Grand Democrats

Greetings Democrats and Friends,

 

On May 5, while flying back from Illinois, the Land of Lincoln, I thought about how different the Republican Party is from Lincoln’s day or even in mid-last Century (1950s) when I grew up in a Republican household. My dad was a farmer and all of downstate was Republican. Chicago with Mayor Daley was Democratic. We often pick the party of our parents, so I too was a Republican.

 

Make no mistake, today I am a Democrat, and proud of it. As I am writing this, yesterday, May 5, is exactly 6 months to the November 5 General Election. Time is marching on quickly. There is much work to be done.

 

RSVP for our May 22 Grand Democrats Meeting, when Tyler Kamp, Maricopa

County Democrat Sheriff Candidate, will headline with a Town Hall. He will answer your questions so come prepared to ask away. His is in a contested race against Russ Skinner, who recently switched from long-time Republican to Democrat so he could be appointed Sheriff at Paul Penzone’s retirement. Make no mistake, the only ”Democrat” in the race is Tyler Kamp. Our LD29 State Legislative Candidates and Dysart School Board Candidates are also invited. These are very important races to flip the Arizona House and Senate Blue and give sanity back to the Dysart Governing Board. So please come to the Cimarron Center Agua Fria Room starting at 5:45 to Meet and Greet.

 

During our first four General Meetings, we have had every candidate, sans Ruben Gallego, live and in person at one of our meetings. This is important for you, our members and readers, because nothing should be more significant to you, as a voter  during an election year, than to meet these candidates up close and personal.

 

Congratulations to Lynn Lennard, our Elections Coordinator, and her team who have collected hundreds of signatures at meetings and by going door to door for the Arizona for Abortion Access Amendment petition, with the goal of obtaining enough signatures to appear on the November ballot. Passing this Amendment will make abortion a right under our Arizona Constitution. Thanks to Sherry Douglas, 10 of our members recently completed a tour of the Maricopa County Election Center and will be relating their experiences to our May meeting attendees. Future tours are being discussed.

 

Can you spare $25? That’s all it takes to make five $5 donations to our Clean Elections Candidates. Google E-QUAL  to go to the Clean Election site to make your secure donations. Please do it today. The money they receive from the Clean Elections Fund will enable them to mount an effective campaign.

 

Through our Victory Fund, we have raised money to support our Federal, State and County candidates and distributed checks. More money is needed, so if you would like to help, please donate to the Victory Fund at www.granddems.org/donate.

 

Get Out the Vote (GOTV) planning efforts are happening now. We are joining LD29 to plan such activities as post carding, texting, and Voter Guide distributions. As we did in the summer/fall of 2022, we plan to tape voter guides

to garage doors, a very effective way to inform voters of the candidates and who they should consider supporting. Those of you who participated in 2022 will be contacted about joining the effort once again. We welcome all members and friends to help in some way. Stay tuned for more information through our announcements and at General Meetings.

 

Blue Breakfasts and Blue Dinners continue through June, Sign up at www.granddems.org under the Events tab. That is where all Grand Dems events are posted. There will be no General meetings in July and August.

 

Save the Date- Saturday, September 21, 2024, for the West Valley Democrats Rally. All Democratic Candidates and Democrats in Nonpartisan races are invited to attend in-person at our big rally. Sponsors include Pebble Creek Democrats Club, Northwest Valley Democrats Club, Grand Democrats Club, and LD25, LD28 & LD29 (Legislative Districts). It’s a big deal and another great opportunity to meet and greet in-person! We are considering a virtual option as well. More on that later, but for now Save-the- Date.

 

In closing, Republicans have their MAGA. Democrats have a “We the People” emphasis. With your active involvement and donations, “We the People” will win!

 

Let it be so.

 

Bob Walling, President

Grand Democrats