October 2018 General Business Meeting minutes

Washington State 21st Legislative District Democratic Party Organization

General Business Meeting minutes, October 24, 2018

Mukilteo City Hall

Approval of the Agenda

A motion was made to amend the meeting agenda to add a Pledge of Allegiance. The motion was seconded. The motion carried.

A motion was made to amend the meeting agenda to add a social break. The motion was seconded. The motion carried unanimously.

A motion was made to accept the meeting agenda, as amended. The motion was seconded. The motion carried unanimously.

Approval of Minutes

A motion was made to approve the minutes from the September meeting, which are posted online. The motion was seconded. The motion carried unanimously.

Officer’s Reports

Chair

Bret Chiafalo, the acting Chair, shared with the members that, due to recent events, the City of Mukilteo would no longer allow the 21st LD Democrats to use the city hall for meetings, unless an off-duty police officer were hired for each meeting to provide security, at a minimum rate of $225 per meeting. As the organization’s budget is not able to accommodate this expense in the long term, the Executive Board is searching for a new venue to hold meetings going forward.

Bret also announced that the upcoming reorganization meeting–or “reorg” for short–would be held in early December. Dates under consideration include the 1st, 5th, and 8th days of December. Venues under consideration include the Lynnwood Public Library and Mukilteo City Hall (for which a police officer would be hired). None of these dates conflict with the Snohomich County Democrats’ already scheduled reorg meeting, which will be held on December 9.

Richard McManus asked a question, which the Chair found to be deleterious and out of order. Mr. McManus moved to challenge the decision by the chair, however the motion was not seconded.

Later in the meeting, Bret amended his Chair’s report to speak in praise of the Late Richard Moralez, and ask for a short moment of silence in his honor.

State Committeewoman

Sharon Holt reported that she and PCO Coordinator Al Apodaca were available to help PCOs in the district canvass their precincts. Every volunteer in the district is working hard to get out the vote.

State Committeeman

Shaun Olsen reported that a phone progressive PAC had been created by Republican-allied individuals, which was sending mailers to area Democrats suggesting write-in candidates for certain races, in an attempt to split the Democratic vote and help Republican candidates.

Secretary

Neil Shafer-Ross reported that Ivan Lewis, endorsed candidate for Representative in the 39th LD, would be holding a text-banking effort during the week of October 28 through November 3. Volunteers from the 21st LD would be greatly appreciated. Also in need of volunteers would be Jared Mead, candidate for Representative from the 44th LD.

County Committeewoman

Rose Andrews gave her report of recent activities by the Snohomish County Democratic Central Committee. The SnoCo Democrats had cancelled their October General Business meeting due to the unexpected death of Mr. Richard Moralez, the county Treasurer and a much loved member of that organization. The county E-Board had met, and voted to rename their empowerment award to the Richard Moralez Empowerment Award in his honor. Rose also described how the county disbursed the funds raised at its recent gala event, and provided information on the upcoming county reorg.

Rose’s complete report of county business can be read here: https://21dems.org/oct-24th-2018-county-committee-report/

County Committeeman

Niko Battle encouraged the members of the 21st LD Democrats to participate in the county level reorg.

Treasurer

There was no Treasurer’s Report at this meeting, however Bret, the acting Chair, did share with the members that the 21st LD’s recent donation of $250 to the campaign of Ivan Lewis had been declined–the E-Board and Mr. Lewis had become aware that it would have been an illegal campaign contribution if it had been accepted, because the 21st LD cannot make contributions in races with no geographic overlap with our LD.

New Business

Because of our bylaws, the Chair was obliged to bring to the floor a motion to remove Niko Battle as County Committeeman, due to his recent absenteeism from Executive Board meetings. The motion was spoken for and against. There was a motion to call the question, which was seconded and passed unanimously. Debate was closed. The original motion was voted on and failed. Niko Battle will remain the County Committeeman.

There was motion to adopt a resolution titled “Resolution for a New Public Congressional Investigation Regarding the Alleged Terrorist Incidents on September 11, 2001.” The motion was not seconded.

Guest Speakers

Simone Gomes introduced her colleague Marisa DuBois, the Director of Immigrant Services at Edmonds Community College. Ms. DuBois spoke about the resources her office makes available to immigrant students at the college, and also about how the office is funded, which is primarily by the federal government.

Rebecca Wolfe, endorsed candidate for PUD Commissioner (district 2) spoke to the members and answered several questions.