Monthly Meetings!

Reefpoint Brewhouse located on 2 Christopher Columbus Causeway in downtown Racine.  
Join us upstairs on the West side (elevator on premises).  

We meet the FIRST Monday of each month. 
6pm is the Executive Board Meeting and
7pm is the Membership Meeting which is always open to the public.

***Please sign up for our email updates so that you can be informed of any changes in the schedule***

Hope to see you there!!

Democratic Party of Racine County
​Annual Awards Banquet - Blue Wave 2018

We are excited and honored to announce our outstanding Keynote Speaker:

*****U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin*****

Sunday April 22, 2018

Social Hour - 4pm
Dinner - 5pm
Speakers - 6pm


Infusino's Banquet Hall
3201 Rapids Drive Racine, WI


Tickets are $50 - includes dinner

Cash Bar, Silent Auction, Inspiring Speakers, Delicious Food, and Great Company

You do not want to miss this event!!

Purchase your ticket HERE
https://secure.actblue.com/donate/2018dprcbanquet

Congresswoman Moore Opposes Trumpcare

A Message from Congressman Mark Pocan

What You Should Know About Redistricting

At our January meeting the DPRC welcomed State Representative Fred Kessler to explain the intricacies of the Redistricting case brought before a panel of Federal Judges. Kessler enthralled the audience with his wonderful story-telling ability and the engrossing story of how the Redistricting case came about.

The story is about a group who saw the inequities of the Republican Gerrymander and resolved to do something about it. It was always an uphill battle, but they did get lucky along the way. Their research led them to a Chicago consortium of civil rights lawyers, a student who had created a formula called the “Efficiency Gap”, and a renowned Supreme Court litigator named Paul Smith.

The Efficiency Gap
Measures two types of “wasted votes” in the redistricting process:
  • lost votes cast in favor of a defeated candidate
  • surplus votes cast in favor of a winning candidate that weren’t actually necessary for the candidate victory
  • the efficiency gap is the difference between the parties respective wasted votes in an election, divided by the total number of votes cast
In Wisconsin during the 2012 election the Democrats got 170,000 more votes than Republicans but got only 39 seats to the Republicans 60 seats. There was an efficiency gap of 13%.  Anyone who looked at the maps saw that the Democrats could never win more than the 39 seats making them the minority forever.

REDMAP

When the Republicans won statehouses in 2010 their strategists created REDMAP. This project used high tech analyses to draw maps with specific purpose of disfavoring Democrats.
  • In 2012 Democratic House candidates won 1,7 million more votes than Republicans, but wound up with a 33 seat disadvantage.
  • This imbalance occurred in Arizona, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin where Democrats won more than half the votes, but less than half the seats
These redrawn districts violated two Constitutional issues
  • The First Amendment - prohibits discrimination the the basis of a person's viewpoint
  • Equal Protection Clause - bars government from discrimination on the basis of an illegitimate classification (ie) political party

District Court Triumph
  • In order to pursue the redistricting court case the Wisconsin group raised almost a quarter million dollars to pay for legal expenses
  • The lawyers representing Wisconsin have agreed to work pro-Bono and only be paid if they win
  • Despite the 3-judge panel being 2-1 conservatives the panel found in favor of Wisconsin
  • Justice Ribble, a Reagan appointee, wrote an excoriating decision vilifying the Republicans
  • A peculiarity in federal law ensures that Wisconsin can appeal the decision directly to the Supreme Court and the Court must agree to hear the case.
​Supreme Court
  • Briefs and rebuttals have all been filed in the Wisconsin case
  • Paul Smith and the Campaign Legal Center are now preparing the Supreme Court case
  • Wisconsin is not asking the Court to set a threshold for redistricting, but only to find that the partisanship of Wisconsin’s gerrymander went so far beyond the norm that it violated citizen rights

Tell Your Senators to Say NO to Betsy DeVos!!

From Senator Tammy Baldwin...

Today millions of kids around the country woke up and did exactly the same thing. They went to school.

School is where children grow. It’s where they learn how to share and solve calculus problems. It enlarges their world and helps them mold passions into career paths. Education helps kids discover what is possible.

Every single child, despite their background, deserves this opportunity.

This is why I cannot vote to confirm Betsy DeVos for Secretary of Education. She has devoted decades of work to promoting for-profit charter schools and using taxpayer dollars to fund private schools.

