PORTAGE COUNTY DEMOCRAT
GETTING TOGETHER, MOVING FORWARD
T
In This Issue
APRIL 2015
The Most Important Thing You Will Do In April
* Voting
DEMOCRAT
* Supreme Court Choice
* Constitutional Amendment
* Delegates Wanted
* Burn the Mortgage
* Budget Listening Session
* State Convention
* Headquarter Use
* Parking
* Trivia –Defenders of
Democracy
* Walk Wisconsin
* Brats at Trigs
* Book Sale
* Newsletter thanks
* April 14th meeting
* PCDP shines at County
Chair Event
HAPPY
SPRING
VOTE
If we are going to change the leadership in Wisconsin, we
need to start at the local level. There are important political
races this spring and your participation is required.
We cannot take elections for granted any longer just
because Portage County has a tradition of voting
Democratic. If we needed a wake-up call, this past
November should have sounded the alarm.
Listed below are local candidates that are members of the
PCDP. Please support them.
Stevens Point City Council:
District 3 - Mike O’Meara
District 5 – Bryan Van Stippen
District 7 - Mary Kneebone
District 9 – Mary McComb
District 11 – Shaun Morrow
Plover Trustee
Anton Anday
Stevens Point Mayor
Mike Wiza
Town of Hull Supervisors
David Pederson
Jan Way
Early voting at the city and town clerk’s offices
begins March 23rd. Election day is April 7th.
Also on your April 7th Ballot
Justice Ann Walsh Bradley is seeking re-election to the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
Justice Bradley has served 9 years on the court and states, “I am committed to maintaining
a supreme court that is fair, neutral, impartial and non-partisan - a court that is fiercely
independent, not beholden to any political party, association or special interest group”.
bradleyforjustice.com
Constitutional Question
Question 1: “Election of chief justice. Shall section 4 (2) of article VII of the constitution
be amended to direct that the chief justice of the supreme court shall be elected for a twoyear term by a majority of the justices then serving on the court”?
Since April 1889, the Wisconsin Constitution has provided that the “justice having the
longest continuous service on the court be chief justice”. The proposed change was
adopted by the Republican controlled legislature in 2013. A NO vote on the constitutional
amendment would maintain the historical tradition of the senior member of the court to be
chief justice.
From the Legislative Reference Bureau
Delegates Needed…
An important part of membership in the local
Democratic Party is becoming a delegate to the
3RD Congressional District Convention.
The 2015 Convention will be held on
May 2, 2015 at the Stoney Creek Inn,
Onalaska.
If you are looking for a Progressive, Democratic
event, this Convention is for you. By becoming
involved you can help promote the values that
have made Wisconsin a great place to live, work
and raise a family. Those values are under attack.
To sign up, learn how you become a delegate and
for hotel information go to:
3rddemswi.nationbuilder.com
If you are interested in carpooling, contact Gary Hawley
[email protected]
Be a participating member.
Another “Must” April Happening
See You There
Page 3
Have an opinion about the proposed 2015 Wisconsin Budget?
Senator Julie Lassa and Assemblyperson Katrina Shankland send this
information to share with you.
Members of the Wisconsin Legislature will be holding budget listening sessions throughout the
state.
Stevens Point: March 27th 10 AM – 12 PM, Portage County ADRC, Lincoln Center,
1519 Water St., Stevens Point
You are encouraged to attend and share your thoughts and stories. Additionally, you can also
send your comments for the members of the Joint Finance Committee via email to:
[email protected]
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Preliminary Convention Agenda
Friday, June 5 2:00 PM - Democratic
Unity Fair Begins
3:00 PM - Registration Opens &
Caucus Meetings Begin
4:00 PM - New Delegate Orientation is
Held
5:00 PM - Convention Hall Doors Open
6:00 PM - Speaking Program Begins
8:00 PM - Registration Closes 9:00 PM
- Hospitality Suites Open
The annual state convention is our
biggest event of the year. We hope to
see you in Milwaukee this June to build
the Party and work toward Democratic
victories.
Become a delegate and shape the
direction of the party.
Saturday, June 6 8:00 AM Registration Opens & Convention Hall
Doors Open
8:30 AM - Speaking Program,
Resolutions Debate, and Voting
11:00 AM - Registration Closes
2:00 PM - Convention Program Ends
Address: Potawatomi Hotel & Casino 1721 West Canal Street Milwaukee, WI
53233 www.paysbig.com/hotel or call 844-217-4100.
