

Mike Kean, Co-Chair (1 year term)

Sue McCool, Secretary (1 year term)

Paul McCool, Treasurer (1 year term)

Brian Legate and Marti Maurer continue in their roles as Committee Persons elected by Chesterfield Township voters in general election years (4 year terms).  Jo Ann Hughes continues as chair of CTD membership committee.  Other committee positions are available.

An important note:  Beginning July 2018, our meetings will move to the 2nd Tuesday of each month.

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New Missouri Voter Photo ID Law and Your Rights Within It

West County Democrats
Presents
Focus 2018
New Missouri Voter Photo ID Law and Your Rights Within It

Missouri’s new confusing voter photo ID law threatens to deter voters who lack the required government issued photo ID. This kind of law, which is similar to those of other states, historically has disproportionately affected seniors, low-wage workers, women, voters with disabilities, homeless, students, and voters of color.
How Can We Help?

Wednesday, March 28, 2018
6:00 to 8:00 pm
United Food & Commercial Workers, Local 655
300 Weidman Road, Ballwin, MO 63011
Light eats and beverages start at 6pm – Free will donations accepted

Speakers:
Denise Lieberman a nationally recognized expert on voting rights, is Senior Attorney and Co-Director of the Power & Democracy Program at Advancement Project, where she oversees the organization’s Voter Protection and Right to Vote initiatives.  A seasoned constitutional and civil rights lawyer, Lieberman is at the forefront of voting rights debates in her home state of Missouri and across the country. She has litigated challenges to discriminatory Photo ID laws in Missouri, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and North Carolina and has prepared testimony on voting rights for the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, and has been featured as a voting expert on MSNBC, CNN, PBS, the New York Times, Washington Post, USA Today, and others. In Missouri, Denise coordinates the Missouri Voter Protection Coalition, through which she organizes the non-partisan election protection efforts to monitor polls in Missouri on Election Day. In the wake of the implementation of Missouri’s new photo ID law this June, Advancement Project and ACLU brought a lawsuit challenging the law’s implementation, which is currently pending in the Missouri Court of Appeals.

Nancy Price is the League of Women Voters STL Speakers Bureau Chair and Secretary.
The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan political organization, encourages the informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.
The League of Women Voters is a 501(c)3 organization which has two separate and distinct roles.

A Focus 2018 Event Presented by West County Democrats
www.westcountydemocrats.org

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Chesterfield Township Democrats Take Important Step Forward

In a significant step toward consolidation and sustainability, the Executive Board of the Chesterfield Township Democrats announced it will sponsor elections for officers of the nascent political organization for 2018-2019. To be sure that the thousands of progressives and democrats in Ellisville, Clarkson Valley Chesterfield and Wildwood have viable active representation to the Missouri Democratic Party in the coming months and years, elections for four officer positions will be held at the meeting scheduled for Tuesday, March 6th.

Offices seeking nominees are 2 Co-chair positions (1 for a one year term and 1 for a 2 year term), CTD secretary for a 2 year term and CTD treasurer for a 2 year term. Currently those offices are held by CTD members who voluntarily stepped up last year to help form Chesterfield Township Democrats in response to the veritable absence of Progressive/ Democratic resources in West County. “During the past election cycle, Chesterfield had no operating Democratic club or organization to represent its sizable population of Democrats and Progressives who live out here.” Said Brian Legate, CTD Committeeman. “This sizable block of voters needs a focus point and a voice in the region and the state.”

A nomination form is available for downloading this website and people are encouraged to nominate their friends or themselves. The only qualification is that a nominee be a member in good standing of CTD, that is . . . dues paid. “We still have a lot of organization development to accomplish.” Said Sue McCool, acting Co-Chair of CTD. “We need to adopt some bylaws and procedures. We have several ad-hoc committees that need oversight, leadership and membership and we need to find a way to integrate ourselves further into this community.”

Here are the essential duties of the positions for which nominations are being sought.

Co-Chair (2 Positions, served simultaneously, alternating meeting responsibilities.)

  1. Chair and Lead monthly Executive Council & Membership meetings including development of agendas, securing of speakers and compiling of minutes.
  2. Direct formation of standing committees and assure results.
  3. Communicate with Committee persons, other township clubs and independent clubs and the regional Democratic Party organization.
  4. Report regularly on CTD activities, initiatives and progress.
  5. Direct and oversee the continued organizational development of CTD by directing and overseeing committee activity.

Secretary

  1. Attends Executive Council and Membership meetings.
  2. Documents proceeding of meetings.
  3. Compiles and reports minutes of each meeting.
  4. Facilitates coordination of communication with the community.
  5. Assists chair in conducting meetings and coordinating committee activity.

Treasurer

  1. Regularly accounts for and documents CTD financial assets.
  2. Maintains bank account and issues checks for documented CTD expenses incurred at the direction of the Executive Committee or officers.
  3. Ensures compliance with Missouri Ethics Commission guidelines.
  4. Prepares and monitors an annual CT budget.
  5. Provides and issues monthly financial reports to membership and officers.
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