At her confirmation hearing, she refused to promise she would not privatize or strip funding from public schools.

Public schools serve the common good. They strengthen communities and give children the chance to pursue their dreams. If you agree, urge the Senate not to confirm Betsy DeVos.

Betsy DeVos is a billionaire who used her fortune to push for giving taxpayer dollars to private schools at the expense of public schools. In Michigan, she helped special interest groups pass a bill opening the door for taxpayer money to be taken out of public schools and put into for-profit charter schools.

Her radical efforts failed students. Here are some facts about her initiative in Michigan:
 
  • Almost two-thirds of Michigan’s charter schools are run by for-profit management companies.
  • Anyone can open a for-profit charter school as long as they have the money.
  • For-profit charter schools are free to remain open, even if they are failing.
DeVos also used her fortune to actively oppose a Michigan state constitutional amendment banning discrimination based on race, religion, and sexual orientation in college admissions and government hiring. She’s donated to anti-LGBTQ groups that support gay conversion therapy even though it’s been declared harmful by the scientific community.

During her confirmation hearing, DeVos couldn’t even say whether or not she believes schools that receive federal funding should have to comply with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

Every child deserves equality and access to a quality public education. Betsy DeVos would create a system of have and have-nots. Sign here to tell the Senate not to confirm her.

Thank you,

Tammy

                 *************************************************************************

From the DNC....

Vice President Biden has a lot of great sayings, but one of my favorites is something that I think gets to the core of what we believe as Democrats: that everyone deserves a fair shot and a fair shake. Nowhere is that more true than when it comes to education.

Last night, the Senate began the confirmation hearings for Trump's pick to lead the Department of Education, extreme right-wing billionaire Betsy DeVos. The hearings revealed that Betsy DeVos is dangerously and embarrassingly unqualified to lead the Department of Education. 
  • In yesterday's hearings, DeVos failed to answer basic questions about public education and appeared to be completely unaware of the federal laws that govern education policy, such as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
  • She defended guns in schools in order to fend off grizzly bear attacks. (Not hyperbole -- that was her actual answer when asked if guns should be permitted in schools.)
  • Like so many of Trump's nominees, DeVos is a wealthy donor to Republicans -- and her vast financial entanglements include companies, like one which refinances student loans, that have the potential to win or lose based on decisions she could make as Secretary of Education.
  • In her home state of Michigan, she installed a charter school system that even charter advocates have called "the biggest school reform disaster in the country."
  • Unlike previous nominees to this position, DeVos has never been an educator, nor did she attend public schools or send her own children to them. Her background reshaping Michigan's school system suggests that she will advance policies that would steer taxpayer dollars away from public schools serving the poorest students and instead toward vouchers for private or religious schools.
  • DeVos and her family have also donated money to a host of far-right religious organizations and has a troubling anti-LGBT history, which raises serious concerns about her commitment to protecting the safety and educational experience of all students.

Before the election, a national poll showed that if grade school students could vote, they would have voted overwhelmingly against Donald Trump and his agenda. These are the same students whose futures will be impacted under Betsy DeVos' Department of Education. 

Do them a favor and take two minutes to make a call to your senator today:

CALL NOW

Thanks for stepping up,
Eric

Eric Walker
Deputy Communications Director
Democratic National Committee

                               ***************************************************************

Tell Senators: Don’t confirm Betsy

DeVos as Secretary of Education
 
Please call your Senators and tell them Betsy DeVos is NOT qualified to be our Secretary of Education!
 
Betsy DeVos, the Michigan billionaire who Donald Trump has picked for his Education Secretary, has long supported the creation and expansion of state school voucher and charter school programs in Wisconsin and across the country.
 
She has been referred to as “the four-star general of the voucher movement” for her longtime work on the issue.

Ron Johnson (202) 224-5323

Alternatively, you may phone the United States Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121. A switchboard operator will connect you directly with the Senate office you request.

 Republicans have moved the date of her confirmation vote  to January 31st.

Cabinet Confirmation Information

Donald Trump may be sworn in as the President, but most of his Cabinet is still waiting in the wings -- as the first tier of the 1,200+ presidential or "political" appointees that require Senate confirmation.
 
