It’s that time again… on Friday, May 3rd, we’ll meet at the Village Deli for our monthly breakfast. Nicole Browne will give us an update on how the Primary is going to date, we’ll get an update on the recent doings in Indianapolis and around the country from Mom’s Demand Action - working for common sense gun control laws. Vicki Provine will talk about the upcoming 2019 Citizen’s Academy Class, a great way to learn about how our local government works. And our candidates will have one last chance to update us on their campaign needs as we head into the last weekend of absentee voting and Primary Day on May 7.
Because it is also commencement weekend at I.U. there is a chance that we’ll meet early so that the Village Deli can use the room for all those graduates and their folks… we’ll send out a special MMN mid-week to let you know.
We will also have a sign up sheet for members to sign up to help with point of sales for our endorsed candidates on Saturday May 4 and at the polls on Tuesday, Primary Election Day. Thanks to Vicky Sorensen and Megan Hutchinson for working this last weekend… Mother Nature cooperated with nice weather and we talked to quite a few voters. You can sign up to work on Saturday May 4 here and we'll have a sign up for Primary Day out mid-week. Point of Sales works!!!
Early Voting is ongoing at Election Central. In 2015 there were 7027 votes cast in the Municipal Election. Although I don’t have exact numbers for early voting, about 20-25% of the votes cast in that election came in as absentee, or about 1450 to 1750 votes. This year we’ve had fewer than 1000 votes cast absentee to date which puts us at a rate that is similar to or less than in the last election. While it may seem that there is little vote for in the Primary, the City Council races are likely to be critical in the direction of Bloomington over the next four years and there are some significant differences between the candidates running in the contested races. Plus, given the low turn out, every vote may be significant. So educate yourself and get your friends out to vote.
And finally - Congratulations!!! to Penny Githens… it seems that third time is the charm.
In her letter to the editor in the Herald Times, Iris Kiesling (who after all knows something about being a Commissioner) wrote: “As you may know, there is a vacancy on the Monroe County Board of Commissioners. There will be a Democratic Caucus April 28 to elect a new county commissioner. It is my intention to nominate Penny Githens to fill this vacancy. Penny Githens has experience and talent in many areas that make her particularly qualified to be county commissioner. I have known Penny and her family for a number of years. Each time I speak with Penny, I am impressed with her dedication, organization and thoughtfulness. Penny grew up in Richmond. She was the eldest of four children. She has several advanced degrees and served two years in Peace Corps. In 1978, Penny married Ed Buffie. Because of professional obligations, they moved to many cities where Penny held various responsible positions, each time learning new skills. In 1992, they returned home to Bloomington. After several years of being an at-home mom, Penny became project director at IU School of Education overseeing a research project. She retired when the project ended. In 2016 while at IU, Penny ran for Indiana General Assembly. I hope you agree with me that Penny Githens is well qualified to be Monroe County commissioner.”
And in her closing statement at the Caucus Penny reminded us that it takes a village (or a county) to run a county… she welcomes your thoughts about what’s important to you to maintain quality of life in Monroe County for all it’s citizens….
Check out Penny’s swearing in in our image of the day at the bottom of this newsletter.
OUR ENDORSED CANDIDATE EVENTS and NEEDS:
Jean Capler: City Council, At-Large
Website: https://www.jeanforbloomington.com/
Facebook: Jean Capler For Bloomington
Needs volunteers for canvassing on May 4, starting at 12:30pm - 3:30pm
Meet at Democratic headquarters, 116 S. Madison St., Bloomington
Training and everything you'll need including a great Jean Capler for City Council t-shirt, will be provided.
If canvassing is not quite your thing there are other roles for you too! Hang out around Election Central/The Farmers Market to capture those folks who still need to know about Jean or might be on their way to early voting. They’d love to have you!
Kate Rosenbarger : City Council, District 1
Website: kateforbloomington.org
Facebook: kateforbloomington
Needs help with: Neighborhood coordination, canvassing, yard signs and writing letters and finding New Kate Voters. .
Canvassing weekday evenings (5-8p) and weekends (11-5).
