First the important part, we need help!  We can’t do it without you:

Our West County Democrats campaign office is open!

* Open everyday starting this Saturday October 7 until Election Day.
* Our goal is to get out the Democratic vote for state candidates
in West County
* Phone banking every day; precinct walking on selected days.

Location: 3431 D MacDonald Ave, Richmond (Corner of MacDonald and 35TH.)

Saturdays 10AM – 2PM
Sundays 12NOON – 6PM
Mon – Thursday 1PM – 8PM
Fridays: 10AM – 2PM

We will target Permanent Absentee Voters starting Saturday.
No need to reserve a seat. Just show up and Dial for Democrats!

Email [email protected] for more information

http://www.westcount…

West County Democrats, an alliance of Richmond, Pinole, Hercules, San
Pablo and El Sobrante Democrats .

We are a group of voters who don’t want to see Schwarzenegger walk away with another term.  More than that, we think that Phil Angelides is the right person for the job!

I don’t know what more to say!  Please ask questions!

Here is the rundown on our kickoff, that ran in the Globe (despite what the caption says, that isn’t Betty Yee in the picture):

RICHMOND GRASSROOTS IN ACTION

The West County Democrats held their first rally in Richmond on Saturday, September 30th, and it was a great success. Co-chairs Councilmember Tony Thurmond and Mayor Irma Anderson kicked off the celebration for our Get Out the Vote effort, located at 3431D Macdonald Ave. across from Lovonya DeGean Middle School. The event drew an enthusiastic crowd, which featured civic leaders including Board of Equalization Member Betty Yee, County Supervisor John Gioia, Councilmember Jim Rogers, and many local activists. Local candidates Antonio Medrano for West Contra Costa Unified School District and Myrna Lopez for Richmond City Council and members of the California Democratic Party also cheered on our efforts.

Speakers addressed the goals of the Democratic Party and expressed excitement for Phil Angelides as a candidate for Governor. They highlighted that Angelides’ leadership has already helped families save for education and helped local teachers purchase their first homes and put down roots in their communities. They also emphasized that as our governor he will continue to focus on people that need help, cutting taxes for those who really need it, improving schools, and expanding access to health care.

It was also a family event with Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi’s daughter, Janet, and his grandchildren enjoying the community event. The Garamendi grandchildren contributed to the festivities by drawing a mural encouraging everyone to vote for Garamendi for Lieutenant Governor because “he’s 4 kids.”

“The heart of our effort is to bring the community together to invest in our government. We want voters to understand that they can make a difference when they take an active roll by voting,” said a spokesperson for the group. The West County Democrats will be educating voters about Democratic candidates to help elect them to public service. They are asking volunteers to help make an investment in their community with time and effort.

Contact the West County Democrats at 510-233-9809 or [email protected] to volunteer. They will be running a phone bank effort at their office at 3431D Macdonald Ave. on Saturday, October 7th between 10am and 4pm. Coffee and refreshments will be available.

We had a great start.  With the help of just a few of you, we can make a better future!

(hee hee, kind of cheesy, but I just couldn’t help myself!)

(Turnout, Turnout, Turnout! It’s critical to all of our races, not just CA-Gov. – promoted by SFBrianCL)

Greetings All!  I just want to make this simple a simple plea…

I am a member of the Democratic Party of Contra Costa County and we are trying to focus our resources of areas that have been more of less taken for granted or neglected.  Richmond is one of those areas.  It is 70% Democratic, but has only 30% turnout.  We are going to change that last number.

But we could really use some help.  We are hoping to start something that won’t disappear on Wednesday, November 8.  We want to make a permanent and ongoing effort.

Isn’t that the strategy?

Press release is on the flip.  Thanks for peeking at it!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact
Tony Thurmond, Co- Chair, West County Democrats
(510) 681-4127
[email protected]

*West County Democrats Mobilize for Angelides & Statewide Democratic Ticket!*

On Saturday September 30, 2006, the West County Democrats will kick off a month long campaign to mobilize Democratic voters in the West Contra Costa County area. Elected officials and representatives from the California Democratic Party will gather to initiate phone banking, precinct walking, and other measures to help Gubernatorial candidate Phil Angelides and other Democrats win statewide office in November.

