The Woodbridge Ferris Gala is our annual event that brings together community members, supporters, and democracy enthusiasts for an unforgettable evening of celebration and fundraising. This year's gala promises to be a night to remember, with a lineup of exciting activities, entertainment, and the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to the Mecosta County Democratic Party. The gala is a crucial fundraiser that helps ensure the continuation and expansion of the party’s valuable work in Mecosta County. By attending the gala, you will directly contribute to the betterment of the community and the lives of its residents. These funds will go towards candidates, countering misinformation, upholding our party values, and community events like Big Rapids Pride and the Mecosta County Fair.  The gala will begin at 5 pm on May 4th at the Tullymore Golf Resort.  Guests will be welcomed with a cocktail hour where you can speak with fellow Democrats, find your seats, and enjoy music from Kelley Samuels. A plated dinner, auctions, and speeches from state leaders will follow the cocktail hour. Beyond the entertainment and fundraising, the gala provides an excellent opportunity for guests to connect and network with like-minded individuals. It's a chance to celebrate the MCDP's achievements and envision a brighter future for the community. Tickets must be purchased by April 28th   to   ensure the venue has enough time to prepare each dinner plate. The organizers anticipate a sold-out gala and look forward to welcoming guests for a memorable evening of fun, philanthropy, and community spirit.

Written By: Jeff Ostahowski I was just a kid, a Boy Scout, on my way to the National Jamboree at Valley Forge.  A few of us scouts from my town took the B & O railroad from Michigan to Washington D.C. for a couple of days and then on to Valley Forge.  I had just turned fourteen and it was the first time my family and I slept in different States as I was beginning to learn how incredibly big the world was. We stayed in a downtown hotel and after breakfast, the scout group walked to the Washington Monument.  We were given the option to climb to the top or stay on the ground with the leaders.  I think we all climbed the stairs, around 270 steps as I recall.  At the top, there were four tiny little windows, one in each direction.  I could see only air, as I wasn’t tall enough to look down to see the ground.  After a gratefully fast and easy descent, our group headed out past the Reflecting Pool.  Just a year earlier Martin Luther King Jr. gave his "I Had a Dream" speech right here at the Lincoln Memorial. This was the place I wanted to be.  Honest Abe was my hero.  For several years I had been fascinated with the Civil War; I even tried to write a Civil War novel.  I knew in my heart of hearts that Abraham Lincoln was a great man.   I turned the corner and there he was, the Great Man sitting in his great chair.  I dropped to my knees and then sat on the floor sobbing.  I cried my eyes out.  I had just walked past the “Whites Only” restrooms on the north side of the memorial.  I had seen my first “Whites Only” sign earlier that morning but I didn’t pay it any attention. It took a “Whites Only” sign at the right hand of Abraham Lincoln to get through to me.  It was so wrong on so many different levels.  It was evil in plain sight, and everyone was walking past it like it wasn’t even there.  But that was only if you were white, I’m sure if you weren’t white, you understood the evil pulsating from that sign.  I managed to compose myself and left the Memorial knowing that my great hero sat uncomfortably between segregated restrooms.  Not long after the National Jamboree, I quit the scouts, grew my hair Beatle long, and started listening to music on the radio and chasing girls.  I guess I became a real teenager.  It wasn’t until after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. that I thought about political things.  Towards the end of May, I called up a Democratic organizer in town and told him I wanted to volunteer on the Robert Kennedy campaign.  He said they were just starting to organize and they would call me when they were ready for canvassing.  On June 6 Robert Kennedy was assassinated.   A year later I was knocking on the door of our State Capitol seeking employment.         I was a Democrat, that was the only thing I knew about politics.  After more than fifty years, this is what I have come to know - as Democrats, we strive to act and support a great many things including but not limited to: 1) To not only believe in but act with respect for the dignity of all people.  2) To be inclusive in the participation in our political processes, even criminals after serving their sentence, should have the right to vote restored. 3)  In the policy tug of war between the ‘haves’ and the ‘have nots’, Democrats are almost always with the ‘have nots’. 4)  In the tug-of-policy war between higher profits and the environment, Democrats favor the environment at least 9 out of 10 times.  5) Democrats favor a graduated income tax with higher percentages of tax going to those who make more.  The top 1 percent of taxpayers who own more than 70% of our nation’s total wealth need to pay their fair share.  No more tax holidays for the super-rich.  6) Democrats support both a strong national defense and proper care and benefits for our service veterans.  7) Democrats support public education from birth to adulthood including resource programs for pregnant mothers, newborns, infants, pre-kindergarten development, and vocational-tech education.   I think you get the picture.  Democrats understand that government must play diverse multi-faceted roles for the significant benefit of our society.   Particularly over the next year, Mr. Lincoln would be comforted to know that Democrats will be working hard to ensure that “government of the people, by the people and for the people shall not perish from this earth.”

