Monday Morning News for Dec. 29

Please note that our January DWC breakfast meeting will be Jan. 9th, not Jan. 2nd, since many will still be out of town on the first Friday of the month. 

As of the beginning of 2014, of the 1,351 mayors of U.S. cities with populations over 30,000, only 249, or 18.4%, were women (Center for American Women in Politics). We must do better in this country in electing women to leadership roles, and what better place to start than in Bloomington! We know our community has the talent. Look around you, and look in the mirror - do you see someone who could make an excellent city council member, city clerk, or mayor? Talk to her about running in 2015!

IN THIS ISSUE:

Second DWC Open House Session for Potential Candidates
Swearing-In Ceremony January 1
Caucus to Elect MCDP Chair and Treasurer
Time to Renew Your DWC Membership
Democracy for Monroe County Link-Up
Action Item: Tell the President to Withdraw Antonio Weiss' Name for Treasury Job

Second DWC Open House For Potential Candidates
Thursday, January 15, 6-8 pm
Monroe County Democratic Headquarters, 335 S. College Ave.

The DWC will host a second open house for potential 2015 and 2016 candidates and their prospective campaign leaders on Thursday, January 15th, 6:00-8:00 pm again at the Democratic Headquarters. Any women who think they might be interested in running for office should attend to learn more about the process, receive encouragement and early support, and ask questions of experienced, progressive Democratic women. 

The incumbents in the mayor's office and the clerk's office have decided not to seek re-election, and who knows whether all the City Council incumbents will run again. So please consider a run for city government and come to this valuable workshop.  

We hope to see you there!  Please RSVP to [email protected].

Swearing-In Ceremony for New Local Elected Officials
Thursday, January 1st, 12:00pm-2:00pm
Monroe County Courthouse, Nat U. Hill Room

You are invited to attend the swearing in ceremony for our recently elected officials. This is a bi-partisan event, open to the public. Our newly elected DWC-endorsed candidates will be there: Valeri Haughton (Judge), Judy Sharp (Assessor), Linda Robbins (County Clerk), Shelli Yoder (County Council, Dist. 1), Lillian Henegar (Bloomington Township Trustee), Barb Sturbaum (Bloomington Township Board), Michelle Bright (Benton Township Trustee), Mary McInerney (Benton Township Board), Vicky Sorensen (Indian Creek Township Trustee), Amy Swain and Meri Reinhold (both Indian Creek Township Board). Stop in to show your support!

Caucus to elect MCDP Chair and Treasurer
Monday, January 5th, 5:30pm
Bloomington City Hall - Council Chambers

Precinct chairs and vice chairs have received invitations to vote at this upcoming caucus, but all Democrats are invited to attend. Interested, energetic and motivated candidates may direct a communication of intention to serve as chair or treasurer to Efrat Feferman, MCDP Secretary, no later than 5:30 p.m., Friday, January 2nd through [email protected]. To read the full announcement by our Chair, Trent Deckard, please click here .

To date Mark Fraley has indicated his intention to run for Chair and Todd Lare for Treasurer.  Any interested Democratic women out there?

Time to Renew Your DWC Membership!

It is time to renew your membership in the Democratic Women's Caucus for 2015. If you agree with our mission to fund, inspire, recruit, support, and train pro-choice, progressive Democratic women to run for office, then please join us, or renew your membership by completing the membership form here and sending it with a check for $20 to DWC PAC, PO Box 2373, Bloomington, IN 47402. Or bring the form and check to our next meeting. Soon we will also have an online payment option. Thank you!

Democracy for Monroe County Link-Up
Thursday, January 8, 6-8 pm
Colorado Steakhouse, 1635 N. College Ave.

Democracy for Monroe County will meet not on the first Thursday of January, as usual, but on the second Thursday, Jan. 8th. There is a proposal to make a small but, not insignificant change to the organization's mission statement. The change proposed is from "leaving no Republican unchallenged" to "leaving no non-progressive unchallenged." This issue will be voted on Jan. 8thand the DFMC will also have officer elections at the January Link-up. It seems they will have a challenge for the Vice-Chair spot, between Chaim Julian and Ashley Cranor, with the current Vice Chair Tom Deluca taking a job in Indianapolis early next year. The DFMC still has room on the board for new members. Please let them know if you might be interested in serving on the board in 2015. Find out more about DFMC from their website, or contact chair Robert Deppert.

Action Item:  Tell the President to Withdraw Antonio Weiss' Name for Treasury Job
From Progressives United PAC

We fell into the last major economic crisis six years ago after we let Wall Street police itself. We can't let that happen again.

But President Obama recently nominated Antonio Weiss -- an investment banker responsible for mergers that help corporations avoid paying their fair share of taxes -- to one of the top positions in the Treasury Department.

Join Al Franken and thousands of members of Progressives United in telling President Obama to withdraw this nomination. Add your name to the letter below by signing this petition.