Friend,
Townie Summer may have begun in Bloomington, but for the Monroe County Democrats, we aren’t taking time off as we head into a crucial General Election this fall.
We kicked off campaign season with a sold-out Roosevelt Reception, where we heard from much of our slate - from Jennifer McCormick to Thomas Horrocks - as we geared up for the fall. This was in many ways a family event - as Thomas’s wife Adriane, Dr. Valerie McCray’s son Ryan, and Beth White’s mom Nancy did a round of impromptu introductions. We were sad to miss our Eleanor Roosevelt Keynote, as Dr. Amrita Chakrabarti Myers had a loss in her family, but I am hopeful we can find a way to hear from her this year. Keep her pup in your thoughts.
This is Pride Month. Despite the machinations of our opposition, we have a lot to be Proud of in our LGBTQIA+ community. I thank Jeanne Smith for her years of service to the Stonewall Democrats of South Central Indiana, and welcome their new leadership team. I was happy to join them all in their officer turnover meeting this month. I also thank the Bloomington Common Council in their unanimous vote to let the world know Bloomington is a safe place for our Transgender community and gender affirming care, and thank Councilpersons Flaherty and Daily for bringing the resolution through. There are times where party message and discipline need to ring clear from the White House to the Court House. With an increasingly virulent Republican opposition on the march, now is the time to show unity.
I hope you were able to join the City of Bloomington’s Juneteenth Celebrations on June 15th. My friend Elizabeth Mitchell has persistently advocated for the past several years to create the Monroe County African American Heritage Trail, and the fruit of that labor in the installation of the first marker on that trail was held on June 15th at Switchyard Park, 2PM. This first marker recognizes the Black Underground Railroad conductors that lived and worked in Bloomington and are rarely acknowledged. Additional markers will recognize the now lost small Black communities in the county - those dirt road intersections where an unincorporated town once existed. Thank you Liz for all you do!
We prepare for State Convention this month, as our Attorney General candidates, our soon-to-be announced Lieutenant Governor candidates, and our National Delegates to the DNC need your votes. We have a few spots left to join us in Indy on July 13. I hope you will let me know you want to come along.
Our new deputies are self-starters and are going to get stuff done. We are finally getting to my goal of solidarity and reform that was so critical to getting us on the footing we needed to be competitive this cycle and to set us up for success. Sometimes our party can be its own worst enemy, other times, we are so much better together. We are in that latter moment, and I can feel it throughout the Democratic community.
As Coolidge once observed, “Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not: nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not: the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.”
Forgive stealing that Republican’s quote, but persistence is a sentiment that transcends party. After all, many of us who are Senator Elizabeth Warren fans know that nothing rankles our opposition more than hers, and our, persistence. I am proud of my persistent doers, in the party, in our nominees, in office, and in advocacy.
Let us persist together,
DGH
Day of Action - Fight Duke Energy’s Rate Hike
This Thursday, the Indiana Utility Regulatory Committee will hold a field hearing in Monroe County on Duke Energy’s proposed rate hike on its customers. Don’t be fooled by this request - Duke is seeking a near 30% hike over two years, adding a walloping $42 a month on the average to consumer bills. This follows a recent rake hike that was poured into a new dirty coal plant that came in over budget and adds to Indiana’s ranking as having the poorest air quality in the nation. Fool us once, shame on you, fool us twice, shame on us.
IURC NEEDS to hear your story and those of our neighbors. With 1 in 4 Monroe County residents living in poverty, and all of us suffering from Duke’s double down into fossil fuel energy production, we are all at risk. Bring your testimony and tell your story.
Thursday, 20 June 6 p.m.
Monroe Convention Center, Olcott Young Room
302 S. College Ave, Bloomington
Our friends at Reverse Citizens United has been running a Follow the Money Campaign on statehouse seats with voters in Monroe County. They write: “Not one of them is voting for consumers or the environment. Click here if you want to see how Citizens Action Coalition rates Rep. Peggy Mayfield in H60 and Rep. Bob Heaton H46. Rep Dave Hall H62 may be tracked here since he took office only two years ago. It's become clear we will never get voters back into the driver's seat until we re-balance our General Assembly.”
Comings and Goings
• Wes Martin joins MCDP as our Deputy Chair for Labor. Wes is the political advocacy director for our local International Association of Fire Fighters and brings both Labor and communication chops to the party.
