December 2007 newsletter

Candidates Forum Highlights December PCD Meeting 

Kate Brown	Vicki Walker

Polk, Marion, Linn and Benton County Democrats Invited to Hear Secretary of State Candidates 

Democrats from Marion, Linn, and Benton Counties are invited to attend a Candidates Forum sponsored by Polk County Democrats at its December 13 monthly meeting in West Salem at the Salem Electric Community Room. PCD Chair Alan Holland says a welcome and refreshments time will begin at 6:30, followed by necessary business until 7:30, at which time the candidates will speak.   

 "The format will be for each candidate to address the group for 5 minutes," he told the Democrat. "Each County Party Chair will ask a question and each candidate will respond for 2 minutes to each question then the floor is opened for questions until the 8:00pm closing."

"So far we expect Senators Vicki Walker and Kate Brown to be in attendance," Holland added, "and will also be inviting other announced candidates for the office. " State Sen. Rick Metsger of Welches announced his bid for the office November

Rick Metsger	Brad Avakian

20. Senator Brad Avakian of Beaverton rounds out the crowded candidates roster set for the May 20 primary (Dec. 6 editor's update: all four candidates have accepted the invitation and are expected to attend).

Holland says the forum will allow candidates to share their views on the issues of note and provide an opportunity for four county parties to become more acquainted with their campaigns. Learn more about each by clicking on their names.

  DPO Plans Retreat for County Chairs, ViceChairs 

"Knowing who you are, knowing each other and knowing what we are going to do when we get home. "That is the theme of the Democratic Party of Oregon's Chairs and ViceChairs Retreat  planned for December 7-9 in Tualatin. 

According to the Draft agenda outcomes include working with the DPO leadership team to develop and implement a long term strategic plan with a focus on victory in 2008. The plan will include programs for neighbor to neighbor, fundraising, events volunteer recruitment and maintenance, technical and building bridges to diversity.

Land Use Lawyer in West Salem Dec 12

Talk Centers on Measure 49 and Vested Rights

Roger Kaye of Friends of Marion County invites all interested in the wake of Measure 49's passage to attend an upcoming meeting at West Salem Public Library. One of Oregon's premiere public interest attorneys will be in Salem December 12 to discuss the aftermath of Measure 49 and Oregon's failed experiment with regulatory takings.

Ralph Bloemers, Co-Executive Director of the CRAG Law Center will focus his talk on how the Measure 37 election cost all Oregonians far more money and encouraged vulnerable people to pursue outrageous claims and how misunderstandings of the law as part of campaign slogans, without due regard to good governance and an informed populous, were perpetuated. Ralph will also discuss how the transition to Measure 49 is going and explore whether the valuation approach under Measure 49 is any different from Measure 37.

Bloemers was born in Rotterdam, Holland and grew up on a cheese farm in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. After high school, he went to the University of Colorado in Boulder where he studied Political Science. He then left the US and worked abroad in Munich, Germany for an international reinsurance company. Thereafter, he returned to Salem, Oregon to attend law school at Willamette. Ralph went to law school with the goal of using the law to serve the public interest. In his third year he studied international environmental law in Leiden Holland and graduated Cum Laude in 1998.

During law school, he worked for the Nature Conservancy's Western Regional Office in Boulder and on the farmlands program for 1000 Friends of Oregon. He also worked a summer at Stoel Rives in Portland and then after school took an offer from the firm to practice Intellectual Property, Corporate Securities and Finance law. Ralph always remained committed to pro bono service to various organizations such as 1000 Friends of Oregon and the Northwest Resistance Against Genetic Engineering. After three years Ralph left private practice to found the Crag Law Center along with a friend and colleague Chris Winter. Crag is a non-profit public interest law firm that empowers grass roots organizations working to protect our shared natural resources. Crag provides legal representation to those in the community who are working to effect positive change on environmental, sustainability and social justice issues in the Pacific Northwest.

