REMINDER: The terms of the officers (and the at-large Executive Committee members) of the Rappahannock County Democratic Committee will end with our biennial reorganization in January 2022. If you think you might like to serve as Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, or Treasurer, NOW is the time to step up. We’d love nothing more than to hand the reins over to a younger, more diverse slate. If you’re interested, simply email RCDC Chair Mary-Sherman Willis to get more information.
We missed seeing you at our last monthly get together,
cancelled for COVID19. Unfortunately, we will miss you again. Our scheduled
general meeting for April 11 is also cancelled to keep everyone distanced
and safe, following Governor Ralph Northam’s recommendations. They came not a
moment too soon. Sadly, our county reported its first confirmed case this week.
Distanced as we are, we have been busy and want to keep you informed
of events in the coming months.
County delegates to the district, state,
and national Democratic conventions have until April 9 at 5 pm to send
in their pre-filing forms to the DPVA (Democratic Party of Virginia).
Based on your votes on Super Tuesday,
the county was allotted two delegates for Joe Biden and one for Bernie Sanders.
Even though Bernie has dropped
out of the race, his delegates will go to the conventions!
To be a delegate to the 5thDistrict Convention on May 9 and State Convention on Jun 20, click HERE for the form.
To go on to the National Convention in August 17-20 in Milwaukee, click HERE to apply.
NOTE: Compared to other
counties in the CD5, Rappahannock has had a great turnout of delegate
applications! The DPVA has been accepting them all, for both candidates, to
cover the shortfall in other counties.
NOTE: Because of the
pandemic, the Party will decide, from moment to moment, whether to hold
in-person or virtual conventions. The 5th District Convention
will be held virtually. (Those details to come.)
To find out more about delegate selection and
duties, click HERE.
The 5th District Congressional
Primary is scheduled for June 9. We are urging you to vote
absentee by mail. It’s easy and complies with our distancing practices.
I’ve attached Registrar Kim McKiernan’s
instructions and the deadlines to apply for and send in absentee ballots for
the June Congressional Primary and November General elections.
NOTE: Mail-in voting is going to be crucial this year for getting
out the vote! We’re planning phone banks, texts blasts, and socially distanced
postcard parties to get the word out, and to help voters get their ballots in.
We’ll need your help.
NOTE: We have four terrific candidates to run against Denver
Riggleman in November: RD Huffstetler, John Lesinski, Claire Russo, and Cameron
Webb. Instead of live forums to let voters meet the candidates, we’re
coordinating with other 5th District committees to hold virtual
forums in our localities. Ours is tentatively scheduled for May 12 at 6 pm, to
be moderated by former candidate Leslie Cockburn. (Details to come.)
RCDC fundraising has become one of the
casualties of COVID19. Our April 4 Blue State Blue Grass Brunch and auction
were cancelled. The Yard Sale in August may be too. While our expenses will go
down, our income will too. As the season progresses, we’ll need to buy yard and
highway signs, and campaign ads. We appreciate any donations you’re able to
make along the way.
We want to thank everyone for your work and support, for
stepping up even as our world is upended by this invisible threat wreaking such
havoc to ourselves and our democracy. Thanks in particular to Ron Goodman,
Tommy Bruce, Larry Wohlers, and Rachel Taylor for representing us as delegates
to the State Convention (and beyond!).
Please send your questions and comments at maryswillis@me.com. We want to hear from
you! Keep up with our news at www.RappDems.org
and on our Facebook page.
Stay safe, stay engaged, and let us bring the light of
Democratic competence and compassion into this dark time.
In the altered reality of COVID-19, the Democratic election picture is coming into focus! To get either Joe Biden or Bernie Sanders to the White House, Democrats have to nominate one or the other. Here are the steps ahead for us in Virginia:
First, we Rapp Dems have to our select delegates to represent either Bernie Sanders or Joe Biden to ultimately go to the National Democratic Convention. Rapp has been allocated one Biden delegate and one Biden alternate delegate (to fill in if needed), and one Bernie delegate. Now we have to pick those delegates.
In normal times, Rapp Dems step up to become delegates and we’d hold a caucus at the Library to elect them them. Because of restrictions brought on by COVID-19, this year we’ll hold a virtual caucus.
Here’s what you need to do:
If you want to be a delegate or alternate for Bernie or Biden, submit this pre-filing form to the Democratic Committee of Virginia by April 9. You’ll need to pledge to one candidate.
To participate in picking the delegates (and we hope EVERYONE will!), submit this form to the Democratic Committee by April 9.
After April 9, the DPVA will let us know who has applied to be a delegate and who wants to participate in selecting delegates.
Then on April 20 we will hold our virtual caucus. All registered participants will receive an emailed ballot, which they will email back to us. We then notify the winners and send our results back to the DPVA.
On May 9 is the 5th Congressional District Convention to whittle down the local delegates to those who will go to the State Convention. This will also be held virtually. (Details to come.)
June 9 is the State Convention, where delegates will be picked to go to the National Convention. Chances are good that we’ll have to find a way to hold a virtual convention.
July 13-16 is the National Convention.
The DPVA and DNC are working hard to make the nominating process safe, inclusive, and transparent. The situation is still fluid, but now is the time to get involved!
Saturday January 11 2020 was the RCDC’s first meeting of 2020, and our Biennial Reorganization Caucus. Doors opened at 9 am and over 50 people walked through and joined or renewed their membership for 2020/2021. We had a visit from two of our Democratic candidates for U.S. Congress in the 5th District, Dr. Cameron Webb and Rappahannock resident John Lesinski. Thank you all for an enthusiastic start to the year!
Our newly elected or re-elected Officers are:
Mary-Sherman Willis, Chair Ross O’Donoghue, Vice Chair Ken Edwards, Secretary Bruce Sloane, Treasurer
See our Calendar of Events for 2020—a crucial year to get involved! Come to our monthly meetings on the second Saturday of every month! Get ready to knock on doors, attend a postcard party, make phone calls, get out the vote and ELECT DEMOCRATS! By the way, absentee voting for the March 3 Democratic Presidential Primary begins on Thursday January 16, 2020.
WE NEED YOU!
It’s not too late to become an active member. Print out this form and mail it to RCDC, PO Box 277, Washington VA 22747
Come affirm your biennial membership to the RCDC at the Washington Town Hall (485 Gay Street, Washington VA) on January 11, 2020, at 9 a.m.!
Doors will open at 9:00 a.m. and close at 10.00 a.m. We will also be electing the Chair, Vice-chair, Secretary, and Treasurer. Business concludes by 10:45 a.m. We will adjourn and immediately reconvene for our first meeting of 2020! Dr. Cameron Webb, candidate for Democratic nominee for Virginia’s 5th Congressional District, will be the speaker.
Dr. Cameron Webb
Download the membership form (CLICK HERE to Download the form), print, and fill it out to bring with you, or mail it to RCDC, P.O. Box 277, Washington VA 22747. (The form must arrive by 5 pm on 1/10/2020.). You can also request a form be mailed to you (CLICK HERE to email RCDC Chair, Mary-Sherman Willis) Forms will also be available at the meeting.
