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You're invited to the Gala Grand
Opening of the Amador County Democratic Party Headquarters! July 3rd & 4th 40 North Highway 49-88, Jackson Please click here for more information. |
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Build a Better Future for Calaveras County |
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Please join with Democrats making history across Calaveras County, California and our nation through volunteer time, a financial contribution or whatever you would like to do to elect Democrats. Click here to make a contribution. Let the election season begin! |
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Thank you, thank you, and thank you! Over 100 Democrats and even several non-Democrats attended the Build a Better Future for Calaveras County fundraiser last Sunday, April 27th at the Native Sons Hall in Murphys, marking the first opportunity for county residents to join with Democrats from all over California making history this election season.
Special thanks to Mary Matzek, Margaret Copenhaver, Tillman Sherman, Jan Du Raine, Bill Paulsen, Sally Paulsen, Teddie Jackson, Joe Jackson, Melva Anderson, Robin Chesnut, Gail Bunge and Brett Bunge for helping to set up, greet and register guests, and tidy up at evening’s end. We also want to thank and acknowledge Firewood Restaurant of Murphys. Firewood cooked a scrumptious Mexican feast and served it buffet-style, inviting guests to keep with the evening’s theme of building their own tacos. Guests were also encouraged to build ice cream sundae desserts. Thank you to Klassen Wines and Importers of Murphys for donating wine to the raffle.
Mary Boblet performed emcee duties, marking her first experience with this responsibility. Among other things, she announced dignitaries and candidates in the audience, and there were quite a few from around the community, county and region! A list of candidates and dignitaries follows. Guest Speakers
Patricia Guttmann Pat Guttmann welcomed everyone to our first Build a Better Future for Calaveras County spring fundraiser saying, "It is so exciting and so gratifying to see all the Calaveras Democrats here this evening and the presence of local, regional and national candidates or their representatives here also...It is also gratifying to have in this room leaders of the California State Democratic party and our State Democratic party regional leaders. Together we make an awesome group."
She continued, "On the local level daunting issues are also present. Our county is facing huge economic challenges as a result of the national economic downturn. There will be decisions made at the local level about a new County General Plan that will impact our county for decades to come..." Pat said, "the time is here and now to get involved. We are organizing a grass roots effort to elect Democrats. Calaveras residents have a real sense of community values and self-reliance. Let’s use our community values of self-reliance to work together to build a better future for Calaveras County." She continued, "We are going to galvanize all the voters who didn't know what to do until now and give them an opportunity to let their voices be heard." In conclusion Pat said, "We are truly blessed to have the guidance and input from the California Democratic Party and Take Back Red California, as well as our regional leaders and our neighbors from Amador, Tuolumne and Stanislaus Counties. With all this support and input, and with all the talent of our local Democrats, we cannot help but be successful. This is a defining moment in history. Please join with the members of the Calaveras County Democratic Central Committee, the East Calaveras Democrat Club and the West Calaveras Democratic Club to make a better future for our county."
Taylor
White
One of Taylor’s election year strategies is to convince 50% of Republican voters in his assembly district to switch their party and register as Democrats. Let’s join him in this effort. Visit Taylor’s website at www.taylorwhitestateassembly2008.com and make a contribution, volunteer to help, and sign his guest book.
Steve Wilensky
Steve believes there are two types of people: folks who are trying to make a better world, and folks who aren’t. Building a prosperous Calaveras County, therefore, begins with making room at the table for folks trying to make a better world, and having faith our county government will operate in a true and just way. We must also work hard to avoid the historical divisions of the past. The real division today, Steve described, is that decent, hard working people are being pushed further and further away from a prosperous life, and into one of grinding poverty and neglect. As the election season begins, Steve suggests politicians stop assuming tactical advantage in the election process. Steve believes it’s not a matter of what is said, but rather how people (at least those who want a better world) act on their convictions that will lead to a fair and just election season.
Marilyn Sabin
Marilyn offered her
thanks for supporting Dr. Bill Durston for
Autumn Garamendi
Hesser
Mary introduced the East Club by announcing a pizza meeting for May 1st at Pizza Plus in Murphys. She looks forward to socializing with Club members and implementing this season’s election year strategy. Contact Mary at mgmatzek@sbcglobal.net.
Margaret Copenhaver Margaret welcomed residents of the Western Calaveras to join the newly formed West Democratic Club. Margaret is ready to rock and roll! Please call or email Margaret at westclub@calaverasdemocrats.org.
