SANTA CLARA COUNTY DEMOCRATIC CENTRAL COMMITTEE

6:45 pm, County Building cafeteria, 70 W. Hedding St. San Jose

 

MINUTES FOR Thursday, July 7, 2005

 

1.         CALL TO ORDER: 7:15

 

2.         ROLL CALL

Absent: Francis La Poll, Jacquie Heffner, Kevin Moore, Alex Kennett, Dan Kenney, Dennis Kennedy, Tony Alexander, Alberto Torrico, Ira Ruskin, Sally Lieber, Simon Salinas, Liz Figueroa, Anna Eshoo      

 

Excused: Deniese Alejandro

 

Alternate: Laura Macias for Scott Rafferty, Pearl Cheng for Vince Cortese, Chris Cote for Kristine Dillon, Mike Potter for Joe Coto, Jon Kessler for Rebecca Cohn, Mike Honda, Clarence Madrilejos for Herb Wadley, Marylee Shelton for Ruth Ashford, Evan Low for Fran Bennett, Sabra Foley for Joe Simitian

 

 

3.         IDENTIFICATION OF VISITORS

Vice Mayor Cindy Chavez, Sherian Buchanan, Laura Casas Frier running for Foothill/ DeAnza school board, Bob Levy, Jim Sampair running for 2006 City Council, Nancy Smith running for Sunnyvale City Council, Chris Moylan running for Sunnyvale City Council seat 2, Mariel Caballero Silicon Valley Young Democrats, Rick Le new staff member for Zoe Lofgren 

 

4.         ADOPTION OF AGENDA

 

5.         APPROVAL OF MINUTES (Minutes are posted at sccdp.org)

 

6.         NEW BUSINESS

            Issues: Legislative Update from Elaine Alquist

The Senator shared her background with the group and her current bills. The Senator discussed the budget that was just passed. $7.5 Billion that was supposed to go to education did not.

 

            Howard Dean Resolution: Emy Thurber

 

Resolution supporting DNC Chair Howard Dean

 

Whereas, grassroots Democrats from across the United States campaigned for Governor Howard Dean to be the chair of the Democratic National Committee because they believed that he was a straight shooter, told the truth and was not afraid to attack mistaken right-wing Republican policies, and

 

Whereas, Governor Howard Dean was overwhelmingly elected national chair of the Democratic Party and has since taking office visited numerous states, worked hard to reinvigorate grassroots operations and has vowed to contest every election in every state wherever possible, and

 

Whereas, the Democratic Party is crying out for bold vision and straightforward leadership and Howard Dean is not afraid to call a spade a spade, attack the Republican Party for its profligate economic policies, its destructive plans for Social Security, and its attempts to politicize religion in the United States for its own advantage,

 

Therefore be it resolved, that the Santa Clara County Democratic Central Committee commends Howard Dean for his courage in speaking out boldly against divisive Republican tactics and policies and also commends his energetic attempt to reach out to American citizens of all parties and religions, and

 

Be it further resolved that we call upon our elected officials in California and elsewhere to cease criticizing our national chairman for his strong and truthful statements and instead urge them to join in Chairman Dean’s offensive against the Republican’s disregard for American economic stability, their lack of concern for our fading international reputation for justice and fair play and the Republican Party’s manipulation of religion for the sake of political gain.

 

Submitted by Emy Thurber and Steve Chessin

 

Motion to approve, second, so carried

 

            Cupertino Zoning Initiative:

Dennis Whitaker and Nedd Britt spoke in favor

 

Paul Fong & Mark Vanni spoke against

 

            Discussion and questions on

 

            Motion to oppose all 3 measures, second, so carried with 2 abstains

 

            Initiatives Update: Please see campaign services report

             

7.         REPORTS FROM OFFICERS AND OTHERS

A.      Executive Board: Hope Cahan

B.      Chair: Steve Preminger

C.      Vice Chair: James Kim

D.      Treasurer: Drina Collins

E.       Secretary: Hope Cahan

F.       Community Services and Voter Registration:

G.      Finance: Jim Thurber

No report

H.      Candidate Recruitment and Endorsement: Jon Kessler

Interviews will be held during the weeks of August 22 & 29^th. We will be interviewing for City Council races in Cupertino, Palo Alto, Sunnyvale, Gilroy, and Los Altos. We will also interview interested candidates for Elementary School Districts: Cupertino Union, Los Altos, Montebello, Orchard, & Sunnyvale, Unified School Districts: Palo Alto & Patterson Joint, and Foothill/DeAnza Community College.

 

Will be insisting that all endorsed candidates sign a fair political practice pledge.

 

The members of the endorsement committee will be limited to: 1 member from each accredited club and 1 member from each AD committee. Any members of the endorsement committee must attend every interview of candidates for a specific race.

 

I. Communication: David Cohen

You are now able to submit your events on the web calendar without David’s assistance. We are now acknowledging volunteers on a scrolling window on the website. We will be rolling out a computerized precinct captain process for the State. If you would like to be an initial tester of the system in your precinct, contact Jay or Carolyn.