Our Most Fundamental Right: The Right to Vote There are many issues that are near and dear to the hearts of Democrats: climate change, health care, reproductive rights, sensible gun laws, affordable housing, economic equality, education, and the list goes on and on. Our ability to make changes related to these or any issue is contingent on one fundamental right, the right to vote.  The last decade has ushered in major attacks on voting rights. Efforts to rollback voter rights started gaining momentum in 2011. That year saw a record number of state legislatures passing voting restrictions including photo ID requirements, cuts to early voting, and restrictions to voter registration. On June 25, 2013, in Shelby County v. Holder, the Supreme Court eradicated Section 5 of the VRA which required federal approval for changes to election laws in jurisdictions with a history of racial discrimination.  Michigan legislators have been hard at work to bring the will of the people to fruition. Currently, residents in the state are automatically registered to vote when they obtain, update, or renew their driver’s license or state ID. The Michigan Legislature passed a bill in November that expands the automatic voter registration system to include individuals eligible for voter registration who applied for Medicaid coverage, were recently released from incarceration, or are a member of a recognized Indian Tribe. The Institute for Responsive Government estimates that 383,000 more individuals may be eligible to vote as a result of this legislation. Additionally, House Bill 4569 will allow 16 and 17 year olds to pre-register to vote once they turn 18. After the 2020 Presidential election, election officials in Michigan were intimidated and harassed by those unhappy with the election outcome. House Bill 4129 and Senate Bill 505 protect election workers by increasing criminal penalties for those who intimidate election officials. Michigan Governer Whitmer signed these bills into law on November 30, 2023. Since the birth of our democracy Americans have been fighting for our right to vote. This fight must never stop. All our other rights depend on this most fundamental right.You can continue this fight by: Staying informed : Keep an eye on what is happening in our state and our nation regarding voting rights. You can keep up to date via the Michigan Voting Rights Lab: https://tracker.votingrightslab.org/states/michigan Let your representatives know where you stand:  The American Association of University Women (AAUW) have made it easy to urge our elected representatives to support the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act: https://www.aauw.org/act/two-minute-activist/voting-rights/ Get involved : The Mecosta County Democratic Party has identified voter rights as a top priority. You can contact us at mecostademocrats@gmail.com .  Volunteer : Voters Not Politicians needs volunteers and has a number of volunteer positions. The Dial for Democracy program is one of the easiest ways to volunteer. Volunteers receive text alerts to contact legislators regarding decisions affecting Michigan’s democracy. There is no specific time commitment: https://votersnotpoliticians.com/volunteer/   Vote : The reason the right to vote is so crucial is because it is our greatest weapon in the fight for all of our rights. Never take it for granted. On December 1, 2023, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson took an important step for voting rights. With Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II out of state, the Secretary of State signed HB 4570 into law. In 2020, Benson provided a link to the absentee ballot application on the Michigan Secretary of State website. At the time there was neither a law permitting or prohibiting her action. Now there is a law protecting the link’s existence. Transportation and accessibility barriers have long prohibited many people from voting. This new law makes voting accessible for all Michigan voters. Jocelyn Benson is slated to be this year’s keynote speaker at MCDP’s Woodbridge N. Ferris Dinner on May 4, 2024. Sources: https://www.mlive.com/politics/2023/09/early-voting-no-reason-absentee-is-illegal-11-michigan-republican-contend.html https://www.aclu.org/voting-rights-act-major-dates-history https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/7-years-gutting-voting-rights https://campaignlegal.org/press-releases/michigan-voting-rights-act-introduced-latest-wave-state-vras https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/michigan-legislature-passes-bill-expanding-automatic-voter-registration-to-formerly-incarcerated-people/ https://michiganadvance.com/2023/11/14/lawmakers-close-out-year-with-election-reforms-like-16-and-17-year-old-voting-pre-registration/ https://michiganadvance.com/blog/as-acting-governor-benson-signs-bill-codifying-online-absentee-ballot-requests/ https://www.michigan.gov/whitmer/news/press-releases/2023/11/30/whitmer-signs-election-bills-to-ensure-every-vote-can-be-cast-and-counted#:~:text=%E2%80%93%20Today%2C%20Governor%20Gretchen%20Whitmer%20signed,access%20to%20the%20ballot%20box .

