Chittenden County Democratic Party

Senator Peter Shumlin on Chittenden County Democrats Show

2010-01-07T22:40:00.001-05:00

County Chairman Jake Perkinson kicked off the new year by interviewing Vermont Senate Pro-Tem Peter Shumlin on the Chittenden County Democrats Show on January 4th. Senator Shumlin and Perkinson discussed the direction the new legislative session would be taking as well as Senator Shumlin's candidacy for Governor.

You can watch this program on Channel 17/ Town Meeting Television, on Comcast Cable and Burlington Telecom systems at the following times:
1 Monday January 4, 5:25 PM
2 Wednesday January 6, 7:00 PM
3 Saturday January 9, 5:05 PM
4 Monday January 11, 3:30 PM
5 Tuesday January 12, 6:10 AM
6 Tuesday January 12, 12:10 PM
7 Monday January 18, 3:30 PM
8 Monday January 25, 3:30 PM

You may also watch the program on-line by clicking here: http://www.cctv.org/node/86717.

LCATV and VCAM also rebroadcast Chittenden County Democrats shows at regular times. See their schedules for those times.
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Secretary of State Deb Markowitz on Chittenden County Democrats Show

2009-12-29T10:22:00.000-05:00

An interview with Vermont Secretary of State and gubernatorial candidate Deb Markowitz was recorded on December 3, 2009. Former County Chair, Mike Yantachka, hosted the half-hour interview. The topics of discussion ranged from Sec. Markowitz's work for the past 11 years in her current office to her positions on economic development, Vermont Yankee's relicensing, environmental concerns, agriculture, and other issues.

You can watch this program on Channel 17/ Town Meeting Television, on Comcast Cable and Burlington Telecom systems at the following times:

Saturday January 2, 6:45 PM
Monday January 4, 5:40 AM
Monday January 4, 11:40 AM

You may also watch the program on-line by clicking here: http://www.cctv.org/node/85268.
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Chittenden County Democrats Show Viewing Times - Party Leadership Turnover and Other Issues

2009-11-04T22:51:00.005-05:00

Senator Ginny Lyons and newly elected Chittenden County Democratic Party Chair, Jake Perkinson, co-hosted the Chittenden County Democrats Show at the CCTV studio on November 2nd. They discussed Vermont Yankee, Health Care and other issues legislators will be tackling this session. Jake also talked about some initiatives he is planning for the Chittenden Dems as he takes over from outgoing Chair Mike Yantachka, who will be running for the Vermont Senate in 2010.

The program will be rebroadcast at the following times by CCTV:
Thursday November 5, 7:00 PM
Monday November 9, 3:30 PM
Monday November 16, 3:30 PM
Monday November 23, 3:30 PM
Monday November 30, 3:30 PM.

The program can also be streamed online at http://www.cctv.org/node/83730.
LCATV and VCAM also rebroadcast Chittenden County Democrats shows at regular times. See their schedules for those times.
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Chittenden County Democratic Committee Reorganizes

2009-10-24T21:44:00.002-05:00

The Chittenden County Democratic Committee convened on October 20th to reorganize as required by Vermont law. Chairman Mike Yantachka called the meeting to order shortly after 7 PM with more than 70 delegates present. The first order of business was the election of officers beginning with a new Chairperson. Jake Perkinson was nominated by Milton Town Chair Reg Godin. With no other nominations for the position, Jake was unanimously elected, whereupon, Mike Yantachka turned the meeting over to him.

The two positions related to representation on the State Democratic Committee were contested. Selene Hofer-Shall and Robyn McGuire were both nominated for the position of State Committeewoman, and Ed Adrian and Robert Hooper were both nominated for the position of State Committeeman. Hofer-Shall and Hooper won those elections by secret ballot.

The other officer positions were not contested and were filled by Vice-Chair Bob Hooper, Secretary Robyn McGuire, Treasurer Jesse Bridges, and Assistant Treasurer David Cain. Mary Sullivan, Marcella Chiarello and Joanna Cole were elected Alternate Delegates to the State Committee, also without opposition.

Following the election of officers, outgoing treasurer Ken Brown gave his final financial report and offered his help in transitioning the duties of Treasurer to Bridges.

In acknowledgement of the early start to the 2010 campaigns, Perkinson invited declared candidates for county offices to introduce themselves to the Committee. Philip Baruth, Ralph Montefusco, Andy Montroll and Mike Yantachka each spoke as candidates for the Vermont Senate, and Charles Delaney spoke as a candidate for Assistant Judge. Chittenden County Senator Doug Racine, candidate for Governor, was also invited to address the Committee. All candidates were limited to two minutes.

During the meeting several door prizes were raffled off as a fund-raiser. The raffle netted $130 for the treasury. The meeting was adjourned just after 8 PM.
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Correction: Chittenden County Democratic Reorganization Meeting - October 20, 2009

2009-10-14T23:52:00.005-05:00

The biennial reorganization meeting of the Chittenden County Democratic Committee will be held on Tuesday, October 20, 2009, 7:00 PM, at the South Burlington High School cafeteria, Dorset Street, South Burlington.

The agenda for the meeting is as follows:

Election of Officers
Report of the outgoing Treasurer
Introduction of declared candidates for county and statewide office
Other business

The meeting is open to all, but only County Committee Delegates will be eligible to vote on matters before the Committee. An Alternate Delegate from a town may vote if a Delegate from that town is not present. Each town will have no more voting delegates than the number of delegates allocated to that town. Non-delegates will have observational privileges only.

Nominations for all officer positions will be open from the floor. Candidates may nominate themselves or have someone else nominate them.
Several persons have announced their intention to run for a position:
Chair - Jake Perkinson
Vice-Chair - Bob Hooper (incumbent)
State Committeewoman - Marcella Chiarello (incumbent)
Alternate State Committee Delegates - Mary Sullivan and Joanna Cole (incumbents)

The offices of Secretary, Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer, State Committeeman, and a third Alternate State Committee Delegate are open. Anyone interested in running for any of these offices can contact me ahead of the meeting.

In order to improve the state of our treasury, several door prizes donated by current officers will be raffled during the meeting. Tickets will be sold at the door.

Shelburne Gubernatorial Forum Postponed

2009-09-30T08:32:00.002-05:00

The South Burlington and Shelburne Democratic Committees, has issued the following announcement today, September 30th:

Due to unforseen circumstances, the Democratic Governor Candidates Forum scheduled for Thursday, October 1, in Shelburne, has been postponed to a later date. Please keep your eyes peeled for the rescheduled date.

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Chittenden County Democrats Show Viewing Times - Labor Discussion

2009-09-13T16:16:00.002-05:00

The Chittenden County Democrats Show was pre-taped for the Labor Day broadcast, since we could not do a live show on the holiday. I was joined by IBEW Local 300 Marketing Director Matt Lash and Carpenters Union representative Bryan Bouchard, and we discussed a number of issues important to working families. You can view the program online at http://www.cctv.org/node/79789. It is also re-broadcast according to the following schedules:

CCTV Ch 17 (Burlington, So. Burlington, Winooski, Essex) - Mon 3:30 PM

VCAM Ch 17 (Shelburne, Hinesburg, Charlotte) - Mon 5:00PM, Wed 12:00PM, Sat 6:30PM

LCATV Ch 16 (Colchester, Milton) - Mon 5:00PM & 11:00PM, Thur 4:00AM, Sat 12:00AM & 11:00AM
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2009 Democratic Party Reorganization Caucuses Scheduled

2009-09-09T23:05:00.003-05:00

Pursuant to 17 VSA 2302-2305 the legal voters of the following municipalities are hereby warned that the Democratic Party will hold reorganization caucuses for the election of Town/City Democratic Committee officers and delegates to the Chittenden County Democratic Committee at the following times and places:

Burlington: 9/22/09 6:00P Champlain Elementary School Cafeteria
Charlotte: 9/16/09 7:00P Town Office
Colchester: 9/26/09 10:00A Town Meeting Hall
Essex Jct: 9/22/09 6:30P Essex Free Library
Hinesburg: 9/22/09 7:30P Town Clerk's office
Jericho: 9/22/09 7:00p Town Hall Conf Rm
Milton: 9/22/09 7:00p Middle/Senior High School
Richmond: 9/30/09 7:00P Richmond Free Library
St. George: 9/22/09 7:00p Town Hall
Shelburne: 9/22/09 7:00P Town Offices
So. Burlington: 9/14/09 7:00P Audette Public Works Bldg
Underhill: 9/22/09 7:00P Town Hall
Westford: 9/16/09 7:00P Town Offices
Williston: 9/22/09 7:00p Dorothy Alling Memorial Library
Winooski: 9/15/09 6:00P Winooski Senior Center

*** Details including contact information are on the Chittenden County Democrats calendar on the right-hand side of this website.
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Statement from Vermont Democratic Party on the Passing of Senator Kennedy

2009-08-26T14:41:00.004-05:00

Montpelier, VT – The Vermont Democratic Party has issued the following statement regarding the passing of Massachusetts Senator Edward Kennedy.
Senator Edward M. "Ted" Kennedy of Massachusetts passed away late Tuesday night following a courageous battle with brain cancer. He was 77.
In his 47 years of service, Senator Kennedy was arguably the United States Senate's most renowned and recognizable Democrat. In keeping with his family's legacy of political activism and advocacy, Senator Kennedy worked tirelessly to better the lives of everyday Americans, to give a voice to those without one, and to end the various forms of discrimination that have plagued Americans over the past half-century.
While physically absent from the public eye during much of the last year, Senator Kennedy shocked many on the opening night of the Democratic National Convention in August when he appeared unannounced and delivered a speech that garnered a standing ovation.
“My fellow Democrats, my fellow Americans, it is so wonderful to be here, and nothing is going to keep me away from this special gathering tonight,” Senator Kennedy said. “I have come here tonight to stand with you to change America, to restore its future, to rise to our best ideals and to elect Barack Obama president of the United States.”
Senator Kennedy's influence in Washington has been especially apparent recently, as Congress debates the largest overhaul of America’s health care system in decades. The quest for quality, affordable healthcare for all Americans was an endeavor that Senator Kennedy referred to as “the cause of my life", one that he remained devoted to even in his final days.
The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, which Senator Kennedy chaired, passed health care legislation on July 15, and the conflict over the proposed reconstruction of the flawed current system is presently the central focus on Capitol Hill.
Senator Kennedy was beloved by many Americans, and respected by his Senate colleagues on both sides of the aisle. He was admired for his compassion, vigor, sense of humor, and steadfast devotion to serving the greater good of the American public.
We send our deepest condolences to Senator Kennedy's family and friends as our nation mourns the loss and celebrates the life of such an extraordinary man.

DFA Chairman Jim Dean meets with County Dems

2009-08-25T15:16:00.004-05:00

Jim Dean, Chairman of Democracy For America, was the guest speaker at the Chittenden County Democrats meeting on August 18th. Jim spoke to the 28 attendees about the DFA effort to influence the health care debate across the United States. The "Stand with Dr. Dean" campaign has been working to get senators on the record in support of a strong public healthcare option. It provides an opportunity and online resources for constituents to register their support for a public option for health insurance. "DFA has also been lobbying Senator Max Baucus and the so-called "gang of six" to include the public option provision in the Senate bill under consideration by the Finance Committee.

"This is like any other campaign but without a candidate," said Dean. It consists of "field operations, door-knocking, and letters to the editor to persuade the public and members of Congress that the public option is necessary for health care reform," he stated.

Governor Howard Dean has written a book called "Howard Dean's Prescription for Real Healthcare Reform" which can also be ordered via the "Stand with Dr. Dean" website. Dr. Dean writes, "If Barack Obama's healthcare plan gets changed to exclude a public option like Medicare, then it is not healthcare reform. Legislation rises and falls on whether the American public is allowed to choose a universally available public option or not."

Also in the meeting Chairman Mike Yantachka described the process that town and city Democratic Committees will be following in September for their reorganization caucuses. A schedule of caucuses can be found in the calendar on the right-hand side of the Chittenden County Democrats website.

