Waukesha County Democratic Party

State Dem Convention Rocks Waukesha County

Democrats showed they were a force to reckon with as they staged their 2013 state convention behind enemy lines in Waukesha County in early June. The convention which took place on Friday afternoon and Saturday morning, June 7 and 8, in Oconomowoc featured many names among state luminaries, such as Sen. Tammy Baldwin, Rep. Ron Kind, Rep. Gwen Moore, Rep. Marc Pocan and Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, former Sen. Russ Feingold. The keynote speaker, all the way from San Antonio TX, was rising star San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro. The speakers talked about technological barriers shrinking the distance between people, at least in the “inclusive” Democratic party.

The convention started with the Unity Fair and state caucuses on Friday which were well-attended and busy. The Waukesha County Democrats had a Unity Fair table and sold T-shirts, buttons and distributed literature on what has been accomplished in recent years. Many people attended from northern counties and other areas around the state.

Speakers began in the convention hall around 6 p.m. on Friday. Following the speakers, hospitalities opened up, with a band in the downstairs lounge and Feingold’s famous Sloppy Joes in a dining area. On Saturday the convention reconvened with work on the party platform, resolutions and election of the state executive board. Current state Chair Mike Tate was reelected. Former Waukesha County chair Jeff Christensen was elected as 2nd Vice Chair.

The lively convention took place at the Olympia Resort and Conference Center just off Highway 67 on the south side of Oconomowoc. WCD Chair Dick Pas, of Oconomowoc, made the opening remarks. WCD Vice-Chair Ramona Kitzinger gave the pledge of allegiance. The color guard was from St. Johns Military Academy.

May Meeting: Move To Amend Going Strong

Mary Laan from Move To Amend and Eric Kirkstein from United Wisconsin hit back-to-back home runs at the May regular meeting of the Waukesha County Democrats, outlining the purpose of Move To Amend and associated groups in attempting to undo the Citizens United Supreme Court decision that agreed that “corporations are people and money is free speech.”

The presentation which was the main business of the monthly meeting depicted a movement that is “going great guns” in attempting to reverse the Supreme Court decision municipality by municipality via the process of referendum. Mary Laan stated that Move To Amend supports our first amendment rights in creating restraints for the actions of corporations. She said that the cause of Move To Amend has been one that even Republicans support and that once it has gotten on a ballot it has never been defeated. Thirteen states have already passed the Move To Amend referendum. Laan and Eric Kirkstein are working to include Wisconsin in that group.

According to Kirkstein, the Move To Amend referendum has been on the ballot in places such as Wauwatosa and Shorewood. It will possibly be on the ballot in Milwaukee in 2014. In the April election the Move To Amend referendum was passed in conservative West Allis with 70 percent of the vote.

Corporate personhood came out of a constitutional amendment passed originally to protect freed slaves but was misused to protect corporations. Although corporations are valuable, according to Laan, with groups such as A.L.E.C. they have begun to go against the wishes of the people. She cited the issue of gun control, which was defeated despite support of about eighty percent of the people. In the audience, WCD member Jim Brownlow said that “Move To Amend is active in Waukesha County.” According to Laan, limited liability allows corporations to get away with murder. This relates to the area of environmentalism versus Big Box commercialism.

Dwayne Block invited and introduced Laan and Kirkstein. In other business, Bill Hotz and Tom Hibbard gave a report on the state Democratic convention in Oconomowoc at Olympia Resort and Conference Center. The convention will be on Friday and Saturday, June 7 and 8. Volunteers from the area are needed. Contact Tom Hibbard at 262-369-1099

Marga mentioned the Women’s Caucus at the state convention. There will have to be a new election of officers. Constitution will have to be re-ratified also.

February Candidates Dinner A Success

In place of the February monthly meeting, the Waukesha County Democrats held a Candidates Appreciation Dinner, honoring those candidates that ran in state legislative races in districts included in Waukesha County. The party also honored several other workers and candidates that made special contributions during 2012. Rob Zerban, candidate in the 1st Congressional District who did well against Paul Ryan,was presented with a special plaque. County Party Chair Dick Pas was moderator, and Jake Hajdu, Political Director of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin was special speaker.

Among those honored at the dinner buffet held at La Estacion in Waukesha were John Pokrandt in Assembly Dist. 13, Scott Michalak Assembly Dist. 38, Jim Brownlow Assembly Dist. 83, Marga Krumins Assembly Dist. 97, Shan Haqqi Assembly Dist. 24, Chuck Garrigues Assembly Dist. 15 (primary), Tom Hibbard Assembly Dist. 99, and Jessie Read in the race for County Clerk.

There were several other candidates not present that ran in races that included Waukesha County: Chris Rockwood Assembly Dist. 14, Cindy Moore Assembly Dist. 15, Scott Woods Assembly Dist. 33, Eric Prudent Assembly Dist. 98, Dave Heaster in the 5th Cong. Dist. The dinner was well attended and there were silent auction items featuring items from past elections.

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