Bittersweet News
While there’s no meeting this month, there’s still some 43rd news: Effective Dec. 7th, our current Chair, Scott Alspach, will step down to spend more time with a soon-to-be newborn! His announcement is below:
While there’s no meeting this month, there’s still some 43rd news: Effective Dec. 7th, our current Chair, Scott Alspach, will step down to spend more time with a soon-to-be newborn! His announcement is below:
As we near the end of election season (remember to vote "No" on the recall by Tuesday if you live in District 3!) and enjoy the holidays, I want to start by saying thank you for all of the work you have put in to building our organization and getting out the vote over the past year.
With the generous support of our 43rd PAC Founders, we started a Political Action Committee, and with the help of our PCOs and members, we sent 5,000 handwritten postcards to voters within two weeks. In addition, we hosted multiple canvasses for our endorsed candidates and had important conversations with voters about the future of our city. With your continued support, I believe that we will be able to dramatically scale up this work over the next few years.
Which brings me to the news I have to share: My wife and I are expecting our first child to arrive this month and I will be resigning as Chair of the 43rd on Tuesday, December 7th in order to spend more time with her and our new arrival. I'm excited to begin experiencing the adventures of parenthood but unfortunately will not have the time required to lead our organization in the way you all deserve.
Tara Gallagher was elected Vice Chair at our November meeting and will serve as acting Chair until our January 18th meeting when 43rd PCOs will elect a new chair. In addition, we will fill a few other board roles, including Tara's previous King County Democrats Representative position, at the January meeting. Please keep an eye on your inboxes for more on the open positions and how to run for them and reach out to Tara at tara.gallagher@43rddemocrats.org if you have any questions.
Serving on the board and as Chair of the 43rd District Democrats has been a true pleasure. I attended my first 43rd meeting, along with hundreds of others, in November of 2016 after the election of Donald Trump. While it is easy to be discouraged by the current challenges facing us, it is worth reflecting on the progress we have made in the past five years. In 2017, we flipped the Washington State Senate. In 2018, we took back the House. In 2019, we fought back against Amazon to elect a progressive City Council (resulting in the Jump Start tax and millions of dollars for affordable housing), and in 2020, we called in to other states to help elect President Joe Biden and deliver him unified Democratic control of Congress. None of this would have been possible without the work of thousands of Democratic Party volunteers like yourself. All of the calls, texts, post cards, and door knocking we've done have made a difference!
As you all know, our democracy is still under threat from the authoritarian Republican Party and their attempts to discredit our election system under the direction of Donald Trump. Our resolve will continue to be tested and I encourage you to take time this December to both rest, recuperate, and make plans for how you will defend our democracy in 2022.
I want to extend a special thanks to past and present members of the 43rd's Executive Board, I wouldn't have made it as Chair without their hard work and support. I'm excited and confident about the continued growth of our organization under their leadership.
It has been a true pleasure getting to know and work with each of you and I look forward to continuing to do so in my capacity as a PCO.
Reflect And Plan with Us!
We’ll look back over this past election and look forward to the upcoming Legislative session. So that we can stay on time, please peruse the agenda beforehand. There are no resolutions to vote on for this meeting. As always, remember to RSVP so that you have the Zoom link handy!
Try to keep warm as we see colder weather, and join us to look back over this past election and look forward to the upcoming Legislative session. So that we can stay on time, please peruse the agenda beforehand.
There are no resolutions to vote on for this meeting.
As always, remember to RSVP so that you have the Zoom link handy!
Cozy up And Log on to Our Meeting!
RSVP to receive a link before the meeting!
We suggest taking a peak at the agenda beforehand so that we can all be respectful of each others’ time. We expect this one to be short and sweet!
RSVP to receive a link before the meeting!
We suggest taking a peak at the agenda beforehand so that we can all be respectful of each others’ time. We expect this one to be short and sweet!
You’ll hear about our GOTV efforts (check our endorsements here), information on the Seattle Solidarity Budget, and vote on a proposed resolution in support of the Duwamish Tribe's Federal Recognition.
Join us for the final 2021 Endorsements Meeting
This year, those who receive our endorsement will also be eligible for our PAC’s support!
Votes on Seattle City Council Pos. 9, Seattle Mayor, Seattle City Attorney, King County Executive
Our September endorsements meeting will be held virtually at 7PM Tuesday, September 21st. Please register to receive the link for the meeting.
