Copy
Trouble Viewing? To view newsletter in your browser, CLICK HERE
The Newsletter of the Wilkes County Democratic Party                               Issue no. 49     April 2021
Wilkes County Democratic Party
Monthly Executive Meeting This Month 

Saturday, April 17th, 2021
10:00am


* VIRTUAL using the ZOOM Platform *

If you are not an Executive Committee member and wish to attend this meeting, please send an email to info@wilkesdemocrats.com to guarantee you get the Zoom link, or call Kathryn at 336-818-1795.

Any Wilkes County Democrat is invited!
WE HAVE A NEW NEW FACEBOOK GROUP:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/wilkesdemocrats
** the old facebook page is no more**
Guest Speaker - Rob Schofield of NC Policy Watch
County Convention Recap
On April 10th, Wilkes County Democratic Party held our Annual County Convention via Zoom. After taped messages from NCDP party chair Bobbie Richardson, Secretary of State Elaine Marshall, and Governor Roy Cooper, we got down to business. The business was taken care of briskly, with elections being held for County Party Officers for the 2021 - 2023 term. Congratulations to the re-election of the officers: Kathryn Charles - County Party Chair, Brandon Whitaker - 1st Vice Chair, Mandy Marxen - 2nd Vice Chair, Connie Cox - Treasurer, Woody Madison - 3rd Vice Chair, and Judy Miller - Secretary.  Brandon Whitaker and Mandy Marxen will also serve on the State Executive Committee (SEC) along with Kathryn for the next 2 years. 32 delegates for the upcoming 5th District Convention next month were voted on and approved as the officers of all precincts, along with all officers of the county party to ensure our county's full voting power. 

Precinct delegate and local powerhouse, Hazel Chapman verbalized that the county officer slate was very homogeneously white, and encouraged all members of Wilkes Democratic Party to continue to reach out to their black friends and neighbors and get them to the next meeting. Her comments were appreciated and noted. WCDP is still actively trying to form a local chapter of  African American Caucus of the NC Democratic Party. 
Your 2021 - 2023 Wilkes County Democratic Party Officers
Then it was time for the featured speaker of the morning. Rob Schofield, Director of NC Policy Watch, joined us for an analysis and inspirational look at the NC political landscape. He is also a commentator on WRAL-FM radio, hosts the weekly radio news magazine "News and Views," and is a lawyer, former lobbyist, and writer. 

Schofield opened by reminding us that he basically has Jesse Helms' old job as a commentator for WRAL, so that alone should tell you how much NC's political spectrum has changed. Then he shared the good and the bad from the recent November elections. We re-elected Governor Cooper and defeated Dan Forest. We, as a state, got Debra Ross and Kathy Manning elected to the US House. We also were such a battleground state, that we monopolized much of Donald Trump's campaign efforts and time - especially as November approached - that NC likely contributed to Georgia and Pennsylvania's ultimate success in getting Biden elected.

However, we weren't able to prevent the re-election of Thom Tillis, no thanks to the Cunningham debacle, and we had some truly disastrous NC Council of State losses. Voter suppression and the attack on voting rights continues through hundreds of bills being introduced across the U.S. that clearly have a racial motivation. And ultimately, we came face-to-face with a near coup d'état and the contempt of basic democratic principles. Our challenges for 2022 and 2024 remain. 

As a party, it will be important moving forward to make sure our COVID response remains strong for the health of our nation. We must get this pandemic under control. It has resulted in a "Devastating economic condition," and we have a "long slog" ahead of us to recover in Schofield's words.

