AUGUST 2023 Newsletter

Dear Schoharie County Democrats,

I just got back from Georgia, where I took a course on Reconstruction. There were a lot of teachers there from Florida.

What is going on in Florida is nuts.

One teacher from Orlando, told me how she has to catalog every book in her classroom, and anything controversial is prohibited. Other teachers are worried about their jobs. Many are considering moves out of the state.

Closer to home, the Duanesburg School District was almost taken over by Trumpers. Local parents organized, educated others, and pulled off a victory, but if they had not been paying attention, their district could have been in the same situation as Florida.

All Politics is Local

Upstate NY is not that different from Florida. We can neglect the warning signs or we can act.

The Good News

Candidates have been selected in every town in Schoharie County. We have over 30 candidates, including a full-slate in Cobleskill! This is a substantial increase over previous years, and a testament to the work that we have been doing. We have an ambitious ‘Get Out The Vote’ plan, that includes knocking on all the doors of likely-to-vote democratic and undecided voters. Candidates are currently writing bios, creating logos and filing their paperwork. You can help by donating here. The Schoharie County Democratic Committee is going to be printing yard signs and literature for all Democratic candidates who want it. Candidates need yard signs, literature, newspaper advertisements, etc.

If you have time and want to get more involved, drop me a note. I can connect you with a candidate who needs support. Next month, we are going to have ‘Get Out The Vote’ events and neighborhood canvasses.

In Solidarity,

Theresa Heary

SCDC Chair

ACTIVE SCHOHARIE COUNTY TOWNS HELD CAUCUSES:

30 LOCAL DEMOCRATS ON THE BALLOT FOR NOVEMBER 7th

Make no mistake about it -- These local folk will need your help and support along with your vote! Candidates listed as "(endorsed)" have other party affiliations but will be listed on the ballot as Democrats.

BLENHEIM: Supervisor, Don Airey (endorsed)

Clerk, Diane Ericson (endorsed)

Councilperson, Chester Keyser (endorsed)

Councilperson, Carolee E. Russell (endorsed)

BROOME: No Democrats running this cycle

CARLISLE: No Democrats running this cycle

COBLESKILL: Supervisor, Nicholas Elder

Clerk/Collector, Tina Ward

Councilperson, Angelina Pelkey

Councilperson, Brian Lavine

CONESVILLE: Supervisor, Dave Merwin, Sr.

Town Clerk, Carrie Sutton (endorsed)

Tax Collector, Martha Young

Councilperson, Ken Lewon

Councilperson, Steve Young

Highway Super., Tyler Latta (endorsed)

ESPERANCE: No Democrats running this cycle

FULTON: Supervisor, Philip R. Skowfoe, Jr (incumbent)

Clerk/Collector, Dawn Skowfoe (incumbent)

Highway Super., William D. Jaycox Jr. (endorsed)

GILBOA: Councilperson, Christina Hauser

Councilperson, Linda Trautman Stratigos

JEFFERSON: No Democrats running this cycle

MIDDLEBURGH: Councilperson, Stephen Luke Spretniak

(town) Councilperson, Chris Andrew

Justice, Paul Schultz (endorsed)

RICHMONDVILLE: Supervisor, Martha Ketro Fisher

Clerk/Collector, Lisbeth Kabel

Councilperson, Vern Hall

Councilperson, Scott Bennett

SCHOHARIE: Councilperson, Robert Montione

(town)

SEWARD: Clerk/Collector, Barbara Schaffer

Councilperson, Nancy Kniskern

Councilperson, Roberta Wilding

Highway Supt., Chad Kniskern

SHARON: Supervisor, Sandra Manko (incumbent)

Clerk/Collector, Melissa Olsen (endorsed)

SUMMIT: Councilperson, Jennifer B. Stinson

Highway Super., James E. Dibble (endorsed)

TOWN OF WRIGHT: Clerk/Collector, Justin Behan

Councilperson, Jean Burton

Councilperson, Rae Jean Teeter

Highway Super., Keith Kearney

Justice, Kristin Williams

Please consider offering a small gathering with your neighbors to introduce your local candidates, or spend a couple hours knocking on doors in the coming months to talk about the choices on the ballot, or help make yard signs and give them to friends to show support! Of course sometimes a donation of money can help a candidate pay for gas as they attend events and seek to make contact with people throughout our rural towns!

