SANTA CLARA COUNTY DEMOCRATIC CENTRAL COMMITTEE

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

MINUTES FOR Thursday, October 1, 2009

1. CALL TO ORDER:  7:00

2.  ROLL CALL

Absent:  Deepka Lalwani, Bill Ferguson, Ron Lind, Eric Larson, Marsha Grilli, Francis LaPoll, James Rowen, Xavier Campos, Denise Alejandro, Peter Arellano, Alberto Torrico, Ira Ruskin, Joe Coto, Jim Beall, Bill Monning, Anna Caballero, Ellen Corbett, Joe Simitian, Elaine Alquist, Anthony Drummond, Marie Higby, Martin Monica, Jon Graff, and Darcie Green.

Alternates For:  Alyson Abramowitz, Ken Yeager, Paul Fong, Jerry McNerney, Anna Eshoo, Mike Honda, Zoe Zofgren, Rena Modell, and Clarence Madrilejos.

3.  IDENTIFICATION OF VISITORS

Jennifer Ong-Asian Pacific Islander Caucus Statewide Treasurer, Kelly Dugan, Elaine Coombs, Kevin Beyer, Ben Poona, Tamela Craft, Ashley Molarchinie, Evan Low-City of Campbell Vice Mayor, Renee Reid, Ben Mendez, Sari Wisch (Chris Kelly for Attorney General), Jose Lopez, Micael Estremera, Galen Swain, Scott Drexel-Mamet & Assoc., Jean Cohan (Kai for Assembly), Anita Stroud, Matthew Mendez, Gurinder Nunwa, and Forrest Williams-District 1 Supervisor Candidate.

4.  ADOPTION OF AGENDA

a. Add Item Under New Business - Repeal the Doyle Doctrine

b. Motion to Approve with Added Item; Seconded; Motion Approved.

 5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES (Minutes are poste= d at sccdp.org)

a) September 3, 2009 Minutes

Following changes to be made to minutes:  Margaret Age-Koga changed from May= or of Sunnyvale to City of Mountain View Mayor.&= nbsp; Name changed from Jim Griffith to Tim Griffith, which is located in = the Sunnyvale City Council Endorsements.

Motion to Approve with changes; Seconded; Motion Approved.

6. NEW BUSINESS

a. Resolution on San Jose' s Single-Use Bag Ordinance

David Cohen presented the resolution.  Informed attendees that San Jose City Council moved forward to ban plastic bags.   Recommended Central Committee approve the resolution.

Motion to Approve; Seconded; Motion Approved.

b. Resolution in Support of the Public Option as an Essential Element of Health Care Reform

Resolution was passed in October, 2009 and is on website.

c. Honoring Contributions of Immigrants

Javier Gonzalez:  Chair - Latino Democratic Forum

1.  San Diego is trying to change the ordinance regarding undocumented immigrants.

2. Javier thanked Steve Preminger for his assistance in putting the resolution together.

3. Motion to Approve; Seconded; Motion Approved.

d. A Call to Repeal the Doyle Doctrine

i. Information distributed to attendees.

ii. City Attorney, Rick Doyle, put out a memorandum that significantly restricts the rights of citizens to meaningfully participate in government decision-making.  The document was put together by Mr. Bob Brownstein.

iii. Motion to Approve as Emergency Resolution; Seconded; Motion Approved.

iv. Additional Comments: 

1. Urge San Jose City Council not to enforce the memorandum.

2.  Memorandum would exclude individuals to speak on agenda.

3. Does it violate the Brown Act?

4. Suggested to change from "A Call to Repeal the Doyle Doctrine" to "A Call to Repudiate the Doyle Doctrine".

5. Ongoing status updates will be provided to Central Committee attendees.

6. Motion to Adopt; Seconded; Motion Approved.

 

7. OLD BUSINESS

a. None

9.     REPORTS FROM OFFICERS AND OTHERS

a. Executive Board: Margie Mitchell

Nothing to Report

b. Chair: Steve Preminger

Informed attendees:

- Support endorsed candidates

- Call to Action Campaign training meeting to be held in early 2010

- A regular Executive Board meeting will be held on the 4th Tuesday of each month.

- Supervisors voted to approve support of HR676 at the September, 2009 meeting.

c. Vice Chair: Clark Williams

Informed attendees he recently went to Washington DC to lobby for the Employee Free Choice Act.  Congressmembers Zoe Lofgren and Mike Honda are co-sponsors of the act.  Senator Diane Feinstein has not supported the Act at this time.  Encouraged attendees to send a note to Senator Feinstein to let her know how critical this Act is.

d. Treasurer:  Drina Collins

Balance - $150

e. Secretary:  Margie Mitchell

Nothing to Report

f. Community Services and Voter Registration:  Judy Pipkin

a. Have 1 event on Saturday, October 3, from 10 to 4 at Lake Cunningham Day in the Park, which is a multi-cultural festival.

g. Finance:  Jim Thurber

Nothing to Report

h. Candidate Recruitment and Endorsement:  Jon Kessler

Nothing to Report

i. Communications:  David Cohen

New calendar is now on the website; Clubs can now submit their events and it will then get posted; Endorsements are also posted on website.

j. Campaign Services:  Tom Cochran

Informed attendees to support endorsed candidates.

Sunnyvale will have precinct walks on October 3, 10, and 11 at 10:00 each day.  Contact Nancy Smith at 408-455-8672 for additional information.

The 21st Century Club will be doing some targeted mailers. Century Club is donating $10,000 to UDC.  James Kim is organizing the mailer .  Century Club plans on using dues to help fund these operations.  Plan to do this process every election cycle.

k. Political Outreach (Clubs):  Diane Rolfe

Thanked SVYD for the evening's refreshments.  Next month, Bay Area Iranian will be food hosts.

