West Michigan Rising WMR is a community blog for Democrats and progressives in West Michigan. Join up, post your thoughts as comments or diaries, and rise up to build our left coast.
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Today is Victory in Europe Day -- marking the date when the the armed forces of Nazi Germany gave their unconditional surrender and silenced their guns against the World War II Allies -- led by the Soviet Union, England, the United States of America and France.
Thank you a million times over to the brave men and women who struggled and died to defeat fascism and save Western civilization.
(The Policy Summit is this Saturday -- register now and avoid the lines - promoted by philgoblue)
Everyone on the West Side,
You're invited to the Michigan Policy Summit!
The Michigan Policy Summit -- coming 10 May, Saturday -- is the annual gathering of Michigan's progressive community. The summit will bring together labor, environment, civil rights, social justice and other groups together to move Michigan forward. The summit will provide forums on key issues like health care, 21st century energy, education as well as movement building activities for individuals and organizations. The summit will also provide numerous opportunities for leaders to network and share ideas and best practices.
The year's keynote speakers are popular radio talk show host, political activist and author Jim Hightower -- dubbed the nation's No. 1 populist -- and top radio commentator Amy Goodman of Democracy Now! The Summit will also feature numerous advocates, policy experts, elected officials, and other members of the state's progressive community.
The Michigan Policy Summit takes place Saturday, 10 May from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm At the Lansing Center, 333 E. Michigan Ave. in Lansing.
Registration is from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. Registration is just $30 and you can register today at: http://www.mipolicysummit.org/...
Some part of the West Michigan Rising team will be there liveblogging, interviewing from our table, and ... of course ... schmoozing.
This is also a great opportunity for West Michigan electeds and candidates to get to know the important players in the state-wide progressive community -- the kinds of organizations that want you to know their issues if you want to seek an endorsement (and maybe the fundraising that comes with it). For $30, it's a steal. So throw on that Candidate Lapel Pin and get over to Lansing.
Next Tuesday is the deadline to file to run for Precinct Delegate! You've got just 3 business days to get down to your county clerk.
The last day for candidates running for Precinct Delegate (County Convention Delegate) to file the Affidavit of Identity for the August primary is on Tuesday, 13 May at 4:00 pm.
Yes, your name will actually be printed on the August primary ballot -- pretty cool. And, if you run for Precinct Delegate, you are almost guaranteed to win. While it is actually an elected office, don't worry about losing or doing much campaigning -- each precinct normally has about 2-5 precinct delegate slots and normally they aren't filled at 100%. So, most people can become Precinct Delegates if they fill out the form, vote for themselves and have a spouse and/or one or two friends to vote for them.
Okaaaay, you say, what the heck is a Precinct Delegate?
The Many Roles of Precinct Delegates
The Precinct Delegate is one of the most important of any elected office. It is the active Precinct Delegate who wins elections for the Democratic Party. Precinct Delegates are elected directly by the voters of each precinct to serve as a bridge between voters and the Democratic Party. Precinct Delegates represent the Democratic Party in their neighborhoods and represent their neighborhoods and Democratic Party meetings.
A Precinct Delegate has standing in the Michigan Democratic Party and has voting rights at the County Convention, the Congressional District Convention, and the State Convention. So, if you want to influence the Michigan Democratic Party -- its leadership and platform -- you've got to have the ability to vote at Party conventions and to get that, you it helps to be elected a Precinct Delegate.
Precinct Delegates: -Help Democrats get registered to vote
-Take information on issues and candidates to the voters in their precinct
-Identify other Democrats and recruit new MDP and County Party members and folks to also be Precinct Delegates and Precinct Captains -Help turn out the Democratic vote on Election Day
-Keep Democratic leaders informed about the issues that concern voters
What does this actually mean? You'll be asked to walk your neighborhood and knock on Democratic doors once or twice before each election. Don't be shy, it gets real easy after just a few doors and it's fun to meet fellow Democrats. You'll probably also be asked to call folks up on Election Day and make sure they've voted or urge them to get out to the polls. The time committment is probably around 10 hours a year.
UPDATED: Pat Crowley's announcement has been POSTPONED to 12:30 PM next Wednesday, May 14, in the Van Duesen Room at the Kalamazoo Public Library, 315 S Rose St. in Kalamazoo.
Come on out to stand with our next Drain Commissioner as she announces her candidacy next Wednesday!
From her press release:
Pat Crowley, of Richland, will announce her candidacy for Kalamazoo County Drain Commissioner at 12:30 PM next Wednesday, May 14, in the Van Duesen Room at the Kalamazoo Public Library, 315 S Rose St. in Kalamazoo.
