Waukesha County Democratic Party

Wisconsin Senator Russ Feingold has committed to being the main speaker at this year’s Nelson-Proxmire dinner. The fundraising event will take place on Wednesday, Sept. 2. Popular political commentator John Nichols will possibly be a second speaker. Just as last year, tickets will be $50 per person. The site for the dinner will be Panos Restaurant on Bluemound Road.

David Corey, speaking for 1st C.D. Democrats, said that an organized effort is being made to provide a good candidate and strong challenge to incumbent Republican Rep. Paul Ryan. Corey said that the 1st C.D. website will be updated and a representative of the 1st C.D. will attend WCD meetings in the future to “improve communication.”

Following party business, Alvin Hill, Director of Diversity at the Milwaukee Center for Independence, showed a movie titled The Power of an Illusion, which presented an outline of the history of discrimination against minorities in U.S. citizenship laws and in loan practices of the financial sector.

Hill asked such questions as “does race still matter” and “have we arrived.” He finished his presentation with the question of whether the government should be held accountable for a history of discrimination. Hill said that diversity could mean many things. After his presentation, Hill stayed for a lively discussion with WCD members.

Nominations for WCD “Person of the Year” award, which is presented at the Nelson-Proxmire Dinner, will be open until the end of July. Discussion and voting for the award will take place at the August meeting.

Details, such as the menu, prizes, number of tickets, for the Nelson-Proxmire Dinner will be worked out in the coming weeks. Seating is limited. To make reservations contact Vice-Chair Ramona Kitzinger at 262-679-3258. Reservations will also be available on the website at Act Blue. The dinner is the main WCD fund raising event of the year.

Most of the candidates were from state Assembly races. However 1st Cong. District candidate Marge Krupp, of Pleasant Prairie, was present, as was Paulette Garin, of Kenosha, a candidate in the primary for the same race. Each candidate received a framed certificate signed by current Waukesha County Democrats Chairperson Jeff Christensen. The Waukesha County Democratic Party contributed much of its 2008 treasury to local elections.

Candidates honored were 97th Dist. Ruth Page-Jones, 14th Dist. Dave Hucke, 38th Dist. Dick Pas, 31st. Dist. Frank E. Urban, 24th Dist. Charlene Brady and 98th Dist. Victor Weers. Dist. 8 State Senate candidate Sheldon Wasserman and 97th Dist. runner-up in the Democratic primary, Steve Schmuki, were also honored. Waukesha County Clerk candidate Rachel Cristoph was given a certificate in absentia. And a special award was given to Dwayne Block, of Oconomowoc, for his outstanding organizational work that persuaded several candidates to run.