SANTA CLARA COUNTY DEMOCRATIC CENTRAL COMMITTEE
6:45 pm, County Building cafeteria, 70 W. Hedding St. San Jose
AGENDA FOR Thursday, July 12th, 2007
1. CALL TO ORDER
2. ROLL CALL
Absent: Deepka Lalwani, Ron Lind, Marsha Grilli, Tom Cochran, Javier Gonzalez, David Parker, Xavier Campos, Kevin Moore, Alex Kennett, Dan Kenney, Dennis Kennedy, Greg Sellers, Veronica Andrade, Craig Mann, Alberto Torrico, Sally Lieber, Anna Caballero, Ellen Corbett, Joe Simitian, Zoe Lofgren, Justin Carvalho
Excused: Joe Coto, John Laird
Alternate: Paul Fong for Pearl Cheng, Brandon Sulser for Anna Song, Alex Kobayashi for Ira Ruskin, Sunshine Borelli for Jim Beall, Margaret Abe-Koga for Anna Eshoo, Alfredo Magallanes for Mike Honda, Dan Hoffman for Jay James
3. IDENTIFICATION OF VISITORS
Lilyann Brannon, Dixie Johansen, Brian Darby from the Libertarian party,
4. ADOPTION OF AGENDA
Addition of the Emergency resolution to preserve Santa Clara agricultural land and discussion of the vacancy in 22nd
Motion to approve as amended, second, so moved
5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES (Minutes are posted at sccdp.org)
Motion to approve, second, so moved
6. ISSUES
7. NEW BUSINESS
Shuffle of Directors: Tom to move to Campaign Services, Carolyn to move to Clubs and Adrienne to move to Voter Registration and Community Services. Discussion
Motion to adopt the board member changes as submitted, second, so moved
Formal Announcement of Vacancy in 22nd
Vince resigned last month. The election to fill this vacancy will be held during our meeting in August.
Emergency Resolution: Lilyann Brannon
Ms. Brannon discussed the issues around the Santa Clara Agricultural Land issue
Resolution on Preserving
Santa Clara Agricultural Land
July 12, 2007
Lilyann Brannon
(Submitted by Herb Engstrom, 22nd AD)
WHEREAS: There are only 17 acres of agricultural land left in the city of Santa Clara, and these 17 acres had been given to the State of California to be used as the Bay Area Research and Extension land (BAREC) in 1921 after the land had already been in public use since 1882 as a mental health facility for Children, following its dedication as a Civil War retirement center; and
WHEREAS: The people of the cities of Santa Clara and San Jose have made it known to the City of Santa Clara that they wish the land to remain as open space; yet the City Council voted unanimously in favor of residential development against the will of the majority of its citizens;
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT: The Santa Clara County Democratic Party strongly supports the preservation of this land for agricultural and recreational use, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOVED THAT: The Santa Clara County Democratic Party urges all residents of the City of Santa Clara to sign the referendum petition to place a measure on the ballot to retain the land for such use.
For questions call Lilyann at 408.241.5769
Friendly amendment to 3rd paragraph to change Òthe people of the citiesÉÓ to ÒMany peopleÉÓ
And to change the final sentence of the 3rd paragraph ÒÉagainst the will of the majorityÉÓ to read, Òwithout knowing the will of the majorityÉÓ
Motion to make this an emergency resolution, second, so carried
Motion to accept resolution as amended, second, discussion: an addition to friendly amendment to the 4th paragraph was made, striking ÒthisÓ. Motion passes as amended
8. REPORTS FROM OFFICERS AND OTHERS
A. Executive Board: Steve Preminger
The board discussed the DirectorsÕ duties and recommendations for changes and the upcoming JJ dinner
B. Chair: Steve Preminger
Attended the picnic of CARE Council on American Islamic Relations. All leaders of the organized political parties were invited.
C. Vice Chair: James Kim
The ClubsÕ picnic is on the 28th. 11 clubs are sponsoring the picnic. Those who pledged ads need to get their checks in.
D. Treasurer: Drina Collins
E. Secretary: Hope Cahan
The JJ dinner invitations will be mailed out by the end of the month
F. Community Services and Voter Registration: Carolyn Curtis
At the Chili festival in Palo Alto we had a 60-100% increase in Voter Registration, an increase in donations, and an increase in Republicans changing their registration to Democratic.
There are additional street fairs coming up which we will need volunteers for.