Pat Crowley has a professional degree in Water Resources Management from the University of Wisconsin Madison Institute for Environmental Studies and has been an active researcher, regulator, and consultant in all aspects of the hydrologic cycle for over 25 years. Though originally specializing in soil and water conservation engineering (which includes drainage, irrigation, and runoff/ erosion control), she has also supervised the cleanups of over 100 contaminated soil and groundwater sites in the Kalamazoo district.
Most recently, she works with farmers on composting and minimizing agricultural impacts on the environment. Dr. Crowley promises to use her engineering, scientific, and management skills to forge strong community-based partnerships and establish a comprehensive professional-quality water resources management program to protect water quality throughout the county. More information about Pat Crowley can be found on Zoominfo.com.
The recent history of the Kalamazoo County Drain Commission office has been depressing. Elected Republican Commissioner Bill French missed deadlines for state-mandated reports, did not finish projects, was accused of sexual harassment, and finally was convicted of misdemeanor extortion. The County Commission was looking for a way to remove him, when he suffered a massive stroke while on vacation in Florida last fall.
Long-term county employee Pat Krause was appointed as interim drain commissioner, and has said that he will run for a full term this year.
However, Pat Crowley has the professional credentials to set the drain office on a firm footing.
It is a project that we inherited from the Grand Rapids Institute for Information Democracy (GRIID) back in 2007 when GRIID moved to Mediamouse.org. In the years since the Directory was initially created in 2003, it had become quite out of date, with many of the groups that are listed becoming inactive or contact information changing.
However, we are pleased to announce that the Directory has been completely updated and revised. We now list over 100 groups in the West Michigan area that are working broadly on progressive/left social change efforts. It is obviously quite difficult to determine what is "progressive" or "left", but we believe that the groups listed are doing generally solid work that will be of interest to people looking to get involved in social change work.
We also have written a new mission statement that is more consistent with what we are doing here at Mediamouse.org: "The Progressive Directory of Western Michigan connects people with groups that are working towards a more egalitarian world/community with the goal of encouraging folks to get involved." We are hoping that the Directory will be one vehicle through which people will get involved in local activism.
Moreover, we have changed the way the Directory is maintained. Rather than being an "opt-in" Directory in which groups are required to join a listserv and participate in networking that previously (although not for several years) included monthly meetings, we now just list mission statements and general contact information in order to keep the information more current.
So, in Grand Rapids, two incumbents (Taylor rubber-stampers Lenear and Pena) suffered major defeats (Pena came in dead last). One of the pro-teacher candidates won overwhelmingly (Baker). Unfortunately, Griffin just barely lost by 150 votes. So, there were 3 pro-Taylor members yesterday and today there is one pro-Taylor, one pro-teacher, and one independent. So, I'd call it a slight win for the non-Taylor forces. More later.
Kalamazoo Regional Educational Service Agency - Millage Renewal Proposal
Time: 12:20 am
100% Reporting (89 of 89 Precincts 3 of 3 AVCBs)
Yes 16459 Winner No 12355
Volunteers for Don Cooney and Henry Sanchez are frantically collecting signatures for filing petitions to get on the November ballot. Cooney announced late and Sanchez' petitions were spoiled by a clerical error. So, the MDP and County parties are calling out all the stops to collect signatures on this election day. Help out if you can.
Don Cooney 6th District
Coordinate at the Kalamazoo County Democratic Headquarters, 3254 S. Westnedge Ave.
http://www.kzoodems.com/
Yesterday, I travelled to Bureau of Elections in Lansing with over 1300 signatures that we've been collecting since November, with the help of supporters like you. I'm happy to announce that we are now the first congressional campaign in the 2nd District to have turned in our petittions. Thanks to everyone who signed or helped us collect signatures.
I've got no news on Kimon Kotos' drive to collect the 1000 needed signatures.
The deadline for filing nominating petitions signed by at least 1,000 registered voters is 10 May (I believe).
Catherine Mish, an assistant city attorney since 2002, was chosen over Bernard Schaefer, an assistant in the city attorney's office since 1995. She replaces Philip Balkema, who retired as city attorney after 29 years on the job.
Voting for Mish this morning were David LaGrand (the commission's only lawyer, Ward 2), James Jendrasiak (Ward 1), Walt Gutowski (Ward 1) and Rosalynn Bliss (Ward 2).
Voting for Schaefer were Mayor George Heartwell and 3rd Ward commissioners Elias Lumpkins and James White.
It's School Board (and some milages) Election Day.
As with all elections in our beloved state, polls are open from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm.
