It is candidate endorsement time for the Whatcom Democrats. We will be voting at our June meeting on who to endorse in the 2011 election. Only members that have paid their dues by June 2nd will be eligible to vote. A candidate needs to secure 2/3rds of the votes (out of all those voting) to gain the Whatcom Democrats endorsement. No endorsement and dual endorsement are also possible.

So we are still in the post-game season of elections and a few new things are coming to light. Since the first vote tally run on election night, the ballots counted have been skewed in favor of Democratic candidates, meaning Democrats voted late and in large numbers. Kelli Linville went from being 1519 votes behind on election night to 158 votes behind when all the ballots were finally tallied. This race is currently being re-counted because the vote is so close.

In light of questions raised today by out of town Republican Party lawyers about the accuracy of the ballot count in Whatcom county, the Whatcom Democrats would like to commend the Auditor's office for their diligent and hard work this election cycle.

LATEST VOTE TALLIES

[UPDATE as of Saturday, November 6]  We quickly put together the November newsletter the day after the election in order to get the print copy in the mail in a timely manner to publicize our membership meeting next week (see below). Since then much has changed in the vote count. Tallies of ballots counted after election day show a strong leaning for Democratic candidates.

4 Days to go! See how you can help NOW

You can still watch a couple of the forums through the miracle of technology. Please share this with family and friends.

**UPDATE Oct 26**
Rick Larsen and John Koster face off at the Greater Marysville Tulalip Chamber of Commerce, October 22, 2010 FULL VIDEO **end update**

A couple are available on the web and BTV channel 10 (Comcast cable) Broadcast schedule:

Basic Needs Forum  full video 42ndLD Linville/Buys @ 6 min; Jerns/Ericksen @ 38 min; Jensen/Overstreet @ 70 min; 40th LD Lytton/Newman @ 83 min; Swapp/Morris @107 min; County Council Larson/Melious @ 135 min. (This is possibly the only Melious-Larson side-by-side comparison for the election, as Larson has not attended most other forums)

Ralph Munro Forum  full video 42nd LD Overstreet/Jensen @3 min; Linville/Buys @ 19 min; 40th LD Newman/Lytton @ 38 min; Swapp/Morris @ 51 min; 42nd LD Jerns/Ericksen @71 min.

State-wide Ballot Measures

Candidates

Local Ballot Measures

 EVERY RACE MATTERS -- VOTE THE ENTIRE BALLOT

Many media outlets are running some version of a Fact Check. Here's a quick list of the top lies being told. Visit www.ProtectWashington.org for more.

Top myths and facts for each initiative, plus editorial endorsements, in the order they appear on the ballot:

I-1053 – Tim Eyman’s Personal Employment Act:

MYTH: It will force government reform.

Our slatecard with all Whatcom Democrats' candidate endorsements and ballot measure recommendations goes to out at the same time as the ballots, to ALL Democratic households in Whatcom County.

Help us deliver the slatecard to walkable precincts in Bellingham on
Oct. 16-17
PICK-UP materials Saturday Oct. 16, 9am - 12n
215 W. Holly St, #B-27, Bellingham
Please call Rebekah at 647-7661 or email to volunteer!

This is it! Ballots are mailed out Oct 13th. By the time you finish reading this article, there will be only a HANDFUL of days remaining until people start marking their ballots. That means we need your help today! And tomorrow! And for the next couple of weeks.

Here’s ways you can help: