THANKS TO OUR DEM CANDIDATES FOR RUNNING

As the spouse of a Democratic candidate who ran during the past two cycles, I know about the incredible sacrifices which the candidate and their family makes in order to run a campaign for public office. On top of that, some of these elected positions aren’t even paid positions! To that end, we need to give thanks to all of the great individuals running for office who want to make a real difference in our community. Starting with our Democratic School Board Candidates whom we heard during our August meeting – thanks to:

Kerry Baker & Tony Pantera for Paradise Valley Unified School District
Craig Beckman & Stephanie Simacek for Deer Valley Unified School District
Kyle Clayton & Tamillia Valenzuela for Washington Elementary School District
Patty Kennedy & Paul Ulan for Glendale Union High School District

At the community college level:

Kelli Butler for Maricopa County Community College District, At large

Thanks to Kris Mayes and Julie Gunnigle running for AZ Attorney General and Maricopa County Attorney, respectively. These two candidates understand what is at stake in AZ with the overturning of Roe v Wade.

Of course, thanks to Representative Judy Schwiebert who is running for re-election and AZ Senate candidate Jeanne Casteen.

There are many other fine Democrats who are running for other offices. It’s important for each of us to talk to our neighbors and let them know about all of these awesome candidates.

And, when you see one of our Democratic candidates, tell the “thanks” for their sacrifices and hard work to make AZ an even better place to live.

LD2's SINGLE SHOT POSTCARD HELP

We are starting to amass a list of folks who want to help out with affixing postage and labels to our single shot postcards. The expectation is that we will have them back from the printer towards the latter half of August and will need to strategically mail them out towards the end of September. Perhaps you can arrange a postcard party with your Democratic neighbors to help us with this endeavor? We are projecting to have 20,000 postcards. Please email us at chair@azld2dems.org if you want to help.

LD2's NEW YOUTUBE CHANNEL

Have you seen our new YouTube channel for LD2? Subscribe to it so that we can make more content.

YOUTUBE

We use it to review the “single shot” political strategy in very basic terms to win the State House for LD2. We explain to voters to “throw away” their second vote to help increase the chances of getting our candidate elected. We explained in more depth the strategy in last week’s edition of the newsletter. This time, visit our YouTube channel and tell your friends about it. It would be awesome to increase the number of subscribers so that we can add more content.

HELPING OUR LD2 CANDIDATES CORNER

Candidate yard signs will be available at the LD meetings and other on-site events. Want to make phone calls, write postcards, or help with canvassing?

Please contact our LD2 Campaign Organizer, Taylor Nelson, who will be able to plug you into the right opportunity where you can get involved; she can be reached at 515-822-4022 or tnelson@azdem.org.

Special highlight of upcoming events:

08/20 – Canvass with special guest Senator Martin Quezada from 9:30am-noon, meet at Elevate Coffee, 2530 W Happy Valley Rd, Suite 1273, talk with persuadable voters
08/20 – Phone Bank from 3-5pm
08/21 – Evening Canvass from 4:30-6:30pm at Elevate Coffee, 2530 W Happy Valley Rd
8/23 - A Night of Music 7pm at Valley Bar 130 N. Central Ave

For a comprehensive list of volunteer opportunities, please use the button below.

LD2 VOLUNTEER EVENTS

AFFORDABLE CONNECTIVITY PROGRAM

Our LD2 PC Ginger Lane who is also with the Communications Workers of America made us aware of the Affordable Connectivity Program to help connect families and households struggling to afford internet service. Please share this vital information. To find out more about the program and to determine eligibility, visit: https://www.fcc.gov/acp

YOUNG ORGANIZERS PROGRAM

As was briefly mentioned during this month’s LD meeting, MCDP is going to start an organizing training program for young volunteers, “MCDP Young Organizers Change Makers 2022”, beginning in September. Please forward the application to any student you know who may be interested in growing their skills related to canvassing, phone banking, and field organizing. This program will focus on improving people’s communication with voters to ensure those voters vote up and down the ballot. The application can be found at this LINK HERE

NEW LD2 BUSINESS CARDS & NAME BADGES

You can now order LD2 business cards at $30/box of 100 cards & name badges at $15/badge. We are using J & R Printing (a Union Printer in Phoenix) for our needs. As was demonstrated during the July LD2 meeting, please visit this link to submit and pay for your order: http://azld2dems.org/order/

If you have any issues with ordering them, please contact Whit at whit@azld2dems.org

STOP VOUCHER EXPANSION

Remember when Prop 305 was overwhelmingly rejected by the voters in 2018? Unfortunately, the AZ Legislature voted to effectively dismantle public education by passing HB2853 Universal ESA Voucher Expansion. We’ve proven in the past how those of us who believe in properly funding public education can mobilize and do what needs to be done. To that end, we must collect 118,823 valid signatures before September 24, 2022 to stop universal ESA voucher expansion from going into effect. This referendum will then go on the Nov 2024 ballot where AZ voters can reject it once and for all.