The Cabinet includes the heads of 15 Executive Departments and six "Cabinet-level" positions, as well as the Vice President and White House Chief-of-Staff.
 
The Process
  • A Presidential Nomination is sent to the United States Senate for confirmation, where it is: 
  • Submitted first for review by the Senate Committee relevant to the nominee's department, which:
  • Conducts public Confirmation Hearings on the nominee's credentials and policy positions.
  • If a majority of the committee approves, the nomination is "voted out" of Committee with a recommendation and sent to the full Senate for a "floor" vote.
  • Full Senate Vote: A simple majority of the vote is required to confirm.

See the images below for confirmation line up.
​Nominees/Other: Committee Hearings In Progress or awaiting Scheduling
Cabinet
Secretary of Health and Human Services, Tom Price
Secretary of Agriculture, Sonny Perdue
Secretary of Veterans Affairs, David Shulkin
Secretary of Labor, Andrew Puzder
 
Cabinet-level
Small Business Administration Linda McMahon
Budget Director, Mick Mulvaney
Director of National Intelligence, Dan Coats
U.S. Trade Representative, Robert Lighthizer

From The Cap Times: Training program for Democratic women sees spike in applications after election

The following is an article from The Cap Times:

Among the immediate responses to Donald Trump's election last week, Emerge Wisconsin director Erin Forrest wasn't expecting enthusiasm from women looking to run for office.

But over two days last week, the group received 18 applications from women seeking admission to its training program for Democratic women looking to become candidates.

For perspective, before the election, the group had received 40 applications since the submission period that opened at the beginning of September. 

Forrest believes the flood of applications over a couple days is a direct response to Hillary Clinton, who would have been the country's first woman to serve as president, losing the election.

"I just think it speaks to the resiliency of these women and how motivated they are by this to step up and try to make a difference, and that they still see elected office as a way to make change in their community," Forrest said.

The increased interest this year is leading the group to look for ways to include more women in its activities than it has in the past. The training program admits 20-25 women per year, and the application period for the upcoming session will close on Nov. 18.

"We certainly don’t want to discourage any of these women from their gut instinct to run for office and make the world a better place," Forrest said.

The six-month training program focuses on areas including public speaking, fundraising, field operations and cultural competency. Alumnae include former state Sen. Nikiya Harris Dodd, state Sen.-elect LaTonya Johnson and state Reps. Dianne Hesselbein, Melissa Sargent, Lisa Subeck and JoCasta Zamarripa.

Forrest said she's also noticed a "trickle" of $5 and $10 donations to the group from throughout the state, while Facebook "likes" and email list signups for Emerge have also gone up after the election.

As someone who invested a lot of time and energy into backing Clinton, Forrest said it's been a source of personal motivation to see so many women respond this way.

"There was an incredible movement of people out there who are ready to sort of walk the trail that Hillary blazed, and we just want to make sure we’re here for them, helping them and supporting them, helping them get to where they want to be," she said.

If you or someone you know would be interested in the Emerge Training Program please visit: http://www.emergewi.org/apply

From DPW Chair Martha Laning...

Next Steps For The Party

As the election year comes to a close, our sights are focused on the year ahead. Whether you win or lose there are always lessons to be learned from a hard-fought campaign. That's why I have been holding listening sessions all over the state to get feedback from party leaders, volunteers, activists, and other stakeholders. 

We’ve already received great feedback about the changes we need to make in the future.  In the coming weeks we’ll be compiling all this information and beginning our strategic planning process for 2017 and beyond.  

Announcing New Executive Director Jason Sidener

As many of you know, DPW Executive Director Kory Kozloski has decided to pursue new opportunities. While we are saddened to see Kory leave the DPW team, we are excited for his future ventures and are looking toward the future of DPW.

With Kory's departure, it was a priority of mine to ensure that the transition between Executive Directors is a smooth one. In order to implement a strong strategic plan right away in 2017, that meant having an new Executive Director who could hit the ground running on January 1st and allow some overlap time with Kory before he leaves.

Today, our Party's administrative committee voted to approve Jason Sidener as our next Executive Director. Jason Sidener is an incredible addition to our team. He brings nearly two decades of political organizing, grassroots engagement, and progressive movement leadership to our organization.

Read our official announcement here. 