To find out about Get-Out-The-Vote events being planned in your area, contact info@schohariedemocrats.org

MISSING THE SCDC BBQ? LIGHT UP YOUR GRILL!

Consider hosting a smaller version in your town and invite Democrats running for office, along with your favorite musicians or magicians! Let's make the parties local and bring out folks who share values, whether they share party affiliation or not. Registered Democrats are a definite minority in Schoharie County, but there are nearly as many undeclared or independent voters registered here. To put Democrats in town government there needs to be a meeting of the minds -- a choice to add new voices and different perspectives from the status quo. That's where you are uniquely positioned to help. We Democrats all live next to folks registered otherwise, yet we help each other, like each other, and want the best for each other. If you invite a few neighbors and your local candidates to share time, you can be sure they will share ideas. This is how the community wins over politics.

The annual BBQ takes a lot of organizing and energy in the summertime when lots of groups (including Republicans) are holding BBQs. SCDC doesn't want to compete with graduations, weddings, birthdays, and town-wide events. As a fundraiser BBQs did not bring in enough support over the costs unless lots of people donated services, materials and time. If SCDC holds an event to build community, the fees must be low. To raise serious money, the fees must be high. If you hold a potluck, where several people pitch in, and you invite a few others who might not identify as Democrats but share your concerns for your town, YOU CAN HAVE A BIGGER IMPACT in promoting community and democratic views.

Participate in the 10-year survey to help frame the goals and activities of Democrats in Schoharie County! To complete the form, click on this link https://forms.gle/nk6e2bF3Xio72NmQ8

COME TO THE SUNSHINE FAIR & HELP DEMS SHINE!

From Tuesday, August 8 until Sunday, August 13th there will friends and friends-to-be hanging out at the SCDC booth at the Sunshine Fair. We'll have information about candidates running for town government positions, and can help you with information about registering to vote, applying for an absentee or mail-in ballot, or just clarifying the dates for early voting. You might even meet some of the Democrats running for town council or justice, or highway superintendent or supervisor or town clerk!

If you'd like to officially help staff the booth call Joe 518-275-7471. There are shifts from 8AM all the way til closing at 8PM! And you'll never be alone, so there's always time to go for a wander and come back to the booth!

VILLAGES HAVE ELECTIONS TOO!

GATHERING IN JEFFERSON

Our social gathering on Wednesday July 26th at the Mill Pond Inn for pizza night turned into a celebration of summer with perfect weather and a beautiful site. There were people from as far North as Esperance! Folks brought spouses and shared delicious pizza! We had a special pop-in visit from Daniel Lynch, who is running for New York State Supreme Court in the November election. In upcoming months we’ll gather in Fulton and beyond! And don't be surprised if there's another pizza night at the Mill Pond Inn. Keep an eye on FaceBook for details.

UPCOMING TOWN HAPPENINGS:

CHECK THIS LINK TO THE CALENDAR FOR YOUR TOWN & VILLAGE BOARD AND COUNCIL MEETINGS EVERY MONTH

AUGUST 8-13 DEMOCRATS AT THE SUNSHINE FAIR! Come any time from 8AM til closing, and stop by the SCDC booth at the Fair. Candidates will be stopping in, and members and friends of the SCDC will be hanging out to share information about upcoming elections, possibilities of serving on planning boards or participating in get-out-the-vote activities. You can even get voter registration materials to make sure that 18-year-old in your family can vote in November! If you want to work a 4-hour shift in the booth, call Joe 518-275-7471.

TAKE TIME TO ENJOY YOUR SUMMER ACTIVITIES AND MEET YOUR LOCAL CANDIDATES!

AUGUST 2023 Newsletter

schoharie county democratic committee