 

J.        Campaign Services: Philip Bump

Arnold is coming to Sunnyvale next Monday at 2:00.

 

There will be 8 initiatives on the ballot in November. Philip passed out a summary of each with recommendations for support/opposition

 

K.      Issues: Herb Engstrom

Please see issues under new business

 

L.      Political Outreach: Tom Cochran: 2 new organizations have met the requirements for accreditation: Silicon Valley Young Democrats and the Bay Area Iranian American Democrats. Motion to accept the two clubs, second, so carried

 

Thank you to the

APA Democrats will bring food next month

 

Club Reports

            Evergreen Democratic Club: Beverly Waller Wharton

We had a great time at the Villages’ July 4^th celebration. We added “Before the New Deal” to the parade theme “The Way We Were.” Following a golf cart we decorated with WPA, NRA (National Recovery Act not National Rifle Association as some parade watchers thought) and “California or Bust” slogans, plus a photo of Cesar Chavez, were Dust Bowl émigrés right out of Steinbeck’s Grapes of Wrath. FDR and Eleanor rode in a convertible with their dog “Fala” and a sign proclaiming, “The New Deal is a Good Deal Today” attached to the front of the car. Another golf cart followed with “Survivors of WWII” marching alongside.

 

In addition to our parade entries we had a Depression Era booth, titled “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime,” which featured a bread line on one side (bread sticks and small dinner rolls) and on the other we sold apples for .10. One gentleman gave $1, but returned to request his $1 back, saying he felt guilty, and instead gave us $5. A woman stopped and said she was a Republican who is starting a group of “Republicans Against Bush.” Another woman came up and whispered she was actually a Democrat. We told her she didn’t need to whisper—this is a free country; you can speak out freely. A new Villager from Florida registered as a Democrat. The booth also featured three photos of FDR’s new memorial and for background music, selections from the 25^th anniversary album of “Pins and Needles,” the hit musical show created and performed by members of the ILGWU which opened on Broadway in 1937 and ran for four years, were played. Although we had planned on losing money, we just about broke even.

 

For our next meeting, August 2^nd, U.S. Representative Zoe Lofgren will be our speaker.

 

Silicon Valley Latino Democratic Forum: Diego Barrigan

The endorsement interviews of District 7 candidates will occur sometime during the week of July 18^th.

 

The Forum is looking forward to doing voter registration with the Democratic Party.

 

We will have a membership breakfast at the San Jose Country Club during the 2^nd or 3^rd week of August

 

We are selling tickets to Congresswoman Lofgren’s BBQ. To purchase, please contact Xavier Campos or Enrique Collin.

 

Silicon Valley Young Democrats: Diego Barrigan

We hope to charter with the Party by September.

 

Our mixer was a success and roughly 40 people attended.

 

YDA By the Bay will be August 4^th- 6^th in San Francisco.

 

Dean Democratic Club: Carolyn Curtis

In June, the club:
- held its annual meeting (picnic) June 12, elected officers, celebrated its first year of activism
- organized Leave My Child Alone (www.leavemychhildalone.org) activity with significant results in Palo Alto
- bought a table at Zoe Lofgren's annual BBQ
- continued to support the Palo Alto temp workers in their struggle to become a bargaining unit of SEIU local 715
- helped staff several tables at street fairs, farmers markets, other events
- had several members attend Democracy Fest, the Democracy for America 2nd annual national gathering, in Austin TX, with Howard & Jim Dean, Molly Ivins, Jim Hightower, Jesse Jackson Jr, many excellent workshops & training sessions (next year is our turn!)

 

 

21^st Assembly District Report: Thelma Spaziani

The 21^st AD Committee met at an afternoon garden party at Greg Leow’s Atherton home on June 11the with about 50 people in attendance. Assemblymember Ira Ruskin spoke to the group reviewing activities and answering questions on budget, education, and environment legislation in Sacramento. He reported on the committees of which he is a member and the bills he has introduced. Grass root activities and political strategies were discussed. Following the meeting, a film of Howard Dean’s address at the State Democratic convention was shown. A fund-raiser was held for Ira June 21^st. I set up a display of convention materials in case another rich Steve Posner appears.

 

The Executive Committee of the 21^st AD will meet Tuesday, July 11 at 7:30p.m. at Greg Leow’s home. This group is comprised of elected officers and Central Committee members. Among agenda items will be subteam report backs and actions to be taken regarding the special election. Members will be doing voter registration at various street fairs in the next few weeks and more volunteers are needed.

 

 

M.     Regional Director: Emy Thurber

N.     Democratic National Committee: Chris Stampolis

The next meeting will be the 2^nd weekend of September in Phoenix Thursday Friday and Saturday. Howard Dean continues to focus on local media and has been visiting a number of key States. The DNC has hired staff in important States to help turn them around.