Thank Ralph Wheeler for Save the Date J J Dinner fliers.  Event will be held on May 7, 2010.  Fliers were distributed to attendees.

l. Regional Director:  Emy Thurber

Regional Meeting to be held on October 10 in Los Altos .  Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren will be in attendance.  Suggestions on the platforms will be made.  Resolutions to be put forward to E-board.  Inform Emy know if you will be in attendance.

Training Democratic Party is holding training sessions.  The Concord training session is full.  Stockton training will be held during the month of February, 2010.

Executive Committee will be meeting on November 14 and 15 in San Diego .

John Burton sent an e-mail about signing a petition on tax.  Emy urged everyone to sign the petition.

m. Democratic National Committee: Chris Stampolis

David Cohen: Organizing for America Regional Leaders is focused on strengthening parties.  If you have any input contact him.

n. Pro-Choice Coalition:  Claudia Shope

HR1653 and SB972 - urged attendees to sign petition to show support.  Sending to Senators Barbara Boxer and Diane Feinstein on October 2, 2009.

o.  DTV Report:  Steve Chessin

Had technical difficulties during the September taping.  The program will be redone next week.  Guests to be announced.  The Silicon Valley Education Foundation and Teresa Alvarado will be taped during the month of October.

p. CDC Report:  Jay Jackman

Have moved 2 affiliated clubs to CDC due to work of Diane Rolfe and Herb Engstrom.

CDC had meeting in San Diego.  Had joint meeting with San Diego Central Committee.  400 people in attendance.  Had 3 or 4 concurrent sessions. 

 

11. ANNOUNCEMENTS

Javier Gonzalez: Informed attendees that Nora Campos has extended an invitation to the City of San Jose's Advisory Board meeting on Domestic Violence.  Robin Givens will deliver the keynote.  Meeting will be held October 10 at 11:00 at San Jose City Hall .

Sari Wisch: Chief of Staff for Chris Kelly.  A straw pole will be held at the San Mateo Convention Center on Sunday, October 18, from 2-4pm.  Additional information can be obtained at Attorney General Kelly2010.com.  Chris Kelly is a candidate for California Attorney General candidate in 2010.

Jay Jackman: A meet and greet will be held at Jay Jackman's resident from 4 to 6 for Kai Stinchcomb, who is a candidate for Assembly District 21.

Herb Engstrom: Informed attendees that badges are to be turned them in when you leave. Make correction on badge if out of date.  Visitors should all have badges.

Scott Drexel: There were 4.y million high-yield democratic donors in the 2008 election cycle.  Informed attendees that Josh Beckard(?) is preparing for 21st AD candidate.

Steve Chessin: Audra Strickland, a Republican Legislator, is running for Secretary of State against Debra Bowen.  A 2010 re-election kickoff house party will be held on November 7, 2009 from 2 to 4 at 121 Harriet St in Palo Alto. 

Andres Quintero of SVYD: A kickoff for Fair share for fair tuition AB656 support.  Kickoff will be held at San Jose State University on October 12 at Noon.  Guest speakers will be Assemblymember Albert Torrico and Lt. Governor John Garamendi.

12. EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING

13. ADJOURNMENT:  At 8:45 pm In memory of  Marge Kabaz (Democratic Activist) and Rosemary Stasik.


Club Reports:

Sunnyvale DemClub: Absentee ballots for Sunnyvale will be sent week of October 5.  Not a ranked system, but seats. Club will hold its next meeting in October.

Santa Clara DemClub:  Sally Lieber spoke at the last meeting about repealing the 2/3 requirement to pass the budget.  She was opposed to having a constitutional convention.  Next meeting will be held on October 19 at Carrows on El Camino Real.

South County DemClub :  Annual fundraiser was successful. Next meeting will be October 14 at Village Green in Gilroy.  

Obama DemClub:  Helped organize 2 town hall meeting for Congressman Mike Honda 2 town hall meetings.  Thanked all members of Central Committee. Camp Obama to be held this weekend.

Dean DemClub:  Endorsement meeting held September 14, 2009; next meetings will be held October 7th = and 19th

Silicon Valley DemClub; October 10; Annual Membership Drive fundraiser will be held on October 10.  Congressman Mi ke Honda will be speaking on healthcare reform.

Silicon Valley Young DemClub:  Halloween costumer party will be held on October 29 at Azucar in San Jose .  Tickets:  $25 (students); $35 for all others.  California Young Dem meeting to be held in Lake Tahoe .

Latino Forum DemClub:  Education forum to address issues that concern race.  Forum to be held late October or early November.

Peninsula DemClub:  Sally Lieber spoke at the club's Saturday lunch.  Stanford History professor will be speaking on Afghanistan at their October 24 meeting.  

DAWN:  Potluck endorsement brunch will be held at 11:00 on October 4.  Guest speaker will be Jan Stoner.

Iranian DemClub:  Members went to New York to demonstrate against President Mohmoud Ahmadinejad.  Monthly meeting will be held at 6:30 on October 14.  Guest speaker will be O. Memoria, writer for Huffington Post.

Evergreen Valley DemClub:  Annual Picnic held on September 13.  Guest speaker was Rose Herrera.  Next Saturday, the Club has reserved a table to register voters at Cunningham Park.

LGBT:  Asked attendees to join them in wishing Diane Rolfe a "Happy Birthday", which is October 2.  

21st Century Club:  Next luncheon to be held on October 9.  Guest speaker will be Cindy Chavez discussing the recent convention, plans for Santa Clara, and healthcare.  Cost:  $25