Additional Convention information at www.wisdems.org/events/convention.
Page 4
Parking
Headquarter Use
Belt’s Ice Cream Shop is open so it must
be spring!?
Karyn Tank reports our Headquarters is
used often throughout the year.
The popularity of Belt’s ice cream means
the parking lot north of PCDP is often
full on meeting nights.
January – 4 meetings - 50 persons
February – 11 meetings – 145 persons
There is a parking lot just to the south
in front of Archie’s Bar that has empty
parking spots and it is about the same
distance to walk.
Thank you to those members that
continue to support the acquisition of
our Headquarters. Join in the celebration to “Burn the Mortgage” April 9.
Jan Way is looking for “telephone operators” for Trivia 46. The PC Dems are scheduled to
answer phones in the “world’s largest trivia contest” on Saturday evening April 18th,
from 6 – 10 PM. Consider volunteering for this fun event by calling Jan at 715-572-5802 or
email her at [email protected].
Page 5
Mark These Dates on Your Calendar –
June 6, 2015 – WALK WISCONSIN
Once again the Portage County Dems will hand out water and snacks to
walkers. Volunteers are needed. Unfortunately the date of the walk
conflicts with the Democratic Convention in Milwaukee, but if you
cannot attend the convention, consider calling Jan Way to volunteer.
This is an opportunity for the Dems to be visible in the community and
the walkers appreciate our presence.
Call or email Jan to volunteer. [email protected] 715-572-5802.
______________________________________________________________________
BRAT SALE
Everyone loves grilled brats, right? And
along with dairy products, brats are one of
the great products Wisconsin is best known
for!
Join the PCDP at Trig’s in Stevens Point
Love to Read? Want to support Public Schools?
SPARTA BOOK SALE
Jackson School
April 22-25, 2015
Your support helps fund area youth programs and
enforces the positive impact Wisconsin educators,
past and present, have on our community!
May 29, 2015
where we will be flipping brats and serving
them up to the public for a fundraiser.
If you are not handy with a “flipper” you
are encouraged to grab a friend or two,
stop in, say “hi” and enjoy an official
Wisconsin brat.
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Thanks once again for your support
of the newsletter. Your
contributions help the PCDP get the
news and activities of the Party to
the membership. Want to help? Mail
your check to PCDP 2220 Division
St., Stevens Point 54481
Page 6
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Thanks for their support and
donation of $25 or more:
Walter Hetchler
Anonymous
Important Agenda for April 14th
Membership Meeting
Members at the April meeting will be presenting, discussing, amending and voting on the resolutions that PCDP will
be forwarding to the 3rd Congressional District Convention in Onalaska on May 2nd.
Resolutions selected at the District Convention are then forwarded to the State Convention where they are once
again voted on for inclusion in the Wisconsin Democratic Party Platform.
Please attend the April meeting to help determine what the future of the Wisconsin Democratic Party will be
campaigning for in the years to come.
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PCDP hosts the County Chairs Annual Training Meeting
The Assembly
Katrina
Gary
Julie
Mike Tate
Thanks to the PCDP these members who helped out in many ways and made the local party
look great: Gary Hawley, host extraordinaire, Robin Van Laanan, Nancy & Konrad Cjonacki,
Mary Ann & Glen Fink, Karyn Tank, Liz McDonald, Sue Hall, Ned Grossnickle, Tim
Zimmerman, Darlene Todd, Jerry Ugland, Trudy & David Pederson, Julie Lassa, Katrina
Shankland and Abdul, a generous host at the Elizabeth Inn in Plover.
All photos by Jerry Ugland
Page 7
PORTAGE DEMOCRATIC PARTY
2220 DIVISION ST.
STEVENS POINT, WI 54481
This just in: MEET JUSTICE ANN WALSH BRADLEY AT BERNARDS COUNTY
INN RESTAURANT, STEVENS POINT TUESDAY MARCH 31 ST 5:30 – 7:30 PM
JOIN US
General Membership Meeting
April 14, 2015
2220 Division St., Stevens Point
Socialization begins at 6:30 PM
Meeting starts at 7 PM
Agenda includes adoption of resolutions to forward to 3rd CD Convention
Authorized and paid for by Portage County Democratic Party, Jerry Ugland Treasurer