Farmers Market. Volunteers needed to hangout near the Dems booth and talk to voters.
Facebook. Like, comment on, and share my posts. It helps more people see them. Invite your friends to like Kate for Bloomington.
To join Kate’s Email List email [email protected].
Dorothy Granger - City Council, District 2
Facebook: Granger for City Council
To find out how you can help contact Penny Githens at 812.369.9538 or Amy Harrison at 812.318.1524
Sue Sgambulleri - City Council, District 2
Website: SueForCityCouncil.com
Facebook: Sue Sgambelluri for City Council
Help with Canvassing, Yard Signs, Mailings and Research
Join Sue for canvassing on the following dates:
Please reach out to Sue at (812) 345-3215 or [email protected] for more info!
Miah Michaelsen - City Council, District 4
Website: Miah For Bloomington
Facebook: Miah For Bloomington
Needs help with your Good Word, Letters, Yard Signs
and Canvassing:
May 4: Anytime between noon and 6 p.m.
May 5: Anytime between 1 and 5 p.m.
May 7: Staff polling locations during voting hours
Email her at [email protected] with any other ideas, good vibes, or moral support you can offer.
Isabel Piedmont-Smith - City Council, District 5
Website: Isabel Piedmont-Smith - Candidate For Bloomington City Council
Facebook: Piedmont-Smith for City Council
Isabel needs volunteers to:
• help with door-to-door canvassing
• write Letters to the Editor in support of her campaign
Key Endorsements for our DWC Endorsed Candidates: Our endorsed candidates continue to make headway on their campaigns, including by securing key endorsements from individuals and organizations. Please follow the link to our DWC website's candidates page to see the news on our endorsed women! News on each candidate is posted after her bio. Link: https://www.democraticwomenscaucus.org/candidates
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:
Announcements
Events
Image of the Day
Action Items
ANNOUNCEMENTS
TRAININGS:
VAN Training for Candidates
Deputy VAN Chair Matthew Metz is offering VAN (Voter Action Network) training to all Bloomington Democratic municipal candidates. If you are a candidate and are interested in meeting with Matthew to receive this training as well, contact him at [email protected] to schedule a time to meet.
The Indiana Democratic Party Municipal Monday Webinar Series:
Brush up on your skills with these programs
How to File For Office (Matthew Kochevar), Campaign Finance (Anna Foster), Social Media 101 (Trina Thomas), Pre-Filing Questions / Campaign Goals (Katie Doyle), Creating A Field Plan (Adi Ben-Yehoshua), Fundraising 101 (Katie Doyle), Creating A Campaign Message (Phil Johnson), Communicating with Press and Media (Phil Johnson), Municipal Finance (Oscar Gutierrez and Trish Whitcomb), Building an Absentee Chase Program (Adi Ben-Yehoshua), Filing Your Pre-Primary Finance Report (Anna Foster), How To Use Early Vote/Election Day Data In VAN (Adi Ben-Yehoshua), and City Government Offices (Portia Bailey-Bernard). To view recordings of the webinars go to: https://www.indems.org/webinar-trainings-recordings/
Citizen's Academy is ready for applications!
One of the best ways to learn about government, with like minded people and the folks who actually do the work in City Hall. Just the best experience ever!
The 2019 Citizens' Academy class will provide participants with an interactive learning experience about municipal government services, programs and departmental responsibilities. This year's Citizens' Academy session begins Thursday, August 29 and runs through October 24, the classes are from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. You can apply online at https://bloomington.in.gov/citizens-academy or contact Vickie Provine, [email protected] or call 812.349.3505.
OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS:
The Democratic Women’s Caucus is looking for a few good women to help distribute information about our endorsed candidates at the polls. Shifts are 2-3 hours in length and the immediate need is for Early Voting on Saturday May 4 at Election Central, 401 W. 7th St.
You can sign up here:
We are also looking for women to distribute our POS flyers on Primary Election Day. We will have information about these slots and a new sign up list coming soon. If you are interested you can also contact us at [email protected].
