Candidates speak at Grassroots Series

I have to say that I'm pretty psyched about the field of Democrats running for York County Commissioner. I saw the three of them last night at the most recent Grassroots Speaker Series, this one held at York Little Theatre.

Doug Hoke, Doug Kilgore, and Ned Grove spent about an hour responding to questions on numerous issues impacting York County, and on their perspectives on county government's role.

Kilgore is the lone Democrat incumbent (of three positions) and spoke most memorably about just why it was important for the county to take possession of the Highpoint property. A former dairy farmer, Kilgore said it's important to always be looking ten years out, at what we want our county to look like. His point in supporting Highpoint as park area has two major areas of emphasis: the preservation of the Susquehannock Indian site there and the importance of conserving the delicate ecosystem that borders the Susquehanna River and eventually impacts the Chesapeake Bay.

Doug Hoke's experience in managing large construction projects came through in a question asked about the significant cost overruns in the new County Courthouse building project. Hoke grew up in a household of public service - his father was a supervisor in West Manchester Township. He owns a small farm and is part owner of two businesses housed there, but will be retiring from his job in December after he wins a commissioner seat.

Ned Grove's main message was that there's no way to achieve tax savings without making cuts - saving on expenses, removing unnecessary personnel from county payrolls, etc. Grove is a real estate agent, but plans to let his license lapse once he's elected commissioner.

Democrats can only move two of these candidates forward to the general election by their vote in the primary May 15. This field of candidates provides a great opportunity for York County Democrats to regain a majority in the Commissioners' Office.

Hear from the true roots of grassroots Democrats

Join fellow Democrats on Monday, March 26 at 7pm at the headquarters of the Democratic Party of York County. That evening you will hear from a panel of representatives of several of the Democratic Party clubs and societies describing what Democrats are doing in the neighborhoods and communities around you.

Do you worry that you do too little while talking too much about the state of American politics, the war in Iraq, the sleaziness of Karl Rove’s tactics that he learned as a White House junior staffer during Nixon’s presidency? Then don’t delay . . . opportunities abound for you to make a difference.

Join your fellow Democrats and learn how to you can become part of the Democratic Party solutions that our county and our great nation need at this critical time. Learn how to become actively involved on your own street, your own neighborhood to ensure your values are represented in your municipality’s elected leadership in 2007.

Let’s get York County ready to help Democrats reclaim the White House in 2008!

See you at 275 W. Market Street in York City at 7pm this Monday, March 26, for learning and sharing with your fellow Democrats and Progressives. Email me at jimpoland@jimpoland.com if you need directions for that evening

New connections for you

Would you like to keep up with the current postings on The Kicking Donkey without taking any extra steps? Take a look at our sidebar - you can now have every posting automatically forwarded to your email address via Feedblitz. Enter the requested info and you can be among the first to read up on the latest.

Also, if you're thinking about taking a greater leadership role in the Democratic Party, you're considering running for office, or if you simply want to take your performance to the next level of excellence, check out my blog, Peak Performance - From the Coach's Desk at http://worldaccordingtojulie.blogspot.com. The blog contains tips, stories, inspiration and some fun to get you revved up and moving forward. If you like it you can subscribe there too.

Have a great day!

What's next ?

Last night a dentist shared his frustration with the dental health insurance environment that he must function within. He declared that his frustration is intense, but minor when compared to what his peer physicians must feel being squeezed between health insurers, malpractice premiums, and the government. For him, at times he feels like he should just conclude . . . “Close the doors. Turn out the lights. You’re done!”

Over thirty folks participated in a very lively program about health care coverage for every resident of Pennsylvania. Governor Rendell’s approach includes the health insurance companies as part of the solution and HELP Fund PA proposes removing those insurers from the solution because they have identified those very insurers as the root cause of the lack of affordability of health care coverage for us.

Great turnout, great event, exciting time had by all ! ! Thank you to all who participated and to Bob Kefauver for his assistance and his videotaping of the program for submission to our local public access tv folks.

