Waukesha County Democratic Party
Baldwin, Falk To Make Waukesha County Stops
Two declared candidates for state-wide office have announced plans to be in Waukesha County during February. Recall Gubanatorial candidate Kathleen Falk will speak at the February regular meeting of the Waukesha County Democrats on Thursday, Feb. 16. The Waukesha County Democrats meet every third Thursday (except July) at the Labor Temple, 1726 S. West St., at 7 p.m.
Also in the area will be declared Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Tammy Baldwin. She will speak at a special session of Drinking Liberally in Waukesha on Monday, Feb. 20, at 6:30 p.m. The event will take place at a new location: Panos/Bullwinkles, 20290 Bluemound Road, Brookfield.
(Drinking Liberally Waukesha is still holding its regular meeting on Monday, Feb. 6, at 6:30 p.m. at Sprizzos in downtown Waukesha with Dick Pas as speaker.)
Pas: "Need To Feel Positive" In "Historic Time"
In his first words of 2012, new Waukesha County
Democrats Chairperson Dick Pas told the January regular meeting that we “need to feel
positive” for many reasons about where we are as a party at this moment in
time.
Besides the one million-plus Recall Walker signatures that Wisconsin Democrats delivered to the G.A.B. in Madison four days prior to the meeting, one surprise piece of news is that the state party has named Oconomowoc as the site for the party’s state convention in 2013, providing a big boost for beleaguered Waukesha County Democrats.
With its new microphone system, the meeting’s other highlights were: Democratic National Committee Delegate Jason Rae; 97th Assembly candidate Marga Krummins, Waukesha County Clerk candidate Jessie Reid and her new campaign manager; the 2012 budget report; O.F.A. changes; recall petition gathering experiences; and a report from Lisa Mux on the Jan. 17 recall events in Madison and Drinking Liberally in Waukesha.
Due to complaints from several signature gatherers, the group passed a motion to investigate a pattern of abusive behavior from those opposing the recall. Vice Chair Ramona Kitzinger, Jim Brown and several others spoke on their experiences and adventures getting signatures in sometimes cold and hostile circumstances.
One sad note is that O.F.A. Field Director Elisa Miller will be working in a larger area and the Waukesha O.F.A. Office will be turned over to Sam Rikkers from Stoughton. The O.F.A. office is located at 850 Clinton St. in downtown Waukesha.
Besides his news about Oconomowoc hosting the state convention, Fifth C.D. Chairperson Jeff Christensen said that the party had endorsed Tammy Baldwin in the Senate race before the primary because it doesn’t expect any more serious candidates. Christensen said there will be a 5th C.D. fundraiser in Oconomowoc on March 4.
WCD Chairperson Pas referred several times to the Jan. 17 experience in Madison, mentioning the Solidarity Singers in the Capitol rotunda and adding that the number of recall signatures turned in by the recall office in the Waukesha area exceeded its target.
Jason Rae, originally from Rice Lake, outlined the procedure for becoming a National Convention delegate, which involves attending C.D. caucus meetings this spring. The National Convention will take place in Charlotte, N.C., on Sept. 4. Rae also said that Wisconsin’s 2012 primary will be held on April 3.
97th Assembly candidate Krummins called 2012 a “watershed year.” She said that the crux of the election is that we need to prevent everything that we’ve built up from being torn down. Jessie Reid introduced her campaign Treasurer Joyce.
Waukesha Preservation Alliance spokesperson Mary Emery also reported that the historic 1920s gas station at Bartles and Maguire had been demolished. Her group was attempting to preserve the structure. Emery said that people from the YMCA cheered when the building was demolished.
News blogger Lisa Mux reported on Jan. 17 in Madison and on Drinking Liberally in Waukesha. Mux attended events at the G.A.B. where shocked government workers accepted a ton-and-a-half of recall petitions. She was also present at the speeches at Monona Terrace where more space was needed for the huge crowd. With Drinking Liberally person Phil Scarr, Mux said that Drinking Liberally in Waukesha has become so popular that Sprizzos cannot hold the crowd and the group has rented Panos for the February 20 meeting which will feature Tammy Baldwin as speaker. Mahlon Mitchell is scheduled for March.
Treasurer Jim Barden presented a budget for 2012 and said that the WCD Treasury is well positioned for the coming year. Youth Outreach Matt Lowe said he has been approaching high schools for speaking engagements and has heard back from several. There will be a meeting of Oconomowoc Democrats at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 4. Scott Trindl and Matt Lowe worked on the new microphone system.
More Than One Million Recall Signatures Delivered
Tuesday, Jan. 17—Amazingly United Wisconsin along with
the state Democratic Party delivered more than one million recall Gov. Scott
Walker signatures to the Government Accountability Board in Madison today. The
amount was nearly double the number required. The signatures must be approved by
the G.A.B. No election date is set as yet. Signatures were also delivered for
recalls of Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch, Sen. Scott Fitzgerald, Sen. Pam Galloway,
Sen. Van Wanggaard and Sen. Terry Moulton. Many of the signatures were gathered
in the Waukesha County area. On Friday, a thankyou party was thrown for the area
volunteers that had worked gathering signatures from the Recall Walker office at
315 W. Broadway in Waukesha. Sen. Jon Erpenbach spoke to the gathering of
volunteers. Tonight a rally was held at the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Monona
Terrace in Madison at which several of the main participants spoke. Many
Waukesha County Democrats were present, along with several notables, including
Sen. Chris Larson and Assemblyman Peter Barca.
The Recall Walker office in Waukesha will close. But word is that it will reopen if and when a recall election takes place. Also in downtown Waukesha, at 805 Clinton St., is an O.F.A. office for the reelection campaign of President Obama. Phone number for the O.F.A. office is 262-955-2571.
