posted Dec 31, 2008 4:17 PM by Robert Heald
When Sam Sappington ran for Oregon House District 15 against Andy Olson he often mentioned the importance of Benton and Linn County local parties working together on campaigns and common political interests. This resonated with me and soon after our unsuccessful races we both were elected as county chairs. I vowed to work with Sam to make his vision become reality. Soon we expanded our thinking and invited Wayne Baum, Chair of Marion County, and Alan Holland, Chair of Polk County into our compact. Wayne and Alan were very receptive. We started by working on a joint effort to bring Jimmy Carter to Oregon. On this effort we included Lane County. This continues to be a work in process. We then rather informally decided to attend each other’s central committee meetings and social/fundraising events when possible. We found frequent contact not only to be enlightening and fun but provided us with the opportunity to discuss a variety of strategies and ideas. We noted that our candidates’ districts went across our county lines and that we needed to coordinate our resources and efforts to win elections. We are now actively keeping each other informed about pertinent initiatives and information which is relevant to our Mid-Valley Compact. Currently our compact is sponsoring a round robin forum for major Democrat candidates in the primary races. To date, Marion County has sponsored the Attorney General (AG) forum and Polk County the Secretary of State forum. Benton and Linn are working jointly on the US Senate and an additional Secretary of State or AG forum. We are also attempting to include Linn-Benton Community College in one or more of the Benton-Linn sponsored forums. In each county forum we are seeking to have Democrats from our respective counties attend. The coordinated county forum concept seems to be well received by the candidates. Most recently the opportunity for Voter Activation Network (VAN) training came to our attention. Alan, Wayne, Sam and I agreed that it presented us with another opportunity to work together. The training took placeon January 26th at Linn-Benton Community College. In this, the first note that I am penning to our new website I want to express deep gratitude to my fellow county chairs for the energy and wisdom they bring to our newly formed Mid-Valley Dem Compact (MVDC). We truly have synergy. By working together we have the potential to win in all our Mid-Valley Districts in 2008. We believe this is the year when Independents and many Republicans will recognize that we are the party that represents their interests. Thank you, Sam, for this great vision. One more word: I want also to thank Bob Heald for making our new web site into a dynamic space where we can all learn from and interact with each other. Loyd |
posted Dec 31, 2008 4:16 PM by Robert Heald
A Challenge for you from the Chair Clearly, we need to build our party. Goal #1 Our “HotLines” newsletter is currently reaching 377 people out of a potential nearly 20,000 registered Democrats in Linn County. That’s just under 2%. Your Executive Committee would like to see that number raised to a modest 5% (1,000) during 2008. To reach this goal for 2008 each of us currently receiving Hotlines will need to collect the names and email addresses of two Democrats who would like to receive our newsletter and see our website (www.linncodems.org). If everyone gives this a little effort I know we can reach this goal. Please help us get the word out to the community at large. There are many wonderful Democrats in Linn County! We are doing something! We need everyone’s help! Get your two names to Bob Heald at rch@peak.org as soon as possible. This can be our year. I all depends on us. There will be a donkey lapel pin for each person who supplies five names with addresses and e-mails or contributes $50.00 or more. Goal #2 The second challenge is money. As our treasurer, Terence Fry says, “We need MONEY.” (Can’t you picture him rubbing his fingers together?) Our treasurer is right. It does take money to build our base and wage successful political campaigns. We’ve taken our Congress back. We’ve taken our state back. Now, it’s time to take our county back. In the 2006 campaigns our candidates were badly outspent by as much as 6 to 1. In the coming term, although it may be impractical to match the Republicans political money coffers in Linn County -- we can certainly narrow the gap. So, the second challenge for us in 2008 is to raise $20,000 . This may still be modest in Republican terms, but for the