The County Democratic Committee reorganization meeting will be held on October 20th at the South Burlington High School. County Committee delegates will be elected at the local caucuses. These delegates are allocated based on the number of votes cast in the municipality for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gaye Symington in 2008. Click here to see how the delegates are allocated.

The meeting also heard from Charlie Delaney, who announced his candidacy for Chittenden County Side-Judge in 2010, and from Philip Baruth, who is running for a State Senate seat from Chittenden County. Chairman Mike Yantachka also announced that he will not be running for re-election as Chair and that he also intends to run for the State Senate in 2010.

Senator Sanders Unfiltered

2009-08-10T20:25:00.003-05:00

Senator Bernie Sanders has collaborated with Brave New Films to bring a series of video commentaries to the internet. "Senator Sanders Unfiltered" is the name of the show. Watch the first episode.

A Petition to Support a Public Option for Health Insurance

2009-07-21T13:07:00.003-05:00

Senators Patrick Leahy, Chuck Schumer and Dick Durbin have issued the following call for support of a health care plan that includes a public option:

Nearly 50 million Americans -- one-in-six of our fellow citizens -- lack health insurance. Even those families lucky enough to have health insurance have seen their premiums triple in the past decade. America's health care system is in a crisis, and it's time to do something about it.

"This month, Congress is working on new reform legislation that will make quality health care available and affordable for all Americans. We support a public health insurance option that would foster greater competition in the marketplace, create more choices for consumers, and lead to lower costs and better quality for all. But we know the forces of the status quo will battle us every step of the way. Please sign this online petition, showing your support of Congress' work to reform America's health care system now.
Thank you,
Senator Dick Durbin
Senator Patrick Leahy
Senator Chuck Schumer

You can show your support by signing their online petition at this website: http://ga3.org/campaign/healthpetition

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Chittenden County Democrats Show with Sen. Tim Ashe

2009-07-15T07:05:00.002-05:00

The July 6th Shittenden County Democrats show featured State Senator Tim Ashe. Tim and County Chair Mike Yantachka talked about ways in which the Democratic Party and Progressive Party can cooperate on the state and local levels. Sen. Ashe was a "fusion candidate" in the 2008 state senate race. As a Progressive Burlington City Councilor, Ashe chose to run for a nomination in the Democratic State Senate primary race. He won that contest and then was elected by a 400-plus vote margin to one of the six senate seats from Chittenden County.

Tim and Mike both agreed that the two parties share similar goals at the state level. Ashe acknowledged that those who identify themselves as Progressives tend to be a bit more liberal than the average Democrat. the most contention comes at the local level, especially in Burlington. Both Yantachka and Ashe agreed that it will be necessary for both parties to support a common gubernatorial candidate in 2010 to have any chance to unseat Republican Governor Jim Douglas. A caller reminded the panel that Gov. Douglas won by a 55% to a combined 45% margin over Progressive Anthony Pollina (who ran as an independent) and Democrat Gaye Symington. While this is true, Yantachka stated that the difficulty Democrats had in announcing a candidate combined with the way Pollina's request for endorsement by the Democratic Party negatively affected voters perceptions of both candidates, as bourne out by the overwhelming Democratic victories in every other statewide and national race.

The program will be rebroadcast at the following times by CCTV:
Friday July 17, 12:10 AM
Friday July 17, 5:10 AM
Friday July 17, 11:10 AM
Saturday July 18, 1:00 PM
Monday July 20, 3:30 PM
Monday July 27, 3:30 PM
The program can also be streamed online at http://www.cctv.org/node/77221.

LCATV and VCAM also rebroadcast Chittenden County Democrats shows at regular times. See their schedules for those times.
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Chittenden County Democrats Hear From Majority Leader Nease

2009-06-14T22:38:00.003-05:00

Chairman Mike Yantachka called the meeting of Chittenden County Democrats to order at 7:00 PM on Tuesday, June 9th, at the IBEW Union Training Hall in South Burlington.

In the absence of Treasurer Ken Brown, Mike announced that we currently have $628.80 in our treasury. He suggested that we have a fundraiser.

Mike then explained how the upcoming political party reorganization works. Local Democratic Committees will reorganize in September, followed by the county reorganization in October, and ending with the state Party reorganization in November.

Charlie Merriman, a candidate for Secretary of State, took a few minutes to introduce himself to the two dozen people present.

House Majority Leader, Rep. Floyd Nease, reported on the just-ended legislative session. He discussed the two veto overrides and some of the other major achievements of the Democrats. While the veto overrides were a positive outcome of the session, Nease stressed that the passed budget was far from ideal and that there would continue to be challenges ahead for the state. When asked about the upcoming session, Floyd said he’s not sure what the agenda will be for next year, that it somewhat depends upon what happens to the economy during the rest of this year.

Robert Dempsey, the new Executive Director of the VT Democratic Party, introduced himself and gave a brief outline of what is currently happening at Vermont Democratic Party headquarters.

Charlie Delaney, a member of the VT Commission on Native American Affairs, reported on the frustration of Native Americans with the lack of interest from the Governor’s office in trying to work out a way to recognize Vermont’s American Indians.

-- Submitted by Secretary Sherry Mahady

Sen. Racine Comments on Health Care in Vermont

2009-06-10T11:47:00.003-05:00

The Chittenden County Democrats Show recorded on 2009-06-01 featured County Chair Mike Yantachka and County Senator Doug Racine. The discussion focused on the the state of health care availability and the effects of the budget on state-supported programs. This discussion took place before the historic veto-override session of the legislature on June 2nd.

You can watch this program on Channel 17/ Town Meeting Television, on Comcast Cable and Burlington Telecom systems at the following times:

Saturday June 13, 6:00 PM
Monday June 15, 3:30 PM
Monday June 22, 3:30 PM
Monday June 29, 3:30 PM
Monday July 6, 3:30 PM

The program is also rebroadcast at various times on LCATV serving Northwestern Chittenden County and on VCAM serving southern Chittenden County. Check the schedules for those stations.

You may also watch the program on-line by clicking here: http://www.cctv.org/node/75546

So. Burlington Dems Elect New Chair

2009-06-10T11:38:00.002-05:00

At a caucus on Monday, June 8th, the South Burlington Democratic Committee elected Karen Ryder as Chair after the resignation of Bob DiFerdinando due to illness. Ms. Ryder had been the Vice-Chair and had assumed the position of acting-Chair the previous month. Kathy Anderson was elected to the position of Vice-Chair vacated by Ryder.

Has Your e-Mail Address Changed?

2009-05-27T08:03:00.002-05:00

If you had been receiving Chittenden County Democrats e-mail notices and no longer are receiving them but would like to continue, please send Mike Yantachka an e-mail. It may be that we no longer have a valid address for you. Prior Verizon and Comcast customers are particularly affected, but anyone who has recently changed service providers needs to send us an updated address. Thanks for your assistance and continued involvement.

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Chittenden County Democrats Will Meet on Tuesday, June 9th

2009-05-27T00:00:00.003-05:00

The next meeting of Chittenden County Democrats will be on Tuesday, June 9th, at the IBEW Union Training Hall at 3 Gregory Drive, South Burlington, at 7:00 PM. House Majority Leader Floyd Nease will be our featured guest. I hope you will take the time to come to the meeting to meet Floyd and hear his take on what worked and what didn't during this session and where we need to go from here.

We will also be looking forward to 4th of July events, a possible fund raising social event, and the reorganization caucuses that will be held this year.

Check the calendar on the right for other important events.

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Chittenden County Democrats Show with Rep. Terry Macaig

2009-03-19T09:34:00.002-05:00

The Chittenden County Democrats Show featuring Rep. Terry Macaig and Mike Yantachka was recorded on 2009-03-02. The topic was how freshman legislators adapt to their work in the legislature.

You can watch this program on Channel 17/ Town Meeting Television, on Comcast Cable and Burlington Telecom systems at the following times:
Saturday March 21, 6:10 PM
Monday March 23, 3:30 PM

You may also watch the program on-line by clicking here: http://www.cctv.org/node/71238.

Essex Junction and Town Elect New Chair

2009-03-18T21:36:00.002-05:00

The Essex Junction and Town Democratic Committee elected Paul Craven to replace outgoing Chair Chris Loso, who resigned due to the demands of his job. Paul is president of Paul Craven & Associates, a program development firm in Essex Junction.

House Speaker Shap Smith to Speak at County Dems Meeting‏

2009-03-02T00:55:00.001-05:00

With the passage of the Obama Stimulus Package, a.k.a. the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the Vermont legislature is in the process of integrating its financial provisions into our state budget. Not surprisingly, the goals of Gov. Douglas differ fundamentally from the goals of Democrats and Progressives. Many of us will have a chance to hear from our local legislators this week at Town Meeting. On Monday, March 16th, we will have the opportunity to hear from Speaker of the Vermont House, Shap Smith, at our Chittenden County Democrats meeting. This meeting will take place at 7:30 PM at the IBEW Union Training Hall, 5 Gregory Drive, South Burlington.

Also, the Chittenden County Democrats Show on CCTV Channel 17 in Burlington and surrounding towns taped on Monday, March 2nd, features freshman representative Terry Macaig of Williston. We talked about his experiences adapting to his responsibilities as a legislator. You can look for rebroadcasts of the program on CCTV, LCATV and VCAM later in the month, or you can stream it online at http://www.cctv.org/node/71238.

Sen. Ginny Lyons Discusses Budget Implications

2009-02-08T22:22:00.003-05:00

State Senator Ginny Lyons joined Chairman Mike Yantachka on the Chittenden County Democrats Show last week to discuss the effects that the tight budget will have on Vermnters and the alternatives that can be considered. The program will be rebroadcast on CCTV Channel 17 on Monday February 9, 3:00 PM and on Friday February 13, 2:00 PM.

Viewers served by LCATV can watch it on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays on Channel 16. Check the schedule here: http://www.lcatv.org/Channel%2016/page1.html.

Viewers served by VCAM can look for program times here: http://www.vermontcam.org/vcam%20schedule.htm.

You may also watch the program on-line by clicking here: http://www.cctv.org/node/70024.

Petition & Demonstrate Against Budget Cuts

2009-01-28T09:15:00.004-05:00

The State of Vermont has a budget shortfall and Governor Douglas says it should be done without raising new revenue but through program cuts that will primarily affect children, the elderly, and low income Vermonters. Join the Vermont Workers' Center (VWC) and other organizations across the state opposing proposed state budget cuts which will be devastating to thousands of Vermont families.

The Burlington Livable City Coalition will hold a Candlelight Vigil to Stop State Budget Cuts on Monday, February 2nd, 5 PM, at 108 Cherry St (near Church St), Burlington. Similar vigils will be held throughout the state. For a listing see http://www.workerscenter.org/calendar/.

On Tuesday, February 3rd, 7 PM, there will be a Community Forum w/Chicago Republic Sit-in Strikers at the Billings North Lounge, 48 University Place, UVM, Burlington. In December, 260 workers at Chicago's Republic Windows occupied their plant for six days, a sit-in strike launched in response to the closing of their plant with only 3 days notice. The Vermont Workers' Center and other Jobs with Justice coalitions along with other community, faith and labor activists from across the country mobilized in support of these workers, helping them win a settlement from Bank of America and Republic owners including severance pay and compensation for unpaid earnings.

Liz Schlegel, Waterbury Town Chair, has started a news site with a petition to mobilize support for using taxes as one mechanism to address our budget problems. It will be great if we can generate a lot of signatures for this. Here's the link to the web site: http://countmeinvt.wordpress.com/.

New Vice-Chair for Chittenden County Democratic Committee‏

2009-01-28T00:31:00.003-05:00

Congratulations to Bob Hooper of Burlington on his election as Vice-Chair of the County Committee. I look forward to working with him to keep the County Committee relevant and effective in promoting Democratic values and goals. Bob has a long record of labor activism and serves as Vice-President of the Vermont State Employees Association (VSEA).

The minutes of Monday's meeting at the Albert "Sonny" Audette office building in South Burlington are being written up by our Secretary, Sherry Mahady, and will be posted on this website when ready.

