Newsletter: April 4, 2022

Sips & Tips: Tonight!

Are you interested in running for office? Please join us for Sips & Tips, a free event at Grainworks Brewing in West Chester next Wednesday, April 6 at 6:30pm. 

Our special guest is former State Rep. Connie Pillich, one of the most effective candidates greater Cincinnati has ever known. 

This is a great chance to meet others who are interested in running for office in the future and learn from a candidate who flipped a Republican district just down the road from us. 

Please submit your RSVP here so that we can reserve your spot: https://forms.gle/ZFNs1N1wiA8Sski76 

Join us at Grainworks Brewing Company (7790 Service Center Dr, West Chester) to sip on a beer, cider, or wine. Light snacks will be provided. We look forward to seeing you there!!

BCDP Meeting: Thursday at 6 p.m.

The next BCDP Executive Committee meeting is at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 7 at Oxford Lane Library, 441 S. Locust St, Oxford, OH 45056. This meeting will be the second in-person meeting since early in 2020. We’ll see you there.

Spring Gala: Order Tickets Today!

Tickets are going quickly for the 2022 BCDP Spring Gala. RSVP today to reserve tickets for this event, Saturday, April 23rd at The Oscar Event Center. The private reception begins at 5:30 p.m. with the dinner and awards program starting at 6:30 p.m.

Speakers include Democratic candidates for govern Nan Whaley and John Cranley. In addition, all statewide Democratic candidates will be there too. You won’t want to miss this opportunity to hear from statewide and local candidates about their platforms, and why you should support them in the upcoming elections.

At the Gala, you can also socialize with other local Democrats, and participate in our Silent Auction and Wine Pull. And this year we are raffling off a vacation valued at $1,500 for just $25/ticket or 5 tickets for $100. Sign up by March 23 to receive the early bird rate of $75/ticket, or choose one of our sponsorship levels that include the VIP reception prior to the Gala. Here is the link to register online:  https://secure.actblue.com/donate/bcdp2022gala

Don’t miss out on the ‘Silent Auction’, the very popular ‘Wine Pull’, and the ‘Amazing Vacation Package. The ‘Vacation Package’ is credit points from RCI, a time-sharing service to schedule a dream getting to any RCI location in the world. For more additional details, contact Sue Fuson at 513-258-8911. 

Gala wine pull and silent auction items needed

Items are needed for the fundraising portion of the Spring Gala coming up in a little over two weeks. The money raised goes to supporting our local candidates and their campaigns leading up to the November election. The committee in charge of organizing the Spring Gala says there is still a need for donated items.

Here’s how you can support the event and your fellow Democrats.

  • Donate wine for the wine pull (bottles worth $10 or more)
  • Donate items for the silent auction or
  • Donate money so we can do the shopping for you

You may drop off the wine, auction items, or donated cash at the BCDP HQ by Thursday, April 14. The HQ office is open Monday through Thursday between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. at 224 Park Avenue in Hamilton. 

Precinct Chair / Central Committee Workshop

All Central Committee members, both newly appointed or long standing veterans of precinct leadership are asked to sign up for one of these Spring workshops. As leaders at the precinct level, it is important that we are all on the same page. It’s time to lead.

The voter turnout for the November general election is going to be extremely import. How we are able to activate our voters will be pivotal to the choice of Republican supermajorities and more balanced local and state government.   

Please take a moment to RSVP to reserve your spot for the Spring workshop for precinct chairs (also called central committee members). We strongly encourage each of you to attend one session, even if you are a returning precinct chair. This is a midterm election year and we will cover not only your role in your precinct but what to expect this campaign cycle. 

  • Monday, April 11, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Virtual via Zoom
  • Wednesday, April 13, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. In person
  • Monday, May 9, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. In person

Also, please mark your calendars for the important events included in the graphic below. Be sure you receive BCDP newsletters as more info will follow soon!

Let Kathy Wyenandt know if you have any questions.  RSVP for the workshop here –> https://forms.gle/6CNeGgxEjQjkyb5x8

Petition to censure Lakota school board member gains signatures

Michael D. Clark, Journal-News

Apr. 5—An online petition urging members of the Lakota Local Schools Board of Education to take the rare action of censuring a colleague has seen its signature tally rise since being posted last week.