CAN YOU WORK THE POLLS ON MAY 7?? About 15 workers are still needed!!!
The Monroe County Election Team is looking for democrats to work as Inspectors, Judges, Clerks and Sheriffs on Election Day. These positions are critical in making elections run smoothly and to help voters have a good experience when filling out their ballots. You can spend a rewarding day helping the people of Bloomington vote and make some money at the same time.
Contact Luke Robbins, the Democratic Recruiter for the Monroe County Board of Elections, at [email protected] or by phone at 317-682-7527.
You must be registered to vote in Monroe County and not be a candidate on the ballot or related to a candidate on the ballot.
You can get more information at this link
A memorial service honoring the career of Indiana’s former United States Senator and House Speaker Birch Bayh (1928-2019) will be held Wednesday, May 1, 2019, at noon EDT in the south atrium of the Indiana Statehouse.Senator Bayh was a champion for women’s rights throughout his career. He sponsored and co-authored the Title IX of the Higher Education Act and was also the Senate’s principal sponsor of the Equal Rights Amendment, which would have barred discrimination on the basis of sex. Among those remembering Senator Bayh’s accomplishments will be Governor Eric Holcomb, House Speaker Brian Bosma, Purdue President Mitch Daniels, former Congressmen Lee Hamilton and Baron Hill, and Federal District Court Chief Judge Jane E. Magnus-Stinson.
Indiana’s former Secretary of State, Governor and United States Senator Evan Bayh and Indianapolis attorney Christopher Bayh will eulogize their father. Former First Lady Susan Bayh will attend, as will their sons Beau (2LT, USMC) and Nick (2LT, USA). Senator Bayh’s widow, Katherine “Kitty” Bayh (née Halpin), will read a poem written by the Senator.
Early Voting Hours and Primary Election Day:
Monday April 29- Friday May 03, 8 am-6 pm; Saturday, May 04, 9 am-4 pm
Monday, May 6, 8 am-noon
Primary Election Day is Tuesday, May 7. Vote from 6:00am to 6:00pm at your precinct.
If you are confined to a location because of injury or illness or are caring for a confined person at a private residence, you may now vote before the travelling absentee board. Applications are available on line and at Election Central or call 812-349-2690.
Today 4/29 is the last day to file an application to vote absentee by mail
EVENTS:
Thursday, May 2, 2019 6:00pm to 8:00pm
Democracy For Monroe County Monthly Link-Up: Experiences as People of Color
Crazy Horse, 214 W. Kirkwood Ave., Bloomington
DFMC will host a panel of speakers: Gloria Colom, Ko Dokmai, and Amrita Chakrabarti Myers, representing a range of communities in Bloomington, will talk about their lived experiences as people of color in the United States. They will discuss a variety of topics related to their lived reality and daily experience of racism and different forms of oppression. They hope that you will come away with a deepened awareness of the undercurrents of racism and a renewed commitment to racial justice.
All-Options Drop-in Volunteer Action Hours
Friday, May 3, 9:30-11am
All-Options Pregnancy Resource Center, 1014 S. Walnut St.
Have you ever wanted to get involved with All-Options, but aren't sure about making a long-term commitment? Would you like to do some hands-on work in a judgment-free, supportive environment? Join All-Options for drop-in volunteer time -- usually the first Friday of every month. They will have projects available for you to jump right in. All ages welcome!
Tuesday, May 7, 2019, 6:00-9:00pm
Election Night Watch Party
The Mill, 642 N. Madison St., Bloomington
hosted by The Monroe County Democratic Party and the John Hamilton for Mayor Campaign
Live Music, Food.
parking available in the lot south-west of The Mill
Thursday, May 9, 2019 6:00pm
Ninth District Torchbearer Reception: A Conversation with Robin Winston
Preservation Station, 100 Preservation Place, Jeffersonville
The Ninth District Torchbearers will be joined by Robin Winston, former Indiana Democratic Party State Chair and Principal with the Winston/Terrell Group.