Linn County Democrats it will represent a huge step forward and will go a long way to help our candidates have a sporting chance in the next election cycle. Our funds will be used to: > Focus on our core values, and increase our visibility via a variety of methods > Clarify and ensure consistent messaging > Strengthen the Linn County Organization and active grassroots participation. > Wage a permanent campaign to help elect Democrats at local, county and state levels > Build a solid base of people through training tomorrow's leaders > Establish a permanent office location for the Linn County Democrats this year > Help our candidates win by offering financial and other support Here is an easy way for many of you to help us reach or goals. In every Hotline newsletter and our website is a blue “Contribute” button. After clicking the button, a page will open that allows you a number of ways to contribute. The Chairman and his wife chose the monthly payment option via credit card. The Democratic Party provides this service (appropriately called, ActBlue). If each household that currently receives HotLines contributes $5 to $10 monthly we will reach our goal for 2008. Our motto is give a little, give a lot, but please help to the limit of your ability. Furthermore, the faster we reach goal #1 the easier it will be to reach goal #2. Remember, that each couple gets a $100 credit on their state tax bill which serves to reduce the financial stress. We can do it. Let’s pull together and we will reach these goals. Loyd Henion Chair, Linn County Democrats lhenion@comcast.net 541-926-4061 (home) or 541-619-7761 (cell) |
posted Dec 31, 2008 4:14 PM by Robert Heald
Neighbor to neighbor programWe need 25 more Neighborhood Leaders in Linn County to send our candiates to Salem and to the White House Sign up here. I hope you are all with me and the Democratic Party of Oregon in our committment to a 36 county strategy for Oregon. It is the natural extention of Howard Dean’s 50 state strategy. Now is time to prove we are behind these programs. We just can't wait any longer. By March1st we need to have 25 moreNeighborhood Leaders in Linn County (this is our share of the 1600 needed in Oregon). The jobs of Autumn, Jesse, Mary, and Andrea depend on us doing this (These people are assigned to us from the DNC--Autumn Wilburn is Linn County's DNC organizer). Recently I sent out a note over our Hotlines encouraging our Precinct Committee (PCP) people to refile for election before March 1st. We also are seeking new PCP's who need to file for election in May . Most importantly however, each of the refiling PCP's and the newley elected PCP's need to go towww.oregondemocrats.org and click on the Neighbor to Neighbor button on the left side of the screen and fill out the information to become a Neighborhood Leader. This really is the most important action that a PCP can do, and I know that each of you will find it's not that hard to accomplish. Finally there is something measurable and important that each PCP can do. Furthermore, one doesn't have to be a PCP to become a Neighbor to Neighbor person. As I see it the PCP folks can be both a Neighbor to Neighbor person as well as a recruiter for more Neighbor to Neighbor people. Most of you want to know what a Neighborhood Leader volunteer will be asked to do? It is simple, and I think even fun. All they need to do is to call on 25 Democrats three times between March and November. That is it! That is probably about 15 to 20 doors in each person’s neighborhood but if your neighborhood is to sparse you can choose another nearby. We are asking that you sign up now, and this spring, we will be able to assign you your voters with a great new online tool that is coming out. PCP's in HD 17 can talk to canditate Dan Thackaberry. In HD 23 you can talk to candidate Jason Brown. In SD 9, you can talk to candidate Dr. Bob McDonald. Ask them to get their volunteers to sign up to be Neighborhood Leaders. Since their volunteers will be be knocking on doors from now until November we need to have them as part of the Neighbor to Neighbor program. Tools are on the way to make this happen. Please check with me or Autumn Wilburn (autumn@dpo.org 541-434-2189) if you have any questions. We, at all party levels, are committed to helping answer your questions and make sure you have the training you need.. I can’t stress how important it is for Linn County do it's part in making the Neighbor to Neibor program work. We can do this. It is easy to do, simply go to www.oregondemocrats.org and click on Neighbor to Neighbor!