Participants were asked what they’d like to experience in the future programs presented as the Grassroots Topics series at the Democratic Party of York County Headquarters. Their responses were exciting:

- Education Reform, including funding
- Fair Trade
- Consolidation of municipalities
- Immigration issues
- ACLU – the war on our civil rights – Patriot Act – Guantanamo
- Women’s issues
- Oil – money to the Middle East – oil pipeline
- How to run a tight, well organized campaign
- How to pick winning candidates
- Establishing a county-wide Human Relations Commission
- Joint meeting with all the other Democratic Party clubs, associations (Young Dems, Southern, etc.)
- Use the wall in there in the headquarters of the Party to provide photos and biographies of our leaders of the Democratic Party of York County
- Identify the elected positions that we need to recruit Democratic Party candidates for . . . in the current election cycle and the near future
- Defining ourselves and who we are and where we stand as the Democratic Party of York County for recruitment of Dem voters and candidates

Obviously, it was a fantastic night of lively interaction by your fellow Democrats and Progressives. Join your neighbors and your peers next month for the next Grassroots Topics program. Watch for details.

In the meantime, find a military service veteran (current service or years ago), his/her family members, and even those who grew up as military “brats” and thank them for their sacrifices and their loyal service to us all, to our great nation ! ! !

Join your fellow Dems ! !

Feeling like your Mondays
in York County are too dull, too quiet,
too ordinary?

Not this Monday, February 26th!


Event #1 - First DLA Luncheon of 2007
We want to remind you of our first Democratic Leadership Alliance luncheon of 2007;
at noon, Monday, 2/26/07, at the Harp and Fiddle Irish Pub (upstairs) on S. George Street in the city.

There will be a "State of the County" address by Mayor John Brenner, County Commissioner, Doug Kilgore and State Rep. Eugene DePasquale.

Cost is $25.

For reservations or more information, contact Mary Ann Bacas, 663 Madison Ave, York, PA 17404. or email her at: MA@Bacas.com

Event #2 –

“Health Care For Every Pennsylvanian”

is the topic of this month’s grassroots session

at 7PM on at the Democratic Party HQ in York City

at 275 W. Market Street.

Feb 26th The Democratic Party will have 2 speakers discussing Health Care in Pennsylvania.

• Chuck Pennacchio, the exciting and forward thinking US Senatorial candidate, is coming to York.
• Abe Amoros, or a representative from the Governor’s Office of Health Care Reform (OHCR), is also coming to YORK!!

The speakers are presenting competing Bills on Health Care for Pennsylvanians.
This unique opportunity to hear and question BOTH Plans also means we can INFLUENCE how our Representatives vote! Each speaker will take 15 minutes to share their point. There will be a question and answer period after we have heard from both.

Please join us at 7PM on Feb 26 at the Democratic Party HQ, 275 W. Market Street.

Additional information:
OHCR is presenting a plan called the "Prescription for Pennsylvania" or "Rx for PA". This Plan is a series of 47 Bills that will hold down escalating costs such as the uninsured using Emergency Rooms as their primary care system. The Governor has been traveling the state seeking support for the Plan.

The competing Plan is a Single-Payer Bill. HELP Fund PA or the "Family and Business Healthcare Security Act of 2007". HELP Fund PA on Feb 27th (10 AM - Noon) is in Harrisburg making a presentation before Democratic legislators. HELP Fund PA is hoping for grassroots support from every citizen to pack the House Caucus room with more than one hundred supporters. Keep that in mind while listening and questioning the speakers on Monday night.

Overall Agenda for evening of Feb 26th:
7 PM: Welcome and Announcements by Jim Poland, Vice Chair Finance of the Democratic Party of York
1. Upcoming Training & Events
2. Deadlines for the Primary
3. Call for Volunteers
7:15: "Rx for PA" by Abe Amoros
7:40: "HELP Fund PA" by Chuck Pennachio

Q&A Time: 20 minutes

Announce Next Meeting

Social Time

Adjournment

York County Federation of Democratic Women set to grow

I just received a membership application from the York County Federation of Democratic Women. They have an upcoming meeting Saturday, March 31 at 2p.m., at a location to be announced.

The purpose of the organization is :

Dedicated to the ideals and principles of the Democratic Party and to the promotion of Democratic Women to leadership in government and in the Democratic Party. The YCFDW shall support the election of Democratic candidates throughout Pennsylvania.

Membership in YCFDW is open to any person who is registered in the Democratic Party, and annual dues are $10..

