Spring 2008 Issues Forum

Saturday, May 10, 2008
9:30 AM - 4:30 PM

IATSE Local 80 Union Hall
2520 W. Olive Ave., Burbank

Lunch Provided

RSVP 213-382-4111 or ClarkLee@lacdp.org

Understanding Key Democratic Issues and the Message to Win

Winning the War by Ending the War
Lila Garrett - KPFK Pacifica Radio
Wade Sanders - Combat Veteran and Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy
Brad Parker - California Democratic Party Progressive Caucus
Tim Goodrich - Iraq Veterans Against the War

Perspectives on Education: Teachers, Parents and the Public
Joel Jordan - United Teachers Los Angeles
John McDowell - Los Angeles College Faculty Guild
Scott Folsom - California State PTA
Heidi von Szeliski - Heidi von Szeliski & Associates

A Fair and Just Society?
Rabbi Allen Freehling - Los Angeles City Human Relations Commission
Cynthia Buiza - Coalition for Humane Immigration Rights of Los Angeles
Elizabeth Badger - Minority Outreach Committee

What You Need to Know About Women and Voting - The Facts and the Fallacies
Lyn Shaw - California Democratic Party Women’s Caucus
Heidi von Szeliski - Heidi von Szeliski & Associates
Teri Holoman - The Holoman Group
Yvette Martinez - Progressive Strategy Partners

* Incumbent

LOS ANGELES COUNTY

Board of Supervisors
Supervisor, Dist. 2    Mark Ridley-Thomas

Superior Court Judges
Office No. 4    *  Ralph W. Dau
Office No. 69    Harvey A. Silberman
Office No. 72    Hilleri Grossman Merritt
Office No. 82    Cynthia Loo
Office No. 84    Lori-Ann C. Jones
Office No. 94    C. Edward Mack
Office No. 95    Patricia D. Nieto
Office No. 119   Jared D. Moses
Office No. 123   Kathleen Blanchard
Office No. 125   James N. Bianco
Office No. 154   Rocky L. Crabb

CITY ELECTIONS

City of Cerritos - Special Election
City Council    Mark Pulido

City of Torrance
City Council    *  Gene Barnett
City Council    Pat Furey
City Council    Tim Goodrich
City Council    Cliff Numark

Endorsements issued by the LACDP in local and municipal races become the official endorsements of the California Democratic Party.

Please visit the California Democratic Party website for Democratic Party endorsements in Congressional, State Senate, and State Assembly races by clicking on the following links:

Congressional Candidates

State Senate Candidates

State Assembly Candidates

Clinton Caucus Locations - CLICK HERE

Obama Caucus Locations - CLICK HERE

The Los Angeles County Democratic Party (LACDP) overwhelmingly voted to endorse State Senator Mark Ridley-Thomas for Los Angeles County Supervisor, District 2, in the June 3, 2008 election to replace retiring Supervisor Yvonne B. Burke.

“Senator Mark Ridley-Thomas is an extraordinary leader who will stand up for the people of the second supervisorial district. He has always been a tireless advocate for the community and its hard-working families and we expect no less of him as a Supervisor. He has the experience to tackle the key issues of the district - from preventing crime and gang violence to creating jobs to leading the fight for better healthcare. 

“Mark is a problem-solver and coalition-builder who will work hard and for a better quality of life for the residents of the second district.  The Democratic Party proudly and overwhelmingly endorsed Mark Ridley-Thomas for Los Angeles County Supervisor in District 2,” said Eric C. Bauman, Chair of the Los Angeles County Democratic Party.

Los Angeles County Supervisorial District 2 includes the cities of Carson, Compton, Culver City, Gardena, Hawthorne, Inglewood, Lawndale, portions of Los Angeles, and Lynwood.  It also includes portions of unincorporated Los Angeles County in South Los Angeles area.

CITY ELECTIONS
* Incumbent

City of Culver City
City Council Loni Anderson
City Council Christopher Armenta
City Council Andrew Weisman

City of El Segundo
City Council John Dragone Jr.

City of Lancaster
Mayor Arnold Rodio
City Council Denise Latanzi

City of Long Beach
City Council Dist. 6 * Dee Andrews

City of Santa Clarita
City Council Maria Gutzeit
City Council Diane Trautman

SCHOOL DISTRICTS
Long Beach Unified School District
Governing Board Dist. 4 Paul Crost

The Democratic National Convention will be held August 25-28, 2008 in Denver, Colorado (Pepsi Center). At present, there are 4,367 delegate slots nationally (this number will change). Each state must have a Delegation which is 50% female, 50% male or within one, and must have a Delegate Selection Plan that includes Affirmative Action Goals (quotas are prohibited).