The CRAG Law Center link: http://www.crag.org/

For further info contact:
Roger Kaye, Pres., Friends of Marion County, 503-743-4567

 PolitiCorps offers Summer "Bootcamp" for Activists

They call it a "political bootcamp for the college-and-recent grad-aged superhero. And they want you to fill out an application to attend its 2008 Summer Camp. (Click here for details)  

PolitiCorps is the Bus Project's 10-week political immersion program. PolitiCorps Fellows register voters, take classes, organize communities, vet public policy white papers, launch media campaigns, and, at the end of the day, make a real impact. It's a summer boot camp for politics, and a life-changing experience for college juniors, seniors, and recent graduates.

Highlights of PolitiCorps Summer: 

• A cleared path towards a career in serving the public interest
• Close friendships with some of the brightest, most dedicated young people in the country
• Introductions to progressive leaders, professionals, and change agents
• Experiential trainings in communications, community organizing, public policy analysis, networking, information systems, data management, fundraising, and project development.
• Innovative policy intensives with regional and national policy experts
• Mentored development of new ideas, project models, and campaign plans
• $1000 stipend, plus housing in Portland throughout the program

Read about the Bus Project here.

Polk Dems Really Clean Up

PCD Chair, ViceChair Stoop to Conquer Debris 

Article, pictures by PCD Jim Roten

The Dems have the job of roadside cleanup at the intersection of 99W and 22 (Rickeral Dallas-Coast interchange). Last monthly meeting it was decided that since the cleanup had not been done and was not likely to be done unless we just did it, a handful of democratic stalwarts - lead by Alan and Suzanne -  showed up  in wind and rain and the sturm and drang of holiday passing traffic and picked up a ton o' trash.

             Thank you, all who showed up!

A Year in Pictures

Image Galleries Added to

Polk Dems Website

Some moments, like this one captured as Paul Evans saw friends arriving at a well-kept secret surprise party in January, are memorable.  That's the idea behind the new Image Galleries, just added to the Polk Democrats web site.  The year in pictures is waiting there for you to peruse and savor those moments we shared in 2007.  Click on Paul's picture, above, to take you there.  Thank you, all of you who took wonderful pictures and sent them along to me.  I haven't finished uploading them all, yet.  Just pop back, every so often. Click on "Image Galleries" under "News" on the main link.  Happy Holidays!   --Wendy

December 3 Holiday Party - SCC 4th quarterly meeting

Dec. 12 - Vested Rights, Future of Land Use Law. Ralph Bloemers of the CRAG Law Center, (http://www.crag.org/) will speak to Friends of Marion County about M37/M49, vesting and the future of land use law in Oregon. The talk is scheduled for Wed., December 12, 7:00 PM, West Salem Library. The event is free and open to the public. Come early for refreshments. Doors open at 6:30.  For more information contact: Roger Kaye rkaye@oregonVOS.net or visit http://www.friendsofmarion.org/

Dec. 13 PCDC monthly meeting and Secretary of State Candidate's Forum Time: 7-9 p.m. Forum at 8 pm. 6:30 pm refreshments Salem Electric, 633 7th St. NW, Salem (see newsletter for details)

From Dallas/Rickreall: Head east on Hwy 22. Take the West Salem exit. This will put you on Edgewater Street heading east. Four blocks past the Safeway, turn left on Patterson. Continue six blocks. Turn right on 7th Street. Go one block to Murlark Ave. Take the left fork. Salem Electric will be immediately on your left. Take your first left into the main parking lot and proceed to the side patio entrance. From the North or East: Take Wallace Road (aka Salem-Dayton Hwy 221) to the intersection with 7th Street. Turn south onto 7th Street. Salem Electric will be in the first block on your right. Proceed to the side patio entrance. For questions/information: Email our Chairperson, Alan Holland, or call him: 503-371-3920 or 503-551-0580 cell.

Dec. 13 Salem Progressive Film Series audits America's debt with "Maxed Out."
The Salem Progressive Film Series will present its monthly film and
community discussion event, featuring Maxed Out at Salem's Grand Theater
(191 N High St.) on Thursday, Dec 13th starting at 7:05 PM. More information at http://www.salemprogressivefilms.net/

Dec. 15 - Holiday Party Alan and Gloria Holland's house, 530 Riverview Dr. NW., Salem.  From 6 pm until ? Call Alan for directions cell(503) 551-0580 or (503) 371-3920.