There are to be five committees:

SPECIAL EVENTS COMMITTEE: This committee shall be responsible for the development of activities to promote the participation and election of Democratic women in York County. The committee shall also develop and recommend events and/or activities to increase voter registration and voter participation in York County.

WAYS AND MEANS: This committee shall be responsible for the development and implementation of events to fund club activities with the approval of the membership.

BUDGET AND FINANCE: This committee shall be responsible for the preparation of the annual club budget. The committee shall also review the financial records of the club annually

MEMBERSHIP: This committee shall be responsible for the recruitment of new members...
Political Action Committee: This committee shall make recommendations for the expenditures from the PAC fund.

Dues may be sent to Carol Downs Brady - Any questions call Colleen Burkett 600.0105 or email to colleen@burketts.org.

Interesting info on the impact of social networks on politics

Ben McConnell at the Church of the Customer Blog did a post titled Social networks and politics:

"Social networks are the new grassroots organizing force for politics.
The first-week numbers for Barack Obama's presidential campaign website illustrate why:
70,000 members signed up
4,000 blogs started
3,000 fundraising pages
started
2,400 groups started
Social networks for grassroots campaigns
give the true believers more of what they want: a voice, a vote and a vocation. "

What's at stake in this year's elections

In the York County, PA community here is what is at stake for this year’s primary and general elections:

1 County Commissioner seat
3 York City Council seats
City Controller
City Treasurer
County Treasurer
County Sheriff
County Clerk of Courts
County Register of Wills
County Clerk of Orphans
County Prothonotary
District Justice 19-1-04 (in York)
District Justice 19-1-05 (in York)
Plus seats for various borough councils, township supervisor boards, and school boards throughout York County

So, how are you going to improve your community this election cycle ? ? ?

Sure, sure, sure - - - these local Democratic Party election opportunities are NOT going to directly change the course of the White House and Pentagon’s actions (or misguided actions) in Iraq. However, these officials will impact your moment-to-moment lifestyle in our lovely Central Pennsylvania community.

Supporting the election of grassroots Democrats will continue the momentum throughout our great nation that was evidenced by the November, 2006 Congressional and Senatorial election outcomes. Begin with your City, Borough, County, and School District offices and watch the influence grow toward the more sensible values and precepts of the Democratic Party’s members. . . you ! ! !

Click here to visit the local Democratic Party of York County website to learn how you can make the difference that leads the way.

Ask me how you can help in your immediate neighborhood and who you can reach out to in order to become involved. Email me at JimPoland@JimPoland.com or call #870-5070.

Don’t be shy, give it a try ! ! !

New group for teen Democrats forming

I'm so pleased to hear about the formation of a Teen Democrats chapter here in York. It's important for young eligible voters to become active in the process early on and to understand what's really going on so they can cast informed votes. Grooming energetic new Democrats is great for the vitality of our county party.

The first meeting of the Teen Democrats will be held February 15th at 6:30 p.m. at the Democratic Headquarters. For more information, contact Brittany Preston at flagchicbrit19@aim.com.

How to get involved in this election cycle

It's time for you to help the process of democracy. Consider running for office, or helping someone who is doing so by helping him or her obtain signatures on a petition. Visit the York County elections office for petition forms, and to find out any specific requirements for the office for which you're running.

You can start collecting signatures no earlier than February 13. The number of signatures required depends upon the office for which you want to be a candidate. It's recommended that you get extra signatures just in case some of your signers aren't eligible to sign for you (for example, if you're a Democrat and they are a Republican they are not eligible to sign for you.)

Your petition must be received by 4:30 p.m. March 6 - no exceptions - at the elections office. Candidates also have to submit a financial interest statement that details the sources of their money.

Even if you're not running and you're not helping someone else get their petition in you can help register voters in time for the May 15, 2007 primary. Go to http://www.pa.lwv.org/voting/votingfaqs.html#VR and follow the links to obtain a voter registration form. These must be received by April 16 for the voter to qualify to participate in this year's primary.

Kudos to Gov. Rendell on his Rx for Pennsylvania!

Kudos to Gov. Rendell !

