Wicomico Democratic Club
December 2023 Newsletter/Year-end Report
Upcoming Speakers
Wednesday, January 17—David Ryan, Executive Director of Salisbury-Economic Development Corporation, “An Economic Update”
Wednesday, February 21—Dr. Carolyn Ringer Lepre, President of Salisbury University
The Club meets the third Wednesay of the month at 6:30 p.m. at Salisbury Art Space in downtown Salisbury. The public is invited and refreshments are served. Meetings end at 8 p.m.
A Democratic Vision for Wicomico County
The Club met in March and discussed the document, “A Democratic Vision for Wicomico County,” and subsequently approved it. The Document appears on the club web site: Democratic Club of Wicomico County - Home (demclubwicomico.org)
The Vision was developed by Club President Gains Hawkins, who interviewed some 40 businessmen and women, law enforcement officials, education leaders, community activists and elected officials. At the March meeting over 30 members reviewed the document and offered suggested changes.
The final document was then shared with Democratic leaders and candidates for elected office.
Parkers Receive President’s Award
J.C. and Henrietta Parker received the 2023 President’s Award for their outstanding lifetime contributions to the community. The award recognizes individuals who have worked tirelessly behind the scenes in support of local Democratic candidates and causes. The previous awardees are Mike Pretl, Dr. Harry Basehart, Lee Whaley and Connie Strott.
Cavallaro Gets Member of the Year Recognition
Marie Cavallaro was recognized for her many years of support for the club with the 2022 Member of the Year Award. In addition to providing refreshments at all club meetings, Cavallaro is the chief organizer of the Club’s annual Club Crab Feast.
Crab Feast Attracts 160 Members and Guests
The Club’s Crab Feast, held at Schumaker Park Pavilion in Salisbury on the last Sunday in August, once again proved to be the largest annual gathering of Democrats on the Eastern Shore, with some 160 in attendance this year. Attendees enjoyed steamed crabs and corn, fried chicken, watermelon, an array of deserts and side dishes and beverages. The event raised $2,160.
Spring Fundraising Appeal
The Club sends a fundraising appeal letter to Wicomico County Democrats in the spring to generate funds used to support Democratic candidates and causes. This year’s appeal raised $3,790.85.
Outstanding Lineup of Speakers Make Presentations
Speakers at the Club’s monthly meetings included Dr. Steve Leonard, CEO of TidalHealth; James Yamakawa of the Truth and Resolution Committee; Del. Sheree Sample-Hughes, Speaker Pro Tem of the Maryland General Assembly; and Dr. Micah Stauffer, superintendent of Wicomico County Schools.
In September the Club hosted a forum for the candidates for Mayor of Salisbury: Randy Taylor, Megan Outten and Jermichael Mitchell.
In October, the Club welcomed candidates for Salisbury City Council: April Jackson and Lavonzella Siggers, District 1; D’Shawn Doughty, District 2; Michele Gregory, District 4; and Angela Blake, District 5. Jackson, Doughty, Gregory and Blake won and Doughty was subsequently elected President of the City Council.
Each meeting also received updates from a respective representative of the Salisbury City Council and Wicomico County Council. Josh Hastings regularly represented the County Council.
Election of Officers Results in Three New Additions
In October the Club elected the following to two-year terms: Gains Hawkins, President; Susan Robson, First Vice President; Leslie Carey, Second Vice President; Mike Folkoff, Corresponding Secretary, Ellen Lawler, Recording Secretary; George Demko, Treasurer; and Sue Stein, Sergeant-at-Arms.
Stepping away after many years of outstanding service as officers in the Club are: Keith Henry, Treasurer; Deborah Finkbeiner, Second Vice President; and Kelsie Mattox, Sergeant-at-Arms.
Newsletter prepared by Gains Hawkins. For more information, contact him at [email protected].
December 2023 Newsletter/Year-end Report
Upcoming Speakers
Wednesday, January 17—David Ryan, Executive Director of Salisbury-Economic Development Corporation, “An Economic Update”
Wednesday, February 21—Dr. Carolyn Ringer Lepre, President of Salisbury University
The Club meets the third Wednesay of the month at 6:30 p.m. at Salisbury Art Space in downtown Salisbury. The public is invited and refreshments are served. Meetings end at 8 p.m.