My friends, Election Day 2022 has come and gone, and while votes are still being counted across the country, I wanted to offer a brief note of optimism and thanks. Statewide, Democrats held onto many of the important positions we were so concerned about in the weeks leading up to November 8. These victories were headlined by a massive win by Gretchen Whitmer over her opponent, Tudor Dixon. We also saw Proposition 3 pass by a healthy margin, a victory that so many of us worked hard to bring to pass. We should be proud of these accomplishments. On the local level, while many of our Democratic candidates did not get the victory we were hoping for, we applaud their efforts and are proud of their work in reaching and connecting with local Democrats. We still have a great deal of work to do to support candidates like these moving forward. I take solace in the fact that of the four counties in the MI 100th district, Mecosta gave Nate Bailey the highest percentage of the vote. There is something brewing here. Something we can build on moving forward. Thank you so much to all the people who volunteered time, energy, and financial support to the Democratic Party. I also cannot express enough my admiration for those brave souls willing to put their names on ballots to try and stand up for all of us. Take a deep breath. Now, the work toward 2024 begins. Know that we can do this together. Be happy, JSG John Scott Gray Chair, MCDP

Thursday, August 18, 2022 Courtesy of The Michigan Democratic Party LANSING — Today, the Michigan Democratic Party hosted a roundtable with Michigan seniors to celebrate President Biden signing the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 this week.

Constituents of GOP Congressmen John Moolenaar (MI-02), Bill Huizenga (MI-04), and Tim Walberg (MI-05) also called out their representatives for voting against this bill which will help lower health care costs for seniors relying on Medicare. Speakers highlighted how this new law—championed by every Michigan Democrat without the support of any Michigan Republicans—will cap out-of-pocket costs at $2,000 per year, cap insulin at $35/month, and protect Medicare for future generations. T he online event can be viewed here. “This bill is a great help for people who use Medicare. We need congressmen that will support us, that will do what they can to support health care, not just in Michigan, but across the nation because that lowers costs for everyone,” said Barbara Hammon, a resident of Kalamazoo County and constituent of Rep. Huizenga. “I don’t think Bill Huizenga will be any help to us. Most Republicans like him seem more interested in helping Big Pharma than people like me or my grandchildren, that’s why I’ll be voting for Democrat Joseph Alfonso this November.” “Congress [in place] now, have been able to get things done that are going to benefit people not just today, but well into the future,” said John Helge, a resident of Manistee County and a constituent of Rep. Moolenaar. “I’m very excited about the ability for Medicare to negotiate on drug costs. Capping our drug costs at $2,000 is going to be a huge benefit for those of us who rely on Medicare. Meanwhile, John Moolenaar is doing nothing but voting the party line. Our representative in Washington isn’t listening to the people, doesn’t really connect with us, and is voting against all the best interests of the people in our district.” “I’m so pleased that Democrats, by themselves, managed to pass this bill through both houses of Congress for President Biden to sign it. After paying into Social Security and Medicare my whole life, it’s important to me that we keep these programs solid,” said Bryon Ennis resident of Jackson County and constituent of Rep. Walberg. “My wife and I would have our lives turned upside down if we had to suddenly pay some of the huge hospital bills that have been covered by Medicare. It is because of the votes like radical conservatives like Tim Walberg that the future of our [benefits] are uncertain. I would take great pleasure in seeing him sent into retirement.”