If you would like to run to be one of California’s District-Level Delegates here are the simple steps to take to get started:

You must be a registered Democrat and know your congressional district.

Beginning on January 15, 2008, the District-level delegate candidate declaration form, known as “Form A,” will be available on the California Democratic Party website: Click here for more information about how to run to be a delegate..

You must file Form A in order to be run. When completing your form you must pledge your support for one presidential candidate. Should your chosen candidate drop out of the presidential race prior to the Form A filing deadline of April 2, 2008, you have the option to file a new Form A and pledge your support to one of the remaining candidates.

Additional information about how to run to be a delegate is available on the CDP website.

The California Delegation to the National Convention Democrats will include:

441 Delegates (221 females, 220 males)
62 Alternates (31 females, 31 males)
503 TOTAL (252 females, 251 males)

‘08 Affirmative Action Goals

African-American 16%
Asian/Pacific Islander 9%
Hispanic/Latino 26%
LGBT 12%
Native American 1%
Persons wih Disabilities 10%
Youth (Under 30) * 10%

66 Superdelegates [35 females, 31 males]

32 Democratic National Committee (DNC) Members, 33 Congressional Members and 1 Former DNC Chair.
(Actually, there are 36 Democrats in Congress (34 House, plus Boxer and Feinstein) but four of our Congressional Members are on the DNC and are counted as DNC Members.)

241 District-Level Delegates [121 females, 120 males]

There will be 3 to 7 delegates allocated in each of California’s 53 Congressional Districts (CDs).
In addition, 40 CDs will each get 1 Alternate. Delegates are allocated to each Presidential candidate who receives 15% or more of the vote in any CD on February 5, 2008. Caucuses, open only to registered Democrats, to choose district-level delegates will be held on April 13, 2008 by each such presidential campaign in each of California’s 53 CDs. [File 1/15/08 through 4/2/08]

48 Pledged Party Leaders / Elected Officials and PLEOs

A PLEO is a registered Democrat from the categories below, who is committed to a candidate (who receives at least 15% of the statewide vote). If Candidate A receives 50% of the statewide vote, then Candidate A gets 24 PLEO delegates. PLEOs are confirmed by a vote of the 241 district-level delegates at the May 18, 2008 statewide meeting. [File 2/11/08 through 4/23/08]

PLEO Categories [in order]:
– big-city mayors (population 250,000 or more) and statewide elected officials
– state legislative leaders and state legislators
– other state, county and local elected officials
– California Democratic Party leaders

81 At-Large (i.e. Statewide)

Any registered Democrat who is committed to a candidate can apply. At-Large delegates are confirmed the same way as the PLEOs, based on a candidate receiving at least 15% of the statewide vote. [File 2/11/08 through 4/23/08]

Delegate Confirmation Meeting

Delegation Meets [May 18, 2008 - City TBD]
The 241 District-Level delegates will meet and confirm the 134 statewide delegates (5 “uncommitted” Add-ons, 48 PLEOs & 81 At-Large), plus 22 statewide Alternates.

The Superdelegates (66 & the 5 Add-ons) & the 370 pledged to candidates = 441 total.

The Delegation will confirm 51 National Standing Committee members (17 Credentials, 17 Platform and 17 Rules). There are 161 slots on each committee nationally, with 158 full votes.

The Delegation Co-Chairs will also be confirmed.

FYI - Only registered Democrats can run or apply to be a delegate. Independents (registered to vote in CA as “Decline to State”) can vote in our presidential primary but can’t be delegates.

Democrats abolished the Winner-Take-All system nationwide after the 1972 Convention. Delegates are responsible for all their expenses - travel, hotels, etc.

The Los Angeles County Democratic Party presents a reception honoring Secretary of State Debra Bowen, L.A. County Supervisor Yvonne B. Burke, California Democratic Party Chair Art Torres, WGA member James Duff, and SEIU United Healthcare West President Sal Rosselli.

The cocktail and hor d’oevres reception begins at 6:30pm Thursday, February 28 at the Sheraton Universal Hotel, 333 Universal Hollywood Drive in Universal City.

Tickets to the reception are $100 each. Sponsorships are available. For sponsorship information or to make reservations, please call (213) 382-4111 or download this JFK-RSVP Form, faxing it completed to the LACDP FAX (213) 382-1278.

Status Quo Making You Sick? 

We wish you a year filled with health, happiness and success.