Sadly, in many places there aren't competitive races (which means we should all be thinking about running for school board). But, we're having a big election in Grand Rapids and there are several important milages across the region.
So, head to the polls and let us know how it went and tell us about the races in your neck of the woods.
If you are registered to vote and not know where you vote, the Michigan Secretary of State's website can help you locate your polling place.
Tomorrow, I urge y'all to vote for the slate of candidates who will oppose making Grand Rapids Public Schools and our kids the guinea pigs for Betsy DeVos' privatization schemes, support teachers and oppose busting the GREA, and that will actually listen to parents and the community and put the interests of the students above personal ambitions. Vote for
* Tony Bakerfor the one-year slot to fill the rest of Jim Rink's term, and
* Gordon Griffin, and
* Derrick Martin for the two four-year term slots.
And find 5 additional friends and family members to go to the polls and vote for all three endorsed candidates on the slate. We teachers, parents and progressives need to send a message to Taylor, DeVos, the rubber-stamp board, and the outside monied interests from that shadowy group from Muskegon.
Tony Baker Baker is interested in expanding pre-school, creating a school board that involves the entire community of stakeholders, bringing his 25 years of academic and hands-on experience to be put to work for Grand Rapids (currently he is a sociology professor, and Coordinator of the Community Studies Institute at Ferris State University), working to "diligently to begin 'bridging' the diversity of our city," and working cooperatively with teachers.
Endorsed by: El Vocero Hispano, GREA, Friends of Labor, County Commissioner Carol Hennessy, County Commissioner Brandon Dillon, City Commissioner James Jendrasiak, former City Commissioner and State House candidate Roy Schmidt, teacher and city commission candidate Ruth Kelly, past Montessori PTA president Wendy Verhage Falb, & PAL leader, teacher and former Kent County Democratic Party Chair Lupe Ramos-Montigny, and many others though Tony writes that he actually only "carries water" for two of his endorses, his kids: Maya and Sammy Baker.
I have to tell you that trying to get in touch with each of the 21 counties within West Michigan Rising's coverage area to find out their May schedules has been nearly impossible and in the end I wasn't able to get in touch with all 21 counties...
So below you will find the schedules for the counties that I was able to get in contact with and I will update if and when I am able to collect more information.
UPDATED: I was just contacted by the South Berrien County Democratic Club and have added their information to the schedule.
I took a lunch break on a Saturday afternoon to attend the Safe Schools Rally held by the GREA on the eve of the May 6th School Board elections. The rally was held in downtown GR at the Caulder Plaza and I estimated about 250-300 people were in attendance. The crowd of teachers and parents was extremely lively, frequently applauding, often rising to their feet, and sometimes even breaking out in chants and laughter.
Paul Helder, president of the GREA started the event, noting that teachers are extremely interested in their own and their students' safety. He mentioned that at a few GR schools students are afraid to go to the bathroom out of fear of violence.
Donna Lutke, MEA associate executive director, stated the obvious: Students cannot learn and teachers cannot be fully effective in an unsafe environment. Lutke asserted that the teachers' pleas for increased safety have fallen on deaf ears:
"We reached out time and time again to the district leadership. Unfortunately, the district has not been a willing partner."
She noted that teachers simply want to work in cooperation with parents, students, and the district administration to solve problems.
She stated that she believes this will be possible after the change that she hopes will come on the school board after this Tuesday's election (that brought the crowd to its feet for the first standing ovation).
Doug Pratt, MEA Communication Director spoke next, concentrating on the dropout crisis. Pratt noted that some kids who are dropping out do so since due to fears about school safety. Pratt noted that the MEA wanted to engage the entire community to address the problem of high dropout rates. He encouraged folks to attend the Dropout Crisis Forum on Thursday, 8 May at the Kent Career Technical Center at 155 East Beltline NE, Grand Rapids from 4-6 pm.
Arne Vroom, a 23-year teaching veteran and currently an elementary school teacher spoke about his work on reading the Incident Reports that the GREA acquired via a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. Vroom related that some of the reports are chilling and that though he is in a safe school, he understands why some teachers feel unsafe and fear for their students. He mentioned how sad he is that some of his own friends are taking their kids out of GRPS schools due to safety concerns, especially the increase in gang violence in the past few years. Vroom noted that GRPS test scores are up and new buildings are being constructed, yet enrollment continues to decline. He suggested that violence and the district administrations attempts to sweep concerns under the rug are part of the reason for those declines.
Sunday afternoon, the Mason County Democrats held their Annual Dessert Sampler at the Stearns Motor Inn in Ludington. The fundraiser featured desserts from 11 local chefs all graciously donated.
