Biden Makes Historic VP Pick; Says She's "Ready on Day One"

Last week Kamala Harris, Senator from California, became the first black woman and the first Indian-American, South Asian and Asian American ever chosen for the role of Vice President by a major American political party. But Joe Biden said he didn't pick the first-generation daughter of immigrants (father from Jamaica and mother from India) for who she was, but for what he believes she can do. "She is smart, she’s tough, she’s experienced, she’s a proven fighter for the backbone of this country,” Biden said. “Kamala knows how to govern. She knows how to make the hard calls. She’s ready to do this job on day one.”

"Joe Biden nailed this decision," said former President Barack Obama. "By choosing Kamala Harris, he underscored his own judgement and character."

Elected to the Senate in 2017, Kamala Harris serves on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, the Select Committee on Intelligence, the Committee on the Judiciary, and the Committee on the Budget. The former California Attorney General has been a fierce voice in confronting Trump cronies in Senate hearings and should be a formidable figure in the campaign and in debates.

Democratic National Convention Starts Today

The Democratic Party will formally nominate the next president and vice president of the United States at the 2020 Democratic National Convention in Milwaukee. Unlike past conventions, there will be no massive gatherings and much of the convention will be conducted virtually. The convention is an opportunity to show the American people what we stand for as a party and unite around our shared values. In addition to fulfilling their nominating duties, Democratic Party members from across the country will also work together during the convention to adopt the official 2020 Democratic Party platform.

Here are some of the speakers at the Convention at 9 to 11 p.m. each night:

August 17: Amy Klobuchar, Catherine Cortez Masto, Andrew Cuomo, Andrew Cuomo, Gretchen Whitmer, Jim Clyburn, Doug Jones, Bernie Sanders and Keynote by Michelle Obama.

August 18: Sally Yates, Chuck Schumer, John Kerry, Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez, Bill Clinton, and Keynote by Jill Biden.

August 19: Elizabeth Warren, Nancy Pelosi, Hillary Clinton, Tony Evers, Michelle Lujan Grisham, Gabby Giffords, Kamala Harris, and Keynote by Barack Obama.

August 20: Cory Booker, Pete Buttigieg, The Chicks, Gavin Newsome, Keisha Lance Bottoms, Tammy Baldwin, Tammy Duckworth, Chris Coons, Andrew Yang, and Acceptance Speech by Joe Biden.

There are several opportunities to take part in a virtual watch party, with some hosted by the Combined Campaign, and others by New Hanover Democrats. You can find details for the virtual watch parties here.

Mother and Democratic Activist Stephanie Walker Seeks County School Board Seat

Native Wilmingtonian Stephanie Walker was educated in the New Hanover County Public School System, and her children were educated there as well. She has one child, who has Asperger’s, and another who is academically gifted. She fought for both of them, so that they received the resources they needed to succeed. Both graduated from Laney High School and went on to attend North Carolina universities. Stephanie said she fought for the needs of both of her children and wants to expand that advocacy to all the children of New Hanover County. Stephanie is a dual citizen with the United Kingdom, where she met her loving husband of 25 years, Laurie.

Stephanie feels like there currently is a lack of trust between our community and the school board, and it is her goal to restore integrity and trust to our school system. She said she had a difficult upbringing, and that gives her a unique perspective on the struggles that many of our children face, and how important it is for children to learn resiliency.

Stephanie received her Master’s in Public Administration at UNCW, where she became passionate about pursuing equity in education. She has been active civically, serving on multiple city and county commissions, such as Wilmington Sister City Commission (2008-2014) and the New Hanover County African-American History, Heritage, and Culture Commission (2019-Present). In previous years, she has also worked with the county Board of Elections and Democratic precincts, and she is currently involved in sewing and distributing face masks with several prominent community groups.

Trump Executive Order Stunt Includes Threat to Social Security

(From NCDP) Experts say if Trump goes through with his plan to extend a payroll tax holiday throughout a second term, Social Security "benefits will stop" and the Trust Fund will be depleted. In his budgets for Fiscal Years 2020 and 2021, Trump proposed cutting $2 trillion from Social Security and Medicare over 10 years, even while hundreds of thousands of North Carolinians currently receive Social Security benefits. Wayne Goodwin, North Carolina Democratic Party Chair released the following statement:

“President Trump’s actions this weekend undermine the integrity of the Social Security trust fund and put the financial stability of millions of North Carolina seniors at risk. To sign this kind of executive order, especially during a recession when millions of people remain unemployed, is an unconscionable attempt to fulfill a right-wing partisan agenda. North Carolinians know that Social Security benefits will not be safe if Donald Trump wins a second term. Our seniors have earned this money, and for many, their livelihoods depend on it. Joe Biden understands that Social Security is not a poker chip -- it’s a promise to our seniors that we cannot break.”