Wisconsin's Presidential Recount 

Last week, Green Party presidential candidate Dr. Jill Stein moved forward with her request for a statewide recount of the Presidential election results in Wisconsin. Hillary Clinton's campaign has announced that they will participate in the Wisconsin recount in order to "ensure the process proceeds in a manner that is fair to all sides." 

Under federal law, any disputes over the 2.98 million votes cast in the presidential election must be resolved within 35 days of election day to ensure electoral votes are counted - that is December 13th this year.

The remaining timeline for the recount is as follows: 

Thursday, December 1st:  Recount began in every Wisconsin county.
Monday, December 12th: All county canvass boards must be completed by 8 p.m.
Tuesday, December 13th: Elections Commission staff will prepare the official recount canvass certification by 3 p.m.

If you are interested in being a recount observer, sign up at: http://bit.ly/2gPOB6A

For more information on the recount, you can visit http://elections.wi.gov

Recount Confirms Senate Leader Jennifer Shilling's Victory

In addition to the presidential recount, the recount in the 32nd District Senate race between Leader Jennifer Shilling and her challenger Dan Kapanke took place this week as well.

As of today, all of the ballots in the 32nd Senate District have been recounted and confirm Sen. Shilling's victory. 

Click here to read Sen. Shilling's press release on the recount results. 

Judges Find Wisconsin Redistricting Unfairly Favored Republicans 

Last week, a panel of three judges found the State Assembly districts drawn up by the Republican-controlled legislature in 2011 were an unconstitutional partisan gerrymander. This is incredible news for Wisconsin voters who deserve to be heard and equally represented in Madison. 

Read more about the ruling here. 
Read my official statement on the decision here. 

Surge in Emerge Wisconsin Applications

Our friends at Emerge Wisconsin are seeing a flood of applications from women who want to join their training program and run for office. This just goes to show that when the going gets tough, progressives get to work. I'm incredibly inspired and motivated by the fortitude of Wisconsin women who aspire to be leaders in the progressive movement. 

Let's help Emerge keep the momentum going. Share this link with your networks and encourage more women to join the fight: http://www.emergewi.org/apply

Young Democrats of Wisconsin
In order to ensure a lasting and vibrant Democratic Party of Wisconsin, we need to engage young people at all levels. To that end, over the last year-and-a-half, a group of committed young professionals from across Wisconsin have been working to establish a Young Democrats chapter in the Badger State. Young Dems are the next generation of leaders, committed to recruiting and electing young people to lead on issues and represent at every level of government.

On Sunday, August 14 the Young Democrats of America - the largest youth-led political organization in the country - unanimously voted to grant a charter to the Wisconsin chapter. Since then, the group has been incredibly active!

They've launched their own podcast on iTunes, held a statewide conference call with the Russ Feingold campaign and presented at over a dozen county party meetings.

On Saturday, September 24 and Sunday, September 25, the Young Dems will be holding a "Weekend of Action" where members will be volunteering for Assembly candidates in each region of the state.

Additionally, on Tuesday, September 27 they'll be holding a political trivia social gathering in Madison.

Membership in the Young Democrats of Wisconsin is free and open to anyone between 18-40 who's current on their dues with DPW. For anyone attending college or otherwise affiliated with an institution of higher learning, the College Democrats remain the primary affiliation the Democratic Party of Wisconsin.

Anyone interested in joining can do so by clicking here: www.youngdemswi.org/join. You can follow their activity at Facebook at www.facebook.com/youngdemswi and on Twitter: @youngdemswi.

Sincerely,
Martha Laning
Chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin

Statement from DPW Chair Regarding Election Results

The following is the statement of Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair Martha Laning in light of last night's election results:

"Like so many of you, I am disappointed by Tuesday’s results.  However, while these were not the results we hoped for, the people have spoken, and now it is up to us to come together to move our state and our nation forward.

"Despite our disappointment, we must not get discouraged and walk away from the process. We must unite and work for the American dream we all believe in.

"As Democrats, we will forge onward and continue to fight for hard-working men and women who want a fair shot to get ahead. We will continue to advocate for future generations of Americans who deserve the opportunity to live the American dream. And, in an election year marked by divisiveness and hate, we will continue to stand up for inclusiveness and respect for all Americans no matter their race, color, or creed. 