The petition, which seeks signatures of those wanting to see board member Darbi Boddy censored, is reporting more than 400 online signees as of Monday afternoon. It cites Boddy’s sharp criticism of Lakota Superintendent Matt Miller among the reasons for seeking censure.

Boddy, however, criticized the censure petition, describing it as non-representative of the majority of Lakota school parents and residents, many of whom, she claims, support her politically conservative agenda and her actions since joining the board in January. READ MORE

Ohio AG, governor announce $10M  for solving gun crime

Governor justifies law making guns easier to get

BY: MARTY SCHLADEN – APRIL 4, 2022 3:45 AM

In the face of spiking gun crime, the state’s top two officials on Thursday announced a $10.5 million investment in technology and personnel to trace fugitive guns across jurisdictions.

As he announced the program, Gov. Mike DeWine denied that when he signed a bill earlier this month eliminating gun-permitting requirements, he might have helped to make the problem of gun violence worse.

DeWine gathered with Attorney General Dave Yost and top state and local police brass at Bureau of Criminal Investigation Headquarters in London to announce enhancements to the state’s participation in the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network, or NIBIN. READ MORE

Commentary

New DeWine ad fails to show full picture of candidate’s history

MARILOU JOHANEK

April 5, 2022

“He’s not afraid of the tough fights.”

The opening line in the first statewide TV commercial from Gov. Mike DeWine’s re-election campaign describes someone Ohio voters don’t know.

It pictures a governor looking stern and striding resolutely with law enforcement. Heavy on campy cliché but laughably bogus. DeWine is no principled warrior who “fights and wins” for Ohioans, as the ad intones.

He’s a calculating pol who doesn’t hesitate to run from a fight (on our behalf) if it’s politically expedient for him to do so. DeWine has repeatedly shown his willingness to capitulate on battles in the public interests – from constitutional districts and women’s rights to incorruptible energy legislation – to keep his dream job. Perhaps the most glaring example of his abject surrender to self-preservation was the permitless carry bill DeWine signed into law last month. READ MORE

Capital Chatter

Compiled from Ohio Capital Journal &  Capitol Letter

Contempt: Gov. Mike DeWine, Secretary of State Frank LaRose and other Republicans on the Ohio Redistricting Commission said they shouldn’t be held in contempt of court for abandoning an outside mapmaker’s proposal for legislative districts, instead slightly altering their most recent unconstitutional plan, Andrew Tobias reports. DeWine said in a filing that the Republicans were left with “no choice at all” given the time constraints to pass a map, which was supposed to be finished last September before multiple iterations were considered unconstitutional gerrymanders by the GOP.

Signs, signs, everywhere there’s signs: J.B. Hadden, the former campaign treasurer for Mike DeWine from 2009 to 2015, warned the governor in 2019 that former FirstEnergy lobbyist Sam Randazzo had questionable ties to the company, Ohio Capital Journal’s Jake Zuckerman reports. Hadden delivered a dossier to former DeWine chief of staff Laurel Dawson, though Randazzo still became the state’s top utility regulator before being raided by the FBI and implicated in receiving bribes from FirstEnergy.

Play it again: Democrats are clinging onto the idea of Ohio as a swing state, despite recent history showing otherwise, by avoiding talking about culture war issues and instead trying — once again — to focus on economic populism, CNN’s Eric Bradner writes. Talking about jobs and emulating the “Sherrod Brown model” is much of the strategy.

Support Ukraine

Our friends from the Cincinnati AFL-CIO expressed their concern and support of the citizens of Ukraine in their last newsletter. They suggested possible ways their members could show their support. Below you’ll find links and suggestions about how to provide assistance to Ukraine as it battles to defend democracy on the battlefront.

Where to Donate:

International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) Ukraine Fund – People in Ukraine are in grave danger of physical harm, families have fled their homes seeking refuge in neighboring countries, and others are sheltering from bombs falling in major cities. The ITUC’s Ukrainian member organizations FPU and KVPU are providing support to families who desperately need assistance with: food and water provisions, medical supplies, hygiene items. You can help Ukraine’s workers and their families by donating to the ITUC’s emergency fundraising appeal. All funds donated will be passed on to our two member organizations to support their humanitarian work in Ukraine.

People in Need Ukraine – People in Need Ukraine provides a wide variety of emergency services, recently they sent the first convoy of trucks loaded with humanitarian aid as requested by reps of Lviv in western Ukraine that included sleeping bags, mats, and other goods either for free or at a great discount. They also provided aid to internally displaced people, such as aid, shelter, insulated tents for displaced children, and basic needs, e.g. food, water, hygiene products. They also receive donations from USAID, WFP, EU and other legit donors.  

