On Monday, December 7th, the 33rd hosted the Kit Dexter Dinner and Fundraiser. The event is held each year to celebrate our hard work as Democrats and award one 33rd member who has merited special honor for their dedication to the district over the years with the Kit Dexter Award.

This year’s honoree is James Fossos. Jim is a current commissioner of the Board of Fire Commissioners of South King Fire and Rescue. He started his career in firefighting back in 1970 with the Seattle Fire Department. Before becoming a Seattle Firefighter, Jim served proudly as a US Marine in the Vietnam War. He has an Associate Degree from Seattle Community College in Fire Command & Administration and Supervisory and Management. Jim also currently serves as Board Secretary with the Board of Directors of the Seattle Metropolitan Credit Union.

Dinner was provided both by Galliano’s Catering and by 33rd member Steve Juneau (thanks, Steve, so much for the home-made lasagna!). Members donated desserts for the dessert auction, and included some very tasty home-made concoctions.

The evening’s turnout was lighter than expected, but we enjoyed each other’s company on this frigid night and had a great time. Guests included State Representatives Dave Upthegrove and Tina Orwall, Normandy Park Mayor Shawn McEvoy, and Mayor Pro Tem Dan Sherman.

Florence McMullin held a wonderful live auction, assisted ably by Dave Upthegrove. Thanks to everyone who participated in both setting up and bidding at the auction.

The Kit Dexter Dinner would not have happened were it not for the wonderful work of the committee. Paula Joneli, Omaha Sternberg, Florence McMullin, and Carol Anne Maiers worked very hard to put everything together. Additionally, thanks go to Cheryl Birdsong-Juneau, Steve Juneau, Bob Loeliger, and Rod Brewster for helping set up that night and preparation before hand. And thank you to everyone who attended!

Have a wonderful holiday, and we’ll see you in the new year!

The 33rd Democrats invite you to the

Kit Dexter Annual Dinner and Fundraiser

Join Us to celebrate a year of success in Democracy!

Includes guests State Senator Karen Keiser, State Representative Tina Orwall, State Representative Dave Upthegrove, and surprise Kit Dexter Honoree.

Monday, December 7th

Normandy Park Congregational Church | 19247 First Avenue South | Normandy Park

Dinner: 7:00 PM | Auction: 8:00 PM

The auction will include improvisational auctioneering by members of the audience. A dessert auction will also be held. Become the highest bidding table to get your choice of the delectable desserts provided by our volunteers!

Tickets

Individual: $25 | Living Lightly: $15 | Children: $10

To purchase tickets in advance, go to http://www.33rddistrictdemocrats.org/kitdexterdinner/.

For more information, contact Paula at 206-878-2171 or pjoneli@comcast.net

On October 19th, we will have a special meeting. The first open house Meet and Greet of your state and county representatives for the 33rd Legislative District! This will be open to all residents of the 33rd district, and include a short welcome speech by each representative as well as lots of information and chances to chat with your rep. Don’t miss this opportunity, and bring your friends and neighbors from the district.

MEET AND GREET YOUR REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 33RD LD

When: October 19th, 6:45 pm to 9:00 pm
Where: Normandy Park Congregational Church, 19247 1st Avenue South, Normandy Park

ATTENDING
State Senator Karen Kaiser
State Representative Dave Upthegrove
State Representative Tina Orwall
King County Councilmember Julia Patterson
King County Councilmember Dow Constantine

Light refreshments will be served.

Do not miss this opportunity for a one-on-one conversation with your representatives in a casual, relaxed atmosphere. Please, bring your friends and relatives. For further information contact Florence McMullin, (206) 878-9111.

The 33rd dems turned out in force to show their support for the Public Option at Congressman Adam Smith’s town hall meeting in Lakewood yesterday, with more than 20 members at least. Congressman Smith had moved the meeting to Harry Lang Stadium to accommodate the nearly 2500 people his office estimated showed up.

For the most part, the crowd participating behaved in a mature, adult fashion, with only a little heckling and shouting here and there. Congressman Smith did an admirable job of maintaining control, allowing the crowd time to cheer and boo as they wished. Only a couple of times did events threaten to get out of control, as when some idiot chose to walk along the lower part of the stadium seats with a sign of President Obama dressed with a Hitler mustache. And though we in the 33rd don’t condone violence against another as they exercise their right to free speech, there were those who could not allow such insults to pass without response. The man’s sign was taken away from him, crumpled, and thrown on the ground, and a couple of members said they saw that he was knocked down briefly in the process. He wasn’t hurt, because he walked away.

It seemed that the vast majority of the people present were in favor of a public option of some kind. The minority who were opposed were vocal, though, and for some reason, they were chosen out of the crowd more often to speak. Congressman Smith had two members of his staff wandering the crowd with microphones and picking out people to ask questions. Seeing as how at least half of the crowd carried signs of some sort (most in favor of the public option), we don’t imagine it would have been hard to determine who was on what side. No 33rd members were called upon to ask a question, though several had their hands up for over an hour.

Interestingly enough, some of the attendees reminded everyone that most all of the concerns that were raised last night, and had been raised throughout the health care reform debate, had been brought up during the debate about Medicare. And yet Medicare was passed, and has been a successful government program (yes, for those out there that apparently don’t know that, it’s a GOVERNMENT PROGRAM).