Regards, Loyd Henion, Chair, Linn County Oregon 541-926-4061 541-619-8861 (Cell) www.linncodems.net lhenion@comcast.net |
posted Dec 31, 2008 4:12 PM by Robert Heald
[
updated Dec 31, 2008 4:19 PM
]
Friends, My name is Loyd Henion and as you Probably know I would like to be a delegate to represent you at the national convention. Almost two years ago I ran for Mayor of Albany. I have attached a copy of the pamphlet that I used during my campaign. I invite you to peruse the pamphlet as I believe it will give you considerable insight into my background. Although I didn't win the election I did learn a lot about issues that were of concern to people throughout the community. I started by interviewing all the heads of the city government and ended by listening to people in every neighborhood of Albany. I put my heart into the campaign, and although I lost, I did quite well, and I feel rewarded for the experience. The campaign effort forced me to learn what people are thinking and it how and why I could help address their needs. The experience also helped me so visualize,formulate and promote a plan that when realized would make Albany a great place for future generations. After I lost I the mayoral race I realized that there were other, and perhaps even more fruitful ways to bring about my dream for Albany as well as many other communities in Linn County and Oregon. I became active in the Linn County Democratic party and soon saw that the values of Democrats in Linn County were not being heard. Republicans held a 6,000 voter registration advantage and there had not been a trued Democrat elected in Linn County for many years. When the previous chair resigned I was asked to take up the challenge of trying to build the party in Linn County. To be frank, I rather reluctantly accepted as I knew it was going to be a full time job and more work than I had planned for in my retirement years. I now realize it was a job that I was meant to do. We have narrowed the gap to 1900 voters ( R's over D's) and I have had a major role in recruiting strong candidates for two county commissioner positions and two representatives to the state legislature. I really believe that we can sweep the republicans out of office in all of these positions. In doing so we will help to bring about progressive leadership for both Linn county and the State of Oregon. Our candidates are exceptional. My major goal at this point is to build the county party. If we do this well we can demonstrate to the people in Linn County that we are not only relevant to communities throughout our county but our role also extends to state, regional, and national politics. We can help to shape communities, one at a time and in doing so we are transfiguring the nation for the good of all the people. So why am I running as a delegate to the National convention? It comes right back to party building in Linn County. My desire is to share, step by step, everything that happens at the convention. Though daily updates and blogs I want to let all the Linn County Democrats experience vicariously what I see, feel and observe. I want them to feel that they are there, after all it is my fellow democrats in Linn County who are my true champions. My hope is that I will be able to transmit ideas that are presented at the convention that will help us further develop at the local level. My real purpose is not to go to have a great time (although I hope I do) but to bring back ideas and a spirit that will energize us into action. Two last points. I have always enjoyed bringing people together. Since being Linn County Chair I have had the opportunity to form a "Jimmy Carter Oregon" committee. Our purpose is to bring Jimmy Carter to Oregon to dedicate a Peace park in Eugene and to deliver seminal talks about what it takes to once again become the nation that promotes and models peace. This committee encompasses democrats from Lane, Linn, Benton, Marion and Polk counties as well as Veterans for Peace and Habitat for Humanity. It hasn't happened yet but we have not given up on this goal. A second and ongoing effort that I helped form is a four County compact. Linn County has joined with Benton, Marion, and Polk in a compact that sponsors and promotes candidate forums as well as issue oriented forums. We successfully staged three such forums during the primary season. Polk County hosted the Secretary of State forum, Marion County the Attorney General forum, and Benton/Linn the US Senate forum. Finally, I was instrumental in helping to entice President Clinton as well as Senator Obama to Albany. I chatted with both Chelsea and Terry McAuliffe about the importance of the Mid-Valley to the Clinton Campaign and talked to the Obama campaign about the ease of a stop at Albany. Not since FDR, had a President been to Albany. I only wish Bill had enough time to take a ride in my all eclectic car. I was grateful to have my picture taken with Him. The point of getting both of these campaigns to Albany was really to build our party and to help our local candidates. Our candidates were able to engage many people in the lines and the Linn County Democrats registered many new delegates. I end my candidacy campaign by saying that if you vote for me you will be voting for helping to turn a red county blue. That is the real reason I want to attend the National convention. Gratefully, Loyd Henion, PS: To my surprise, I was elected on the first ballot. I will forever remain grateful fro the confidence people have placed in me. I will work hard to deserve that trust. I only wish that all the hard working Linn County Dems could join me in Denver. I will be leaving on August 24th and returning on August 29th. I believe this convention to be one of the most important in American history. We must not and can not fail to unite the party. I will do my utmost at the convention to be a delegate that works to heal any reaming wound that may be lingering from the campaign. I am very exited about being a part of our nation's future. I am so excited it is difficult to contain my emotions. I must say over and over, thank you and thank you. Loyd |
|