[Feel free to check out our 2021 endorsement rules.] The last date to become an eligible voting member in time for this meeting is September 11th.
Please see the agenda so that we all may stay on time! Candidates to be considered for endorsement are in the following races: Seattle City Council Position 9, Seattle Mayor, Seattle City Attorney, and King County Executive.
The Mutual Aid Committee has some draft rules!
We also have a handful of resolutions proposed—please be sure to read them before the meeting! They are as follows:
in Support of a Select Committee for Climate in the Seattle City Council
to Support Tubman Health Capital Campaign
in Support of Reproductive Choice
in Support of Continued Remote Testimony
Last but certainly not least, we'll have an update on redistricting! The redistricting commissioners will release their first set of draft maps earlier on the 21st, so we should be able to get a quick preview of what the new district boundaries may look like.
Beyond Meetings
Help our endorsed candidates and support Kshama Sawant! (We oppose the recall campaign.) Recall efforts aim to take down on of Seattle’s most progressive and outspoken Councilmembers in a December ballot. Sawant won her seat in office via democratic election, we have a responsibility to keep her there. Fill out their volunteer form today: https://KshamaSolidarity.org/volunteer
There’s always more you can do!
Against Charter Amendment 29 (Compassion Seattle)
We passed a resolution against CA 29—in agreement with House Our Neighbors—but they need your help spreading the truth! Volunteer ASAP: HouseOurNeighbors.NationBuilder.com
Help our endorsed candidates!
Teresa Mosqueda, Seattle Council Pos. 8 — http://TeamTeresa.org/volunteer/
Toshiko Hasegawa, Port Commissioner Pos. 4 — HasegawaForPort.com/get-involved
Hamdi Mohamed, Port Commissioner Pos. 3 — http://HamdiForPort.com/volunteers
Michelle Sarju, Seattle School board D-5 — http://SarjuForSeattleSchools.com/join-us
Vivian Song Maritz Seattle School Board D — https://vivian.school/
In Support of Kshama Sawant
(Since we oppose the recall campaign.) Recall efforts aim to take down on of Seattle’s most progressive and outspoken Councilmembers through this upcoming ballot in a December ballot. Sawant won her seat in office via democratic election, we have a responsibility to keep her there.
Fill out their volunteer form today: https://KshamaSolidarity.org/volunteer
Join us for our July Meeting!
We’ll elect some new chairs, cast votes for endorsements and resolutions, and discuss changes for our own PAC!
![[Alt Text] Dark background with an artistic laptop at center left under a single-lightbulb light; the laptop displays the 43rd's logo. At center right, there's font saying "Join us for July!" with the Zoom logo by it and moving cursor](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a3993300abd04ae23f41290/1626289580571-DZYBJ8L5OBXSW0P5WVZH/43rd+July+Meeting.gif)
[Alt Text] Dark background with an artistic laptop at center left under a single-lightbulb light; the laptop displays the 43rd's logo. At center right, there's font saying "Join us for July!" with the Zoom logo by it and moving cursor
Electing a new Meetings and Events Chair
At this meeting we will be electing a new Meetings & Events Chair to serve on our board and help us run our virtual and in person meetings. You can visit our website to learn more and please email our chair at chair@43rddemocrats.org if you are interested or with any questions that you have!
Endorsement Votes And Resolutions
The list of resolutions to be considered:
Resolution to Endorse House Our Neighbors (Endorsement of a “no” position on Seattle Charter Amendment 29)
Resolution to Support the #PayUp Campaign for Washington’s Gig Workers
Our Own Political Action Committee
At our July meeting we'll also consider bylaws and rules changes necessary for our organization to open a Political Action Committee and print endorsement sheets for the general election. If we approve the rules changes, we will also consider a budget for the PAC. If you have any questions about the proposed changes please email chair@43rddemocrats.org
Proposed Bylaws Changes
Proposed PAC Standing Rules
Proposed 43rd PAC Budget
The last date to become an eligible voting member in time for this meeting is July 10th.
Endorsements!