$20 per person, free to Ninth District Torchbearers
Saturday, May 11, 2019, 8:00am to 6:00pm
Indiana Democratic Party County Party Summit
Regional Council of Carpenters, 771 Greenwood Springs Drive, Greenwood
The Indiana Democratic Party is hosting the County Party Summit in Indianapolis on May 11 from 8am to 6pm! Join fellow county party executive members, officials, volunteers and activists for a day of training on how to build a stronger local presence to help elect Democrats up and down the ballot. Lunch will be served.
You can sign up here: https://secure.ngpvan.com/PH90DP3pIEWkyoT7Ye8g-g2
Thursday, May 16, 2019 6:00pm to 8:00pm
Monroe County Black Democratic Caucus May Meeting
MCDP Headquarters, 116 S. Madison St., Suite A
Saturday, May 18, 2019 6:00pm
Bloomington Black y Brown Arts Festival
The Banneker Center, 930 W. 7th St.
A celebration of African, Hispanic, Latinx and Native American creative arts and artists to affirm community space, preserve arts appreciation, and enhance pride in the spirit of diversity of the Bloomington community. The festival will provide a medium for local talent to showcase visual and performance art in an environment that engages the audience with artists and their work. The planning committee is also seeking artist submissions to perform, host a booth, or both for this Family Fun event. More information about submitting art for the festival can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/events/387861678724890/
Saturday, June 15, 2019 (Reception at 3pm, Speakers at 4pm)
Stonewall Democrats of South Central Indiana Launch Event
Bloomington City Hall: Atrium and Council Chambers
Cost: Free, but donations encouraged
The Stonewall Democrats of South Central Indiana (SD-SCI) is a newly organized local caucus that supports LGBTQI people, their involvement in local and state politics, and policies that will improve their lives. Speakers at the event will include Senator JD Ford, Dana Black, and others. Together we can build a more inclusive community for trans and queer people in South Central Indiana.
Want to join SD-SCI? Annual membership is $10 and is good through May 31, 2020. For more information contact either Jessica McCellan ([email protected]), Treasurer, or Will Smith ([email protected]), President.
July 17-20, 2019
2019 Young Democrats of America National Convention
Crowne Plaza, 123 W. Louisiana St, Indianapolis
Visit yda.org/convention for all details and convention matters.
August 22-24
Annual Indiana Democratic Editorial Association (IDEA) Convention in French Lick
French Lick Resort, 8670 West Road 56
Hotel rooms are going QUICKLY, you are encouraged to make your hotel reservations NOW. More information on that can be found here: http://www.indems.org/annual-idea-convention-in-french-lick/
IMAGE OF THE DAY:
Congratulations to our newest Monroe County Commissioner - Penny Githens is sworn in by Clerk Nicole Bolden following the Caucus on Sunday. Her husband Ed Buffie is holding the Bible and Constitution:
ACTION ITEM(s):
1. If you are eligible to vote in the Municipal Elections - VOTE!!!
2. Join us to hand out "Point of Sale" flyers for our endorsed candidates at Election Central on the Saturday before the Primary (May 4th). Sign up for a 2-hour slot via the DWC Facebook page at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0b4eaca72ba2fd0-democratic
Don't worry--you'll get some brief training before you go.
3. Call Luke Robbins at 317-682-7527 or email him at [email protected] and sign up to work the polls on election day. We really need poll workers. Those of us who have done it will attest that it is rewarding and illuminating to meet our local voters and a rare privilege to see our election process at work.
BECOME A DWC MEMBER or RENEW your membership!
The DWC is dedicated to inspiring, recruiting, training, supporting and funding women to increase the number of progressive, pro-choice women in the political arena. We ALL help with this mission, together, collectively. Make sure you have full rights and privileges of membership.
Only $20 for one year’s membership.
Join online here: https://democraticwomenscaucus.nationbuilder.com/membership
Do you have news items? Send your items of interest to us at [email protected]
Deadline for MMN is noon on Sunday.
Paid for by DWPAC - Democratic Women's Political Action Committee
Democratic Women's Caucus
http://www.democraticwomenscaucus.org/