The formal section of the event featured a guest speaker, local candidates and a honorary presentation. In a last minute change, Pam Faris was not able to speak due to a family illness. We were treated to a speech and question and answer session with Wayne County Circuit Court Judge Deborah Thomas. She is currently running for Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court.
Judge Deborah Thomas
"Often times when we think in terms of numbers and we think "It's the third and we only have three branches, it must be the least important. It's down there at the bottom, it's the third branch!" Noooo! If you have three children you don't love the third any less than the other two! (laughter) So it's important that we give attention to the courts, the third branch of government. It must be understood that it is the courts that decide whether or not the laws that are enacted by the legislative branch are constitutionally sound. It is the courts that decide that the laws that are being administered by the executive branch of government, are being administered in a constitutionally sound fashion. So what that means, in essence is, the buck stops at the courthouse. It is important that you know that the individuals that you are electing to the court, are first of all are aware that we have a constitution and respect the rights that are guaranteed to the citizens under the constitution and will uphold those rights. Both for this generation and for generations to come."
(pictured above, to the far left, are executive committee members Pat and Dee Payment)
"It is important that we understand, that it is only through the courts that we achieve justice. And without justice we don't have anything."
"I am putting forth the proposition that when you go to vote you should vote for justice first. You're not going to forget to vote for party affiliations. That's why you went there in the first place. Many people will say "The judges are on the nonpartisan ballot and I'm not nonpartisan, I know exactly what party I'm from. I've been voting for the same party for 20 years and I'm going to live and die voting for that party". So you go in and you vote that one button at the top or you pull that switch and you get your sticker that says I voted today, and you walk around town with your chest puffed out because you're just so proud of yourself, and haven't voted for a single, solitary judge. Not one. Your city judges, your county judges, your court of appeals judges, your supreme court justices are all listed on the nonpartisan ballot."
"Judges are to be nonpartisan in their ruling. I do not judge people. I do not judge people. I judge factual scenarios. Your role as an attorney in the factual scenario will determine your level of responsibility. Your level of culpability. By examining and judging the facts."
Judge Thomas went on to talk about general scenarios and the importance of the courts in our lives and our rights and protection of them. A recurring theme was the state constitution and the interpretation of it.
below the fold are highlights of speeches from Dan Scripps and Kimon Kotos...
I just got back from an interview with Representative Robert Dean who is running for reelection for a second term as the State House Representative from the 75th District in Grand Rapids. Unfortunately, I've got to get back to work since grades are due in just 48 hours (yikes!), but I will have a full report on the hour-long interview by the end of the week.
I can tell you that Rep. Dean comes off one-on-one as he does in public -- a nice person with great people-to-people skills, who is compasionate, passionate, thoughtful and knows how to get things done. The interview made it clear that Dean plans on running a hard campaign for reelection based on his accomplishments in Lansing including his work on education, environment and business growth that brings jobs, his plans for further reform -- on urban transportation, corrections/prison reform, and welfare changes -- and his promise to continue to fight for Grand Rapids' fair share of state funding (as he did with making sure the construction bill included the GRCC and GVSU building projects).
So, I taped the interview and I hope you'll look for it in a few days.
Thanks to Rev. Dean's team, especially Jeff Winston for setting up the interview.
Folks, if this is possible, imagine the upset victories we can win here in West Michigan (most of the districts in West Michigan aren't as red as Louisiana-6). So, get out and support your State House candidates, county commission candidates, etc, etc and be part of something special this year. Because the key is good candidates that are well-funded and have great staff and volunteers.
Congratulations to Congressman-elect Don Cazayoux, new Representative of Louisiana's 6th District, and to all who had a hand in his election. The Sixth District, which voted for Bush 55-43 in 2000 and 59-40 in 2004, will be represented by a Democrat for the first time since the Dixiecrat era [Cazayoux won 49% to 46%, an independent received 4%].
This was a terrific win for the party, for a number of reasons. First, it is always exciting and inspiring to win an election in such strongly Republican territory. Only 15 Democratic Representatives out of 235 hail from more GOP-friendly districts than Louisiana's 6th, and taking another seat on such red turf is yet another indicator that Democrats are in the catbird seat heading into November. This is the second special-election victory in a former Republican stronghold within the span of three months [the other was IL-14]....
We had no real business winning this district, but we managed to do so anyway, by running a candidate who was a good fit for the district, by wisely allocating national party resources to help that candidate compete, and by simply being lucky enough to face a genuine nutcase on the Republican side.
