Locally and nationally, there are concerted efforts to attack and undermine our Democratic values like racial justice, free and fair elections, public health during a pandemic, and the value of public education.

It will take all of us with our shoulder at the wheel to uphold and promote the systems that support these values and counteract the attacks against them.

NOW is the time when we lay the groundwork for the 2022 and 2024 elections – locally, state-wide, and nationally. We want you at the table with us to help create and enact the vision for the road ahead for the Essex Democrats.

Democracy begins locally. Democracy begins here.

Vermont law requires political parties to reorganize in every odd-numbered year by electing members at town caucuses. Then sending representatives to county committees, which send representatives to the state committee meeting.
In Essex, as Democrats, we do this next Tuesday, September 21st.
When Vermonters register to vote, we do not have to declare a party affiliation. Only in Presidential primaries are we asked which party's ballot we want. While many Vermonters value their independence and prefer not to be affiliated officially with a political party, there are good reasons to align with a party that represents your values. 1) Your voice is important. A political party is nothing more than the people who affiliate with it. It gives an individual more influence over the implementation of those values. 2) In numbers there is strength and the ability to translate the commonly held values into policy. 3) It provides a network for people to come together across the state and across the nation to work toward those policy goals.
I believe that there are certain issues that are not up for debate: climate change, racial justice, voting rights, marriage equality, high-quality education, affordable health care for everyone, a livable minimum wage, and fair taxation. Across America it is Democrats who are fighting to combat climate change, standing up for marriage equality and gender equity, leading campaigns for racial equity and to end the criminalization of marijuana, protecting our rights in the workplace, in the voting booth and at home.
Are these the most important issues to you? We're planning, first, breakout rooms to discuss the issues that mean the most to you!
I invite you to join me, your Essex Democratic Representatives (Lori Hougton, Marybeth Redmond, Alyssa Black, and Karen Dolan), and other like-minded Essextonians on September 21 at 6:00 pm for our reorganization caucus. We will elect town party officers, including chair, vice-chair, secretary, treasurer, as well as delegates to the County Committee, which will hold its reorganization meeting in October.
We recommend that you join us via Zoom. Please sign up for a zoom link at https://tinyurl.com/TC7Z83BU. Feel email me (brian@shelden.org) or call me at (802) 879-7665 if that's easier. Please leave your name & email address in a voicemail, if I miss your call.

However, you can also attend in person, if you wear a mask. A small number of us will meet at Backyard Bingo, 20 Susie Wilson Road.

Thank you! And we hope to see you there!

–
Brian Shelden
Chair, Essex Democrats
brian@shelden.org
+1 (802) 879-7665
+1 (917) 922-1468 (C)

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