-- Mike Yantachka
Chittenden County Democratic Committee Chairman

County Democrats Meeting on 1/26/09 + other info‏

2009-01-15T17:07:00.003-05:00

Chittenden County Democrats,
Here's an update to January happenings.

The County Committee meeting will be held on Monday, January 26th, 7:00 PM, at the Sonny Audette Office Bldg, 102 Landfill Rd, South Burlington. This meeting is open to everyone, not just County Committee members. The agenda will include:
- Election of a Vice-Chair -- Our Vice-Chair, Robert Ready, resigned back in August, and with the County Fair, the primary and general elections and personal commitments, I was not able to properly schedule an election to replace him. Nominations will be open from the floor. The Vice-Chair will assist me with keeping the website current and help with organizing meetings and other events, including fund-raising. Anyone planning to run for this position is welcome to contact me at any time via email or phone (233-5238). Only County Committee members can cast a vote in this election. (Click here to see a list of County Committe members. If you see an error, please let me know.)
- Report from the legislature -- I hope one or more legislators will attend the meeting to fill us in on how the session is proceeding with regard to the important issues.
- Inauguration experiences -- Anyone who attended the inauguration is welcome to tell us about their experiences so that we stay-at-homes can enjoy them vicariously.

Inauguration Watch Party - Watch the Inauguration of Barack Obama and Joe Biden on January 20th with friends at Nectar's in Burlington. This event is sponsored by local DFA chapters. Click here to get details and RSVP.
Local elections -- There is still time to submit your petition to run for local office. The upcoming Town Meetings are an opportunity for Democrats to run for positions on School Boards, Select Boards, City Councils, etc. It is not only a way to further the Democratic Vision of serving our communities in a progressive way, but also to build a leadership base that can provide future candidates for state-level offices. The deadline for submitting a petition to the Town or City Clerk to get on the ballot for a municipal election is Monday, January 26th, 5:00 PM.

The Chittenden County Democrats Show recorded on Monday, January 5th, featured Sen. Hinda Miller and Rep. Mark Larson talking about the current budget crisis Vermont is experiencing. LCATV and VCAM as well as CCTV will rebroadcast the program at various times throughout the month. Check their schedules for broadcast times. Previous shows can also be viewed online at the CCTV website: http://www.cctv.org/watch-tv/live-at-5. The CCTV Channel 17 rebroadcast schedule is
Sunday January 18, 9:50 PM
Monday January 19, 2:50 AM
Monday January 19, 8:50 AM
Monday January 19, 3:00 PM .

I hope to see you at the meeting on January 26th.
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Regards,
Mike Yantachka
Chittenden County Democratic Committee Chairman

2009-01-07T23:47:00.002-05:00

Happy 2009!

I hope you have all had a wonderful holiday season enjoying time with friends and family and that 2009 will prove to be a healthy and prosperous new year for you.

Now that the elections and recounts are over, the real work is beginning. We are looking forward to the new Obama administration in Washington while we wonder what will be done in Montpelier to weather these difficult economic times.

Here's what's on the burner for the month of January.

The Chittenden County Democrats Show will be broadcast Live at 5:25 once again this Monday, January 5th, from the CCTV Channel 17 studio in Burlington. Appearing with me will be Sen. Hinda Miller and Rep. Mark Larson, and we will be talking about the current budget crisis Vermont is experiencing. Residents of Burlington, So. Burlington, Winooski and Essex Junction can view the program live. LCATV and VCAM as well as CCTV will rebroadcast the program at various times throughout the month for other Chittenden County residents. Check their schedules for broadcast times. Previous shows can also be viewed online at the CCTV website: http://www.cctv.org/watch-tv/live-at-5.

A County Committee meeting will be held during the week after the inauguration of Barak Obama. The time and date is not yet certain, so I will send out a follow-up notice. The agenda will include:
- Election of a Vice-Chair -- Our Vice-Chair, Robert Ready, resigned back in August, and with the County Fair, the primary and general elections, and personal commitments, I was not able to properly schedule an election to replace him. Nominations will be open from the floor. The Vice-Chair will assist me with keeping the website current and help with organizing meetings and other events, including fund-raising. Anyone planning to run for this position is welcome to contact me at any time via email or phone (233-5238).
- Report from the legislature -- I hope one or more legislators will attend the meeting to fill us in on how the session is proceeding with regard to the important issues.
- Inauguration experiences -- Anyone who attended the inauguration is welcome to tell us about their experiences so that we stay-at-homes can enjoy them vicariously.
Local elections -- The upcoming Town Meetings are an opportunity for Democrats to run for elective office. We need Democrats on School Boards, Select Boards, City Councils, etc. It is not only a way to further the Democratic Vision of serving our communities in a progressive way, but also to provide a leadership base that can provide future candidates for state-level offices. The deadline for submitting a petition to the Town or City Clerk to get on the ballot for a municipal election is Monday, January 26th, 5:00 PM.

I look forward to seeing you at future meetings and events, and I encourage you all to stay active in your local Democratic committees. If you can't find any events or activities in your town, email your Town Chair (you can find them listed at the website below in the righthand sidebar) and ask them what's happening, or light a fire under them. Let's use 2009 to build a strong organization at all levels so that our success in 2010 will be even greater than our success in 2008. I welcome any feedback and suggestions you may have.
Regards,
Mike Yantachka
Chittenden County Democratic Committee Chairman

Recount Volunteers Shine!

2008-12-12T23:25:00.003-05:00

Now that the recounts are over, I want to thank the 80+ volunteers that contacted me and helped with the recounts for their outstanding civic spirit and generous donation of their time. Every candidate is entitled to be certain that every vote has been counted, and every citizen is entitled to know that their vote has been counted. They did a great job over many days, and their work is appreciated not only by me and the candidates, but also by the Chittenden County Clerk and her staff.

I want to share with you a commentary from Katherine Hikel, one of the volunteers, about her experience at the recount which exemplifies the civic spirit of all the participants.

Demanding A Recount
by Katherine Hikel

The Chittenden County Superior Court House, on Main Street in Burlington, is a grand historic building, and a fine place to spend a December day, if you are not the defendant. I went there to help with the State Senate ballot recount. Senate candidate Denise Begins Barnard is challenging her loss by 400 votes to Tim Ashe. Superior Court Clerk Diane Lavallee, who oversees the recount, said an estimated 80,000 ballots were cast in Chittenden County during the November election. Those eighty-odd thousand ballots must be all be recounted, by hand – not once, but twice.

The word goes out, through party chairs and organizers; my invitation came by email. Diane and her staff arrange for about 40 counters to come in each day. Everyone stands, and is sworn in as the Recount Committee. Then the group breaks up into tables of four – a Republican, a Democrat, a Progressive, and an independent; and the work begins. The ballots come piled in large bags from each ward. Everyone helps sort them into bundles of fifty. Then we count: one person reads the names of candidates voted for; one checks the reader; and two others mark the votes on tally sheets. Then everyone switches roles and recounts; all the tallies must match.

The work is serious, painstaking – and fun. Seeing everyone at their tables, from different parties, cooperating intently to carry out the task, and enjoying the company, is part of it. At my table were a Republican from Milton, a Progressive from South Burlington, an independent from Essex, and me. The man from Essex has lived in Vermont for 25 years. He’s a new citizen, born in Wales. Upon receiving a bundle of ballots to count, he held them in his hands, and said, "These are the real ballots?" It was a moment of awe. He explained, "I became naturalized in October – this is my first election."

In the State Senate election, there were 14 candidates for six seats. Some voters chose the straight party ticket. One or two picked the six candidates from the top, or from the bottom. A few voted for men, or women, only, across party lines. A few others voted for a single candidate. Many, however, split their vote among men, women, Republicans, Democrats, and Progressives, in what seemed to be a very Vermont spirit of independent thinking. There was a sense, in touching ballots that every voter had filled out, that you held something of value, springing from our common belief in democracy, in the process; and in the personal importance of each ballot. Other than one frivolous write-in vote for Bill The Cat for High Bailiff, there was no monkeying around.

The recount was held in a big corner room with tall windows – it was chilly, and many of us were glad we’d worn layers. There was the smell of coffee, brewed fresh all day. Dishes of mints and packets of cookies were available; but everyone was so busy counting, tallying, adding, reading, and watching that there wasn’t much snacking or sipping going on. My table counted three batches of fifty; then we were given an hour’s break for lunch. I walked down Church Street, enjoying the art, the vendors, and the people; I had a cup of tea and a bun, and strolled back to do another hundred ballots in the afternoon. With ten tables, we’d probably counted three thousand ballots. At this rate, Diane said the recount would take several more weeks.

Recount Committee members must be Vermonters, and 18 years old, but do not have to be residents of Chittenden county. Diane said, "You should be a voter, so you know how to read a ballot." "We need people," she said. "We particularly need Republicans for this recount."

The Court pays $30 per person per day, plus parking. I left shortly after dark, and walked across the courthouse plaza. There was a stone sculpture, with three small children perched on it. Their mother was aiming her camera at them. The letters on the sculpture spelled DEMOCRACY.

Calling All Democrats! Please Help!

2008-11-16T16:33:00.003-05:00

Recount Volunteers Needed!

As County Chair, I thought my work was done for a while after the election. A couple of close races have generated two recounts in Chittenden County for which I am responsible for recruiting a lot of volunteers. These recounts will be held at the Chittenden County Superior Courthouse at the corner of Main and Church Streets, Burlington, beginning at 8:30 AM.

One recount is for the Milton House district (Reg Godin-D vs. Ronald Hubert-R) and should take no more than a day to complete. It is scheduled for Monday, 11/24/08.

The Chittenden County State Senate recount will start on 12/3/08 and will continue until all of Chittenden County ballots have been counted. The County Clerk expects it to take from 7 to 10 days, excluding weekends. I hope we'll be finished by 12/16.

Counters will receive $30/day stipend + mileage + parking fee. Half days (morning or afternoon) are acceptable; the stipend for a half day is $15.

If you can help on any of those days, please send me your name, address and phone number and the days you can be there. The more people we get, the faster we'll get done. This is a big job, but integral to our democratic system, so please help if you can.
--
Mike Yantachka (miyantach@hotmail.com)
Chittenden County Democratic Committee Chairman

Chittenden County Democrats News - Nov '08‏

2008-11-11T10:10:00.004-05:00

Congratulations to all of our candidates, from Barack Obama to our local Justice of the Peace candidates, whether they have won or lost their election. Just to have run is to have achieved more than most citizens have dared to do.

This was a fantastic election, one we've been waiting for for 8 looong years. We are finally poised to get our country moving in the direction of international reconciliation and cooperation, environmental responsibility, energy transformation, fiscal responsibility and, hopefully, economic reformation. While we once again did not capture the governor's office, our success in maintaining control of both houses of the state legislature will allow us to insure that Vermont will be able to partner with the Obama administration in key areas vital to Vermont. We'll keep Douglas' feet to the fire where it counts.

As a result of our fairly successful fundraising, the Chittenden County Democratic Committee was able to contribute more than $1500 to House candidates who had contests as well as to our Governor and Lt. Governor candidates. Out of 33 Democratic House candidates in Chittenden County, 29 were elected. Of the six State Senate candidates, 5 were elected. Thanks to all of you who helped our candidates in this effort.

To those whose races were successful, a hearty congratulations as you go forward to represent us all for the next two years.

Because of the public access TV rules regarding the election, the Chittenden County Democrats show was not recorded in September and October. We resumed the show on November 3rd with State's Attorney TJ Donovan as my guest. TJ described how his office is dealing with budget constraints as well as some of the high-profile crimes his office has dealt with and their ramifications. A link to the broadcast on the CCTV website is: http://www.cctv.org/node/65776.

The program is also being rebroadcast by CCTV on the following schedule:
1 Monday November 3, 5:25 PM
2 Monday November 10, 9:15 PM
3 Tuesday November 11, 2:15 AM
4 Tuesday November 11, 8:15 AM
5 Tuesday November 11, 2:15 PM
Viewers served by LCATV can watch it on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays on Channel 16. Check the schedule here: http://www.lcatv.org/Channel%2016/page1.html.
Viewers served by VCAM can look for program times here: http://www.vermontcam.org/vcam%20schedule.htm.