Special
Presentation
County and Regional Dignitaries in Attendance Merita Calloway, District 3 Supervisor, Calaveras County Board of Supervisors Paolo Maffei, District 2 Supervisor, Tuolumne County Board of Supervisors Tillman Sherman, Director, San Andreas Sanitary District Gary Robbins, Region 7 Director, California State Democratic Party Colleen Platt, wife of immediate past Chair, Calaveras County Democratic Central Committee, Ron Platt Vern Miller, former Chair, Calaveras County Democratic Central Committee Sally Tuttle, former Chair, Calaveras County Democratic Central Committee Bertha Underhill, former Chair, Calaveras County Democratic Central Committee Melva Anderson, former President and founder, Calaveras Democratic Club Janet Maffei, Vice Chair, Tuolumne County Democratic Club Mike Burtch, Chair, Stanislaus Democratic Central Committee Randy Bayne, Chair, Amador County Democratic Central Committee four waters, Chair, Take Back Red California Brent Harrington, former Chief Administrative Officer, Calaveras County Dick Tuttle, retired Calaveras County District Attorney Ron Edwards, Director, Political Action Arm California Teachers Association Charlie Young, District Director, National Education Association Our labor friends, SEIU Local 1021 Our labor friends, Operating Engineers Local 3 Our nurse friends, California Nurses Association
County and Regional Candidates in Attendance Taylor White, candidate, California Assembly District 25 and currently President of the Associated Students of Modesto Junior College Lee Seaton, candidate, District 4 Supervisor and currently Vice Mayor and Council Member, City of Angels Ron Klass, candidate, District 4 Supervisor Tom Tryon, candidate, District 4 Supervisor and currently serving his sixth term as Supervisor Steve Wilensky, candidate, District 2 Supervisor, currently serving his first term as Supervisor, also Chairman of the Calaveras County Board of Supervisors Steve Castellanos, candidate, San Joaquin Delta College Board of Trustees
Calaveras County Democratic Central Committee Pat Guttmann, Chairperson Mary Boblet, Vice-Chairperson Dave Self, Secretary Sharon Romano, Treasurer Tillman Sherman, District I Committee Member Margaret Copenhaver, District 2 Committee Member Henry Guttmann, District 2 Committee Member Robert Dean, District 2 Committee Member Bill Paulsen, District 3 Committee Member Marilyn Pinnow, District 3 Committee Member Tami Chesnut, District 4 Committee Member Mary Salegui, District 4 Committee Member Chris McBrian, District 5 Committee Member
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Truly
successful events such as this happen when team members generously
contribute their precious time and skills, and for that we are blessed.
A big thank you to Tami Chesnut, our awesome event leader and dinner
chair. Committee members providing assistance to Tami include Mary
Boblet, Pat Guttmann, Chris McBrian, Marilyn Pinnow, Mary Salegui and
Sharon Romano. 
Tami
Chesnut won the $500 cash raffle prize. Tami would like to return $250
in the form of a Bret Harte High School student scholarship. Way to go
Tami! Karen Niehaus won both wine raffle prizes. Thank you Mary Salegui
(photo at right) for advertising our raffle so artistically. We sold 175
raffle tickets!
Steve
Wilensky invited Democrats to show leadership and partnership with other
political and community groups to help resolve local, state and national
economic and social issues. Steve called on Democrats and non-Democrats
alike to practice true democracy at this moment in history and to build
social compacts that show our best sides and avoid our worst nightmares.
Congress and reminded everyone that a visit by Cheney this early in the
season spells certain doom for the incumbent Dan Lungren given past
election year visits Cheney’s made to Pombo’s and Doolittle’s districts.
Marilyn offered Bill Durston’s apologies for not making it to the
fundraiser due to another campaign commitment, but promised he will
return soon to campaign in this generous and supportive county.
Autumn
offered her father’s apologies for not being able to come to the
fundraiser and then shared her personal views on how wonderful it was to
see so many active Democrats in the audience. Autumn reminded the
audience the Annual Garamendi Basque picnic is on May 17th
from 4-9pm at Touch-the-Earth Ranch in Paloma.
M.A.C.T.
Health Care Board, Inc. received special recognition and a donation from
the committee. M.A.C.T. is a low-cost health service provider in
Calaveras County. The contribution was raised through financial
donations made at the Democratic Central Committee's very successful
countywide health care forum program. Communities scheduled for future
health care forums are Copperopolis, Mokelumne Hill, Angels Camp,
Arnold, and Mountain Ranch. More information about M.A.C.T. is available
by visiting