Because This Is America! Weekly News, Updates, and Events We As Democrats Believe:
"There are risks and costs to action. But they are far less than the long range risks of comfortable inaction."
— John F. Kennedy
Suggest a future quote?: Click here to send to the Editor NEWS No NHCDP Email Planned on December 30. Our next email will be on January 6th. Your Chair will be sipping rum drinks in a warm place and plotting a course to victory in 2020. Two Important January Dates To Put On Your Calendar Now
Our organizing for 2020 begins with precinct organization in February and this year we have less flexibility than we do in non-presidential election years. Accordingly, we urge you to put the January 14 Precinct Organization Training on your calendar now, so that you don't miss it. If you are a precinct chair and are unable to attend, please designate a precinct member to attend.
Likewise, at our Monthly Meeting On January 27 we need a quorum to elect two new SEC members, so if you are a Precinct Chair, Precinct Vice Chair or SEC member, it is important for you to attend so we have a quorum for the vote. If you cannot attend, you can send a proxy with a written statement from you that they are authorized to vote your proxy. See time and place details for both events below.
Good News: Corrugated Plastic Sign Recycling In 2020
One of the most disheartening aspects of political campaigns is the amount of waste we send to landfills after Election Day. NHCDP recently learned that there is a North Carolina recycling company that accepts corrugated plastic signs. Working with Joe Suleyman, the New Hanover County Environmental Manager, we have a plan for recycling corrugated plastic signs.
As always, we will return signs to candidates who want to save them for future elections. The recycling plan will require us to separate the signs from their metal bases. New Hanover County will designate a special bin at the dump for corrugated plastic signs only and will arrange for delivery to the recycling company. The metal bases appear to be interchangeable, so we plan to bundle metal bases in good condition and save them for the next election. (Candidates typically spend a dollar each to buy stands!) We will conduct a trial run during the March primary election to prepare for large scale recycling in November.
Here's what you can do: If you are a candidate, you can show your support for the environment by ordering corrugated plastic signs with recycling code 5. If you want to volunteer to help with the recycling effort, please watch these emails for details. We will need one or more trucks to drive signs to the dump in mid to late March. We need to identify storage space for metal stands after the election in November. If you have dry storage space in a barn or utility building please let us know. We would expect the stored stands to be used in the 2021 and 2022 elections.
DOING (Democrats Organizing In Neighborhood Groups) Gears Up for 2020
Democratic activists plan to make a difference in 2020. Rather than waiting for national campaigns to organize our county, they have developed the DOING model. The goal of DOING is to establish ongoing contact with as many Democratic voters as we can. People in each precinct can work together to build community and mobilize Democrats in their local area.
Derrick Miller Appointed to Board of Elections
Derrick Miller has been appointed to fill the vacancy on the Board of Elections created when Carter Jewell stepped down. Derrick is a German language professor at UNCW and is Chair of the Department of World Languages and Cultures. He will join Democrats Tom Pollard and Evelyn Bryant and Republican Jonathan Washburn on the Board of Elections. There is presently a Republican vacancy on the Board of Elections after Skip Watkins filed to run for County Commissioner.
Filing for 2020 Elections Is Complete
Here are some of the highlights: Three Republicans have filed to run for President in North Carolina. In addition to Donald Trump, Joe Walsh and Bill Weld have filed so there will be a Republican presidential primary. Three Democrats have filed to run for Congressional District 7. In addition, Democrat Terri Everett, a New Hanover resident, plans to run a write-in campaign for 7th District. There are fifteen candidates for New Hanover County Commission including six Democrats and nine Republicans. Three Democrats filed for three school board seats, so no primary is expected. Click here to view the Board of Elections' complete list of candidates who have filed for office.
EVENTS Deb Butler Re-Election Fundraising Event -- January 8
When: Wednesday, January 8, 6 to 8 p.m. Where: The Blockade Runner, 275 Waynick Blvd., Wrightsville Beach
Deb Butler is seeking re-election to her District 18 seat in the North Carolina House of Representatives. The entertainment at this event will be headlined by Susan Powell, Miss America 1981. Ticket and sponsorship information is available here
Matt Leatherman Meet and Greet -- January 8
When: Wednesday, January 8, 6 to 7:30 p.m. Where: Mad Mole Brewing, 6309 Boathouse Rd., Wilmington
Kristy Maddox and Don Bushman invite you to a Meet and Greet for State Treasurer candidate Matt Leatherman. Please RSVP to [email protected].
Derrick Miller Swearing-In -- January 14
When: Tuesday, January 14, 4:30 p.m. Where: New Hanover County Board of Elections, 230 Government Center Drive, Wilmington
"You Can Vote" Rally -- January 14
When: Tuesday, January 14, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Where: Unitarian Universalist Church, 4313 Lake Ave., Wilmington
The North Carolina organization formed to encourage voter education and participation will hold a rally and volunteer training event to begin the 2020 campaign season. To register, click here.
Important Precinct Training-- January 14
When: Tuesday, January 14, 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. Where: NHCDP Headquarters, 5041 New Centre Drive, Wilmington
All precinct officers and others interested in precinct work are invited to attend this training. You will learn everything you need to know to organize your precinct. Precinct officers need to attend to pick up your precinct packet. Please RSVP to [email protected].
New Hanover Democrats March In MLK Parade -- January 20
When: Monday, January 20, 10 a.m. Where: Parking Lot Next To CFCC Swartz Center, 610 N. Front Street, Wilmington
New Hanover Democrats are proud to participate in the parade. We expect to have a trolley, so you can choose to march or ride or some of both. Dress for the weather - it is usually colder than you expect. We expect some local and state candidates to join us in the parade. After the parade, we will warm up at Foxes Boxes at 622 N 4th St, Wilmington with Rachel's gumbo and cash bar for adult beverages. Foxes Boxes is just a few short blocks from the end of the parade route. Join us!
Important New Hanover County Democratic Party Monthly Meeting -- January 27
When: Monday, January 27, 6 p.m. Where: NHCDP HQ, 5041 New Center Drive, Wilmington
Regular meetings are held the third Monday of the month. Our meeting this month is a week late because of MLK day. We need a quorum at this meeting because we will elect two SEC members to fill vacant seats, so we are asking all precinct chairs, vice chairs, and SEC members to attend.
Precinct Organization Day -- February 15
When: Saturday, February 15, Time TBD by Precinct Chair Where: TBD by Precinct Chair
Because this is a presidential election year, the rules are a bit different. Instead of a ten day period for precinct organization, there is a single day, February 15th. There is only one make-up day, March 14th, for precincts that fail to organize in February.
New Hanover County Democratic Party Convention -- March 28
When: Checkin begins at 9 a.m., closes at 10 a.m. Where: Board of Education Center, 1805 South 13th Street, Wilmington
Italian Wine Tasting Event with Marcia Morgan -- March 31
When: Tuesday, March 31 5:30 - 7 p.m. Where: Home of Anne York and Jeffrey Schrager, 305 S Lumina, Wrightsville Beach
7th Congressional District Convention -- April 25
When: Saturday April 25, Time TBD Where: TBD
Planning for this event has been upended because the new district lines have put several of the district officers, including the Chair, Francisco Rivas-Dias, outside the district. New officers will be elected in January. Stay tuned
State Convention -- June 6
When: Saturday June 6, checkin at 10 a.m. Where: TBD
Best, Richard Poole, Chair News Content by James Cummings (On holiday this week) If you have any announcements, comments, questions or concerns regarding this email series, please contact the Editor here.
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