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Stonewall DFL friends and supporters,
This marks our last newsletter as Chair & Associate Chair of
Stonewall DFL. The past 12 months have been some of the most
difficult, yet most rewarding months for each of us. We never
imagined the time and effort needed to manage a non-profit political
organization with no paid staff. We each made some wonderful
friendships that we hope will last a lifetime and we hope that our
effort to build our party will not go unnoticed as we pass the torch
to our successors. Our goals were simple:
Focus on the basics - our primary concern was for Stonewall
DFL to return to the basics of prospecting candidates and building
the DFL party. A year later we leave office after having lead our
caucus in endorsing 25 candidates in 22 races for the 2006 election
cycle and includes a success record of 86% of our endorsed
candidates being elected in November 2005. Once again, the value of
the Stonewall screening and endorsement process has proven to be a
strong indicator in the viability of candidates.
Focus on the community - perhaps our next most vital role was
act as stewards of our community voice. Upon taking office, we each
made a commitment to the LGBT community that our collective voices
would be heard. In an environment of public scapegoats and political
gay-bashing, we worked with our party leaders to remind DFLers of
our community contributions. Some of you may have received an e-mail
this spring from DFL party Associate Chair Donna Cassutt that
denounced Republican efforts to put the gay-marriage amendment on
the ballot in 2006. Members of our caucus met frequently with both
Donna and party Chair Brian Melendez to ensure that the issues of
our community were defended by the DFL party.
Focus on people - finally, we realized that no organization
can flourish and grow without acknowledging, thanking and
encouraging the people that participate in the process. Throughout
our terms, we each strove to provide answers to questions and
encourage people to get involved in the political process. Without
our members, we understood that our work would not be completed.
We have learned much, but we have also realized that each of us must
move on to new chapters. Nancy has plans to continue her education
and Paul hopes to move back to St. Paul and return to neighborhood
organizing during 2006. Both of us encourage members to get involved
- join the board - and make a difference in your community.
See you all on April 9th for the election of our new officers
and board of directors!
With GLBT and DFL Pride,
Hubert H. Humphrey Day Dinner with keynote
speaker Senator Barack Obama
Join fellow Stonewall DFLers at this year's HHH Day Dinner. Last
year tickets went so fast that we didn't even have time to
advertise them; this year we have a limited number of seats
available for purchase on a first come, first serve basis. To
reserve your seat, e-mail Paul Skrbec at
pskrbec@comcast.net and
indicate the number of seats you would like to purchase. Tickets
cost $125 per plate. Checks should be payable to Stonewall DFL and
must be received in advance. Please join us!
2006 Humphrey Day Dinner
Saturday, April 8th
Hilton Hotel Downtown Minneapolis
1001 Marquette Ave S.
Minneapolis, MN 55403
6:00 pm - doors open
7:00 pm - dinner begins
2006 Endorsed Candidates
Following candidates have been endorsed or
given acceptable ratings by Stonewall DFL.
(endorsed) - denotes Stonewall DFL endorsement
in a race
(acceptable - denotes candidates hold an
'acceptable' rating from Stonewall DFL.
|
United States Senate |
Amy
Klobuchar (endorsed); Ford Bell (acceptable) |
|
Minnesota Governor |
Steve Kelley (endorsed); Becky Lourey (acceptable); Kelly Doran
(acceptable) |
|
Minnesota Attorney General |
Matt
Entenza (endorsed) |
|
Minnesota Auditor |
Reggie Edwards (endorsed); Rebecca Otto (acceptable) |
|
Minnesota Secretary of State |
Christian Sande (endorsed); Mark Ritchie (acceptable).
|
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Minnesota Senate |
Sen.
Linda Higgins 58 (endorsed); Sen. Scott Dibble 60 (endorsed);
Scott Benson 62 (endorsed); Alex Eaton 62 (acceptable); Matt
Gladue 62 (acceptable); Earl Netwal 62 (acceptable); Tina Sanz
62 (acceptable) |
|
Minnesota House of Representatives |
Rep.
Keith Ellison 58B (endorsed); Rep. Diane Loeffler 59A
(endorsed); Rep. Phyllis Kahn 59B (endorsed); Rep. Frank Hornstein 60B (endorsed); Rep. Karen
Clark 61A (endorsed); Rep. James Davnie 62A (endorsed); Paul
Thissen 63A (endorsed); Erin Murphy 64A (endorsed); Dona Arnosti
64A (acceptable); Sara Dady
64A (acceptable); Ian Keith
64A (acceptable); Donna Swanson
64A (acceptable) |
|
Hennepin County Attorney |
Andy
Luger (endorsed); Mike Freeman (acceptable) |
|
Ramsey County Attorney |
Susan Gaertner (endorsed); Cory Tennison (acceptable). |
|
City of Minneapolis, Board of Education |
Pam
Costain (endorsed), Tom Madden (endorsed), Jill Davis
(endorsed), Polly Harrison-Townsend (endorsed), John Quincy
(acceptable) and Joe Erickson (acceptable) |
|
Hennepin County Commission |
Peter McLaughlin, District 4 (endorsed); Gail Dorfman, District
3 (endorsed); Greg Gray, District 2 (endorsed) |
|
Candidate News and Notes |
All endorsed candidates are
allowed up to 300 words per newsletter.
To
submit material for the next issue, e-mail
newsletter@stonewalldfl.org by Friday, April 21, 2005.