At the August LD meeting, we will be bringing this petition for PCs to check out their own petition so that they can collect signatures from their neighbors.

To learn more, visit www.teamsosarizona.com

DONATE & WIN A GIFT CARD

You may wonder, what do we do with these funds? Since this is the first year we’ve been LD2 and now that we have our new logo, we need to create new marketing material. In addition to paying for our new meeting location, during this cycle, we will be making it easier for voters in our district to “get out the vote” (aka: GOTV) by crafting campaign literature. Are you a recurring donor to LD2? If not, it’s fast and easy and you will be automatically entered to win a gift card for your recurring donation?

Anyone can donate - you don’t have to live in LD2.

How about $22 for LD2 in 2022?

If you have any questions, please contact LD2 Treasurer Truly Bone at Treasurer@azld2dems.org

Easy-peasy with the button below!

MAKE A RECURRING DONATION

CIVIC ENGAGEMENT

BEYOND VOTING

HAPPY HOURS

Civic Engagement Beyond Voting happy hours are back for the election season!

Join them on Zoom every Sunday at 4pm for camaraderie, trainings, and phone banking.

UPCOMING EVENTS

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Aug 20: Campaign KickOff Event, Washington Park, 6655 N 23rd Ave, 5:30PM

Campaign kickoff for Tamillia Valenzuela for WESD Governing Board. Facebook

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Aug 23: Songs for Jeanne, Judy, Laura, & Christine, Valley Bar, 130 N Central Ave, 7-9PM

Attend this evening event to hear music and support our LD2 and LD4 candidates. This will be an outdoor event at Valley Bar. The venue asks that you be vaccinated and wear a mask when not eating or drinking. Sign-up HERE

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Aug 24: Arizona’s Water Crisis, on Zoom, 6:30PM

Learn about honest solutions to our state’s water crisis that can be implemented provided we get these candidates elected. Speakers include: Lauren Kuby for Corporation Commission, Martin Quezada for AZ Treasurer, and re-electing CAWCD Candidate: Alexandra Arboleda.

RSVP HERE

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Aug 26: FUNdraiser for Kris Mayes & Julie Gunnigle, on Zoom, 6PM

Civic Engagement Beyond Voting (CEBV) is holding a virtual FUNdraiser for two women who can make a real difference on abortion rights in AZ: Kris Mayes for Attorney General and Julie Gunnigle for Maricopa County Attorney.

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Aug 27: Unite for AZ Rally, Location TBD, 4-6PM

Join the AZ Dems and our statewide candidates for this inspiring event. Bring non-perishable food for donation. Sign-up HERE

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Aug 30: Blue Tuesday Luncheon Forum, on Zoom, noon-1:30PM

Speakers include: US Senator Mark Kelly, CAWCD Candidates: Alexandra Arboleda & Jim Pederson, and AZ Senator Sean Bowie. To sign up, send email to: bluetuesdayluncheon@gmail.com

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Sep 17: Annual MCDP Champagne Brunch, location TBD, 10AM-noon

Fundraiser for MCDP. More details in next week’s newsletter.

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Sep 17: AZ Democratic Party State Committee Meeting, on Zoom, noon-3pm

More details in next week’s newsletter. Sign up: https://www.mobilize.us/azdems/event/483855/

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Sep 21: LD2 Monthly Meeting at Paradise Valley Community College Conference Center, 6:30PM

LD2 will hold their monthly meeting at the PVCC Conference Center (17811 N 32nd St) on September 21st at 6:30pm. Confirmed to-date we have: Commissioner Sandra Kennedy seeking re-election to the Corporation Commission and Lauren Kuby also running for Corporation Commission. We will hear how vital it is to get these candidates elected. The PVCC Conf Center is located off 32nd St, just South of Grovers. You’ll see a separate parking lot from the main campus. Agenda will be sent to PCs in advance of the meeting. Reminder: LD 2 has resumed our monthly food drive to be donated to a local Food Bank. Please bring your non-perishable donated items. We will also be collecting non-perishable pet food.

SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD

Paradise Valley USD – District Administrative Center / 15002 N 32^nd St; Phoenix – Typically the first and third Thursday of the month. Governing Board | Paradise Valley Unified School District (pvschools.net)

Deer Valley USD – 20402 N 15^th Ave; Phoenix – Typically the second and fourth Tuesday of the month. Governing Board / Governing Board (dvusd.org)

Glendale Union High School District – 7650 N 43^rd Ave; Glendale – Typically the first and third Wednesday of the month. Meeting Dates 2021-2022 - GUHSD (guhsdaz.org)

Washington Elementary School District – 4650 W Sweetwater Ave; Glendale – Typically the second and fourth Thursday of the month. In-person seating will be limited to 40 people. Meetings are live streamed.

Governing Board / Governing Board Meeting Schedule (wesdschools.org)

MAKE IT RAIN!

A recurring monthly donation of $5, $10, or more to AZ LD2 Democrats will go a long way toward helping us finish the job of turning Arizona blue!

MAKE A DONATION