Finally, while we can take some time off to relax and wind down after a hectic campaign season, we have to start building again for 2010. Our Vice-Chair, Robert Ready, took a job in Massachusetts back in July and had to step down from his position. Because of everything else going on with the Presidential and primary campaigns, I did not seek to have a special meeting to replace him. Now that the election is over, I would like to hold a County Committee meeting in January to elect a new Vice-Chair. I invite anyone interested in running for that office to contact me between now and the January meeting, time and place to be announced.

Thank you all for your attention.
Mike Yantachka
Chittenden County Democratic Committee Chairman
.

A Message from State Chair Ian Carleton

2008-10-27T21:04:00.003-05:00

This is it. The election is a week from tomorrow and we need your help today and every day through November 4th to elect Barack Obama and Democrats at every level to get our state and nation back on track.

We are preparing for one of the largest volunteer Get Out the Vote efforts Vermont has ever seen and we need you to sign up TODAY to make history.

Yesterday, Obama for America emailed its supporters in the state and urged all of us to get involved to elect Congressman Peter Welch and Speaker Gaye Symington to "make sure Vermont has a strong team to take our country in a new direction.

"That's exactly what we'll be working for in one of the largest ever Get Out the Vote efforts on Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. We're counting on you to volunteer as much as you can for the final four days.

Sign up online TODAY and join the hundreds of volunteers around the state who will carry our candidates to victory next week.

As Barack Obama works to bring real change to Washington, he will need strong partners in Congress and in the states to get our domestic priorities back on track and reestablish our position as a leader in the world. That's why he is rallying for our own Ticket for Change.

Will you?
Sincerely,
Ian Carleton
Chair, Vermont Democratic Party

The Home Stretch - 14 Days to Go

2008-10-20T23:46:00.003-05:00

This is it, Chittenden County Democrats!

There are only 14 days left before the election, but there is a lot going on and plenty left to do.

1. Join the Jericho Democrats at their "Crackers, Cake and Candidates" event this Friday at the Jericho Community Center in Jericho Center. Great opportunity to meet the candidates, including Gaye Symington, Tom Costello, Peter Welch and other statewide candidates as well as Chittenden County State Senate candidates and several local House candidates. The event is FREE (donations gladly accepted, however!) and starts at 5 PM and will go on until 8 PM. Come for 15 minutes or for the whole 3 hours. Wine, cheese, and other refreshments will be provided. Click HERE for a map.

2. Join Democrats from across Vermont at the VDP's Countdown to Change Victory Rally on Saturday, October 25, 5:30 p.m. at the Old Labor Hall in Barre, Vt. Just 10 days before the election, our Countdown to Change is the last opportunity for Democrats from around the state to come together and rally for Senator Barack Obama and all of our Democratic candidates. And, this year, all attendees of our Countdown to Change Victory Rally will receive a limited edition "Vermont for Obama/Biden" lawn sign. Click HERE for details and to reserve your ticket. Call or email Chris Brown with questions: cbrown@vtdemocrats.org or (802) 651-7153.

3. Volunteer at the VDP Campaign HQ on Bank St in Burlington (above Climb High) or at Obama-Biden HQ on North Ave. Make phone calls, stuff envelopes, etc, Your help is needed at either location.

4. Have more time? Help your local House candidate in your very own community. Contact Ben Palkowski at 651-3487 for more information.

With the polls for the Presidential race looking better now is NOT the time to become complacent! Gaye Symington and Tom Costellow still have difficult uphill battles and need our help. Democrats held a substantial majority in the House for the last 2 years, but we have a lot of contested, open seats this year which we can lose if we aren't careful. We need to work hard these last two weeks to get out the vote for our statewide, countywide and House candidates. So, if you have 1 hour or several over the next 2 weeks, please, please do something to help our candidates. This election cycle is the best we've had in the last 8 years to make a difference. Let's not blow it!

I had the privilege of driving down to NH this past weekend with Lucy Gluck and Gary Kowalski to campaign for Barack Obama, Jeanne Shaheen and Paul Hodes. It was an interesting day, including an encounter with a roadside ditch, AAA, and even a security guard. If I run into you in one of the locations above, I'll tell you about it.

Change is coming! Let's do it!

-- Regards,
Mike Yantachka
Chittenden County Democratic Committee Chairman

Support Chittenden County Democratic Candidates

2008-10-06T21:10:00.010-05:00

This is one of the most important elections of our lifetime! Active Democrats will be supporting the Democratic ticket from Barack Obama and Joe Biden at the top to our Justice of the Peace Candidates in our municipaites.

Our leadership team for Vermont:

Our Chittenden County State Senate team:

Our State Representative team:

BILL LIPPERT Hinesburg Chittenden 1-1
SCOTT A. ORR Charlotte Chittenden 1-2
TERRY MACAIG Williston Chittenden 2
JIM MCCULLOUGH Williston Chittenden 2
BILL ASWAD Burlington Chittenden 3-1
JOANNA E. COLE Burlington Chittenden 3-1
HELEN HEAD So. Burlington Chittenden 3-10
MARK LARSON Burlington Chittenden 3-2
JASON P. LORBER Burlington Chittenden 3-3
RACHEL WESTON Burlington Chittenden 3-3
PHILLIP ORTEGO Burlington Chittenden 3-4
KESHA RAM Burlington Chittenden 3-4
JOEY DONOVAN Burlington Chittenden 3-5
SUZI WIZOWATY Burlington Chittenden 3-5
KEN ATKINS Winooski Chittenden 3-6
CLEM BISSONNETTE Winooski Chittenden 3-6
FRANK J. GEIER So. Burlington Chittenden 3-7
ANN PUGH So. Burlington Chittenden 3-8
SONNY AUDETTE So. Burlington Chittenden 3-9
ANNE O'BRIEN Richmond Chittenden 4
KATE WEBB Shelburne Chittenden 5-1
JOAN G. LENES Shelburne Chittenden 5-2
DEBBIE EVANS Essex Chittenden 6-1
TIM JERMAN Essex Jct Chittenden 6-2
LINDA WAITE-SIMPSON Essex Jct Chittenden 6-2
MARTHA HEATH Westford Chittenden 6-3
JIM CONDON Colchester Chittenden 7-1
JOHN ZENIE Colchester Chittenden 7-1
KRISTY SPENGLER Colchester Chittenden 7-2
BILL FRANK Jericho Chittenden 8
GEORGE TILL Jericho Chittenden 8
TODD BUIK Milton Chittenden 9
REG GODIN Milton Chittenden 9

Contact the Vermont Democratic Party Campaign HQ (651-3487) 191 Bank St., Burlington, to volunteer or to reach any of the candidates.

Great video! Check it out!

2008-09-18T21:43:00.003-05:00

"Les Misbarack"

2008 General Election Campaign Kicked Off with Rally at UVM

2008-09-16T21:59:00.004-05:00

Chittenden County Democrats kicked off the 2008 general election campaign with a rally at UVM's Billings Student Center four days after the primary election. The rally was billed as a fundraiser for Democratic legislative candidates in the county. Congressman Peter Welch and Speaker of the House and gubernatorial candidate Gaye Symington were the headliners at the event. Also speaking were Lieutenant Governor candidate Tom Costello and Secretary of State Deb Markowitz. Around 100 people attended the event held in one of UVM's oldest halls. See photos of the rally here.

Post-Primary Campaign Kickoff Rally!

2008-09-04T11:23:00.006-05:00

With the Vermont Primary election on Tuesday, September 9th, the general election season will kick into gear as we head down the homestretch to November 4th and a Democratic Victory in Vermont.

With the general election in mind, the Chittenden County Democratic Committee invites you to join us in a Post-Primary Campaign Kickoff Rally at the UVM Billings Center on Saturday, September 13th, 6-8 PM. Our Chittenden County State Senate and House candidates will join Congressman Peter Welch, Gubernatorial Candidate Gaye Symington and Secretarty of State Deb Markowitz as honored guests.

A donation of $25 per person will be used to help our candidates that face Republican challengers in November. Help us keep and expand our Democratic majorities in the House and Senate, and let's give Gaye Symington and our Lieutenant Governor candidate, whom you will nominate this Tuesday, a big boost toward victory in November. We can't afford 2 more years of Jim Douglas and Brian Dubie and their vetoes.

You can make your donation now by using the "Donate" button to the right, or you can pay at the door. Thank you for your continued support.

Burlington Democratic Primary House Candidates on CCTV

2008-08-28T22:44:00.002-05:00

Candidates for the Vermont House in Burlington districts Chittenden 3-5 and 3-1 presented their cases on CCTV public access television recently. Their appearances are now available for viewing on the internet at http://www.cctv.org/node/63114. Chittenden 3-5 incumbents Bill Keough and Joey Donovan share their race with challenger Suzi Wizowaty. In Chittenden 3-1 incumbent Bill Aswad is in a 3-way race with Joanna Cole and Susan Wheeler for two seats, one of which is held by Republican Kurt Wright. Check out the link to help you make your decision in the Primary election that will be held on September 9th. Then come to the Chittenden County Democratic rally on September 13th at UVM's Billings Center to help the winners kick off their general election campaigns as we move forward to increase our Democratic majorities in the House and Senate and elect Gaye Symington Governor of Vermont!

Chittenden County Democrats News!!!

2008-08-16T19:40:00.006-05:00

Democratic Lieutenant Governor candidates Tom Costello and Nate Freeman will appear at our next Chittenden County Democrats meeting on Tuesday, August 19th, 7:00 PM, at the IBEW Union Training Hall, 3 Gregory Drive, South Burlington. This is the best opportunity you'll get to meet them before the September 9th primary. Come to the meeting and bring a friend.
Drumbeat for Change Celebration - An Obama Victory Fund-Raiser will be held at the Old Lantern on Greenbush Road in Charlotte on Sunday, August 24th, 5:30 - 10:30. Country barbecue, Obama film, music by the Meatpackers, and a live auction are included. $100 per adult, $75 per young-adult (18 - 25). 100% of proceeds to be donated to the Obama Victory Fund. Contact Jason Powell (jpowell@barackobama.com) for information or reservations.
Please sign up for our Champlain Valley Fair Booth. The Fair runs from 8/23 to 9/1. Each volunteer will receive a free admission ticket which includes parking. There will be 2 shifts each day, 10 AM to 4 PM and 4 PM to 10 PM. We hope to have 2 people per shift, which will allow volunteers to take a break occasionally while keeping the booth staffed per Fair regulations. To volunteer, call me (425-3960), Tom Obbagy (899-4520) or Dan Close (899-3547). Slots will be filled on a first-come basis, so call soon.
Last, but not least, get ready to take it to the next level with our POST-PRIMARY, PRE- VICTORY CAMPAIGN KICKOFF RALLY on Saturday, September 13th, 6 - 8 PM, at the UVM Billings Center in Burlington. We will have Congressman Peter Welch and Gubernatorial Candidate Gaye Symington as well as many other statewide, county-wide and local candidates on hand to pump up enthusiasm and raise money ($25/ticket) for our Chittenden County legislative candidates. This will be the biggest event of the year for the Chittenden County Democratic Party! So, Reserve the date! Contact Mike Yantachka (233-5238) or Sherry Mahady (999-9730) to reserve your ticket.

Chittenden County Democrats Show Schedules on CCTV

2008-07-17T22:57:00.004-05:00

Greetings from Channel 17/ Town Meeting TV: Chittenden County Democrats
With Guest Gaye Symington was recorded on 2008-06-02.
You can watch this program on Channel 17/ Town Meeting Television, on Comcast Cable and Burlington Telecom systems at the following times:
1) Thursday July 24, 5:45 AM
2) Thursday July 24, 11:45 AM
You may also watch the program on-line by clicking here: http://www.cctv.org/node/59238.

With Reps. Mark Larson nd Clem Bissonette on The State of Vermont's Economy was recorded on 2008-07-07.
You can watch this program on Channel 17/ Town Meeting Television, on Comcast Cable and Burlington Telecom systems at the following times:
1) Wednesday July 23, 10:35 PM
2) Thursday July 24, 3:35 AM
3) Thursday July 24, 9:35 AM
4) Thursday July 24, 3:35 PM
You may also watch the program on-line by clicking here: http://www.cctv.org/node/60343.