In the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, the Big Rapids Women’s March is planning to show its support for continued access to abortion care in the state of Michigan. From 12 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, July 23, 2022, the Rally For Our Rights will take place at Mitchell Creek Park in Big Rapids. Supporters of the movement to protect abortion rights are encouraged to gather at the park to make signs and demonstrate their support at the rally. Musicians and local resource providers also will be on site. With the Supreme Court’s move to give individual states the choice to legislate around abortion care, Michigan voters are already making moves to protect access to this form of reproductive healthcare. On July 13, canvassers submitted more than 750,000 petition signatures to state election officials in hopes of having Michigan residents vote in November 2022 on whether or not to continue to allow abortion in the state of Michigan. Election officials should announce their decision about whether to include this measure on the ballot by the end of August. If approved, Michigan voters will have the opportunity to vote to amend the state constitution; protecting residents’ rights to abortion care. This would avoid “triggering” Michigan’s existing 1931 law that would make all abortions a felony punishable by up to four years in prison. Earlier this year, before the Supreme Court’s decision, Planned Parenthood of Michigan and Dr. Sarah Wallett filed a lawsuit seeking to block enforcement of the 1931 law. In May, the Michigan Court of Claims granted a preliminary injunction in the suit, meaning the 1931 law will not go into effect until there is a decision in the lawsuit. This remains in place now. Additionally, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer already has signed an executive order limiting the extradition of people to or from Michigan if they're facing criminal charges for obtaining, providing, or assisting an abortion. , With the fate of abortion access in Michigan at stake, the Mecosta County Democrats encourage our members and supporters to join the Rally For Our Rights this Saturday at Mitchell Creek Park. For more information, visit the event page here .

LANSING — TODAY at 3:30 PM EDT, the Michigan Democratic Party will hold a virtual press conference with Attorney General Dana Nessel and rural community members to close out the “Defend Choice” Week of Action. As Republicans push to enforce Michigan’s 1931 abortion ban, rural Michiganders could face severe consequences from this outright abortion ban. Speakers will share how an abortion ban would impact remote areas of Michigan, condemn Michigan Republicans up and down the ballot for their attacks on abortion in the past few weeks, and highlight how integral it is that we re-elect Attorney General Dana Nessel and Democrats up and down the ballot to defend against Republicans relentless assault on reproductive rights. WHAT: AG Dana Nessel, rural Michiganders discuss what an abortion ban means for their communities WHEN: Tuesday, July 19th at 3:30 PM EDT WHO: Attorney General Dana Nessel State House Candidate Amanda Siggins (HD-101) Rural community members RSVP: Please RSVP here .

Courtesy of the Michigan Democratic Party Monday, June 27, 2022 Rep. Brenda Carter: “It was a well-orchestrated, well-coordinated plan by the Republican Party that got us here.” LANSING — Today, following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, Democratic State Representatives held a press conference on the steps of the State Capitol, blasting extremist Republicans for their dangerous, wildly unpopular anti-choice agenda that seeks to ban abortions without exception. Speakers emphasized that it was the extreme Republican Party who fought for this decision for decades, highlighted the Michigan Democrats up and down the ballot who are our last lines of defense against an outright abortion ban in our state, and outlined the stakes of the November elections in protecting abortion rights.
WATCH THE FULL PRESS CONFERENCE HERE “The five remaining Republican gubernatorial candidates: Ryan Kelley, Garrett Soldano, Kevin Rinke, Tudor Dixon, and Ralph Rebandt have all gleefully embraced the reversal of Roe v. Wade, the potential return of the 1931 ban, and forcing pregnancy on survivors of sexual assault. They don’t care about the health and safety of people who can give birth. They don’t care about reproductive health care access. They only care about their extreme, ultra MAGA agenda,” said Rep. Brenda Carter (D-Pontiac). “It was a well-orchestrated, well-coordinated plan by the Republican Party that got us here. This November, we’ll have the option to vote for Governor Whitmer, who sides with the 67 percent of Michiganders who believe Roe v Wade should have remained the law of the land or an extremist Republican who wants to ban abortion with no exceptions.” “I want to be crystal clear about this: We cannot fall for this line that Republicans are being moderate about this while they snatch bodily autonomy away from the people of this state,” said Rep. Laurie Pohutsky (D-Livonia). “Michigan Republicans have turned down every opportunity to prevent people from getting arrested [for receiving abortions]. If they were going to fix this, they would have by now. Instead, they’re intervening in lawsuits so they can protect this 1931 law. I want everyone to understand that Michigan Democrats are doing everything we can in the Capitol with legislation, in the courts with these lawsuits, and in the streets with petitions to save abortion access. But we can’t do it without the help of voters.”