"We will also work to hold President-Elect Trump accountable to the people who elected him. Like many, we are deeply concerned that his policies will be harmful to the millions of hardworking Americans who most need help in these challenging times.  

"I want to thank all of the fantastic Democratic candidates who had the courage and vision to run for office in this election: From Hillary Clinton, to Russ Feingold, to our amazing candidates up and down the ballot.  Their passion and dedication was an inspiration to so many around this state.  Win or lose, we were proud to stand with each and every one of you. As Secretary Clinton said only moments ago, this loss hurts, but we must all continue to fight for what we believe in.  As Democrats, that’s exactly what we intend to do."

IMPORTANT ELECTION INFORMATION

The following is from Common Cause in Wisconsin....

Election Day – Tuesday, November 8th – is Just Eight Days Away

Early, in-person absentee voting will end for most of Wisconsin this Friday, November 4th – though in some municipalities you'll still be able to cast an early absentee ballot as late as Saturday, November 5th (e.g., Milwaukee) or Sunday, the 6th (e.g., Madison).

For more information about early voting in your city, town or village, contact your municipal clerk. 

If you are voting with an absentee ballot by mail, remember – it must be RECEIVED by your municipal clerk no later than 8:00 PM on Election Day. So get your ballot in the mail ASAP!

More on what you need to know about casting an early, absentee ballot in-person or by mail.

Before you cast your ballot, make sure you are registered to vote at your current address. Go to MyVote.WI.gov, select "Register to vote," and enter your name and date of birth.

If you find out that you are not already registered to vote at your current residence, you can still register in your clerk's office – and at some early voting locations (check with your municipal clerk) – until close of business this Friday – or at the polls on November 8th. When you register to vote, you'll need to show a proof of residence document (hard copy or electronic on your cell phone or tablet).

More information on voter registration is here.  

And don't forget an ID.

You will need to present one of the acceptable forms of ID pictured left when voting in Wisconsin, so take a moment and check to see if you have the ID you need to cast a ballot early or on Election Day.

If you don't have an acceptable ID, review the information on our downloadable fact sheet on voter ID and/or visit Bring It To The Ballot. 

And do NOT give up on voting just because you do not have an ID!

Our partners at VoteRiders can help you get an acceptable form of ID for voting from your local DMV before next Tuesday's election. Just call one of these two voter ID hotline numbers for assistance: (608) 729-7720 or (414) 882-8622. 


Are you (or do you know) a college student voting in Wisconsin?

Here are "Three Things College Students Need to Do To Vote in Wisconsin."

Have voting questions or problems?

Common Cause in Wisconsin is once again partnering with the nonpartisan Election Protection coalition, led by the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, to provide "guidance, information and help to any American, regardless of who that voter is casting a ballot for."


Election Protection’s highly-trained legal volunteers are available to assist voters with any questions or problems, no matter how simple or complex. Voters may call 1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683) toll-free with any questions or issues that may arise. Spanish-speaking voters may seek assistance through the 1-888-VE-Y-VOTA (1-888-839-8682) hotline.

Need a free ride to the polls?

CC/WI has both identified and recruited organizations and individual volunteers across the state willing to offer free rides to the polls. The latest list of free ride options is available on our website here.

If you are interested in being a driver or know of any folks in your area offering this service during this last week of early voting, on Election Day, or both, please contact CC/WI by email so that we can add them to our list! 

Make sure you're ready to make your voice heard!

Visit the Voting Resources page on our website for more on voting in Wisconsin. 

Early Voting Dates and Times for Racine County Municipalities


Town of Burlington: October 3rd  8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday

Town of Dover: September 26th 8 to 4:30 p.m.
Monday through Thursday; 8 a.m. to noon Friday

Town of Norway: September 26th 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday

Town of Raymond: September 26th 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday

Town of Waterford: October 24th 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday

Town of Yorkville: October 17th 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday;
open until 5 p.m. November 3rd and 4th

Village of Caledonia: October 3rd 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday;
8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday.

Village of Elmwood Park: September 26th By appointment and
10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday and Friday.

Village of Mount Pleasant: October 10th 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Village of North Bay: September 26th By appointment only.

Village of Rochester: September 26th 8:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday; 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays.

Village of Sturtevant: October 10th 8 a.m. to noon, 1 p.m. to 4:55 p.m.
Monday through Friday.