The show is also rebroadcast on LCATV and VCAM.
LCATV, Channel 16, serving Colchester, Milton and part of Franklin County, rebroadcasts CCD shows every Monday at 5:00PM & 11:00PM, Thursdays at 4:00AM, and Saturdays at 12:00AM & 11:00AM.
VCAM, Channel 17, serving Shelburne, Charlotte and Hinesburg, rebroadcasts CCD shows every Monday at 5:00PM, Wednesday at 12:00PM, and Saturday at 6:30PM.

Reps. Larson and Bissonette on Chittenden County Democrats Show

2008-07-06T22:47:00.003-05:00

The next Chittenden County Democrats show on Monday, July 7th, will feature State Representatives Mark Larson (Burlington), Vice-Chair of the House Appropriations Committee, and Clem Bissonette (Winooski), a member of the House Commerce Committee. Discussion is sure to center on the current state of Vermont's economy and the prognosis for the future. Be sure to tune in to CCTV, Channel 17, at 5:25 PM, for the live call-in show.

Chittenden County Democrats Show Rebroadcast Schedules

2008-07-06T22:10:00.005-05:00

Viewers of three of the county's public access TV stations now have the opportunity to see rebroadcasts of the Chittenden County Democrats show, which is recorded on the first Monday of each month at CCTV in Burlington. Last month's show, recorded on June 2nd, featured Democratic candidate for Governor, Gaye Symington. Speaker Symington talked about her candidacy, the achievements and disappointments of the recent legislative session and her goals for a Symington administration in Montpelier.

CCTV, Channel 17, serving Burlington, South Burlington, Essex and Winooski, will rebroadcast the show on Tuesday, July 8th at 10:10 PM, and Wednesday July 9 at 3:10AM, 9:10AM, and 3:10PM. LCATV, Channel 16, serving Colchester, Milton and part of Franklin County, rebroadcasts CCD shows every Monday at 5:00PM & 11:00PM, Thursdays at 4:00AM, and Saturdays at 12:00AM & 11:00AM. VCAM, Channel 17, serving Shelburne, Charlotte and Hinesburg, rebroadcasts CCD shows every Monday at 5:00PM, Wednesday at 12:00PM, and Saturday at 6:30PM.

Archived shows can also be listened to at the CCTV website http://www2.cctv.org/rss/index.php?cat=ChittendenDemocrats and viewed at http://www.cctv.org/chittenden-democrats-12.

Burlington Democrats Annual Picnic & Unity Action Day - June 21st

2008-06-16T19:29:00.002-05:00

The Burlington Democrats have their Annual Picnic scheduled for Saturday June 21 at the Ethan Allen Homestead in the Burlington Intervale from 12 Noon to 3 PM. The theme of this picnic is Unity Action Day.

Unity Action Day is the first part of an aggressive outreach plan to:
- reach out to supporters of each of the former candidates for President and ask them to join us.
- send postcards to local Democrats to encourage them to get involved in the presidential race and local campaigns
- get ready for the upcoming campaign season by recruiting new volunteers and re-uniting with old friends
- Have lots of FUN!

You don't have to bring anything, but we hope that you'll bring a friend or two.

VDP Coordinated Campaign HQ Opens

2008-06-06T14:03:00.003-05:00

The VT Democratic Party has opened its coordinated campaign HQ in Burlington. Be sure to drop in and get involved in our important work in whatever way you can. We cannot effect the type of real change Vermont and America need without your support. And, don't forget to update your address book with our new contact information:

Vermont Democratic Party Coordinated Campaign

191 Bank St., Suite 2

Burlington, VT 05401

(802) 651-3487

The office is on the second floor above the Climb High store on Bank Street. On-street parking is available or there is a city parking garage across the street on Bank Street. Our office is handicap accessible. And, we will also gladly accept donations of office furniture and equipment including tables, chairs, desks, computers, printers a refrigerator and a vacuum.

New Voter Registration Forms Beginning July 1st

2008-06-06T11:47:00.002-05:00

[Note: Current voter applications are fine to use through the month of June.]

Due to legislative changes, the current voter apps can only be used until the last day of June, 2008. Beginning on July 1, 2008, there will be NEW voter applications that reflect legislative changes.

As of July 1st, the Vermont Voter's Oath will be able to be self-administered and the new applications will be available. The Secretary of State's office will be happy to send you as many of the new ones as you'd like in July. ALL old applications must be discarded.

Contact:
Katie Lane-Karnas
Vermont Office of the Secretary of State
26 Terrace Street
Montpelier, VT 05609-1101
Phone: (802) 828-2464Fax: (802) 828-5171
www.sec.state.vt.us

Chalotte Democratic Committee Reorganizes

2008-06-06T11:07:00.002-05:00

Members of the Charlotte Democratic Committee met on June 3rd to reorganize. The Committee elected Darrilyn Peters as Chair, and Lorna Jimerson as Vice-Chair. Greg Cluff will remain as Secretary and Art Ridge as Treasurer.

Chittenden County Democrats Show to Host Gaye Symington

2008-06-01T14:32:00.006-05:00

Gaye Symington, Democratic candidate for Governor, will be our guest on the Chittenden County Democrats Show on Monday, June 2nd. The show is broadcast live at 5:25 PM on the first Monday of each month on CCTV Channel 17 and is a call-in program. The show is rebroadcast several times during the month on CCTV and also on Saturdays and Mondays on LCATV Channel 16. And now, it will be available to watch from the CCTV website, http://www.cctv.org/search/node/Chittenden+County+Democrats, usually within a week of production. Several programs are already archived for viewing.

We hope you'll tune in and call in on Monday, or if not, will check out the program on the CCTV website in a couple of days.

CCDC Elects New Secretary

2008-05-23T12:33:00.002-05:00

The Chittenden County Democratic Committee elected a new Secretary at the May 12th meeting to fill the position vacated by Thomas Walsh, who resigned due to expanded job-related responsibilities. Our new Secretary is Sherry Mahady. Sherry's day job is with Vermont Public Radio, working in Membership and Development. Previously, she had worked at several educational institutions. Her hobbies include archaeology, genealogy, jewelry-making and other crafts. Welcome to the team, Sherry!

David W. Curtis Awards Dinner Highlights

2008-04-30T22:58:00.002-05:00

Those of us who were able to attend the David W. Curtis Awards Dinner last Friday at the Hilton found it to be a terrific affair with many inspiring speakers, including U.S. Senators Leahy and Sanders, Congressman Welch, Gov. Kunin, Speaker Gaye Symington, State Senator Doug Racine, and the featured speaker, U.S. Senator Chris Dodd (CT). If you haven't read about it by now, the crowd was highly enthusiastic to have Gaye proclaim her candidacy in the race for Governor. Wisely, I think, she is waiting until the legislative session is finished to announce her decision. Our Vice-Chair, Robert Ready, videotaped most of the speeches and turned the tape over to the VDP. You can see excerpts of the speeches here.

TOM SALMON Re-Election Kick-off in Burlington

2008-04-08T09:30:00.002-05:00

PLEASE JOIN TOM SALMON FOR THE KICK-OFF OF HIS RE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN AT 6:30 THIS FRIDAY IN BURLINGTON AT THE FIREHOUSE GALLERY (151 CHURCH STREET)

Salmon for Auditor
P.O. Box 341
Bellows Falls, VT 05101
www.salmonforauditor.com
March 19, 2008

Dear Friend,
I am pleased to be writing to you to announce my decision to seek re-election as Vermont’s State Auditor. After an intense campaign and a rollercoaster recount I have settled into doing the people’s work at the Auditor’s Office.

These are not ordinary financial times. As your State Auditor, I have worked to improve process, financial communication, training and reliable reporting across the State. With full commitment, our staff has been able to produce many useful internal and external reports to help State government function more effectively while saving taxpayer dollars.

A cooperative, honest dialogue has enabled the office to address various state, local and municipal issues in a unemotional, productive manner.

I tell everyone I meet that this is the best job in government to foster accountability and process improvement. That is why I am excited and energized to be running again for State Auditor. I look forward to continuing the important work of the Auditor’s Office begun over the last fifteen months and hope you can support me in my campaign.

Please join me on April 11, 2008, in either Bellows Falls, Barre or Burlington to celebrate the formal announcement of my candidacy for Auditor in the 2008 Election.

Sincerely,

Thomas M. Salmon, CPA

Pearls of Wisdom and Humor

2008-04-02T20:55:00.005-05:00

The Evening with Gov. Madeleine Kunin was attended by more than 30 guests at the South Burlington Senior Center last Friday evening. Guests schmoozed amid delicious cheese, fruit, salsa and crackers, hors d'oeuvres, and hot and cold beverages provided by Catering by Dale as they waited for the program to begin.

Representative Jason Lorber kicked off the program as he introduced Gov. Kunin, Rep. Gaye Symington, VDP Executive Director Jill Krowinski and a number of other legislators in the audience. He quickly transitioned into humor-mode as he told about his first run for political office. Before introducing standup comedian Josie Leavitt, he called on several members of the audience to select the winning tickets for a number of door prizes including a gift basket, a copy of Gov. kunin's first book, Living a Political Life, and an Eco-Bag.

Josie Leavitt, co-owner of the Flying Pig Bookstore in Shelburne Village, gave a 15 minute performance of her renowned comedy act. Leavitt has performed not only in Burlington-area nightspots, but in New York City clubs as well. She delved into some political humor as well as environmental humor as she recounted incidents in her personal experiences. Her humorous tales left the audience laughing and smiling.

Gov. Kunin said she initially had some misgivings about following a couple of comedians, but thought back to her days in the legislature and felt it wasn't such a stretch after all. Introducing her newly published book, Pearls, Poltics & Power, she talked seriously about her research into the roles of women in politics across the globe as well as in the United States and came up with some pretty interesting statistics. 16% was a number that kept cropping up over and over again. It represents the percentage of women in the U.S. Congress, the percentage of women in top corporate positions, and the percentage of women in the lower houses of Parliament worldwide.

She also talked about the factors women take into consideration when deciding to run for office and how we can encourage more women to take part in public life. Among the many national and international figures she spoke about, she included several local women including Representatives Helen Head, Rachel Weston and Speaker Gaye Symington, all of whom are mentioned in the book.

A question and answer period followed, providing audience members an opportunity to share their views. The evening ended with everyone feeling their time was well spent, and those who purchased copies of Gov. Kunin's book were able to have their copies autographed by her. You can view photos of the event here.

You're Invited to Meet with Gov. Madeleine Kunin!

2008-03-23T22:51:00.003-05:00

Join us this Friday, March 28th, for an interesting and informative evening with a good dose of fun as well. Come to the Pines Senior Living Community in South Burlington and meet with Gov. Madeleine Kunin, who will talk about her experiences in politics and government and read from her new book, and enjoy the humor of Comedians Josie Leavitt and Jason Lorber. This is a fundraiser for the Chittenden County Democratic Party, so your contribution will help our candidates in November as well. Page down a couple of articles for more information. Call today to let us know you’ll be there -- Marcella at 985-8479 or Wendy at 482-5888. We're counting on you!

Presidential Delegate Selection Caucuses Scheduled

2008-03-05T21:58:00.012-05:00

On Saturday, March 22nd, towns all around Vermont will hold caucuses to select delegates for Barak Obama and Hillary Clinton to the State Convention on May 24th in Barre. The caucus times and locations for Chittenden County are the following:

Bolton: [No caucus scheduled]
Burlington: 09:00 AM Champlain Elementary School, 800 Pine St.
Charlotte: 10:30 AM Charlotte Town Office
Colchester: 11:00 AM Old Colchester Meeting House
Essex Junction: 02:00 PM Brownell Library
Hinesburg: 09:30 AM Town Clerk's Office
Huntington: [No caucus scheduled]
Jericho: 10:00 AM Jericho Clerk's Office
Milton: 10:00 AM Milton Grange
Richmond: 02:00 PM Richmond Free Library
St. George: 04:00 PM St. George Town Hall
Shelburne: 04:00 PM Shelburne Town Office Rm 2
S. Burlington: 10:00 AM So Burlington City Hall
Underhill: 10:00 AM Underhill Town Hall
Westford: 10:30 AM Westford Town Clerks Office
Williston: 11:00 AM Dorothy Alling Memorial Library
Winooski: 10:00 AM Senior Center near St. Stephen's Church

To learn more about how the caucuses will be conducted and how you can become a delegate to the state convention, go to the VDP website: http://vtdemocrats.org/index.php?id=1912. If you have further questions about your town's caucus, contact your town or city Chair. You can find him/her in the list at the sidebar on the right above the calendar. If you live in Bolton or Huntington and would like to help organize a caucus in your town, please contact County Chair Mike Yantachka.