The next issue will be published on Tuesday, April 25, 2005. |
MN Governor -
Steve Kelley
Dear Stonewall DFL
member,
It’s time to put a progressive leader
back in the governor’s office. I am running for governor because I
believe in Minnesota’s unique greatness and I am prepared to do all
I can to ensure that our state lives up to our citizen’s high
expectations.
I believe every Minnesotan deserves a
chance for success. Our children—no matter where they were born or
who their parents are—deserve equal access to a great education.
Every worker and traveler should have affordable and safe
transportation options. Every Minnesotan should breathe clean air
and drink clean water.
I believe seniors should be able to go
to their corner pharmacy for affordable prescription drugs, instead
of going to Canada. And every Minnesota family should have the peace
of mind that comes with knowing that they and their loved ones have
essential, affordable health care coverage.
I also believe
same-sex marriage
is a human rights issue and one of civic respect. The Bachmann
amendment goes well beyond the role of the church to attempt to
control the civil application of our laws. This politically driven
wedge issue must not succeed.
As governor, I will work for a
first-rate education system that includes early childhood and family
education, lower class sizes, and affordable higher education; a
comprehensive and affordable statewide transportation system that
includes commuter rail and light rail fueled by renewable energy;
and a universal health care system. I have the leadership and
experience to make this vision a reality.
Armed with these goals, along with
courage and conviction, we have the power to improve the world
around us. Please join me in this critical fight to recapture the
future of our state. Visit
www.kelleyforminnesota.org to learn more and volunteer.
Annual membership meeting
This year's annual membership meeting will be held at the Hennepin
County Government Center Auditorium on Sunday, April 9 starting at 1
pm. Topics for this meeting will include suggestions for amending
our organization's constitution and the election of officers and the
board of directors. More detailed information on the agenda for this
meeting will be coming in March.
In order to be eligible to vote at this
meeting, members must pay dues prior to
12 midnight, March 30th.
Visit the Stonewall DFL web site
www.stonewalldfl.org/membership/joinform1.php and join or renew
online today!
Rules
regarding general election, constitutional amendment and endorsement
votes
Eligibility for voting is
granted to active members that have satisfied the annual dues
requirement for membership 10 days prior to an announced vote.
Section 4. Voting
Subsection A.
Balloting Procedure
Active members of the Stonewall DFL shall be eligible to vote.
The method of balloting at general membership meetings or other
meetings of the Stonewall DFL shall be by voice vote, unless a
secret counted ballot is required. At any general membership
meeting the total number of allocated votes cast at the time of
balloting shall be the basis for determining whether a majority
or two-thirds majority exists in counted votes. Votes requiring
a two-thirds majority for passage may be taken by voice vote,
however any call for a division of the house is a call for a
counted ballot. All meetings shall use one person one vote.
Subsection B.
Absentee Balloting
Voting by absentee ballot shall be accomplished by submitting a
specifically worded, authenticated and dated ballot to the
person chairing the general membership meeting or other meeting
at or before the time of voting. All ballots other than
authenticated electronic ballots shall be placed in a sealed and
signed envelope by the voter before submitting them. The option
for authenticated electronic absentee voting shall not be used
in a way that results in discrimination to Stonewall DFL members
without access to electronic media. There shall be no voting by
proxy.
Upcoming Stonewall DFL Meetings & Events
- Sunday, April 9; SDFL Annual
General Membership meeting & Election of 2006/7 Board of Directors
at 1:00 pm at the Hennepin County Government Center Auditorium
- Sunday, May 14; SDFL Board of
Directors meeting at 1:00 pm at the DFL HQ
- Saturday, June 3; Fargo/Moorhead
Pride (tentative)
- Friday, June 9; 2006 DFL State
Convention – Rochester
- Saturday, June 10; 2006 DFL
State Convention – Rochester
- Sunday, June 11; 2006 DFL State
Convention & SDFL Board of Directors meeting – time/location TBD
held in Rochester
- Saturday, June 24; Twin Cities
Pride Festival
- Sunday, June 25; Twin Cities
Pride Festival & Pride Parade
- Saturday, July 29; Rochester
Pride & SDFL Board of Directors meeting in Rochester, meeting
location TBD.
- Sunday, August 13; SDFL Board of
Directors meeting at 1:00 pm at the DFL HQ
- Saturday, September 2;
Duluth/Superior Pride (tentative)
- Saturday, September 16; South
Central MN Pride/Mankato & SDFL Board of Directors meeting
location TBD
- Sunday, October 15; SDFL Board
of Directors meeting at 1:00 pm at the DFL HQ
- Tuesday, November 7; General
Election
- Sunday, November 12; SDFL Board
of Directors meeting at 1:00 pm at the DFL HQ
- Sunday, December 10; SDFL Board
of Directors meeting at 1:00 pm at the DFL HQ
DFL
Affirmative Action Statement:
The
goal of affirmative action is to recruit individuals for political
activity in the DFL and the Democratic process of our government.
The DFL is an active participant in the struggle to end all forms
of bigotry and discrimination. As part of our commitment to ending
discrimination, we seek to increase the participation of members
of those communities that have been traditionally shut out of
and/or underrepresented in the political process. As part of this
commitment, we will seek to elect members of these communities to
positions both within the DFL Party and in public office. These
efforts will be directed toward all underrepresented communities.
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