Village of Union Grove: October 24th 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Village of Waterford: October 24th 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Village of Wind Point: September 26th 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

City of Burlington: October 10th 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

City of Racine: October 10th 8 a.m. to 4:55 p.m. Monday through Friday;
9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays October 22nd and 29th

From the Chair - July 2016

It's July 20th and I'm doing a couple of things, like deciding what to pack for Philadelphia and the Democratic National Convention next week (triple digit temperatures are predicted), and watching the television in horror at the RNC and their speakers and messages.

So far, the Republicans have told untruths, exaggerated, demeaned, seemingly plagiarized, and been united in their vitriol against Democrats.  I'm unclear about their actual level of support for their own candidate, but his lack of experience at any level of government causes problems.  He has no voting record and can't point to anything he's accomplished that helps humanity.  So, instead of supporting him, the Republicans attack Democrats.  

I'm honored to serve as a Hillary Clinton delegate to the 2016 Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia.  Our days will be long and filled with meetings.  I'm looking forward to hearing some great speakers.  We start each day with a breakfast meeting, where we get our credentials.  Then it's off 
to caucus and committee meetings from 10 to 12, and 12 to 2, and 2 to 4.  Then we go over to the main hall for the floor sessions, which start around 4 each day.  They end at 11.  Then there are parties and musical entertainment and then, hopefully, some sleep.  And up the next day to do it all again.

The best part, and the part I was elected to perform, will be the actual voting for the Presidential Nominee.  I will be proud to vote for Hillary Clinton as the nominee for President of the United States.  As I sign my name to that piece of paper, I will think of all the people who I'm representing.  It's humbling and I expect to get tearful at this history making event.  I'll try to get a picture for the next newsletter.

Maybe the Wisconsin delegation will be on television in one of those crowd shots - if you're watching, and you see me, please text me and let me know.

I'll be back with lots of stories for the August 1 meeting.  See you there, I hope.  

- Meg

DPRC Award Winners Have Been Announced

Press Release:

Democratic Party of Racine County Announces Annual Banquet Awards Winners
Former U.S. Senator Russ Feingold to Keynote
 
Racine, WI – The Democratic Party of Racine County will hold their annual awards banquet on May 15, 2015 at Infusino’s Banquet Hall. The Party will present two annual awards, and will feature former U.S. Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI).
 
The Democrat of the Year Award recognizes the person who has supported democratic principles, promoted the Democratic Party of Racine County (DPRC) to the community and beyond, supported Democratic candidates for elected positions, participated in related political events in a positive way and who lives by the principles of our organization.
 
The 2015 Democrat of the Year is John Scott. John is a teacher and administrator in Racine Unified whose career has spanned nearly 40 years. During those years, John has been an inspiration to hundreds of Racine students, showing by his life and example his belief in fairness for all, in dedication to one’s chosen work and in excellence in achievement. As a member of the Democratic Party of Racine County, John has continued the excellence, dedication and belief in progressive principles. John’s particular commitment is to advancing the local party by increasing membership, supporting candidates and by challenging us to develop outreach to the community.
 
The Phyllis Dresen Award honors a person who has worked to further democratic principles by his/her efforts in the community, state and/or nation. The person selected need not be a member of the Democratic Party.
 
The joint Phyllis Dresen Awardees are Linda Boyle and Sue Spicer. Linda Boyle and Sue Spicer have served the Racine community since coming to Racine because of a teacher recruitment drive. Linda, a North Dakota native, taught in Racine grade schools for 34 years. Sue, an Iowa native, taught here for 35 years. As grade school teachers, they both encountered instances of immigrant children whose parents were deported. Other children dreaded going home at the end of the day, fearing their parents would be gone – victims of Immigration Authorities. Linda, and later Sue, met with Sister Joyce Quintana, a member of the Racine Dominicans, and joined Racine Interfaith Coalition’s Immigration Task Force. Their work has resulted in what amounts to a textbook on immigration issues, covering everything from demographics in Wisconsin, employment, immigrant contributions and legislation. Linda and Sue keep current with Wisconsin and national legislation, spending hours at legislative hearings and demonstrations, as well as on conference calls with national leaders in the immigration field.