Co-chaired by Richmond Mayor Irma Anderson and Richmond Councilman Tony Thurmond, West County Democrats is a coalition of Democratic Clubs from the cities of Richmond, El Cerrito, and Hercules. Representatives from the West County Latina/Latino Democratic Club and the Democratic Central Committee of Contra Costa County are also part of the coalition. Organizers hope to translate the 70% plus base of Democratic voters in the Richmond ar ea into a strong turnout for statewide Democratic candidates and initiatives. Nightly phone banking and weekly mobilizations will be used to energize local Democratic voters.

The September 30th mobilization will take place at 10:00AM at the offices of United Heritage Industries located at 5216 Wall Avenue in Richmond, CA. Refreshments will be provided and members of the public are invited to attend and participate in phone banking and precinct walking activities.
 

Hey everybody,
Below is an article on the upcoming special election in CA-50
involving Democratic candidate Francine Busby, who is considered
strong on environmental and energy issues. Check it out. For more
info visit http://www.californiawomenvote.org/
——————————————————————
  Subject: Will the Earth Shatter on June 6th?

  Dear Maren,

  On June 6th, all eyes will be on California’s 50th Congressional
District.

  If Democrat Francine Busby wins the California special election on
June 6th, her victory would send a shockwave through the political
establishment. If Francine even comes close to winning in this solid
Republican district, no Republican will be able to feel “safe” for
the
next six months. Just listen to how the Associated Press described
it…

“Randy ‘Duke’ Cunningham’s former congressional district is a classic
safe seat, custom-designed to generate Republican wins. But with
Cunningham jailed in a mushrooming political scandal, the San
Diego-area seat is now one the GOP cannot afford to lose.” – AP,
5/14/06

New polls show this California special election to be neck and neck
with only two weeks left. With Dick Cheney in San Diego raking in
millions for Francine’s opponent, we still have an uphill battle in
this race. But we are not walking away from the fight. Not when we
are
fighting for change in Washington – not when we’re fighting to win.

  No Regrets: Help make sure we can give Francine Busby and
challengers
like her everything they need to fight back against the Bush/Cheney
cash machine. Give $25, $50 or more today.

  The DCCC has already spent more than one million dollars supporting
Francine against incredible odds, and it is working. We have aired
television and radio ads in Busby’s district for weeks; exposing her
Republican opponent’s disgraceful and ongoing career in the revolving
door between Republican lobbyists and Congress.

  In a top-tier media market like San Diego, one week of 30-second
television ads can cost as much as $400,000. If every person on our
list gave us $25, we would be able to keep up with Republican
spending
in this and other targeted districts across the country.

  No Regrets: Help make sure we can give Francine Busby and
challengers
like her everything they need to fight back against the Bush/Cheney
cash machine. Give $25, $50 or more today.

  The Republicans underestimated Francine, and they underestimated how
hard the DCCC would battle for her. Democrats will not roll over this
year, and Republicans are learning that the hard way right now. We’ve
helped Francine bring this race within striking distance and we need
to make sure we are ready for the dirty, desperate tactics the
Republicans are planning.

  Will you make a contribution today so we can afford to keep up the
fight in this and other races across the country?

  In an important sense, Francine’s inspirational campaign, a model
for
clean campaigns everywhere, has already won. Our Republican
counterpart, the NRCC, has blown a staggering $3 million on a race
they earlier bragged about having in the bag. They haven’t spent a
dime in this district for more than a decade – and now they are
eating
up resources they were counting on saving to use in November.

  Everyone at the DCCC is working day and night to make sure we’re
positioned to keep going blow for blow with the NRCC, Dick Cheney,
and
Karl Rove. But we cannot win without your support.

  Will you join the DCCC, and prove to the Republicans their reign is
coming to an end?

  No Regrets: Help make sure we can give Francine Busby and
challengers
like her everything they need to fight back against the Bush/Cheney
cash machine. Give $25, $50 or more today.

  A new era is beginning. Thanks in advance for helping make it
happen.

  Sincerely,

  Karin Johanson
  Executive Director, DCCC

  Forward our message to your friends and family.