by Jim Fox, Lead Democratic Election Observer

Election Observer Report - Oct 27, 2011 -- Opening Begins
Returned: 7,852 6.6% Counted: 0 0.0% Total Reg. Voters: 118,038 (?)

The 2011 General Election ballot processing has begun. As ballots are returned, regular staff have been receiving them, forming "batches" of roughly 125 ballots, logging them in as "voted" by the voter while checking Signature-IDs. If there is any problem (signature, ID, missing or multiple ballots, etc.) temporary staff will refer the problem to senior staff -- or ultimately the 3-member Canvassing Board for final resolution. Note: the Voter Registration Database only permits one "Return" per Voter per Election. After the first return is accepted, additional returns per Voter will be rejected.

In races where no endorsement has been made, "Certified" Democratic candidates are listed, according to our Endorsement Policy.

County Executive Update: The two candidates that the Whatcom Democrats endorsed for the County Executive position did not make it through the Primary Election. Of the two candidates who will appear on the November General Election ballot, we RECOMMEND a vote for Jack Louws.

Tickets are sold out, you can email Roni by clicking here to join the wait list.

If you cannot attend, please donate to the Whatcom Democrats by clicking on the our Support our Work link. This is our major fundraiser. By participating, you can help us succeed in getting our message so we can fight the red tide of tea party conservatism.

Our surprise guest will be Bob Fergueson, who is the Democrat running for Washington State Attorney General.

Hi! I’m Suzanne Kite. As I’m becoming familiar with the inner workings of this group, I realize that the pulse of our organization is comprised of the volunteers who help with just about everything! All of the Board and Committee members are volunteers, as is our office staff. Without people willing to help us reach our democratic goals, this organization – and most non- profits – could not exist.

Come July 31st at 4pm to Fairhaven Park for our annual picnic, hosted by the Democratic Women’s Club. Tickets get you a delicious meal and are $7 at the door. Join us for fun, games and elected officials. Contact Catherine Chambers with questions at 305-2252

HB 2078 is moving in the WA House and we expect a floor vote next week. The bill would end the tax break for big banks and redirect $115 million into schools to fund smaller K-3 class sizes. We need your help to show some public support for this bill - please take a minute to write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper expressing your support for HB 2078 and asking your legislators to vote for it.

SATURDAY, Feb 26  Rally to Save the American Dream

Olympia, Washington
Stand in solidarity with Wisconsin's embattled public employees
 
The Northwest Washington Central Labor Council and the Whatcom Democrats are encouraging labor activists and supporters in Whatcom, Skagit and San Juan counties to show up in Olympia from noon - 3pm this Saturday for the rally to stand in solidarity with Wisconsin's embattled public employees! This is a nationwide effort that is being held in every state. Let's show them what WA has got going on!

In case you missed the  Bellingham Herald October 17 article on the County budget, Whatcom County Health Department is planning to outsource the WIC Program (Women, Infants and Children Supplemental Nutrition Program) to save money. The outsourcing would probably be to a local non-profit agency, and to save money they would have less funding to work with.

Sam Crawford and the rest of the conservative Whatcom County Council are pushing a new scheme that is literally written by development lawyers. Their back room deal is going to take another chunk of our County agricultural land, and zone it for cheap subdivisions. His schemes will pave over farmland, put sprawl into our watersheds and cost taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars. Now is the time to speak up and stop this.

The Ethics Commission determined that the act of appointing a replacement member of the County Council was "not a vote on a matter of law or policy" and therefore the ethics code does not apply.  The decision on who would have a vote on matters of law and policy on the County Council is not a matter of law or policy?  If the decision to appoint a member of the County Council is so unimportant that the ethics code does not apply, then we might as well just put that decision in the hands of some County staff person, so they can pick their out-of-work brother-in-law