Blue Ballots Now Available

We just printed Version 1 of the Blue Ballot. Click the image to view an enlargement. Thanks to Kimberly McCall for designing it, and Stephanie Fetzer for proofreading. Other volunteers are working on a version that you can download view on a mobile phone. You can click on the image to the left to see a larger version, which you can print in landscape mode.

We need your help to distribute them. In previous years we passed these out at events, hung them on doors during canvasses, distributed them at churches, and handed them out at polling locations. All of these methods of distributing Blue Ballots may be difficult or impossible this year. If you have ideas about a place or event to distribute them, we ask you to click here and give us your ideas. Do you go to a church that will set them out? A restaurant? An event? Will you distribute them at Black Lives Matter rallies? Please put on your thinking cap and give us your ideas.

County Democratic Party Office Staffed Starting Wednesday

Starting on August 19th the New Hanover County Democratic Party office at 5401 New Centre Drive, Wilmington will be staffed on Wednesdays from noon to 2:00 p.m. beginning August 19. We will use it primarily for pick up and drop off of yard signs, blue ballots and other items. We do not anticipate scheduling meetings at this time.

Our Office Manager is Harry Tuchmayer. Harry wants to make this work and is willing to discuss alternative arrangements if Wednesday 12-2 pm does not work for you. You can reach him at (910) 616-8552.

Democrat campaigns and volunteers really need this this service but there are health and safety considerations:

We require masks and distancing.
Visitors will be blocked just inside the door by tables preventing further entry.
Nobody enters further without consent of the volunteers.
One customer inside the door at a time.
Others should wait in the hall, socially distanced.

We're serious about this - most of our volunteers are seniors. They have authority to refuse service and ask you to leave if you don't comply.

EVENTS

Webinar: Democrats Address Republican Education Failures -- August 17

When: Monday, August 17, 12:00 noon

Where: Online -- Register here.

Organizers of the forum say Republican lawmakers turned their backs on public education for years by passing a backroom budget that shortchanges teachers and students by putting corporate tax cuts and an ideological agenda before much-needed school funding. Representative Graig Meyer (D-50) along with candidates Adam Ericson (HD-20), Linda Cooper-Suggs (HD-24), Ricky Hurtado (HD-63) and Aimy Steele (HD-82) will speak about their professional education experience and what must be done for North Carolina’s schools.

Lit Drop for Leslie Cohen -- Now through October 15

When: Any time through August 25

Where: Register here to participate.

Because of the pandemic, volunteers cannot safely canvass voters as in the past. Instead, the Leslie Cohen for New Hanover County Board of Commissioners campaign needs volunteers to help spread Leslie's message across New Hanover County by lit-dropping in neighborhoods. This can be done on the volunteer's schedule at any time of day, since the campaign isn't trying to reach voters face-to-face. Lit-dropping involves dropping off campaign literature at voters’ homes. Safety is the campaign's biggest priority. Volunteers probably won’t have to interact with anyone as they drop off literature, but they will wear a mask just in case and use gloves and/or carry hand sanitizer to use as needed.

Virtual Phone Banks for Adam Ericson -- Wednesdays through October 28

When: Wednesdays from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. through October 28

Where: Join Phone Bank here and call from home

Adam Ericson is running against Republican Ted Davis Jr. for the position of State Representative for District 20.

Combined Campaign Virtual Phone Banks for Joe Biden -- Now through August 25

When: Daily through August 25

Where: Join Phone Bank and call from home

Team Joe supporters from Bladen, Brunswick, Columbus, New Hanover, and Pender counties are invited for a virtual phone bank to make phone calls to other Joe Biden supporters. Training will be provided, and volunteers can choose the hours that work best for them. To get more details and to sign up, click here.

Democratic National Convention -- August 17-20

When: Monday through Thursday, August 17-20

Where: TV, or Online: https://www.demconvention.com/watch-the-convention/

The Democratic National Convention evening program will run from 9 to 11 pm Eastern Time. Unlike the RNC, the DNC has been planning for months to stage a virtual convention, and will strive to present the best convention possible for these changed conditions.Since this is our first-ever virtual Democratic National Convention, so it will be interesting to see what they come up with.

Questions And Answers From the Partnership Advisory Group -- August 18

When: Wednesday, August 18, 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.

Where: New Hanover County Facebook Page

On July 2, the 21-member PAG recommended the sale of the New Hanover Medical Center to Novant Health. The recommendation was approved by the NHRMC Board of Trustees and the County Commissioners. Currently, the Hospital Trustees and Commissioners are working on a definitive agreement. Questions have been raised about conflicts of interest arising from the potential membership of County Commissioners on the $1.25 billion Foundation that will be created with proceeds from the sale of the county-owned Medical Center.