Ukrainian Red Cross Society – They are part of the Red Cross and help civilians with emergency assistance. The link also provides information on donations and usage of donations. (Please note that the English website takes a bit longer to load).

Caritas Ukraine – Began their work in 1992 after Ukraine declared independence providing humanitarian assistance. Currently providing support to internally-displaced people on the move with essential items, such as food, drinking water and personal hygiene kits and shelter, safe transport for displaced families. Click on link to learn more and make the donation. 

Razom for Ukraine – New York City-based organization that organizes the provision of humanitarian aid and conducts informational work in the US. They are a volunteer-run organization with a low overhead similar to United Help Ukraine, but in my view more able to handle larger sums of money. They have been active since Maidan and have raised $1.05 million in the last two weeks.

United Help Ukraine 

Other Actions:

  • Divest public pension fund assets from investments with ties to Russia.
  • Educate your members about Ukraine and the work of the labor movement
  • Pass a local resolution of solidarity
  • Participate in local prayer vigils

Are you planning an event that should be in our Calendar of Events?  Simply email it to Calendar at butlercountydems@gmail.com.  Please include the Who, What, When, Where, Why and name and phone number for more information.  Thanks.

Tuesday, April 5 – Early Voting begins

Thursday, April 7 – BCDP Executive Committee Meeting at 6 p.m. at the Oxford Lane Public Library, 441 South Locust St., Oxford, OH 45056. This meeting is in-person.

April 11 or 13, or May 9, 2022 – Central Committee/Precinct Chair Training Workshop. RSVP for the workshop here –> https://forms.gle/6CNeGgxEjQjkyb5x8

Saturday, April 23, 2022 – BCDP Gala at the Oscar Event Center, 5440 Dixie Hwy, Fairfield, OH 45014. Private reception at 5:30, dinner and program at 6:30 p.m. RSVP Today!

Saturday, April 30, 2022 – Absentee Ballot/Vote By Mail Application deadline

Tuesday, May 3, 2022 – Absentee Ballot/Vote by Mail return deadline

Tuesday, May 3, 2022 – Ohio Primary Election Day

Friday, May 20, 2022 – Oxford Blue Cocktails details on location and time to be announced.

June 2, 2022 – BCDP Reorganization, Butler County Board of Elections building, 1803 Princeton Road, Suite 600, Hamilton, OH 45011 at 6 p.m.

BCDP Membership: Join, Renew, or Upgrade 

It takes your support for the Butler County Democratic Party to maintain an office and have the financial stability to be able to support Democratic candidates and issues.  Every January 1, the BCDP has to rebuild its financial support by asking Democrats and like-minded citizens who believe that Butler County is a better and safer place to live when there is more than one party rule. Please Join, Renew, or Upgrade your yearly BCDP dues-paying membership.

Support the efforts of the BCDP. Every dollar goes to elect local, state, and national candidates in this pivotal next year. Zero goes to pay salaries of our all-volunteer officers and staff.

Click on the membership links to see how to contribute. Whether you choose a recurring monthly or a one-time-only contribution, you’ll know your gift is helping to restore and promote democracy and “keep the lights” on locally.

BCDP MEMBERSHIP

You can go to this link and support your Butler County Democratic Party with a dues-paying membership.  An easy to do sustaining donation each month helps with a predictable amount of support.  Or you can make a single yearly donation. For those who prefer to write a check, make it payable to the Butler County Democratic Party and mail it to the BCDP at 224-226 Park Avenue, Hamilton, OH 45013.  If you have nothing to spare, not to worry, membership and a voice in this party are free. 

“We need your support.”

If you can support your BCDP, give what you can to help promote the values we believe in like equal and fair pay, quality public education, affordable health care, economic security, building a strong middle class, and protecting the environment. We believe that people of color, the LGBTQ+ community, and those with disabilities need to be given equal rights and an equal voice.


Thank you for your continued dedication and support for the Democratic Party and the issues and values we hold dear.  You can learn more about how to get involved by visiting our website at butlercountydems.org or by following us on Facebook and Twitter @ButlerDemocrats.

Sincerely,

Brian Hester

Chair, Butler County Democratic Party