Chittenden County Democrats Celebrate Mardi Gras!

2008-02-24T00:16:00.002-05:00

There was no lack of enthusiasm as Democrats from all over Chittenden County, supporters of Hillary Clinton and supporters of Barak Obama alike, joined together in the Mardi Gras Parade in Burlington, VT, on a beautiful Saturday afternoon February 23rd, 2008. View the photos at http://picasaweb.google.com/chittdems/MardiGras08.

Gov. Madeleine Kunin to Speak

2008-02-20T22:33:00.004-05:00

The Chittenden County Democratic Committee will host an evening with Gov. Madeleine Kunin on March 28th in South Burlington. Gov. Kunin will read from her new book "Pearls Politics & Power: How Women Can Win and Lead" and talk about the women who inspired her to write the book and about her own experiences as a successful leader in Vermont and at the national level. Gov. Kunin also served as Undersecretary of Education and as the U.S. Ambassador to Switzerland during the Clinton administration.

Joining Gov. Kunin will be Rep. Jason P. Lorber of Burlington, who will act as Master of Ceremonies, and Comedian Josie Leavitt of Charlotte. Appetizers and desserts will be provided by Catering By Dale, and door prizes will be given away to guests. The Flying Pig Bookstore of Shelburne will supply copies of Gov. Kunin's book for sale, and Gov. Kunin will be available to autograph them.

This event will take place from 7 to 9 PM at The Pines Senior Living Community, 7 Aspen Drive, South Burlington, on Friday, March 28th. Tickets cost $35 and will benefit the Chittenden County Democratic Committee. Tickets may be purchased by contacting Marcella Chiarello (985-8479) or Wendy Patterson (482-5888). Tickets will also be available at the door, but reservations are strongly encouraged and will be appreciated.

NRG Founder Addresses Energy Crisis

2008-01-30T13:04:00.001-05:00

At a meeting of the Chittenden County Democrats on Tuesday, January 21st, David Blittersdorf, who founded NRG Systems in Hinesburg, spoke about the global energy crisis and the decining ability to sustain our dependence on fossil fuels. His Powerpoint presentation traced the use of fossil fuels and its correlation in the rise of the earth's population. Several points were made:

The use of fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas) created better living conditions and higher production rates of food and goods, which in turn supported an exponential increase in the world's population.
In 1750 the world population was around 800 million. Since the beginning of the industrial revolution circa 1850, the global population grew from about 1.2 billion people to more than 6 billion.
By 2050, at the current exponential rate of growth, the global population would reach 9.5 billion people, which is about the limit of sustainability.
The discovery of fossil fuels, which are nature's storage of solar energy captured over a hundred million years, peaked around 1980, i.e., there are fewer and fewer sources available and production capacity is now declining.
As fuel prices increase, it is becoming more economically feasible to use less efficient extraction techniques to mine existing "exhausted" sources. However, it is taking more energy to accomplish the extraction.
Nuclear energy, while purported to be "clean", i.e. zero carbon emissions, requires a huge amount of energy expenditure to extract, process, and transport the uranium fuel. Furthermore, there is the problem of what to do with the resulting nuclear waste.
We have to concentrate on making renewable energy sources a larger part of the energy pie.
Wind energy has a much higher energy efficiency than either coal or nuclear (about 40% compared to 35%).
Wind energy is reliable. There is at least some energy generation 70% - 90% of the time at good wind sites, and wind turbines are mechanically available 98% of the time.
The cost of wind energy is between 5 and 9 cents per kilowatt-hour, comparable to hydro or nuclear power.
The Energy Return on Investment (EROI) is very good, between 30 and 80 times over the life of a wind powerplant.

Blittersdorf also said that wind turbine production has a 2-year backlog. Wind turbine manufacturing is an industry well suited to creating jobs in the U.S. because of the high quality requirements for gears and the high cost of shipping if they were to be manufactured overseas. He concluded that we need to re-orient our energy economy toward renewable and clean energy sources such as hydro and wind power. On an individual level, good insulation and solar hot water panels are probably the most cost-effective energy investments for homeowners, and are subsidized by federal and state tax credits.

At the beginning of the meeting Chairman Mike Yantachka also reviewed the proposed budget for the Chittenden County Democratic Committee and announced a Jefferson-Jackson fundraising event that will be held on March 28th. Gov. Madeleine Kunin will headline the event and talk about her new book, which will hit bookstores in March.

Chittenden County Democrats Show Comes to LCATV

2008-01-14T22:28:00.000-05:00

Lake Champlain Access Television (LCATV), broadcasting to Colchester, Milton and Georgia (Franklin Co.), is now broadcasting CCTV's "Chittenden County Democrats" show, hosted by Senator Jim Condos and Chittenden County Democratic Chair Mike Yantachka. This month's program features an engaging interview with Vermont's Attorney General Bill Sorrell (recorded 1/7) and will air this week in at the following times:
Monday, 1/14: 5pm; 11pm
Thursday, 1/17: 4am
Saturday, 1/19: 12am, 11am

Congratulations to Grassroots Allstars Chris & Marcella Chiarello!

2007-12-12T15:12:00.000-05:00

Chris and Marcella Chiarello of Shelburne have just been named Grassroots Allstars by the Vermont Democratic Party. Marcella, the Chittenden County Democratic Committee's State Committeewoman, and her husband Chris have been involved in many forward-thinking groups in both Shelburne and Chittenden County. Their initiatives have included organizing events for energy awareness, health care, and voter identification. They are active members of the Shelburne Democratic Committee and Chittenden South Democracy For America (CSDFA) and can be found often at the DFA headquarters in South Burlington.

"Chris and Marcella are models of Vermont progressive activism," says former Chittenden County Democrats Vice Chair Will Wiquist, who nominated the Chiarellos. "They are involved and take effective leadership rolls where needed. They both talk the talk and walk the walk. I for one greatly appreciate their effort and time."

You can read more about Chris and Marcella's work and some of their tips for successful organizing at the VDP website: http://vtdemocrats.org/index.php?id=1873.

Congratulations, Chris and Marcella!

What is a Caucus?

2007-12-05T10:38:00.000-05:00

Channel 17 Town Meeting Television, serving Burlington, South Burlington, Winooski and Essex Junction, has produced a show called "What Is a Caucus". Footage of the Democratic, Republican and Progressive parties' reorganization caucuses which were held in October, including keynote speakers and comments from the party Chairs, will be broadcast at various times during the months of November and December. The broadcast schedule is
Wed, Nov 28, 2007 at 11:30:00 PM
Thu, Nov 29, 2007 at 4:30:00 AM
Thu, Nov 29, 2007 at 10:30:00 AM
Thu, Nov 29, 2007 at 4:30:00 PM
Thu, Nov 29, 2007 at 6:30:00 PM
Tue, Dec 11, 2007 at 0:26:00 AM
Tue, Dec 11, 2007 at 5:26:00 AM
Tue, Dec 11, 2007 at 11:26:00 AM
Tue, Dec 11, 2007 at 6:15:00 PM

Channel 17 also hosts the monthly Chittenden County Democrats show on the first Monday of each month at 5:25 PM. This show is also rebroadcast several times during subsequent weeks. Plans are in the works to also have the show rebroadcast on LCATV Channel 16, serving northern Chittenden County including Colchester, Milton and Westford, as well as on VCAM Channel 15, serving southern Chittenden County including Shelburne, Hinesburg and parts of Charlotte. Rebroadcast times will be posted at this website as they are received.

Bill Mares to Speak in Charlotte

2007-11-25T23:15:00.000-05:00

The Charlotte, Shelburne and Hinesburg Democratic Committees are hosting an Evening with Bill Mares this coming Thursday on the topic American Foreign Policy: How Do We Look AT, and TO, the Rest of the World?

Local author, marathon runner, former legislator and CVU teacher, Bill Mares, will share some of his thoughts and lead discussion about ways to understand American foreign policy. So mark your calendars. This should be a thought-provoking, informative, and fun evening, and a good opportunity to catch up with neighbors and meet new friends.

St. George Reorganization Caucus Held

2007-11-10T00:52:00.000-05:00

St. George Democrats got together for a reorganization caucus on November 1st and elected the following officers:
Chair: George Young
Vice-Chair: Tom Carlson
Secretary: Tom Carlson
Treasurer: Steve Faust
Asst Treasurer: Mary Alice Favro
County Committee Delegates: Tom Carlson and Steve Faust

Democrats in St. George who would like to get involved are encouraged to contact Chairman George Young via email: gyoung20@aol.com.

A Commentary

2007-11-10T00:46:00.000-05:00

I have no formal training in International Relations or Foreign Policy, and I admit to being bored and inattentive in Sociology.

We know now that Mr. Musharaf is nothing but a lousy dictator. He seemed to be OK as long as he was OUR chosen dictator. We supported the Shah in Iran, Saddam Hussein in Iraq, numerous South American and African yahoos, and the really expensive one: South Vietnam. We even had the CIA assassinate some of these guys opponents. Did these guys become dictators BECAUSE of our support, or did we support them BECAUSE they were already dictators? Are there any other choices here?

Was there a Foreign Policy shift right after WW2? If there WAS NOT, why didn't we support Hitler & Mussolini?

Since I have none of the aforementioned training or experience, I humbly ask the question: Why do the majority of citizens in these countries apparently dislike us and exercise ill will towards us? After all, we are only being consistent.

The older I get, the less I seem to know, or is it the less I understand?
Art Ridge
Charlotte Democratic Committee Treasurer

House Campaign Fundraiser Held

2007-10-31T22:35:00.000-05:00

The Vermont Democratic House Campaign made its way into southern Chittenden County this week. Charlotte Democratic Committee Vice-Chair Ron Miller and his wife, Jill Wolcott, hosted Speaker Gaye Symington (Jericho) and Representatives Joan Lenes (Shelburne), Bill Lippert (Hinesburg), and Scott Orr (Charlotte), along with dozens of local supporters at their McNeil Cove home. Speaker Symington spoke about the landmark legislation that was passed this past year in the areas of education, child sex-abuse prevention, global warming, and campaign finance reform among others. She contrasted the cooperation the legislature got from the Douglas administration on some of the bills with its resistance on others.

Rep. Orr described the big difference between the Governor's rhetoric and his actions. For example, the Governor failed to fund Children's Services in its budget presented to the legislature, but then took credit for it in a big signing ceremony after the legislature restored the funds. Similarly, the Douglas has been quick to praise the Vermont Energy Efficiency Corporation when speaking to out-of-state groups, but worked against its expansion to include all fuels. Reps. Lippert and Lenes also spoke of their work on the Judiciary and Institutions committees, respectively.

The audience was engaged and asked many questions of and offered varied opinions to the legislators after their initial comments. Reps. Helen Head (So. Burlington) and Floyd Nease (Johnson) also attended the gathering. Money raised during the evening will be used during the 2008 election to expand the Democratic majority in the House.