A Democratic Vision for Wicomico County
The Club met in March and discussed the document, “A Democratic Vision for Wicomico County,” and subsequently approved it. The Document appears on the club web site: Democratic Club of Wicomico County - Home (demclubwicomico.org)
The Vision was developed by Club President Gains Hawkins, who interviewed some 40 businessmen and women, law enforcement officials, education leaders, community activists and elected officials. At the March meeting over 30 members reviewed the document and offered suggested changes.
The final document was then shared with Democratic leaders and candidates for elected office.
Parkers Receive President’s Award
J.C. and Henrietta Parker received the 2023 President’s Award for their outstanding lifetime contributions to the community. The award recognizes individuals who have worked tirelessly behind the scenes in support of local Democratic candidates and causes. The previous awardees are Mike Pretl, Dr. Harry Basehart, Lee Whaley and Connie Strott.
Cavallaro Gets Member of the Year Recognition
Marie Cavallaro was recognized for her many years of support for the club with the 2022 Member of the Year Award. In addition to providing refreshments at all club meetings, Cavallaro is the chief organizer of the Club’s annual Club Crab Feast.
Crab Feast Attracts 160 Members and Guests
The Club’s Crab Feast, held at Schumaker Park Pavilion in Salisbury on the last Sunday in August, once again proved to be the largest annual gathering of Democrats on the Eastern Shore, with some 160 in attendance this year. Attendees enjoyed steamed crabs and corn, fried chicken, watermelon, an array of deserts and side dishes and beverages. The event raised $2,160.
Spring Fundraising Appeal
The Club sends a fundraising appeal letter to Wicomico County Democrats in the spring to generate funds used to support Democratic candidates and causes. This year’s appeal raised $3,790.85.
Outstanding Lineup of Speakers Make Presentations
Speakers at the Club’s monthly meetings included Dr. Steve Leonard, CEO of TidalHealth; James Yamakawa of the Truth and Resolution Committee; Del. Sheree Sample-Hughes, Speaker Pro Tem of the Maryland General Assembly; and Dr. Micah Stauffer, superintendent of Wicomico County Schools.
In September the Club hosted a forum for the candidates for Mayor of Salisbury: Randy Taylor, Megan Outten and Jermichael Mitchell.
In October, the Club welcomed candidates for Salisbury City Council: April Jackson and Lavonzella Siggers, District 1; D’Shawn Doughty, District 2; Michele Gregory, District 4; and Angela Blake, District 5. Jackson, Doughty, Gregory and Blake won and Doughty was subsequently elected President of the City Council.
Each meeting also received updates from a respective representative of the Salisbury City Council and Wicomico County Council. Josh Hastings regularly represented the County Council.
Election of Officers Results in Three New Additions
In October the Club elected the following to two-year terms: Gains Hawkins, President; Susan Robson, First Vice President; Leslie Carey, Second Vice President; Mike Folkoff, Corresponding Secretary, Ellen Lawler, Recording Secretary; George Demko, Treasurer; and Sue Stein, Sergeant-at-Arms.
Stepping away after many years of outstanding service as officers in the Club are: Keith Henry, Treasurer; Deborah Finkbeiner, Second Vice President; and Kelsie Mattox, Sergeant-at-Arms.
Newsletter prepared by Gains Hawkins. For more information, contact him at [email protected].
Wicomico Democratic Club
October 2023 Newsletter
City Council Candidates at Oct. 18 Club Meeting
Candidates for the Salisbury City Council discuss their respective campaigns at the Wicomico Democratic Club general membership meeting on Wednesday, October 18, 6:30 p.m. at Salisbury Art Space. The public is invited; refreshments are available.
Candidates attending: District 1—April Jackson (incumbent) and Lavonzella Siggers; District 2—D’Shawn Doughty; District 4—Michele Gregory (incumbent); and District 5—Angela Blake (incumbent). Each candidate gives a five-minute presentation, followed by questions from the audience.
The meeting also features a Wicomico County Council update.
Election of Club Officers for 2024-25
The Club holds its election of officers at its October 18 meeting. The following slate of officers for two-year terms, 2024025, is presented: Gains Hawkins, president; Susan Robson, first vice president; Mike Folkoff, corresponding secretary; Ellen Lawler, recording secretary; George Demko, Treasurer; and Sue Stein, sergeant-at-arms. Open: second vice president.