Thanks & Best WCD Wishes For The New Year
Surely the past year in Wisconsin politics has been one of
the busiest ever, at least for Democrats. It started with a big bang at the
state Capitol in Madison in February, where crowds protesting Gov. Scott
Walker’s extreme propagandistic agenda quickly reached by most estimates 100,000
strong. Then in April, after our candidate JoAnne Kloppenburg emerged from the
state Supreme Court race with the most votes, conservative Waukesha County Clerk
Kathy Nickolaus “discovered” several thousand votes she said she had forgotten
to count, giving the election to David Prosser, also a conservative for whom she
had previously worked. This resulted in a laborious and costly recount. Soon
after that, recall elections began taking place, which eventually resulted in a
net gain of two Democrats in the state Senate. Then on Nov. 15, with the
Democratic Party in the background, a petition was filed to recall Governor
Walker, with two months to get 550,000 legitimate signatures to force a special
election.
It’s a long fight that will continue into 2012. The Waukesha County Democratic Party has worked hard to preserve cherished Democratic and Progressive values, laws and programs in the state of Wisconsin and other states. Please join us in our meetings—every third Thursday (except July) at the Waukesha Labor Temple, 1726 S. West Street—and with financial support. Thankyou for your vigorous participation and support in 2011. Best holiday and New Year wishes to everyone. Let’s take back our wonderful state in 2012.
Erpenbach, Zerban Enlighten 2011 N-P Dinner
Erpenbach’s speech was mostly an often comical rendition of his experience during the tense days in February as all the Democratic state senators left the Capitol and resided in Rockford, Illinois, in order to stall Governor Walker’s infamous “budget repair bill.” He described harrowing days with his family members answering phone calls at his office and hearing rumors that he might be arrested upon his return. During question and answer Erpenbach said he was seriously undecided on whether he would run for Governor in any recall election.
Zerban spoke about growing up in a single parent household and using government programs for educational opportunities and for forming small businesses. He said that these same programs are ones whose funding Paul Ryan is trying to eliminate. Zerban described Ryan as insensitive to the needs of the people, especially the poor and elderly. Zerban is currently a supervisor in Kenosha County and was joined by two new workers for his campaign.
WCD member Marga Krummins announced that she will be running for the 97th Assembly District, which encompasses most of the city of Waukesha, in the 2012 election. Marga is currently a software consultant. She grew up on a dairy farm and has been a member of a labor union. She said she felt informed on the issues and that she will oppose the extreme right wing's attack on the middle class, women and the environment.
Election Committee Chairperson Dawn Caruss received the
Waukesha County Democrats “Democrat of the Year” award for 2011. In presenting
the award, WCD Chair. Victor Weers cited Caruss’ efforts to recruit candidates
for partisan and non-partisan elections in the area and her forming a
subcommittee to educate Democrats as poll inspectors and poll watchers.
The event included a fifty-fifty raffle and many silent auction items. Decorating the room were posters from political events this year including the Madison rallies in February. Previous Nelson-Proxmire dinners have included as speakers Sen. Russ Feingold, State Sen. Chris Larson and political writers Bill Christofferson and John Nichols.
Historic Waukesha Gas Station Faces Demolition
The Waukesha administrative revue board has gone along with the
Waukesha YMCA and revoked the historic landmark designation of the
Bartles-Maguire vintage gas station, originally built during the 1920s. This
occurred at an October meeting. That means the YMCA will be able to go ahead
with plans to tear down the historic structure and build a parking lot as
planned. According to Mary Emery, leading a group that attempted to preserve the
gas station, the asbestos has already been removed from the structure and
plumbing has been disconnected. Emery said she expects to see demolition begin
any time. Emery said that she was able to preserve some of the parts of the gas
station, such as the clock and some brass fittings. She said these and other
remnants were stored in near-by buildings. Emery said she plans to continue to
try to save historic buildings and landmarks in the area. In a local poll,
preserving the gas station won out over tearing it down. For more information
call Mary Emery at 262-547-8364.
Events
Muskego Dems Breakfast
Muskego Dems Breakfast
Event Details · Feb 11, 2012
Waukesha Dems Monthly Membership Meeting
Waukesha Dems Regular Membership Meeting
Event Details · Feb 16, 2012
Mukwonogo Dems Breakfast
Mukwonago Dems Breakfast
Event Details · Mar 3, 2012
5th CD Dinner
5th CD Dinner
Event Details · Mar 4, 2012
News Feeds
Wauwatosa/West Allis Phone Bank
Join us for a volunteer recruitment phone bank! Fellow supporters will be gathering to offer the opportunity to attend a neighborhood training!
News Item · Obama Events Waukesha County · Feb 6, 2012
Four Questions Scott Walker Won't Answer
A week after the latest charges in the John Doe criminal corruption probe revealed a secret computer network erected to evade the laws of the State of Wisconsin, Scott Walker has still not answered four key questions that would reveal the true nature of his role in the crimes alleged.
News Item · Wisconsin Democratic Partry Press Releases · Feb 3, 2012
FAQs on the Recall Petition Verification Process
Since we turned in more than 1.9 million signatures to recall Scott Walker, Rebecca Kleefisch and four right-wing State Senators, we've received a number of questions from our grassroots volunteers about the Government Accountability Board's (GAB) decision to post the petitions online, the...
News Item · Wisconsin Democratic Partry Press Releases · Feb 3, 2012
Weekly Democratic Address: Support our Workers by Investing in Education and Job Training
As students return for the start of second semester college classes in Wisconsin, they are already experiencing the effects of Gov. Walker’s damaging cuts to our universities and technical colleges. College students and their families are right to question why it makes sense to slash...
News Item · Wisconsin Democratic Partry Press Releases · Feb 2, 2012