It is time to bring some sanity into what is an otherwise insane system. The healthcare insurance system of our great nation is sick . . . a chronic disease that, like many, can be controlled and managed with proper treatment and routine consumption of a strong, beneficial prescription. Or, if left untreated to progress as it is, will very likely lead to the death of healthcare insurance coverage for all Pennsylvanians . . . all Americans.

Last night, I had the privilege of personally hearing Governor Rendell review the multiple causes of his patient’s chronic illness . . . of Pennsylvania residents’ health care cost crisis.

There are 767,000 adults in our commonwealth presently forced to go without healthcare insurance. And for those PA workers who are insured, the cost of continuing their coverage has risen 5.6 times faster than the increases in their wages between 2000 to the close of 2006. During the past six years the increase in median wages of Pennsylvania’s workforce has only been 13.3%, inflation drove up the prices we pay for goods and services by 17%, but health insurance premiums skyrocketed 75.6% ! ! ! !

Pennsylvania and York County families, employers, and the self-employed have all been sliding down a slippery slope of lower income and reduced quality of life due to this outrageous, insane, and inappropriate explosion in costs. Huge premium increases that are harming the bottom lines of our local businesses and leading those employers to share those cost increases with their workers or face the prospect of dropping their group-based health insurance policies entirely. Sharing the premium increases and redesigning health benefits plans to have much higher deductibles, coinsurance, and co-pays in order to reduce future premiums has led every employer in our community to feel significant demands for corresponding wage increases from even their most loyal employees. I personally know of an employer who received an 84% annual increase to their employees’ health insurance premiums (imagine a$12,000 annual family premium jumping to $22,080 just 13 months later) ! ! ! And so the chronic disease feeds itself through out of control costs.

Last night, I learned that 71% of the uninsured in PA are actually employed, with 77% of those uninsured earning less than 300% of the ’06 Federal poverty level, or $60,000 for a family of four ($29,400 for individuals). The most scary data is that 27% of our uninsured Commonwealth residents have been WITHOUT INSURANCE FOR AT LEAST 5 YEARS ! ! !

Governor Rendell and his team have proposed a sane Prescription for Pennsylvania . . .a prescription for improving affordability, quality, and access for all Pennsylvanians.

The RX for Pennsylvania sure sounds like a sane initiative for integrating practical strategies for improving health care and containing costs for York Countians and all our families and friends in Pennsylvania.

Tell your State Senator and State Representatives to engage in valid, mature, intelligent, and sane dialogue with Governor Rendell about quickly implementing the steps to properly manage this chronic health care cost illness in PA that is clearly ruining our economy and quality of life. Go to: York County’s legislators

Click here to learn more about your Governor’s Rx for Pennsylvania

You go, Eugene!

Last year when we elected Eugene DePasquale to the State House we knew we were sending him to a place with a history of financial self-dealing. Pennsylvania residents were ticked off that our state representation chose to circumvent the intent of the law and take advances on the pay raises they voted for themselves. Some of the folks we drummed out of office in the November elections took their last swipes at our wallets by taking tens of thousands of dollars in "expenses" on their way home.

Well, Eugene has provided an itemized list of his expenses right out of the gate - what a concept! At last somebody understands the accountability we want to see from the legislators who work for us. None of this tiptoeing out the door with a check in hand. Full accountability. Way to be a role model, Eugene!

Welcome to The Kicking Donkey!

My dad was a dyed-in-the-wool Massachusetts Democrat who taught me a lot about speaking my mind even when my views were unpopular. Little did he know just how much my perspective on government and its proper role in our lives would indeed reflect the minority view in my community - at least until now.

We have a resurging Democratic party now in York County, with strong leadership and a growing Grassroots effort. Just last night we brought our local Grassroots organization under the official party umbrella to enable its energy to continue to move us forward. Kudos to Ron Toomey, Mary Toomey, and Betty Marshall for providing that place for like minds to gather. During the past three years we've organized to better promote candidates, and we've gotten more informed about the issues that are affecting us at a national, state, and local level. We've had more solidly competitive candidates in more races. And we're building our network of community volunteers to get people registered and participating in the process of democracy.

If things go according to plan you'll see posts from various members of our York area community of Democrats - some to inform you, some to inspire, and some to do some ranting and rabble-rousing. Please add your voice to the mix - this is what the American way of government is all about!