Needless to say, this is a major feather in the cap of the DCCC, and a terrific blow to our Republican counterparts. NRCC chairman Tom Cole must be losing his breakfast, especially on the heels of the loss in IL-14, and facing another possible loss in an even redder district (MS-01). On our side, the DCCC did a fine job; they fended off the combined forces of the NRCC, Freedom's Watch, and the Club for Growth, and came out on top.
The last time a Democrat won this congressional district was 1973. LA-6 has a Cook PVI of R+7. As Cazayoux won by 3 points, does that mean that every congressional district with a PVI of R+10 is in play this year?
Basically, I would say, "Yes." They may not be in play yet, but every last one of them could be, come election day, provided we've got someone in the race. Because, in all likelihood, it's only going to get progressively worse for the GOP. They've already shown their utter ineptitude in playing defense, and they're going to be playing defense all the way to November, which is only going to compound their current woes.
Here's a chart from a diary about three weeks ago, "House 2008: Realigment Guy Adds His Two Cents" showing 49 seats that are GOP PVI 10 that were on Swing State Project's "Battleground" list at the time:
But with the way things are going now, we ought to be looking at the other 54 seats that PVI 10 or better that aren't on Swing State's "Battleground" list....
Nothing is guaranteed, of course, but I see a very real possibility that lots of GOP incumbents in R+5 to R+10 districts could be defeated, if we get sufficient early support to their challengers.
So, if we push this into State House runs and we use Peter's chart, this means that we ought to be serious about winning in those district with a PVI of 10-11 or less. That means ever district down to those Peter labeled "Lean Republican." Given that Peter is looking at 6 year averages and not trends, given that using College Boards as a baseline probably exagerates Republican strength by a few points, and given that in some of these districts we haven't had a serious candidate in decades, I think we can say that we can compete and pull upsets even in districts Peter believes are "Strong Republican" and I dare say we can even pull an upset in a district like 73 with Bruce Hawley that has a PVI of -18.
Tim Nendorf (SH-62: Battle Creek...)
Mark Eagle (SH-71: ...)
James VanderZouwen (SH-89: ...)
Nate Heffron (SH-102: ...)
Clay Stauffer (SH-90: Ottawa)
Greg Grieves (SH-87: Barry, Ionia)
Bill Richards (SH-100: Oceana, Newagyo, Lake)
County Commissions, Mayors, City Commissions
Allegan County
Fritz Spreitzer (ACCD-9)
Benzie County
Jeffery Sandman (BCCD-3)
Anne Damm (BCCD-4)
Berrien County
Marletta Seats (BCCD-3)
Mamie Yarbrough (BCCD-4)
Andrew Vavra (BCCD-10)
Cass County
Ed Goodman (CCCD-1)
Bill Steele (CCCD-4)
David Taylor (CCCD-7)
Minnie Warren (CCCD-12)
Johnie Rodebush (CCCD-13)
Debbie Johnson (CCCD-14)
Ionia County
Lynn Mason (ICCD-1)
Mark Vroman (ICCD-4)
Kalamazoo County
Jack Urban (KCCD-1)
Carolyn Alford (KCCD-2)
Robert Barnard (KCCD-3)
John Taylor (KCCD-4)
Brian Johnson (KCCD-5)
Franklin Thompson (KCCD-6)
David Buskirk (KCCD-7)
John Nieuwenhuis (KCCD-12)
Leroy Crabtree (KCCD-15)
Candidates
Patricia Kramer (KCCD-2)
Fred Clowney (KCCD-4)
Michael Francis (KCCD-7)
Brian Bosak (KCCD-10)
Russell Duffin (KCCD-11)
Pete Hickey (KCCD-12)
Bret Dorman (KCCD-13)
Bob Synk (KCCD-19)
Manistee County Manistee County Commission
Allan O'Shea (MCCD-2)
Glenn Lottie (MCCD-3)
Ervin Kowalski (MCCD-4)
Kathy Fenstermacher (MCCD-6)
Carl Rutske (MCCD-7)
Mason County
Jerome Rybicki (MCCD-5)
Candidates
Norma Muyskens (MCCD-6)
Muskegon County
Kenneth Mahoney (MCCD-1)
Charles Buzzell (MCCD-2)
James Derezinski (MCCD-4)
Lew Collins (MCCD-6)
Don Aley (MCCD-7)
Bill Gill (MCCD-8)
Louis McMurray (MCCD-9)
Roger Wade (MCCD-10)
Oceana County
Evelyn Kolbe (OCCD-2)
Van Buren County
Thomas Erdmann (VBCCD-1)
Lake County Lake County Commission
Unknown
The following counties appear to have no Democratic County Commissioners: St. Joseph, Barry, Ottawa, Newaygo, Wexford, Grand Traverse and Leelanau.