As North Carolinians, Rob Schofield offered us a list of important work that must be done swiftly:
  1. Medicaid Expansion in NC - it would lead to jobs, shore up rural hospitals, not to mention SAVE LIVES, and it's essentially something we are already paying for. It's crucial to helping many North Carolinians right now. 
  2. Support Governor Cooper's Budget - It is spending 25-30% less than budgets a few decades ago. It supports our teachers, our schools, and should be supported. 4.8% to spend on state and local services is NOT a big ask. We need robust action now. 
  3. Prevent Gerrymandering - It's ironic that Berger and Moore's former advocacy for fair districts before the super majority in the General Assembly has disappeared completely. Any laws are also excluded from the power of the Governor's veto, and the delay in Census data will likely push any redistricting back to late 2021 or 2022 - which will make it difficult on candidates considering a run for office. "It's a mess and tragedy that our politicians now choose their voters, rather than voters choosing their politicians," Schofield said. 
  4. Make Voting as Universal as Possible - defeat the "voting integrity bill" in NC, which simply makes absentee voting harder. Realize that voting is hard for people who work, parents with kids, people move around a lot, and there are already a LOT of hurdles to jump through in order to even register to vote. We need to reduce those obstacles. 
He acknowledged that an organization like ours in a red county is challenging. But he encouraged us to continue the hard work. "Make them spend money to listen to you," keep speaking up to your elected officials, and keep running candidates opposing them in elections. 

Schofield also said we need to find areas of common ground. Many Republicans, for example, have come around on criminal justice reform, and realize that the privatized prison complex isn't working. The issues aren't many, but it can happen. 

There a great many things happening beyond our county's borders that can help the citizens of Wilkes County. Biden's plans would merge climate change progress with broadband access, healthcare access, and childcare access, that would greatly benefit everyone in Wilkes. 

Ultimately, Schofield reminded us that Republicans are very good at exploiting Race, Religion, and Homophobia. Those are their consistent fall-back positions to keep their grasp on power. "But ya gotta keep raisin' heck, ultimately," he said. "We aren't going to convert them, but stay in the fight." 

Thanks, Rob Schofield! Follow his commentary on NC Policy Watch here >> 
http://www.ncpolicywatch.com/category/articles/originalcommentary/weekly-briefing/ and support the work that his organization does. 
WE NEED YOUR VOICE

If you are a black Wilkes resident and a Democrat, please consider becoming a founding member of the Wilkes County Chapter of the African American Caucus of the North Carolina Democratic Party.

For more information, please visit 
www.aac-ncdp.org.

Contact us at info@wilkesdemocrats.com 
Help The Homeless Care Packages
Our winter food drive and winter clothing drive were so successful, we are eager to start this new spring project - bags of essentials for the homeless in Wilkes County. The collection of items to be packaged in ONE Gallon Storage bag. (Many items are travel size, in order to fit.) 

Items in each "Care Pack" would be:
  • Hand Sanitizer
  • Wash Cloth
  • Bar Soap
  • Shampoo
  • Razor
  • Toothbrush & cover 
  • Toothpaste
  • Deodorant
  • Pack of Tissues
  • Comb
  • Face Masks (2)
  • Small Notepad 
  • Ink Pen
We will need help assembling the packs when it's time, so if you've had your second vaccine dose a minimum of two weeks ago, be sure to reach out and we'll coordinate a time for early May! 
JOING WILKES CHAPTER OF YOUNG DEMOCRATS

If you are a young Democrat, under age 36, please join our newly forming
Wilkes County Young Democrats Chapter of the YDNC. This is a great way to
get involved, stay informed, meet like-minded folks and learn more about
how the Party works! For more information, please visit 
www.ydnc.org.

Reach out and get involved. 
Contact us at info@wilkesdemocrats.com 
Be sure to mark your calendars for the upcoming Organizational Meetings
  • 5th District Executive Meeting - Thurs., April 22nd, 6pm
  • Wilkes County Democratic Party Monthly Meeting – Sat., May15th
  • 5th Congressional District Convention Meeting – Sat., May 22nd
  • Summer SEC Meeting – Sat., August 7th
Facebook Facebook
Twitter Twitter
Website Website
Copyright © 2021 Wilkes County Democratic Party, All rights reserved.


Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

Email Marketing Powered by Mailchimp