“A majority of Americans believed Roe should have been upheld before it was struck down last week by a Supreme Court that is veering dangerously toward illegitimacy,” said Rep. Christine Morse (D-Kalamazoo). “We cannot allow a minority of people to restrict our free will! Michigan Democrats are the last line of defense against attacks against our reproductive rights that would take us back to 1931. It is way past time to vote like our lives depend on it, this next vote is for a generation of Michiganders to come.”

Important Dates and Filing Deadlines These dates are taken from the 2022 Michigan Election Dates document released by the Secretary of State . April 19, 2022 at 4pm EST Nominations By 4:00 p.m., April 19, 2022 Candidates for partisan and nonpartisan offices (other than judicial candidates) file nominating petitions (or fees if applicable) and Affidavit of Identity for the August primary. Withdrawal deadline elapses at 4:00 p.m. on April 22. (168.133 and 163 for federal and state- level offices; assorted other statutes for local offices). May 3, 2022 at 4pm EST County Convention Delegate By 4:00 p.m., May 3, 2022 Candidates for county convention delegate (precinct delegate) file an Affidavit of Identity for the August primary. Filing submitted to the clerk of the county in which candidate resides. Withdrawal deadline elapses at 4:00 p.m. on May 6. (168.624, 624a) July 18, 2022 Primary registration other than in-person July 18, 2022 Last day to register in any manner other than in-person with the local clerk for the August primary. (168.497) July 19, 2022 through August 2, 2022 at 8pm EST Registration July 19 through 8:00 p.m. August 2, 2022 In-person registration with local clerk with proof of residency. (168.497) **By 4:00 p.m., July 26, 2022 Candidates for Local School Board and Community College Trustee file an Affidavit of Identity and a nonpartisan nominating petition. (A $100.00 nonrefundable fee may be filed in lieu of a petition.) Withdrawal deadline elapses at 4:00 p.m. on July 29. (168.303; 389.152) August 2, 2022 STATE PRIMARY ELECTION October 24, 2022 Last day to register in any manner other than in-person with the local clerk for the November general election. (168.497) November 8, 2022 STATE GENERAL ELECTION

Our New 2nd Congressional District Mecosta County citizens have been represented in the 4th Congressional District by John Moolenar since 2014. Before that, Dave Camp was the Congressman. Every 10 years congressional district lines are redrawn with new information from the Census Bureau. This past year new congressional districts were redrawn by the Independent Redistricting Commission, instead of by our state legislature as a result of the Voters Not Politicians ballot that 62% of Michigan voters said YES to in 2018. Hopefully these new districts are less partisan and “fairer”. Michigan has had 14 districts represented by 9 Republicans and 5 Democratic districts. The new census creates 13 congressional district. They are reported to be 6 Republican, 4 Democratic, and 3 toss-ups. Mecosta county is in a new congressional district that is one of the 6 heavily Republican districts, “ Repub +32” according to fivethirtyeight.com . What does this change mean for Mecosta County? Mecosta County is now in the new 2nd Congressional District. Our new district has changed geographically including more counties than before. Geographically it has dropped south and west taking us to Lake Michigan in the central Michigan area. The New District Maintains: Clare Gladwin Gratiot Isabella Mecosta Montcalm Osceola Wexford (most of it) Counties Gained: Barry Eaton (Northeast corner) Ionia Kent (Northeast corner) Lake Manistee Mason Muskegon (most of it) Newaygo Oceana Counties Lost: Clinton Midland (most of it) Missaukee Ogemaw Oscoda Saginaw Shiawassee Wexford (Northern townships) Actions That You Can Take Attend the upcoming meetings of the Candidate Recruitment Committee (Outreach Committee) of the MCDP. Think about how we can interact with the other counties that make our new 2nd Congressional District. Who could we recruit? Share your ideas of how we can make something happen in our new Congressional District! Please do join us - and check back often to the https://www.mecostadems.org/ Submitted by Karen Turnbull