 

O.     Pro-Choice Coalition: Claudia Shope

Governor Schwarzenegger’s special election will feature, among other initiatives, an initiative on parental notification that will require doctors to inform parents 48 hours before an abortion is performed on their minor daughter. If it passes, the California Constitution will be amended, and teens’ health will be put at serious risk. The latest Field Poll results show that 48% of Californians support the initiative, while 42% oppose it. The numbers are close, which means there is still a chance to keep this initiative from passing- but only if activists put in serious effort.

 

Crusade for Life, a religious anti-choice group, is targeting abortion clinics throughout the state of California this summer. They have been showing up in groups as high as 50 people and behaving aggressively toward clinic staff and patients. Known for using pictures of aborted fetuses as well as inaccurate and manipulative information in their “sidewalk counseling,” their presence is a source of stress for patients and may even deter women from exercising their legal right to an abortion.

 

Barbara Boxer has committed her support to fighting the nomination of an anti-choice justice to the Supreme Court. She has commented on her willingness to participate in a filibuster and to explore all options to protect a woman’s right to choose. “We cannot go back to the dark days. Roe must remain the law of the land,” she has said.

 

Despite efforts by the Bush Administration to have a lawsuit filed by California dismissed, the lawsuit will proceed. State law currently requires morally opposed doctors to perform abortions if the woman’s life or health is at stake, but a new federal law would keep the state from being able to enforce its law. The state argues that the federal law interferes with women’s rights and the state’s constitutional authority and a federal judge has ruled that the resulting lawsuit may continue.

 

Supreme court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor announced her retirement from the Court on July 1^st.

 

The American Academy of Pediatrics has updated their teen pregnancy policy and announced their opposition to abstinence-only sex education, the method favored by President Bush, due to a lack of evidence of its effectiveness. The AAP’s policy also encourages doctors to make birth control and emergency contraception available to teenagers, even to those who are not yet sexually active. The US Department of Health and Human Services opposed the AAP’s policy and continues to advocate teaching abstinence until marriage as the best approach to sex education.

 

Senator Rick Santorum (R-PA) has written a new book, “It Takes a Family: Conservatism and the Common Good,” that criticizes pro-choice Hillary Clinton and contends that abortion puts the rights of the mother ahead of the child’s, just as slavery put the slave owner’s rights ahead of the slave’s. Senator Santorum has previously caused controversy with his comparison between homosexuality and bestiality.

 

There may finally be an end to the long wait for an answer on Emergency Contraception (EC)’s over-the-counter status. (The ability of young teenagers to access EC was previously a sticking point for certain members of the FDA.) Putting EC over the counter would mean that women wouldn’t have to go through the long and unnecessary process of finding a doctor to prescribe the medication and then finding a pharmacy willing to fill the prescription. Given that EC is a time-critical medication, working most effectively the soonest it’s taken after unprotected sex, having it over the counter instead would mean that more women would be able to prevent unwanted pregnancies. The pro-choice community eagerly awaits the results of the FDA’s deliberations.

 

P.      DTV Report: Steve Chessin

In the absence of Democratic Television Producer Steve Chessin, the DTV report is: our June taping was with Hubert Morel-Seytoux, Director, Health Care for All, and San Francisco Mid-Peninsula Chapter. He discussed SB 840, which would provide universal health care for all Californians.

 

Our guest in July will be Hon. Madison Nguyen, President of Franklin-McKinley Board of Education, and candidate for San Jose City Council District 7.

We will be on San Jose AT&T Channel 15A July 14^th and August 11^th with the show we taped about Health Care for All, and July 28^th, August 25^th, and September 22^nd with the show we will tape with Hon. Madison Nguyen. See the sccdp web site for the schedule in the other communities.

 

We could still use more good Democrats on the crew. No prior video experience is necessary.

San Jose Channel 15A (also serves part of Cupertino), 8:00pm every other Thursday (408-918-3200):

2005:

Jul 14    DTV 125           Health Care for All/SB840

Jul 28    DTV 126           Hon. Madison Nguyen

Aug 11  DTV 125           Health Care for All/SB840

Aug 25  DTV 126           Hon. Madison Nguyen

Sep 8   DTV 127           TBD-127

Sep 22   DTV 126           Hon. Madison Nguyen

 

See http://www.sccdp.org/dtv.php for the full schedule.

 

 

Q.     CDC Report: Jay Jackman

 

8.        OLD BUSINESS

            Call to Action Update: Adrienne Grey

            Upcoming voter registration events that we need volunteers for are: Los Alto Arts and Wine Festival, Palo Alto Glass Festival, Naturalization Ceremonies

 

9.        ANNOUNCEMENTS

Ann Mack: Century Club Luncheon speaker tomorrow is Mike Honda.

 

Bill Ferguson: Milpitas Democratic Club meeting is on July 16^th

 

Peter A: tomorrow night at 8:00 is a protest against the G8 summit. Conyors introducing signatures to have an investigation of Bush.

 

Ross: Moment of silence for the British people and the tragedy they suffered today in London

 

 

10.        EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING

            The next Executive Board meeting is July 21^st at the Thurber’s

 

11.        ADJOURNMENT in honor of the victims of the attacks in London: 9:35