Benzie Democrats: Home

Spring 2012 newsletter: For the pdf file version, click here. For back issues of the newsletter, click here.

The township hall is located at 1020 Michigan Ave. in Benzonia, Michigan. Caucus registration will open at 10 a.m. People wishing to participate must show proper ID and complete a registration form, including a statement that the person registering is participating as a Democrat. Participants must be 18 years old by November 6, 2012. Voting for your preferred candidate for President will follow the registration. If you have question please contact Ray Nichols . raynick@charter.net

101st primary race now contested
It was announced April 25 that Derek Bailey has dropped out of the race to be the Democratic candidate for U.S. Congress for the 1st Congressional District and will enter the race to become the Democratic nominee for the 101st State House seat. The district includes Benzie, Leelanau, Mason and Manistee counties. Allen O'Shea, a businessman and former Manistee County Commission chair, has been actively campaigning for this seat for several months. He and Derek Bailey will now oppose each other in the August primary to determine who will be the Democratic candidate for the seat that is now held by Republican Ray Franz.

The following relates to primary election contests between Democrats: The state party has a policy of neutrality in contested races and will not endorse or support either Bailey or O'Shea during the primary campaign. After Dems choose their candidate in August, the MDP will fully support to the winner during the campaign to replace Ray Franz. The Benzie Dems and other local parties in the 101st District will also remain neutral in this race and plan to treat both candidates equally and fairly. Note that individuals may express their support for either candidate in any way they wish.

Our main goal is to replace Republicans Ray Franz in the Michigan State House and Dan Benishek in the U.S. Congress. These two extremely right-wing politicians have supported policies that cut funding for schools, weaken environmental protections, give tax breaks to the wealthy at the expense of the middle class, and the list goes on and on. As Democrats, we must stand together and never lose sight of the vital importance of removing them from office. Please bBecome informed on the issues, ask questions, and always remember to keep your eyes on the prize!

“I want my share, and that is all of it.”
Find out who’s really trying to run the United States. A documentary on the billionaire Koch brothers, “Koch Brothers Exposed,” is showing at the State Theatre in Traverse City at 7 p.m. Monday, 4/23, at 7 p.m. For link to Rolling Stone article on film,click here.

Join the Brave New Foundation (the film makers) in their campaign against the Billionaire Koch Brothers' attack on Democracy! Get a DVD and Take Action! (Donate $20 film makers and get a DVD; show it to others at your home or elsewhere: www.kochbrothersexposed.com/

Benzie Dems membership: Join now
Your participation is vital in this election year. We urge you to become a supporting member (minimum $5 donation). Please join or renew your membership! To download a membership form now, click here.

Sign up or update your information
To sign up or our email communication, or update your address, phone, email or other information, please click on the email/update your information button at right. Use the button to sign up for e-news as well. Click here to Register to vote in Michigan.

Vote Smart is a nonpartisan project that provides information on elected officals at the state and national level, including their positions and voting records. Enter their name or your zip code and find out how your representatives have voted, click here.

The American Dream Movement
Learn more about the coalition of many groups that has formed around the concept of cooperating to rebuild the American Dream. Find out more at Rebuild the Dream. Click here to read the Contract for the American Dream. The Take Back the American Dream conference, organized by the Campaign for America's Future with support from Rebuild the Dream, will be happening on October 3 - 5 in Washington, DC. Find out more and register online.

Corporate influence Again!
From the Center for Media and Democracy:
In April 2011, some of the biggest corporations in the U.S. met behind closed doors in Cincinnati about their wish lists for changing state laws. This exchange was part of a series of corporate meetings nurtured and fueled by the Koch Industries family fortune and other corporate funding...corporate executives.. were joined by their "task force" co-chairs -- all Republican state legislators -- to approve “model” legislation. They jointly head task forces of what is called the “American Legislative Exchange Council” (ALEC). To learn more, click here.

Michigans future: what you can do now
There are more registered Democrat voters in our state than registered Republicans. So how did we get in the current mess? Although voting is both a privilege and a duty of citzenship, and perhaps a measure of our zeal for democracy, in 2010, only about 44 percent of Michigan’s voters participated in the general election. According to the then secretary of state Terri Lynn Land, only about 3.3 million of the state's roughly 7.3 million registered voters cast ballots. Land had earlier estimated that 52 percent would participate. The percentage of those voting was less than in 2002 and 2006 gubernatorial elections. In Michigan we're now living with the fallout from a situation where millions neglect voting. It's time now to contact your local precinct delegates and start organizing locally so that we know who is unhappy about the Republican takeover and this year can translate this reaction into actual votes. A good question to ask someone who thinks their vote doesn't matter: Does a mosquito make a difference? It sure does if it's in your tent!