Join us June 15th at 7pm for our 2021 endorsement meeting by submitting your RSVP here! Feel free to check out our 2021 endorsement rules…
Join us June 15th at 7pm for our 2021 endorsement meeting by submitting your RSVP here! Please find more information on the endorsements meeting including voting eligibility, endorsement rules, and candidate questionnaires on our endorsements page.
Please take a look at the agenda and read through the proposed resolution on Sustainable Mobility before joining so that we all may stay on time. Follow along on our Facebook event for reminders.
The last date to become an eligible voting member in time for this meeting is June 5.
Seattle City Council Forum
June 3rd at 7pm, we will host a Seattle City Council Pos. 9 candidates forum with Nikkita Oliver, Brianna Thomas, Corey Eichner, and Sarah Nelson—be sure to RSVP! Local, longtime Seattle journalist Erica Barnett will moderate the forum with prepared questions. (Submit your questions here!) The event will be live-streamed to our Facebook and archived there.
June 3rd at 7pm
We will host a Seattle City Council Pos. 9 candidates forum with Nikkita Oliver, Brianna Thomas, Corey Eichner, and Sarah Nelson—be sure to RSVP!
We'll have local, longtime Seattle journalist Erica Barnett moderating the forum with prepared questions. If you would like to ask the candidates something, submit your questions here! The event will be live-streamed to our Facebook and archived there so anyone can watch at any time. Will we see you there?
Will we see you at our May General Meeting?
It’s May 18; Be sure to RSVP!
We'll hear candidate statements from Sen. Joe Nguyen (running for King County Executive) and Nikkita Oliver (running for Seattle City Council Position 9). You will also have the opportunity to learn up on renter's rights through our local LGBTQ Allyship's presentation, and cover a legislative recap together with our 43rd Sen. Jamie Pedersen, Rep. Frank Chopp, and Rep. Nicole Macri…
It’s May 18; Be sure to RSVP!
We'll hear candidate statements from Sen. Joe Nguyen (running for King County Executive) and Nikkita Oliver (running for Seattle City Council Position 9). You will also have the opportunity to learn up on renter's rights through our local LGBTQ Allyship's presentation, and cover a legislative recap together with our 43rd Sen. Jamie Pedersen, Rep. Frank Chopp, and Rep. Nicole Macri!
To be respectful of everyone's time, please be sure to read through the agenda and resolutions beforehand. Our proposed resolutions are as follows:
In Support of A 43rd Mutual Aid Committee (and an FAQ on Mutual Aid)
In Support of A Seattle City Council Climate Committee
(Join early at 6:30PM for any technological or voting assistance.) Feel free to RSVP on Facebook, where we'll post reading reminders.
Did you miss our last meeting?
No fear! We recorded it. There were a lot of mayoral candidates who gave statements—which Capitol Hill Seattle Blog covered—and we passed a number of resolutions.
Join us for our April Meeting! (+some updates)
April 20th at 7pm We'll hear from Congressional Rep. Adam Smith, King County Executive Dow Constantine running for re-election, Port Commissioner Stephanie Bowman for re-election, and mayoral candidates Jessyn Farrell, Andrew Grant Houston, Colleen Echohawk, Lorena González, and Bruce Harrell!…Read more for the agenda and RSVP link, COVID-19 vaccination and eviction moratorium updates.
Join us April 20th at 7pm
We'll hear from Congressional Rep. Adam Smith, King County Executive Dow Constantine running for re-election, Port Commissioner Stephanie Bowman for re-election, and mayoral candidates Jessyn Farrell, Andrew Grant Houston, Colleen Echohawk, Lorena González, and Bruce Harrell! Be sure to read through the agenda's linked items beforehand so we can all stay on time. (Come early at 6:30PM for any technological or voting assistance.) A link will be sent to you closer to the meeting date after you RSVP. Will you join us?
COVID-19 Vaccinations 16+!
Seattle has already opened sign-ups to its four mass vaccination sites to all King County residents and workers over the age of 16. Eligibility will expand statewide on April 15th.
Seattle's Eviction Moratorium
After we and so many other Seattleites sent letters to the mayor's office asking extension of the moratorium through the end of this year. Mayor Jenny Durkan decided to extend it through the end of June.
Legislative and Electoral Updates
Be sure to keep an eye out in your inboxes for routine Elections Committee and Policy & Advocacy Committee emails! We're doing our darnedest since March to keep you informed on local campaigns and any action you can take at the Legislature.