WHAT: Democratic Party of Racine County Annual Awards Banquet
WHEN: Sunday, May 15, 2015
             Cocktails: 5:30 p.m., Dinner 6:30 p.m.
WHERE: Infusino’s Banquet Hall, 3201 Rapids Drive, Racine
 
Tickets are available at https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/page/2016banquetawards or by mailing a check for $50 payable to the DPRC to P.O. Box 081825 Racine, WI, 53408. The banquet is open to the public and the media. 
Get your 2016 voting/election information here!

Happy Election Year!

 From the Chair - January 2016
Meg Andrietsch
 
It's been a while since our last newsletter, and have we been busy.
 
We elected and swore in our new DPRC Board.  The party was fun and it was great to hear from our new Executive Director, Kory Kozloski.  You may remember him from the office on Washington Ave in 2006, when we elected John Lehman to the State Senate and we first elected Cory Mason to the Assembly.
 
We have sent out about 23 notices in the past 3 months, talking about fundraisers, forwarding notices from the State Party Chair, and inviting people to meetings and events.  
 
SPRING ELECTIONS ARE SOON.  The Primary Election is February 16th.  
There are primary elections in the city of Racine in the 2nd Aldermanic and in the 6th Aldermanic districts.  There are also Primary elections in 2 of the new RUSD School Board districts, in Districts 6 and 7.  There are also primaries in Mt Pleasant for Village Trustee.
 
Another important primary is for Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
Joe Daniel and Joanne Kloppenburg are running, along with Walker-appointed Rebecca Bradley.
 
We will be hearing from most of the primary candidates at our meeting on Feb 1.
 
Join us and learn which Democratic Party members are running for office.
 
Please note that the Primary is Feb 16th and the General election is April 5.
 
BUT the Presidential Primary for Wisconsin is April 5.  Yes, the Presidential primary is the same date as the General election for other offices.  That means it will be very busy at the polling places.  With photo ID in place, it might be a good idea to get to your municipal office and cast your ballot early. You can do that starting Feb 1 for the primary.

New DPRC Board Elected

From the Chair - October 2015
Meg Andrietsch

At the Democratic Party of Racine County meeting in October, we held nominations for board positions for the 2015-16 cycle.  This week, we had elections for these offices and the following people were elected:
 
Chair - Meg Andrietsch
1st Vice Chair - Randy Bryce
2nd Vice Chair - Beth Pramme
3rd Vice Chair -  Sam Peete
Secretary - Heather Geyer
Treasurer - Joe Cushing
Sgt at Arms - Pat McManaway
Sgt at Arms - Stacy Steinike
Trustee - Jim Poplawski
Trustee - John Scott
Trustee - Jean Smith
 
Members at Large:
Linda Boyle, Ethel Gates, Tammy Hayward, Lynn Holtdorf, Cara Kinzelman, Julie Krautkramer, Mary Land, Kathy Laru, Melissa Lemke, Pat Meier, Andy Mitchell, Sue Spicer, Mary Totero and Don Trottier
 
I am proud to be the Chair of  the Democratic Party of Racine County and am looking forward to the 2016 elections.  We start in December of this year, when candidates take out and circulate nomination papers for non-partisan races. Non-partisan means the candidates do not have to declare themselves as a Democrat (or some other party affiliation).
 
We expect to have Democratic Party members running for these non-partisan seats and we will help them work to get elected. 
 
I will write more about the elections when we get closer, but for now know that it will be a busy year and we will need everyone's help.  We need to elect good Democrats to all levels in order to turn the state of Wisconsin back to the progressive state it once was.
 
So make sure you renew your membership, tell you friends to join the party and let us know that you want to help our candidates win elections.
 
2016 will be an important year.  Please join in.
 

Monthly Meetings: 


Reefpoint Brewhouse located on 2 Christopher Columbus Causeway in downtown Racine.  Join us upstairs on the West side (elevator on premises).  


We meet the FIRST Monday of each month. 6pm is the Executive Board Meeting and 7pm is the Membership Meeting which is always open to the public.

The information shared here by the Democratic Party of Racine County is for informational purposes only and is not intended to serve as an endorsement or approval of any individual, candidate, or organization. The information is provided on an “as is” basis and the DPRC makes no effort to independently verify, and does not exercise editorial control over, information provided. 
We are sharing this material in an effort to keep our members (and the public) informed about current political events.

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