Our May meeting was packed with campaign updates, convention highlights, info about our upcoming local organizing meetings, and planning for WCDC projects and events including postcards, yard signs, and parades.
Democrats are out knocking doors! Rep. Jan Dodge is seeking drivers for her door-knocking shifts, contact her at jan.dodge@yahoo.com or 338-1626 if you can help. Driving a candidate to doors is a great way to support their campaign – you can find contact info for all our Democratic candidates across the county at www.waldocountydemocrats.com/elections.
We met with Owen Smith, candidate for County Commissioner for District 1, representing the towns of Belfast, Belmont, Islesboro, Lincolnville, Northport, and Waldo. Owen talked about his career as County Director of the Regional Communications Center/911, and expressed his appreciation for the support WCDC provides Democratic candidates.
All who attended the Maine Dems 2022 Convention last weekend were fired up by inspiring speeches and great workshops via in-person and online attendance options. Did you miss a speech or want to hear one again? We’ll post some of the video links on our website, and will send you the web address when it’s ready. Our party’s new platform and amended charter can be found on the Maine Dems website.
Get ready for 30 Days of Organizing! Our schedule for this summer’s local organizing meetings is nearly complete – find out when and where your town’s Democrats are meeting at www.waldocountydemocrats.com/local, and make a plan to be there. These meetings will help us build community with fellow Democrats, recharge our batteries, and commit ourselves to helping win elections this November. We’ll hear from candidates and elect new municipal officers and county committee members. To make sure every Democrat knows about their local meeting, WCDC is sending out postcards across the county to get the word out – if you want to help, email Sue Conard at sgconard@aol.com.
Congratulations to Laura Baker, who joined Reeves Gilmore and Philo Hutcheson as our newly elected members, and Bernie Baker as alternate member, of the Democratic State Committee. Thank you for serving WCDC and the state party as our representatives to the DSC!
The Campaign & Engagement Subcommittee is identifying and reaching out to volunteers about how they want to be involved in campaign activities. The subcommittee is drafting a volunteer interest form for everyone who attends the local organizing meetings, and will offer an online form as well. We won’t share volunteers’ contact info outside of WCDC, but will use it to let volunteers know when a candidate or campaign has a need that matches their interests.
WCDC’s most recent postcard project is massive – nearly 6400 postcards, one to every Democratic household in the county, to let them know when and where their local organizing meeting is taking place this summer. Dozens of volunteers are writing personal notes on the printed cards to their fellow Democrats. Huge thanks to Sue Conard and Paul Robie for organizing the effort. Much of the project has been funded by individual donors, and WCDC committed up to $1000 for the project. Please help us cover our costs by donating to WCDC online or mailing a check to WCDC, 22 Searsport Ave., Suite 102, Belfast, ME 04915. Thank you!
Parade season begins with Memorial Day parades across the county. Please join local candidates in the parades as they honor all those lost in military service and show their support for our local communities. Showing up to walk with a candidate lets them and the community know you believe in them! Here’s a list of local parades; email sarasalley@outlook.com and we will provide a 12”x18” American flag for you to carry.
- Belfast 9:30am lineup at Reny’s, 10am start (look for Rep. Jan Dodge & Dep. Sheriff Jason Trundy)
- Liberty 10:30am lineup at Walker School, 11am start (look for Rep. Paige Zeigler)
- Lincolnville 1:00pm lineup (look for Rep. Zeigler & Dep. Sheriff Trundy)
- Monroe 10:30 am lineup at Monroe Elementary School, 11am start (look for Robyn Stanicki)
- Prospect 11:30am lineup at Ray’s Barn, Rt 1A, 12pm start
- Searsmont 8:00am lineup at Town Office, 9am start (look for Rep. Zeigler & Dep. Sheriff Trundy)
- Searsport 8:45am lineup at Public Safety Building, 3 Union St, 9am start
- Stockton Springs 10:00am observance at Veterans Park, following Searsport parade
- Unity 8:30am lineup at Town Office, 9am start (look for Robyn Stanicki)
- Winterport 9:00am, only veterans march (Maggie English-Flanagan has been invited to give an address)
WCDC will also be in the Belfast Pride Parade on June 4! Gather at Belfast Area High School by 10:45 for an 11am start. Wear a WCDC T-shirt, help carry our banner, and be sure to bring your bling! “Pride events are celebrations of difference,” said BAHS Gender and Sexuality Alliance Club president Willa Bywater (BAHS ‘23). “It’s important that everyone in our community is seen and celebrated” (PenBay Pilot). These students are stepping up for the community – let’s step up for them on June 4!
Waldo County Dems are upping our yard sign game with some creative, fun homemade signs showing where we stand on important issues. Do you want to get involved in designing and painting them? Contact Sara at sarasalley@outlook.com.
Our next meeting is June 12, 2022, at 1pm at Social Capital (28 Spring Street in Belfast) and via Zoom (preregister here).