The Michigan Democratic Party, in collaboration with the DNC’s and ASDC’s Best Practices Institute, is excited to announce the launch of our 2022 State Party Campaign Bootcamp webinar training program! The State Party Campaign Bootcamp Program is a free two-day virtual training program with supplemental small-group coaching sessions to encourage community building and collaborative learning. This program seeks to support campaigns by ensuring that comprehensive training is free and accessible for Democrats working on campaigns across Michigan. Candidates will learn critical aspects of launching and running a successful campaign, hear from special guest speakers, and have the opportunity to hone in on subjects with individualized attention through additional coaching sessions with experts. This training is open to Democratic candidates, potential candidates, and campaign staff. Click Here to Register Saturday, February 26: State Party Campaign Bootcamp–Crafting Your Campaign 12:00 pm ET - 6:00 pm ET Sunday, February 27: State Party Campaign Bootcamp–External Engagement 12:00 pm ET - 6:00 pm ET Tuesday, March 1: Media Coaching Session 1: 7:00 pm ET/4:00 pm PT Session 2: 8:00 pm ET/5:00 pm PT Session 3: 9:00 pm ET/6:00 pm PT Session 4: 10:00 pm ET/7:00 pm PT Session 5: 11:00 pm ET/8:00 pm PT Thursday, March 3: Call Time Coaching Session 1: 7:00 pm ET/4:00 pm PT Session 2: 8:00 pm ET/5:00 pm PT Session 3: 9:00 pm ET/6:00 pm PT Session 4: 10:00 pm ET/7:00 pm PT Session 5: 11:00 pm ET/8:00 pm PT CLICK HERE to submit your registration for the 2022 State Party Campaign Bootcamp Program! Registration will close on February 24th.

The tragic shooting at Oxford High School on November 30, 2021, is an example of the impact of gun violence that hits especially close to home. Mass shootings have become so common that they are hardly noticed until it happens in our state. Every year, 38,000 Americans die from gun violence. That’s an average of 100 deaths per day. In Michigan, 1,212 people die from guns each year. The largest number of those are suicides, at 60%, followed by homicides at 38%. The state statistics are consistent with national statistics. The United States accounts for 4% of the global population, but 35% of global firearm suicides. Gun violence is the second leading cause of death of citizens under the age of 18. Americans are also 25% more likely to be killed in a gun homicide than people in other high-income countries. Gun violence disproportionately affects communities of color. Black men make up 52% of all gun homicide victims and less than 7% of the total U.S. population. Domestic violence victims are five times more likely to be killed if their abuser has access to a firearm, making women in the U.S. twice as likely to be killed than women in other high-income countries. These statistics are alarming, but little is being accomplished to address gun violence in Michigan and across the country. The Michigan Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence has a partial list of bills that seek to reduce gun violence as well as a list of bills that may increase gun violence. That list can be found here: https://michigancoalitiontopreventgunviolence.org/advocacyaction/legislative-action/ Recent bills addressing magazine capacity include Michigan Senate bills 785 and 786 and Michigan House bills 5627 and 5628. These bills prohibit selling or possessing a magazine capable of holding more than 10 rounds of ammunition with some exceptions. It is a rare case that those who use guns for self-defense, target practice, or hunting would require more than 10 rounds of ammunition. These bills do not challenge the 2nd amendment of the U.S. constitution but are intended to prevent more mass shootings. No law will fully address the hatred that leads to gun violence, but common-sense gun laws will make it harder for people to turn to gun violence as their solution. The Michigan Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence has a template letter that you can send to your representatives. https://michigancoalitiontopreventgunviolence.org/advocacyaction/letter-templates/ We do not have to watch in horror as gun violence ruins more lives. The problem seems so unsurmountable but telling our Michigan legislators exactly what we need them to do is within our power. If you want to do more, consider getting involved with MCDP. We are in need of volunteers for all of our action committees. If you are interested, contact us at mecostademocrats@gmail.com and learn more. You can make a difference. Sources for Statistics: https://www.gunviolencearchive.org/ https://giffords.org/the-issue/ https://www.gvpedia.org/