County Reorg Caucus Results

2007-10-27T13:08:00.000-05:00

The caucus held on Wednesday evening at Contois Auditorium was well attended and ended early enough for attendees to catch the opening pitch of Boston Red Sox-Colorado Rockies World Series on TV. The election of officers resulted in the following:

Chair: Mike Yantachka (Charlotte)
Vice-Chair: Robert Ready (Colchester)
Secretary: Thomas Walsh (South Burlington)
Treasurer: Ken Brown (Hinesburg)
Asst. Treasurer: Wendy Patterson (Hinesburg)
State Committeewoman: Marcella Chiarello (Shelburne)
State Committeeman: Tom Obbagy (Jericho)
Alternate State Committee Delegates: Mary Sullivan, Steve Boyan, Joanna Cole (all Burlington)

The keynote speaker of the evening was Jill Krowinski, Executive Director of the Vermont Democratic Party. She encouraged everyone to get actively involved with the various opportunities to further the message and goals of the VDP. These opportunities include the Media Corps, which informs participants about important issues for letters to the editor, the Douglas-watch project, and the voter file project.

A fund-raiser raffle was held for a bottle of Charlotte Village Winery Merlot, a huge jar of Coyote Ridge Apiary honey, and 20% of the take of raffle ticket sales.

We need you to help with several "task-forces" or subcommittees, including planning, fund-raising, and voter file coordination. So, contact Chairman Mike Yantachka or Vice Chair Robert Ready if you would like to help in any of these ways.

COUNTY REORGANIZATION CAUCUS

2007-10-17T23:01:00.000-05:00

When: Wed, Oct 24, 2007, 7PM
Where: Contois Auditorium in City Hall, 149 Church Street, Burlington map

Our biennial reorganization caucus will be held at Contois Auditorium, City Hall, Burlington, VT, at 7:00 PM. County Committee Delegates elected at the local caucuses will elect officers for the next two years. While a number of officers are running again, there are some vacancies. If you have an interest in becoming an officer, I would be happy to hear from you ahead of time. Nominations will also be accepted from the floor. If you are interested in being considered for an officer position, please come to the meeting prepared with a person to nominate you and another person to second the nomination. We welcome your participation in this process.

We will also have the privilege of hearing from both the VDP Executive Director, Jill Krowinski, and the current State Committee Chairman, Ian Carleton, during the meeting. Although only delegates will have voting privileges at the caucus, everyone is welcome to attend and become involved in the work of the Democratic Party at the county level.

For more information, contact me, County Chair Mike Yantachka, at miyantach@hotmail.com or 425-3960.

Chittenden County Democrats Talk about Cervical Cancer on Ch 17

2007-10-10T12:43:00.000-05:00

On October 1, 2007, the Chittenden County Democrats call-in show on Channel 17 featured Rep. Denise Barnard of Richmond, who spoke about her efforts to obtain state funding for an HPV immunization program. Human Pappiloma Virus (HPV) affects women by causing cervical cancer. The pharmaceutical company Merck has developed a vaccine called Gardasil that can be administered to non-pregnant girls and women between the ages of 9 and 26 as prevention against 4 different types of HPV.

While the show was taped on October 1st, it will be rebroadcast at the following dates and times in Burlington, South Burlington, Winooski and Essex:
Mon, Oct 15, 2007 at 9:30:00 PM
Tue, Oct 16, 2007 at 2:30:00 AM
Tue, Oct 16, 2007 at 8:30:00 AM
Tue, Oct 16, 2007 at 2:30:00 PM.

Our next show, which will be broadcast live at 5:25 PM on November 5th, will feature Chittenden County State's Attorney Thomas J. Donovan.

THE VERMONT DEMOCRATIC PARTY NEEDS YOUR HELP

2007-09-29T22:01:00.000-05:00

Autumn Harvest Rally Phonebanks -
We need help to turn out folks for the Vermont Democrats' big Fall rally. We are having a phone bank in South Burlington on Thursday, October 4th, from 5:30-8PM at 38 Eastwood Drive, Suite 300.

These are easy calls to friendly people. Please email Linda Weiss (lweiss@vtdemocrats.org) if you can help.

Thursday October 4
5:30-8pm

Stand with the Burmese People!

2007-09-29T20:56:00.000-05:00

After decades of military dictatorship, the people of Burma are rising – and they need our help. Marches begun by monks and nuns snowballed, bringing hundreds of thousands to the streets. Now the crackdown has begun, but the protests are spreading...When the Burmese last marched in 1988, the military massacred thousands. If the world stands up and supports their struggle, this time they could win.

In a race against time, Avaaz.org has created an online petition that targets the dictatorship's main backer, China, in a global advertising campaign, delivering the petition to the UN Secretary-General, advertising it in newspapers around the world, and broadcasting it to the Burmese people via radio. You can sign the petition here: http://www.avaaz.org/en/stand_with_burma/tf.php?CLICK_TF_TRACK

County Reorganization to Take Place October 24th

2007-09-24T23:04:00.000-05:00

Now that the town and city caucuses have been held, it's time to get ready for the county reorganization meeting. It will be held on Wednesday, October 24th, 7:00PM, at the Contois Auditorium, City Hall, in Burlington. Delegates to the County Democratic Committee elected at the various local caucuses should plan to attend this first important meeting of the biennium to elect County Committee officers and delegates to the Vermont Democratic Committee. We also hope to organize a number of subcommittees to assist with planning the budget, organizing events, and media communications. Keep an eye on this website for further information.

We're "famous"

2007-09-20T12:30:00.000-05:00

Peter Freyne of Seven Days posted a "story" on his blog about the Democratic reorganization caucus in Burlington last night. Congratulations to new Chairman Jake Perkinson, Vice Chair Elisa Nelson and Secretary Eli Lesser-Goldsmith. Dare I call it a Dream Team? So far so good in the process of party reorganization in Chittenden County. If you have any stories or news, please share.

Jericho Caucus Scheduled

2007-09-11T22:15:00.001-05:00

The Jericho Democratic reorganization caucus will be Tuesday, September 25 at 6:30 pm in the Jericho Town Clerk's office, 67 Vermont Route 15, Jericho. For more information, contact Town Chair Deb Fitzgerald, 899-4965.

Williston and Westford Caucuses Scheduled

2007-09-11T09:20:00.000-05:00

The Williston Democratic reorganization caucus will be Tuesday, September 18 at 7 pm in the Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, 21 Library Lane, Williston. Contact Town Chair Ted Kenney for more info - 878-0238.

The Westford Democratic reorganization caucus will be Thursday, September 20 at 7 pm in the Westford Town Clerk's office, 1713 Vt Rte 128, Westford. Contact Town Chair Chris O'Donnel for more info - 878-2302.

2007-09-06T22:38:00.000-05:00

Milton Caucus Scheduled - 9/18, 7:00 PM - Milton Jr/Sr High School Library

The Milton Democratic caucus reorganization will be Tuesday, September 18 at 7 pm in the Milton Junior/Senior High School library. TJ Donovan will be our guest at 7:30 pm and will provide an update on programs and initiatives implemented by his office.

Reorganization Caucuses Update

2007-09-05T15:36:00.000-05:00

This month, towns all over Vermont are working on reorganizing their own town Democratic committee. Please attend your town's caucus, encourage your neighbors to attend, and maybe even consider running for a leadership position.Here's the list of town caucuses scheduled right now.

If you do NOT see your town on this, please contact County Chair Mike Yantachka. We may be working to schedule the time & place and will update this post once that is complete, or we are looking for someone to take a lead on scheduling the caucus.

Sept. 4th, 7 pm - Richmond, Richmond Library
Sept. 10th, 7 pm - South Burlington, Sonny Audette Public Works Building, Patchen Rd
Sept. 11th, 7 pm - Shelburne, Shelburne Town Offices
Sept. 18th, 6 pm - Winooski Senior Center
Sept. 18th, 7 pm - Underhill, Underhill Town Hall
Sept. 18th, 7 pm - Charlotte, Charlotte Town Office
Sept. 18th, 7 pm - Meeting House Downstairs, Main St.
Sept. 19th, 7 pm - Burlington, Contois Auditorium in Town Hall
Sept. 19th, 7:30 pm - Hinesburg, Hinesburg Town Clerk's Office
Sept. 20th, 7 pm - Essex, Essex Free Library

Please keep an eye on the county party calendar for more updates on these caucus and information about other local events. Please contact us if you have any events you would like publicized.

Re-organization caucuses

2007-09-03T20:25:00.000-05:00

Sept. 5th, 7pm - Richmond
Sept. 10th, 7pm - South Burlington
Sept. 11th, 7pm - Shelburne
Sept. 18th, 7pm - Underhill
Sept. 18th, 7:30pm - Hinesburg
Sept. 18th, 7pm - Charlotte
Sept. 19th, 7pm - Burlington
Sept. 20th, 7pm - Essex

Please keep an eye on the county party calendar for more updates on these caucus and information about other local events. Please contact us if you have any events you would like publicized.

Presidential campaigns in Vermont

2007-08-17T18:23:00.000-05:00

The recent fundraiser in Norwich, VT for Senator Barack Obama has me thinking a bit more about the presidential primary, the historical significance of this election cycle, and Vermonters' potential role it it all. First, I want to remind people that this election is different. "Frontrunners" this time are not like frontrunners previous years. There is not a sitting vice president running (thank god). There isn't an incumbent president running (ditto). It's an open field and we should approach it that way. I hope that the media will also start giving some air time to some of the "second tier" candidates who nonetheless are very qualified.

Second, Vermonters should take an active role this time around. If we can volunteer in NH and make a palpable impact, campaigns will start to understand the sway Vermont can have in the primary. While we do not have much influence with our own votes, we can be a power knocking on doors across the CT river. So, if you are committed to a certain candidate, try to get involved. Try to get others involved. Maybe we can have a proxy debate in Chitt. County?

Here's what I know about the Democratic campaigns' presence in Vermont:
Vermonters for Obama
Vermonters for Bill Richardson (headed by our Colchester Representative Jim Condon)

Let me know if you have any other groups going for the other candidates. Clinton? Kucinich? Anyone.

-Will

County Democrats Meeting - Monday, 8/13/07

2007-08-10T21:00:00.000-05:00

The Chittenden County Democrats will meet on Monday, August 13, 2007, at 7:00 PM, in the IBEW Union Training Hall, 3 Gregory Drive, South Burlington.

The meeting will be devoted to how to organize a Democratic Party reorganization caucus in your town. The major political parties are required by Vermont statute to reorganize during every odd-numbered year. Town and city caucuses are scheduled in September, county caucuses in October and the state caucus in November.

The reorg caucus elects local Democratic Committee officers and delegates to the County Democratic Committee. The caucuses are open to all registered voters in the municipality who identify with the Democratic Party.

We will also discuss a possible FUN-draising event for November, based on a number of ideas provided by the VDP staff.

Please join us as we lay the groundwork for a Democratic victory in 2008.
Mike Yantachka, County Chair

Your Town's Democratic Committee

2007-08-09T15:06:00.000-05:00

We continue to work on the reorganization of town Democratic committees throughout Chittenden County. This is a statutory obligation of Vermont's major political parties. We still need your help. Please keep track of this web site so you don't miss out on when and where your town's caucus is. We'll post that info as soon as we have it. It should be on or around September 18th, so get ready.

In the meantime, we will meet briefly on Monday, August 13th at the IBEW meeting hall on 3 Gregory Drive in South Burlington at 7pm. Please show up. We will discuss progress on reorg. and field questions about the process, along with any other topics that might come up.

Channel 17 Chittenden County Democrats Show - Aug 6, 2007

2007-08-07T23:04:00.001-05:00

The Chittenden County Democrats host a live call-in show the first Monday of every month. The latest show, recorded on August 6th, featured County Chair Mike Yantachka as host and State Rep. Jason Lorber (D-Burlington) and County Vice-Chair Will Wiquist. The topics discussed included the legislature's work on Institutions and Corrections as well as the upcoming Democratic Party re-organization caucuses. The program is recorded live with an opportunity for viewers to call in. We had several calls that pertained to the featured topics as well as to the new method for property tax rebates. The show will be re-broadcast several times during the month as follows:
Wed, Aug 8, 2007 at 4:15:00 PM
Fri, Aug 10, 2007 at 9:50:00 PM
Sat, Aug 11, 2007 at 2:50:00 AM
Sat, Aug 11, 2007 at 8:50:00 AM
Sat, Aug 11, 2007 at 2:50:00 PM
Unfortunately, the show is available only in Burlington, South Burlington, Winooski and Essex Town/Junction. So, tune in if you can and check it out.