G. Finance: Jim Thurber
No report
H. Candidate Recruitment and Endorsement: Jon Kessler
Endorsement process starts next month. The committee will be notified and the revamped questionnaire will be going out next weekend for your review.
I. Communication: David Cohen
No Report
J. Campaign Services:
K. Issues: Adrienne Grey
L. Political Outreach: Carolyn Curtis
Club, AD, SD, & CD Reports
Evergreen Democratic Club at the Villages:
No July general meeting, participated in Villages July 4th parade, with members posing as JFK and Jackie riding in a red convertible and other members carrying banners saying ÒAsk not what your country can do for you, etc.Ó Roger Cryer is our scheduled speaker for our August 7 meeting on he subject of Òsolar energy.Ó
Our executive board met last Tuesday to plan our annual picnic/barbeque, scheduled for Sunday, Sept 9 from 3 to 6 pm at the Gazebo Park in The Villages. If you can come, we need to have you RSVP to President Kathleen McNally at (408) 274-7173 so we can notify security to permit your entry. Invitation flyers are on the back table, if you have not received one yet. The club will provide refreshments for the November SCCDCC meeting.
The Dean Democratic Club of Silicon Valley: Wanda Bryan
June 23rd Meeting - Picnic/Elections of Steering Committee - good attendance, good food, lively discussions, Legislators attending and giving updates were Congreswoman Zoe Lofgren, Assemblyman Ira Ruskin, Mayor Jamie McLeod and School Board Member David Cohen.
Newly elected Steering Committee Officers for 2007-2008 are: Ralph Wheeler/Wanda Bryan - Co-chairs, Mary Gill - Recording Secretary, John Comiskey - Corresponding Secretary, Adrienne Grey - Treasurer, Marcine Van Dierendonck/Jason Spitzer - Members At Large (3 incumbents/4 newly electeds).
Took an informal Straw Poll of Presidential Candidates (if elections were held tomorrow). We did two versions, one without Gore and one with Gore.
Results: Biden, Dodd, Gravel: all 0 in both polls - Kucinich, Richardson: both 3 votes w/o Gore, 2 votes with Gore - Clinton: 2 votes w/o Gore, 1 with Gore - Obama: 8 votes w/o Gore, 4 votes with Gore - Edwards: 19 votes w/o Gore, 9 votes with Gore - Gore: 18 votes.
June 29th - went to Michael Moore's movie Sicko and leafletted after movie for Health care legislation SB840 and HR676 - will continue to leaflet through movie run.
On Tuesday, July 17, 6:30 pm., Jim Dean, Chair of Democracy for America will meet with members of the Dean Democratic Club of Silicon Valley and San Mateo County Democracy for America at the home of Ralph Wheeler in Palo Alto. Jim will brief us on DFA activities and get our feedback.
Putting together a table or 2 for the Santa Clara County Democratic Dinner for Sept. 8. Buying a half page ad in the JJ Dinner Program upon approval at the July 16, meeting.
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July 11th meeting - Featured Steve Chessin's Presentation of "Proportion Representation: Why It Is Good for Democrats", plus he recommended 3 books on the subject and a Math book for teachers to use. It was quite an education for all?
Peninsula Democratic Coalition: Rich Watters
The PDC held our quarterly Legislative Luncheon on Saturday, June 9th at the Jade Palace Restaurant in Palo Alto. Our featured speaker was Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren, and approximately 90 people attended the luncheon.
On Monday evening June 25th PDC presented a Mental Health Forum in the Mountain View City Council Chamber. The forum was planned by the PDC Health Issues Committee to increase awareness of the countyÕs role in mental health and the expected impact of planned budget cuts. Our speaker panel included Veronica Tincher (county Mental Health Board President), Navah Statman (from the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, NAMI) and Nancy Pena (Director of the county Department of Mental Health). Martin Gorfinkel, our PDC newsletter editor, served as panel moderator. (Martin is also a Mental Health Board member.)
On August 18th the PDC will hold is annual summer picnic at Shoup Park in Los Altos.
Santa Clara County Democratic Club: Herb Engstrom
Our June meeting featured Ric Oberlink of Californians for Population Stabilization speaking to the impact on the environment of an ever-expanding population. Because Zoe Lofgren heads the committee on immigration and naturalization, we had invited her office to send a speaker as well but were told that none was available.
We passed a resolution calling for a withdrawal of American forces from Iraq and opposing intervention in Iran.
