The DWC hosted a second open house for potential 2015 and 2016 candidates and their prospective campaign leaders on Thursday, January 15th.  There were about 20 women in attendance, sharing strategies and discussing the fundamentals of preparing to run for office.  Several of the attendees are candidates for the 2015 primary and we are confident they learned some useful information for their upcoming campaigns.  GO PROGRESSIVE WOMEN!!

IN THIS ISSUE:

Recount Response from Lorraine Merriman Farrell
Openings on Monroe County Boards and Commissions
Monroe County Citizens Academy
MCDC Luncheon and Silent Auction
Speakers at the IU Maurer School of Law
Time to Renew Your DWC Membership
Action Item: Sign the Petition to Make the Princeton Review Include Info on How Colleges Handle Rape

Recount Response from Lorraine Merriman Farrell
Below is a response from Lorraine Merriman Farrell to the recount last December:

In response to the Herald Times 12/24/14 recount article and 12/27/14 editorial opinion, I write today as a registered voter of Monroe County who observed the 12/23/14 Salt Creek Trustee election recount from start to finish.  As the Democratic Appointee to the Monroe County Election Board, I have the advantage of being directly familiar with our election processes, as well as Indiana election law, when evaluating this recount. The Herald Times reporter attended a portion of the recount, but not the entire process.

Our paper-based, optical scan, ballot card voting system was carefully researched and recommended by a group of Monroe County volunteers.  The system was purchased by our County Commissioners and it is known for its security, accuracy, and - very importantly when it comes to recounts - its ability to be fully audited.  Previously used electronic systems did not have this ability.

To put the recount process into perspective, no one can predict how detailed a judge's orders will be or precisely how the recount will be conducted before it begins.  After polls close on election day, all ballots are secured with a double lock after tallying is complete.  Those ballots remain untouched until a recount legally begins or the statutory deadline for ballots to be disposed of in a responsible manner comes to pass.

A summary account of my observations during the recount process is as follows:

Judge Hoff arrived at the Election Center at 8:30am and swore in the three-person commission charged with conducting the recount.  A few general instructions were given by the judge.  Otherwise, the election commission was to determine how the recount would proceed.

The appointed commission chose to first scan the ballots with the scanners used at our polling sites on election day.  These machines require ballots to be hand fed one at a time.  This included the vast majority of the ballots and those ballots were easily located.

Because some ballots were separated from their precinct on election day, they had to be located in the ballot storage room by a bipartisan team.  This was accomplished efficiently and relatively quickly.  As these ballots were being located, the commission decided to begin tallying votes by hand.  While this hand count was underway, all but two ballots were located.

Because our current voting system captures a digital picture of each and every ballot, the two outstanding ballots were located via their unique and random bar code and serial number.  This information gave us the location of the batches in the secure ballot room from which the two remaining ballots were retrieved.

This recount was the first for this voting system and the system performed very well.  The results of this recount perfectly matched the results we reported to the state.  Everyone worked respectfully, collaboratively, efficiently, and professionally.  We all applauded when the recount results were successfully complete.

 The appointed commission members and all the workers who made this recount a successful and educational process have my utmost appreciation for a job well done.

Openings on Monroe County Boards and Commissions

Environmental Quality and Sustainability Commission  provides guidance to the County Commissioners. Open only to residents from unincorporated areas of the county.

Human Rights Commission provides guidance to the County Commissioners. Open only to residents from unincorporated areas of the county.

Monroe County Women's Commission

Alcoholic Beverage Commission

Please visit co.monroe.in.us and complete the application available on the left side of the webpage (Board and Commission Application). Send your application to the Commissioners' office.  The Council hopes to make appointments by January 27th so get your applications in ASAP.   

Monroe County Citizen's Academy - Class of 2015!

For more information, see: https://extension.purdue.edu/Monroe/Pages/article.aspx?intItemID=8015
Or you may contact Monroe County Extension Services at [email protected]  or at 812-349-2575

MCDC Luncheon and Silent Auction
January 20th, 11:45 at the American Legion,1800 W. 3rd St.

The Monroe County Democrats' Club will meet on Tuesday, January 20, at 11:45 a.m. at the American Legion, 1800 W. Third St. The club will have its annual Silent Auction and Blue Donkey Sale to benefit the Monroe County Democratic Party and to celebrate the recent election. The public is invited to attend. Donations of political items, baked goods, and gently-used items are welcome. Contact Rita Drescher at [email protected] or 334-2962 for drop-off information--or just bring your items to the meeting!  Hope to see you there. 

Speakers at the IU Maurer School of Law

As the nation grapples with vital issues of racial and criminal justice in the aftermath of several tragic police-action killings, attorneys Michael Wright and Richard Schulte will discuss their representation of the family of John Crawford III, a 22-year-old African American man killed by police last August while he was shopping at the Beavercreek, Ohio Walmart. Sponsored by the American Constitution Society and the Black Law Student Association. Tuesday, January 20, 4:30-6:00, Indiana University Maurer School of Law, Moot Court Room.

Time to Renew Your DWC Membership for 2015!

Do you agree with our mission to fund, inspire, recruit, support, and train (remember F.I.R.S.T.) 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, P.O. Box 2373, Bloomington, IN 47402. You can also bring the form and check to our next meeting. Soon we will also have an online payment option.  Remember that if you cannot afford the membership fee, the DWC has a sliding scale fee policy, so you may pay as much as you can afford.

PLEASE NOTE THAT YOU MUST SUBMIT YOUR MEMBERSHIP FORM AND PAYMENT BY THE END OF THE FEBRUARY 6TH MONTHLY BREAKFAST MEETING IN ORDER TO BE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE FOR ENDORSED CANDIDATES

Thank you!

Action Item:  Sign the Petition to Make the Princeton Review Include Info on How Colleges Handle Rape
From CREDO Action

One in five college women will be sexually assaulted before graduation, and 92 colleges are under investigation by the federal government for mishandling reports of campus rape.  The Princeton Review, the go-to guide for students applying to college, refuses to include information about how schools handle sexual assault. Prospective students and their parents have no way to know which schools are effective at preventing rape on their campuses and which are looking the other way -- or worse, contributing to the problem. If The Princeton Review starts including information on campuses' sexual assault track records, the public statistics and public accountability will help pressure colleges across the country to get serious about the epidemic of campus rape.

The Princeton Review must take action. Click here to sign the petition.

Do you have news items?

Send your items of interest to us at [email protected].

Democratic Women's Caucus
http://www.democraticwomenscaucus.org/