Happy Hour & Conversations with School Board Candidates -- August 19

When: Wednesday, August 19, 6:30 p.m.

Where: Online

Precinct M04 is hosting a conversation with Democratic candidates for the New Hanover County Board of Education. Log on for a casual get-together with candidates Stephanie Walker, Chris Meek and Hugh McManus.

Zoom meeting at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86140209303?pwd=TDFZdUR4VVE3S2pjV3RlaERLZERlUT09

Combined Campaign Weekend of Action -- August 22-23

When: Saturday and Sunday, August 22-23

Where: Online

NAACP School Board Forum on Facebook Live -- August 25

When: Tuesday, August 25, 6:00 p.m.

Where: Facebook live link here

The New Hanover County NAACP along with the Wilmington Chapter of Links, Inc., National Pan-Hellenic Council-SE NC and the Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. will host a series of Forums beginning with the Commissioner Forum on August 11th on Facebook live. The event will also be uploaded to YouTube for later viewing. Please send any questions to [email protected].

Namaste at Home Yoga Class with Team Marcia -- August 29

When: Saturday, August 29, 10:00 a.m.

Where: Virtual event. Sign up here.

In the midst of a pandemic, hurricane season and the current administration, who couldn't use a little time to breathe, stretch and have a Zen moment? Join Team Marcia for Namaste at Home Yoga, a virtual yoga class led by Amy Sawyer of Island Wellness. This gentle class is appropriate for all skill levels and no special equipment is required; just a willingness to participate. Register today for this much-needed moment of self-care. Tickets: $20. Proceeds support the candidacy of Maricia Morgan for NC House District 19.

Reception for NC Attorney General Josh Stein -- September 2

When: Wednesday, September 2, 6:00 p.m.

Where: Online

This event will take place by teleconference for supporters in the Wilmington area at 6:00 pm on Wednesday, September 2nd. To attend or to contribute, click here.

The 2020 Election Begins Today -- September 4

When: Friday, September 4

Where: Your Mailbox

We estimate that 15,000 vote by mail ballots will be sent to New Hanover residents on September 4th They will be mailed to everyone who previously filed an application for an absentee ballot. Here's what you must do to make sure your absentee ballot counts: Read and follow the instructions carefully and make sure you do these three things: (1) sign it, (2) make sure your witness signs and fills our their information, and (3) return it promptly with postage of 55 cents.

Legislative Candidate Facebook Live Forum Hosted by NAACP -- September 8

When: Tuesday, September 8, 6:00 p.m.

Where: Facebook live link here

The New Hanover County NAACP along with the Wilmington Chapter of Links, Inc., National Pan-Hellenic Council-SE NC and the Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. will host a Facebook live forum with legislative candidates. Any questions you wish to have asked please inbox the New Hanover County NAACP or email [email protected]

Celia and Friends Fundraiser for Marcia Morgan -- September 24

When: Thursday, September 24, 6:45 p.m. sponsor reception, 7:00 p.m. main event.

Where: Register here.

In times like these, don't we all need a good laugh to keep from crying? Award-winning syndicated humor columnist and New York Times bestselling author Celia Rivenbark will join the Marcia Morgan Team for an evening filled with her trademark wit and humor, and she'll be joined by a few friends who have their own talents to share. This is a FREE virtual event but sponsorships are available at a number of levels. Proceeds support the candidacy of Maricia Morgan for NC House District 19.

Vote Counting Begins -- September 29

When: Tuesday, September 29

Where: Online

The Board of Elections will begin counting the absentee ballots around September 29th. No results will be announced, but your ballot will be scanned, and you will able to confirm online that it has been received and accepted. If you are in this group, your vote will be announced on Election Day right after the polls close.

Costume Party and Scavenger Hunt with Marcia Morgan -- October 15

When: Thursday, October 15, 7:00 p.m.

Where: Resigter here.

Come help Marcia Morgan celebrate the start of early voting and have a little fun before the presidential debate with a costume party & scavenger hunt with Team Marcia. There will be voting on and awarding prizes for the best costumes in a variety of categories, an at-home scavenger hunt, lessons on how to make a signature cocktail and much more! Sign up now for Marcia's last fundraiser for the 2020 election cycle and join the Team for what will be a fun and memorable evening. Tickets are $25 and sponsorships are available. Proceeds support the candidacy of Maricia Morgan for NC House District 19.

Best,

Richard Poole, Chair

News Content by James Cummings

If you have any announcements, comments, questions or concerns regarding this email series, please contact the Editor here.

Paid for by the New Hanover County Democratic Party

Mailing Address:

NHCDP

PO Box 3036

Wilmington, NC 28406

Office Address:

5041 New Centre Drive

Wilmington, NC 28403

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