We taped a Straight Talk TV show on the criminal justice system in the county. We had invited Mary Greenwood of the Public Defenders Office, and she suggested inviting DA Dolores Carr as well. Both women, the first of their sex ever to hold these offices in Santa Clara County, appeared on the show.
There will be no monthly meeting in July as the Club is participating in the Democratic clubs picnic on July 28th as one of the sponsors.
M. Regional Director: Emy Thurber
Art Torres would like Democrats to organize events that help improve the environment on July 28th.
32 people attended the Regional meeting; following is the report from that meeting:
On July 7th, we had our regional meeting which was required to be held before the next Executive Committee meeting of the CDP which will be this coming weekend.
All 130 plus delegates were invited and about 32 came. We had a very successful meeting and I will try to relay the flavor of it and some of the suggested actions as a reminder to those of you who came and as news to those of you who did not.
We started with introductions. Almost everyone there was a committed activist and some were also elected officials. Assemblyman Ira Ruskin came and participated.
Steve Preminger spoke on behalf of the Santa Clara County Central Committee. As chair, he stressed that 2007 was the year to build the party structure including getting clubs further involved in the political process. He also said the party would have further "calls to action" to enlist more volunteers in party activities. The call to action was initiated in preparation for 2004.
Adrienne Gray from the Santa Clara County Central Committee talked about the need for volunteers and described some of the upcoming festivals; Diane Rolfe, voter registration chair for the Northern part of the county, talked glowingly of the successes we have had registering Democrats, signing up former Republicans and the anger that many voters are feeling. Jon Kessler described the county endorsement process for local non-partisan races. The process follows CDP guidelines. Jim Thurber, finance chair, talked of the ways the county is trying to raise money, said buttons and bumper stickers can be big funding opportunities in a year like this and described the Jefferson-Jackson fundraising dinner to be held in San Jose at the Fairmont on September 8.
Andrew Byrnes, San Mateo County Chair, told of club building activities in SM Cty and said they hope to be fully functioning with a headquarters with paid staff by summer of 2008. They are trying to raise money, enlist volunteers and raise their profile and credibility as a party. The party will conduct a fundraising presidential straw poll on October 21, 2-5, which he hopes will raise lots of money and attract some of the presidential candidates. It will cost $25 to cast a vote. He also invited people to Campaign 101, a campaign workshop put on by the Peninsula Young Democrats to be held at the Mt. View City Hall on July 26 at 6:30.
Assemblyman Ira Ruskin urged people to talk positively about our candidates, before the primary and afterwards. It is not enough to just knock the bad record of President Bush. We need to show we are presenting a really strong alternative.
We then discussed the April CDP convention. Elizabeth Lasensky asked why resolutions were the last item on Sunday since they were the most important accomplishment of the convention. Steve Chessin disagreed saying that while resolutions are important, the most critical reason to be at the convention is to network with other Democrats from around the state. Margaret Okuzumi shared the concerns of a fellow delegate, to wit:
1- Don't have so many party officials and elected officials speak -- it was very boring.
2- Don't schedule resolution votes as the last thing Sunday. Do a simplified explanation of the resolutions process.
3- Help delegates to be better prepared. Have a delegateÕs handbook. Delegates need more information so they know when to come, when it's appropriate to leave so they know when to make plane reservations. And how to find out just what is happening at what time etc.
4- Increase transparency of party activities, encourage delegates to get onto committees and become active, use technology and scholarships to make party activities more affordable.
Alicia Crank also complained about resolutions being last and not knowing it was important to be there. She found that caucuses just conducted elections rather
than business.
Alyson Abramowitz said this was one of the best conventions in years and that she felt, as chair of the Business and Professional Caucus, that substantive matters were discussed.
Ralph Wheeler suggested that caucuses could conduct an absentee vote for a new leadership team and Elizabeth suggested delegates could prepay caucus dues when they register for the convention. Joe Rolfe suggested greater use of the Internet and Alyson suggested caucuses be able to have websites again.
Auros Harman wants the party to get behind Ira Ruskin's car tax bill and Emy suggested he get in touch with the environmental caucus and the legislative caucus about helping with this.
Diane Rolfe and others suggested that people be invited to participate in the party processes at all levels. She said minutes and agendas should be posted on the website. Emy said she would find out if the Executive Committee meetings are open to the public and if so, whether there is a charge.
Jim Thurber said the next convention will be here in San Jose and doing an event at the convention was discussed. He also said the Rules Committee is suggesting that we have 4 vice presidents, one for the coast down to Ventura, one for the large mountainous and foothill areas, one for the "inland empire" and one for Los Angeles County. This will be voted on next week.