Congressman Smith’s views on health care reform were varied. He declared that if the health care bill as it currently stands was brought to a vote, he would vote against it. He also stated that he felt that the bill as it stands held a great deal within it that did not work towards health care reform. He was against including end-of-life consultations within the bill. And he stated that he was in favor of a public option, but would not define in more detail what that actually meant for him. He also did not state whether if a bill came to the floor for a final vote that did not have a public option if he would vote against it.

Congressman Smith still needs to hear your opinions about health care reform. He needs to know what you want to see in this health care bill, and what you require of him in voting for it. We need him to know that if a final bill comes to the floor without a public option in it, he must vote against it. It is a make or break issue for the Democratic Party. Please call him and tell him that. He has said that he will listen.

Congressman Adam Smith
Tacoma Office: (253) 593-6600; 1 (888) SMITH09
Washington DC office: (202) 225-8901

These are the candidate parties around the Sound to celebrate Primary Night. Hope that you can attend some of them.

Rob Holland Primary Watch Party
When: Tuesday, August 18, 2009 at 7:00pm
Where: Copper Cart Caf??©;113 Bell Street, Seattle, WA
Suggested donation: $5.00 – $50.00
Notes: From the VIP section lay back and soak in the sweet taste of champagne as primary results play on the club’s 100 foot projection screen. The entire upper VIP section has been reserved and champagne service ordered – all for Rob’s guests. Groove to happy hour prices on food/drinks all night. Dress snappy.

Dow Constantine Primary Watch Party
When: Tuesday, August 18, 2009, 7 – 9 pm
Where: Kells, 1916 Post Alley, Seattle

Larry Phillips Primary Watch Party
When:Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Where: Spitfire Grill, 2219 Fourth Ave, Seattle

We’ll add to these as we receive more info.

Join King County Executive candidate and King County Councilmember Dow Constantine for a fundraiser at the popular Mick Kelly’s Irish Pub in downtown Burien. Sponsored by Normandy Park Mayor Shawn McEvoy, Joe Fitzgibbon, Jeff Upthegrove, and Keith Weir.

Here’s the details:

Saturday May 30
3-5 PM
Mick Kelly’s Irish Pub
435 SW 152nd Street
Burien, WA 98166

For more information or to RSVP, contact chelsea@dowconstantine.com.

Senator Karen Keiser was on King 5 Today in their Up Front segment discussing health care reform. You can watch the video of it on their website or, see it later on NWCN at 8 p.m.


Also, Sen. Keiser has opened up an office in Des Moines. Her legislative assistant, John Elder, goes up to the office Mon-Wed-Fri, and she’ll be having meetings there as well as well as working out of that office.

22525 Marine View Drive S
Suite 206
Des Moines, WA 98198
(206) 878-2748

The Young Democrats of Washington are hosting the King County Executive Candidates for a forum and straw poll on June 18th, 2009 at 6:30pm at the South Lake Union Discovery Center, 101 Westlake Ave N. Seattle, WA.


The individual entrance fee (includes one ballot):

• $5 – Reduced Rate for College Students w/current college ID
• $25 – Young Democrats (under 36)
• $35 – YD’s at Heart/Community Members (over 36)

Additional Ballots Can Be Purchased at $1 a piece, or at 6 for $5, 12 for $10, or 23 for $20.

Thanks to everyone who attended the 33rd Dems meeting last night. It was a great meeting! For those who had asked, here are the links and details to the PCO Training and Obama Project Canvass information we talked about last night.


King County Democrats PCO Training webpages: unfortunately, I noticed when I looked there this morning that the PCO handbook they have online is in fact the old 2004 version. So if you are a PCO, make sure to get your current version from Michael Miele.


Project Pledge Canvass: On Saturday, March 21st, thousands of people across the country are organizing the first national day of action by hosting Pledge Project Canvasses, where they’ll talk to their neighbors and ask them to pledge support for Barack Obama’s plan to restore our economy. Go to http://my.barackobama.com/pledgecanvass to join in and be a part of the spread of knowledge and the day of action.

Ninth District Congressman Adam Smith is looking forward to meeting with constituents to listen to concerns, answer questions, and discuss issues facing Congress including: the budget, military and Veterans, healthcare, and more. Space is limited, so please RSVP at (253) 896-3775 or (888) SMITH09 if you are able to attend.

Please join him on the following dates:

Wednesday, February 18th, 2009
7:00 – 8:30 pm
City of Kent Council Chambers
220 4th Ave S, Kent, WA 98032


Saturday, March 14th, 2009
1:00 – 2:30 pm
Panorama City’s Chalet (lower level)
1650 Circle Lane SE, Lacey, WA 98503


Tuesday, April 7th, 2009
7:00 – 8:30 pm
SeaTac City Hall Chambers
4800 S. 188th St, SeaTac, WA 98188


Saturday, May 23, 2009
1:00 – 2:30 pm
Puyallup Public Library
324 S. Meridian, Puyallup, WA 98371


Tuesday, June 30th, 2009
7:00 – 8:30 pm
Lakewood City Hall Chambers
6000 Main Street SW, Lakewood, WA 98499