Re-Org Training Session

2007-07-23T22:14:00.000-05:00

Making sure your town has an organized Democratic committee is the foundation of Democratic involvement in Vermont. The first step, and arguably the most important, is organizing your town. Vermont political parties "reorganize" themselves every other year. If you have any interest in being town chair, vice chair or even just understanding and participating in this process, please plan to attend the reorganization/caucusing training session

What: Chittenden County Democrats Reorganization/Causing Training
Who: anyone interested
When: Thursday, July 26th at 7pm
Where: Friends' Meeting House on 173 North Prospect Street in Burlington.

Vermont Democratic Party Organizing Director Linda Weiss will lead the training. Everyone is welcome to attend. Again, I strongly encourage anyone interested in participating in this process to attend this training. It is very important.

The reorganization/caucusing date is fast approaching. Town Democratic Committees will meet on or around September 18th. Get your neighbors and help your town.

Join your town Democratic committee

2007-07-18T19:49:00.000-05:00

That's right, it's that time again. Vermont's political parties are required by law to "reorganize" once every two years. Basically, on or around Sept. 18th, each town will have a caucus to organize its town Democratic committee. This is the chance to get involved on the most fundamental level, run for an office on your town committee (if you're willing to put in the time!) or just sit in on the meeting. We will post more details later on this website. If you forget to check that out, you will also be able to find out the information in the obligatory posting in your town offices prior to the meeting.

We really hope to see you there. If you'd like more information about town offices, please contact the County Vice Chair Will Wiquist

Thank you Tom!

2007-07-10T14:02:00.000-05:00

State Auditor Tom Salmon was nice enough to sit down with the Chittenden County Democrats yesterday evening. He answered a variety of questions and showed he's no slouch when it comes to the accounting profession. The weather was terrible, so we'll forgive those who didn't make it. But please join us on August 13th for our next get together.

Wait... we won? Go Vermont!

2007-07-10T13:55:00.000-05:00

It was just announced: Vermont's very own little Springfield will play host to the national premier of the Simpson's Movie. Yes, our springfield will have the makers of the movie in-town, the yellow carpet (I stole that pun from the A.P.) and all the other trappings of fame. One step closer to being the east coast's Beverly Hills. Granted, that starts of the movie are cartoon characters so it's not quite Johnny Depp on the red carpet, but it should be a lot of fun. Congratulations Springfield VERMONT and thank you to all the people who put in so much time on putting together the great video that won it.

Meet Tom Salmon on Monday

2007-07-05T18:02:00.000-05:00

Last election, Tom Salmon was the only candidate in Vermont to beat an incumbent for state-wide office. Tom won one of the closest races in Vermont's history, including the first statewide recount in many years.

Tom is now 6 months into his first term as State Auditor of Accounts and, by all accounts, he is doing a great job. Tom will visit with the Chittenden County Democrats this Monday, July 9th, at the IBEW meeting hall on 3 Gregory Drive in South Burlington. The meeting and discussion with begin at 7pm. Be sure to come around back to enter the building. Tom will discuss what he has been up to since being sworn in, issues that are on his plate, and what needs to be done to be sure he wins more easily next time.

Vote for OUR Springfield

2007-07-03T13:16:00.000-05:00

Come on Vermont: let's bring the Simpsons Movie to Springfield, VERMONT. Go to the web site, watch the great video and vote for our very own Springfield. Note: I had to use Internet Explorer rather than Mozilla.

Ok, I admit this is not politics and has nothing to do with either party. I just thought this was a lot of fun and it would be great to get some attention nationally for Springfield. No doubt it's the underdog in the race, and who doesn't love an underdog!

Support your Local AND State Democrats TODAY

2007-06-21T22:00:00.000-05:00

If you would like to support the Vermont Democratic Party AND the Chittenden County Democrats by making small monthly contributions, you can do so by making a People Powered Pledge. During the month of June, 25% of what you donate to the VDP through the People Powered Pledge will be set aside for the county of your choice -- hopefully Chittenden. Click here to make a pledge.

Ankeney picnic wrap-up

2007-06-18T19:10:00.000-05:00

The Chittenden County Democrats enjoyed a beautiful afternoon at the Ankeney farm in St. George last Saturday. Speaker Symington gave a funny, interesting, and short (!!!) speech. Peter Freyne had a nice write-up about our event.

Mike Strizki, Chief Technology Officer of Renewable Energy International, drove up from New Jersey to talk with local Dems about the technology he has developed and its ramifications for our country's energy future. His demonstration with his hydrogen-powered toys and his presentation on how he developed his H2/Solar system to power his own home gave us an insight into the possibilities for our energy future. It was certainly an eye-opener considering that all we’ve heard about H2 technology until now was that it is impractical. Mike effectively demonstrated that is indeed practical if we could only turn our focus on making it affordable through mass production.

We were excited to also see Treasurer Jeb Spaulding, Senators Jim Condos, Ginny Lyons and Hinda Miller, and Representatives Helen Head, Jim Condon, Reg Godin, Joan Lenes and Scott Orr. See more photos at Chittenden Dems Ankeney Picnic 2007 .

We are grateful for the support that Cyndi Bingham, Jean Ankeney’s daughter, and her husband, Web, have given us in putting on this annual event.

If you couldn't make it, we'd love to see you at our next event - and we'd love your help with a contribution through the People Powered Pledge program.

Ankeney Picnic with Speaker Gaye Symington & energy innovator

2007-06-15T07:00:00.000-05:00

For years, the Chittenden County Democrats have hosted a fundraiser at the St. George farm of former State Senator Jean Ankeney. This year, we are honored to have the Speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives Gaye Symington of Jericho as our guest of honor. Also attending with be energy innovator Mike Strizki, the engineer and inhabitant of America's first hydrogen-solar powered home.

Speaker Symington has again in 2007 displayed remarkable leadership. The Legislature has worked hard this session to address global issues like climate change, national issues like a resolution calling for the end to the war in Iraq, state issues like Vermonters' access to broadband and cellular service, local issues like South Burlington's revised charter, human rights issues like the anti-discrimination bill (despite the Governor's inexplicable veto last session), and pocketbook issues working towards solutions in our school budget system.

What: the Ankeney Picnic with Speaker Gaye Symington
When: Saturday, June 16th, 1-4pm
Where: Willow Brook Ln./Ayer Road, St. George, VT (directions below)

We hope you can join us for this great tradition, meet you legislators and community leaders, enjoy the Vermont summer, have a hot dog and listen to the music of Bill Myregaard & the Willoughbys.

This is a fundraiser, so we are asking for $15 per person or $25 for a family - though of course we welcome all comers.

Directions:
From I-89 South: Take Exit 12 off I-89 and
travel south for 4 miles on Route 2A. Turn
LEFT on Ayer Road and travel 1 mile to the
top of the hill. The Ankeney home is the
second on the LEFT after the top of the hill.

From I-89 North: Take Exit 11 off I-89 and
travel west for 2 miles on Route 2. Turn LEFT
at the white church onto Oak Hill Road and
travel south for 4 miles. Turn RIGHT on
Willow Brook Lane. The farm farm is .7 miles
ahead on the RIGHT.

Parking: Please park on the north side of the road, leaving enough room for cars to pass.

Legislators and County Dems discuss H.520

2007-06-12T20:58:00.000-05:00

Chittenden County Democrats enjoyed another great discussion with key policy makers from our area on Monday night. County Democrats heard from Chairs of the Senate and House Energy and Natural Resources Committees, Senator Ginny Lyons and Rep. Robert Dostis (he represents Buels Gore as well as Waterbury, so we'll count him as a Chittenden County Democrat). Senator Lyons and Rep. Dostis lead an informative discussion of the issues and process surrounding H.520, the climate change legislation recently vetoed by the Governor.

The packed room was also happy to hear from other legislators (seven in total) in attendence. Included among these were two local legislators who voted against the bill originally: Rep. Jim Condon (Colchester) and Rep. Tim Jerman (Essex). They were willing to voice their opinions and listen to the opinions of others. Thank you to Tim, Jim and the other legislators - Lenes, Weston, and Zenie - for attending and given their constituents a chance to discuss the important issue of climate change and the landmark legislation recently passed.

Join us next month to hear from State Auditor Tom Salmon, July 9th at 7pm. He won one of the closest statewide races in Vermont's history; come and ask him what he's been up to since the recount.

BREAKING NEWS: Special Guest for the Ankeney Picnic

2007-06-05T21:45:00.000-05:00

We are very pleased to announce that Michael Strizki will attend this year's Ankeney picnic. Mr. Strizki is a civil engineer from New Jersey who lives in America's first solar-hydrogen house. He was recently profiled in both the Christian Science Monitor and the New York Times Magazine.

The New York Times Magazine wrote, "Perhaps most important, Strizki's system can be adapted to existing homes… The Strizki home offers a greener world and the continued pursuit of happiness. Indeed, its premise and secret promise is to recommend two things that are dear to many Americans anyway: energy independence and the permission to keep all one's toys."

The Christian Science Monitor wrote, "Mr. Strizki's monthly utility bill is zero – he's off the power grid – and his system creates no carbon-dioxide emissions. Neither does the fuel-cell car parked in his garage, which runs off the hydrogen his system creates."

Please join us for the 7th annual Ankeney picnic at 1pm, on Saturday June 16th on Ayer Rd. in St. George. This is a fundraiser so we are asking for $15 per person 0r $25 per family.

Global Warming legislation forum (note the change of location)

2007-05-30T21:12:00.000-05:00

Our Governor plans to veto the global warming legislation, H.520, crafted by our legislature. So, we decided to hold a forum on this issue - after a bit of brief committee business.

We will hear from Senate Natural Resources Chairwoman Ginny Lyons of Williston, House Natural Resources Chairman Robert Dostis of Waterbury and other local legislative leaders are invited join the discussion - including those members of the Chittenden County delegation who opposed the legislation. Come with your questions (and of course keep it civil).

Join us to share your thoughts. Listen to the conclusions reached by our legislative representatives. Judge the facts against the Governor's spin.

Last month's meeting with T.J. Donovan was very interesting and had a great discussion of the issues he deals with. We hope to keep that momentum going.

Where: IBEW Union Hall, 3 Gregory Drive, South Burlington
When: 7pm, Monday, June 11th
Why: because it matters

What do you think of this bill? Is global warming a problem for today or something we can put off another year? Should Vermont Yankee pay the same tax rate as our other power companies (wind) or not? Submit a comment below...

O'Reilly's Vermont Vendetta

2007-05-21T20:45:00.000-05:00

If you haven't been paying attention to the Bill O'Reilly's attack on a respected committee chairman, you probably should be. It's been a very interesting back and forth. Of course, O'Reilly didn't ask informed questions. He didn't do any research. He didn't ask for an interview. Instead, he sent a "producer" to the statehouse cafeteria to interrupt Rep. Lippert's breakfast. Good journalism.

Anyway, Bill Lofy wrote an interesting op-ed in the Rutland Herald this week. If you haven't read it, check it out here. Let's show our support and respect for the great job Rep. Lippert does for us every year in Montpelier. Thank you Bill!

-Will

May Meeting with T.J. Donovan

2007-05-13T21:07:00.000-05:00

Join us Monday night at the IBEW Union hall at 3 Gregory Drive in South Burlington. The meeting will begin at 7pm. This month's guest speaker is Chittenden County State's Attorney T.J. Donovan. We hope to see you there.

T.J. was recently elected to this very important position in the county. He has a great deal of experience and energy. His deep roots in our community and his wealth of talents and experience should serve him well in this roll.

-Will

Welcome

2007-05-03T00:12:00.000-05:00

Welcome to the new blog and web site for the Chittenden County Democratic Party. Our aim is to support strong Democratic candidates in Chittenden County Vermont. This is the home county of the Chairman of the Democratic National Committee, former Vermont Governor, Howard Dean, M.D. Following the Governor's example, we know we must continue to fight for what we believe in and field strong candidates up and down the ballot every year, because, who knows, some day they might run for President of the United States.

-Will Wiquist, Chittenden County Democratic Committee Vice-Chair