Sonoma County Democratic Party

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Contact: Stephen Gale, Chair
Sonoma County Democratic Party
(707) 537-9348

Unprecedented opportunity for grassroots influence on the national Democratic platform
Meetings will be held July 19th-26th throughout Sonoma County to collect input

SANTA ROSA - In an unprecedented move, the Democratic National Committee will be seeking grassroots input on its national platform. At least ten meetings will be held throughout Sonoma County between July 19th through July 26th, offering local residents the chance to weigh in on what issues the national Democratic Party should be addressing. All are welcome to participate.

The opinions collected will inform the platform formally adopted just weeks later by party delegates at the Democratic National Convention, and a few participants from the platform meetings may be invited to offer testimony there.

These platform meetings are just one of the many endeavors that Democrats are undertaking in preparation for election season. Immediately following the National Convention in mid-August, the Sonoma County Democratic Party will open a campaign headquarters at Second and D Streets in Downtown Santa Rosa. The headquarters will not only provide space for the Obama for America campaign, but will also serve as a hub for precinct organizing to place volunteers on the ground in presidential “swing” states and Congressional districts, and support local endorsed Democratic candidates. This headquarters is slated to open mid-August and will remain in use through the November election.

To spearhead these efforts, the Sonoma County Democratic Party has elected a new leadership team. “The excitement being generated by this year’s election is more than I have seen in decades – whether you look at longtime party activists or first-time voters. Our local party will help ensure that this energy translates into real victories for Democratic candidates in November,” says Stephen Gale, newly elected Chair of the Sonoma County Democratic Party. The new leadership team also includes Nick Caston as 1st Vice-Chair and Margaret Fishman as 2nd Vice-Chair.

Individuals wishing to attend the Democratic platform meetings should sign-up at: http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/listening

The locations and times of the Sonoma County meetings are:

Saturday, July 19 at 10:30 AM
Windsor Library
9291 Old Redwood Hwy., Bldg 100, Windsor
(bring a brown bag lunch)
Host: Linda McCabe, 486-5650

Saturday, July 19 at 10:30 AM
Sebastopol Senior Center
167 N. High Street, Sebastopol
Hosts: Deborah Dobish, 823-8836 and Kathleen Shaffer

Sunday, July 20 at 11:00 AM
Home of Carole Peccorini
18398 Riverside Drive, Sonoma
Host: Carole Peccorini

Sunday, July 20 at 2:00 PM
Lieb Senior Apartment Community Room
210 Douglas St, Petaluma
Host: Peggy Irvin, 774-1452

Sunday, July 20 at 4:00 PM
SEIU Local 1021
600 B Street, Santa Rosa
Host: Maria Peluso, Sonoma County Democratic Party Issues & Legislation Chair, 293-2858

Wednesday, July 23 at 7:00 PM
Fatima's home in Petaluma
Host: Fatima Lassar, 762-5057
Limited to 15 People

Saturday, July 26 at 1:00 PM
Yulupa Cohousing
1350 Yulupa Ave, Santa Rosa
Host: Sky Nelson, 217-8595

Saturday, July 26 at 2:00 PM
North Light Books and Cafe
550 E. Cotati Avenue, Cotati
Host: Skip Robinson

Saturday, July 26 at 5:00 PM
Coffee Catz in Gravenstein Station
6761 Sebastopol Ave, Sebastopol
Host: Richie Partington, 293-0012