• VAN Coordination Team - in addition to their support as deputies, Sydney Zulich, Ryan Still, Chrissie Geels and Sam Ujdak will manage our VAN coordination support to campaigns and the precinct committee.
• Lastly, I want to thank and single out Steve Volan, who, I left off my list of thanks for contesting a county race this past cycle in my last newsletter. Many know I first went up against Steve when I worked in County Health, opposing a chicken coop ordinance in city limits. Steve defeated the county’s push back by wearing a chicken suit to City Council, winning over the public sentiment, and in 20 years of hindsight, was on the right side of that debate. His depth and insight is government’s loss, but the public’s gain. You can still catch Tall Steve on his The 812 Podcast, capturing decision makers and the issues of the day wherever you Pod.
I could use a few more hands on deck this fall. We need a volunteer coordinator, a webmaster/IT person, and some good precinct committee persons to help support and hold accountable the party as we work toward a goal of 80% turnout. Is that you? Let’s talk at chair@monroedems.org
Really Important Dates!
Mark these upcoming dates to get back to work for the General Election. More to come via our website at monroedems.org:
• Precinct Committeeperson Training: June 26, 2024 - 6PM-8PM - MCPL Meeting Rooms. Chrissie Geels and Sydney Zulich will begin the MCDP Training and Outreach Plan for our Precinct Committee. All PCPs will be required to complete training before access to VAN is granted. I have set a goal of 80% voter turnout in each precinct for the fall. PCPs will be asked to meaningfully contribute to that goal - or organize their neighbors to help build your precinct committee. Some are so close, others need help and the team is ready.
• Biden-Trump Debate Watch Party: June 27, 2024 - 8PM - Crazy Horse Tavern Back Room. Join fellow Dems for this social event, and to take our frustration right into signing up to volunteer on critical campaigns this fall.
• State Delegate Meet and Greet - tentative June 30, 2024. Destiny Wells - MCDP will welcome Destiny Wells for a meet and greet ahead of State Convention. We were happy to host Beth White for our Roosevelt Reception in May. Both Beth and Destiny will also attend a District-wide Delegate event in the first week of July, in Brown County.
• Monroe County Fair - July 1-6. Join us at the Fair! We are working on new tee shirts and swag for the party. Candidates and Volunteers: Sign up here
• Bloomington 4th of July Parade - Come Ride the Blue Wave in our entry in this year’s parade. I’m sure this year’s entry will float your boat, as we are both prepared for choppy waters and smooth sailing into office in 2025. If that pitch doesn’t leave you motion sick, and wondering just what we have in dock, sign up here to join us!
• State Delegate Training - This Zoom Meeting before convention will be led by Sydney Zulich with former Indiana Democratic Party Chair John Zody to help refresh what to expect at convention, and help our new delegates get ready for a contested Convention. More to come.
• Monroe County Democrats Club/Stonewall Democrats of South Central Indiana Annual Picnic - July 21, 2024 - Cascades Park 3-7PM. As the Dems Club creeps up on their 98th anniversary, join fellow Dems for a day of picnic, stump speeches and games.
Donate to MCDP! Now is the Time!
Blue Skies Ahead - Thank you to Larry and Cathy Smith, Chrissie Geels, and Peter Iversen for stepping up to contribute to $100/mo level. We have renamed our top tier in the “Four Freedoms” because we see Blue Skies Ahead. We need your help too. Your direct support pay fees for parades and festivals and booths, and assure we push forward our candidates with targeted mailers and candidate events.
Thank you for coming back, plussing up, and chipping in as we lean into 2024.
#ComeHomein24 - Upcoming Events
• Precinct Committee Training #1 - 6/26 - MCPL Meeting Rooms
• Biden-Trump Debate Watch Party - 6/27 - Crazy Horse
• July 4th Parade - Gather at 10AM
• State Delegate Meet-and-Greet - TBD
• State Convention 2024 - 7/13
• Monroe County Fair - 6/29-7/5
• IDEA 8/1-4
• Democratic National Convention 2024 - Chicago - 8/19-22
• Monroe County Fall Festival
• Pridefest
• Stinesville Quarry Festival
• 5th Annual Judge Viola Taliaferro Dinner
• 2025 Swearing In Ceremonies