There was discussion of the desire for a permanent headquarters which could cost up to $10,000 a month including an employee's salary (Andrew's figure); Diane said it is more important to have a permanent employee than a building; Joe Rolfe mentioned that we might need several headquarters during election season.
Emy described the Ad Hoc committee meeting organized by Art Torres which looked at a possible audit committee and also dealt with concerns by members of the rural counties. She also talked about the 58 county strategy adopted by the CDP. She will send around reports on both these issues to delegates.
Emy also talked about how to become a delegate to the Democratic National Convention, which will be held in late August 2008. The CDP plan to elect delegates on April 13 will be voted on at the upcoming E-board meeting. Details of the plan are on the CDP website, Cadem.org.
It was further suggested that we form a Yahoo group of all the delegates in Region 5. Alyson and Adrienne will help Emy set this up.
The meeting was adjourned at 11:50.
On Oct 21st from 2-5 the San Mateo Central Committee is putting on a straw poll $25 for a vote.
The PYD Campaign 101 is on July 26th at 6:30 at the Mountain View City Hall Chambers.
Barbara Boxer is coming to town on August 14th for a $75 lunch, $50 if senior or student. They are accepting higher donations.
The California Democratic Party Executive Committee meeting is this weekend in Sacramento. One of the issues will be changing the number of Vice Presidents to 4.
Dan Hoffman: suggested someone showing the Independent Truth as an event to help the environment.
N. Democratic National Committee: Chris Stampolis
National committee report: want people to consider the fact that if Cheney was removed in the next 4-6 months there would be a vacancy and the President would have the opportunity to fill the vacancy with someone who might want to run for President. Heavy discussion on this viewpoint.
The 2008 National Convention will be in Denver
The CDC convention is in Los Angeles on August 10,11,12
O. Pro-Choice Coalition: Claudia Shope
P. DTV Report: Steve Chessin
Democratic Television Producer Steve Chessin reported that our June taping was with Assemblywoman Anna Caballero of the 28th AD.
Our guest in July will be State Senator Ellen Corbett of the 10th Senate District.
We will be on San Jose Comcast Channel 15A July 12th with Emily Thurber, July 26th and August 23rd with Assemblywoman Caballero, and August 9th and September 6th with Senator Corbett.
See the sccdp web site for the schedule in the other communities, and to download our shows.
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):
2007:
Jul 12 DTV 148 Emily Thurber
Jul 26 DTV 149 Hon. Anna Caballero
Aug 9 DTV 150 Sen. Ellen Corbett
Aug 23 DTV 149 Hon. Anna Caballero
Sep 6 DTV 150 Sen. Ellen Corbett
Q. CDC Report: Jay Jackman
9. OLD BUSINESS
10. ANNOUNCEMENTS
Gilroy Garlic Festival is the same weekend as the Club Picnic
Steve Chessin: available to speak to any democratic club or organization
Ralph Wheeler: The DEAN Club and San Mateo Democracy for America will have an event next Tuesday July 17th attendees will get to meet Jim Dean. The event begins at 6:30.
Craig Dunkarly: Clean money bill passed the assembly again, is a 2-year bill. Craig would like to serve out the remainder of Vince CorteseÕs term.
Margaret Abe- Koga: Thanked everyone for helping in her City Council race. She would also like to be elected to serve the remainder of Vince CorteseÕs term.
Dixie Johansen: is also running for Vince CorteseÕs seat
David Cohen: Berryessa school board passed a resolution supporting SB840
Peter OÕRielly West Valley Democratic Club. Meeting this Sunday, July 15th. We will be holding another straw poll. Michael Moore supports Conyers/Kucinich health care plan HR 676
Gilbert Wong: Introduced himself as a Candidate for Cupertino City Council
Councilmember Oliverio: discussed current City Council activity.
Peter Yung: Running for Vince CorteseÕs seat.
Anne Mack: Ira Ruskin is the Century ClubÕs speaker at tomorrowÕs luncheon.
Jon Kessler: PDCÕs annual picnic is on August 18th at 5pm at Shoupe park in Los Altos. On July 25th, Senator Alquist will be hosting a legislative hearing on Trans Fat in schools.
Steve: Congratulations to Jon on the birth of his son.
11. EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING
The next Executive Board meeting is TBA
12. ADJOURNMENT: 8:50