Club Campaign Contributions to City Candidates
The Club made $250 donations, the maximum Salisbury allows by an individual or organization, to the following campaigns for mayor and City Council: Jermichael Mitchell (mayor), Megan Outten (mayor), April Jackson (City Council, District 1), Lavonzella Siggers (City Council, District 1), D’Shawn Doughty (City Council, District 2), Michele Gregory (City Council, District 4), and Angela Blake (City Council, District 5).
Eastern Shore Summit Nov 3,4
“How We Win,” The Eastern Shore Democratic Summit, features an array of speakers and workshops to assist Democrats win local elections. The event is on Friday and Saturday, November 3 and 4, in Cambridge.
“The conference is designed by organizers for organizers,” said Patrick Firth, chair of the Talbot County Democratic Party and an event organizer. “It’s for people who want to build a coalition or organization, want to run for office, or help elect a friend or colleague. If your mission is to recruit, train, organize, and elect Democrats, this summit will teach you how.”
The conference opens Friday with an evening networking reception, featuring a forum and straw poll with U.S. Senate candidates Angela Alsobrooks (Prince Georges County Executive), David Trone (U.S. Congressman from Maryland’s 6th District), and Will Jawando (Montgomery County Councilman).
Saturday starts with a breakfast speaker followed by a full day of workshops and breakout sessions. The keynote speaker is Vermont Lieutenant Governor David Zuckerman, a farmer and statesman, elected in rural Vermont to serve alongside a Republican Governor. His topic is how to message across rural America.
Tickets, which are limited and expected to go quickly, are $50 for the weekend, $25 for Friday evening only and $30 for Saturday only. To purchase tickets go to https://secure.actblue.com/donate/howwewin2023.
For more information about the conference go to www.EasternShoreDems.com.
November, January Speakers
Salisbury University President, Dr. Carolyn Ringer Lepre, is the club speaker at the Wednesday, November 15 meeting.
Our Wednesday, January 17, meeting speaker is David Ryan, executive director of Salisbury-Wicomico Economic Development.
Holiday Party
The Club hosts its annual Holiday Party on Wednesday, December 13, from 6-8 p.m. at Poplar Hill Mansion. Club members and their guests are invited to bring their favorite side dish or desert. The Club will provide smoked turkey and chicken wings. It’s BYOB; the club will have soft drinks and water. Come and celebrate the season with your Democratic friends.
October 2023 Newsletter
City Council Candidates at Oct. 18 Club Meeting
Candidates for the Salisbury City Council discuss their respective campaigns at the Wicomico Democratic Club general membership meeting on Wednesday, October 18, 6:30 p.m. at Salisbury Art Space. The public is invited; refreshments are available.
Candidates attending: District 1—April Jackson (incumbent) and Lavonzella Siggers; District 2—D’Shawn Doughty; District 4—Michele Gregory (incumbent); and District 5—Angela Blake (incumbent). Each candidate gives a five-minute presentation, followed by questions from the audience.
The meeting also features a Wicomico County Council update.
Election of Club Officers for 2024-25
The Club holds its election of officers at its October 18 meeting. The following slate of officers for two-year terms, 2024025, is presented: Gains Hawkins, president; Susan Robson, first vice president; Mike Folkoff, corresponding secretary; Ellen Lawler, recording secretary; George Demko, Treasurer; and Sue Stein, sergeant-at-arms. Open: second vice president.
Club Campaign Contributions to City Candidates
The Club made $250 donations, the maximum Salisbury allows by an individual or organization, to the following campaigns for mayor and City Council: Jermichael Mitchell (mayor), Megan Outten (mayor), April Jackson (City Council, District 1), Lavonzella Siggers (City Council, District 1), D’Shawn Doughty (City Council, District 2), Michele Gregory (City Council, District 4), and Angela Blake (City Council, District 5).
Eastern Shore Summit Nov 3,4
“How We Win,” The Eastern Shore Democratic Summit, features an array of speakers and workshops to assist Democrats win local elections. The event is on Friday and Saturday, November 3 and 4, in Cambridge.
“The conference is designed by organizers for organizers,” said Patrick Firth, chair of the Talbot County Democratic Party and an event organizer. “It’s for people who want to build a coalition or organization, want to run for office, or help elect a friend or colleague. If your mission is to recruit, train, organize, and elect Democrats, this summit will teach you how.”
The conference opens Friday with an evening networking reception, featuring a forum and straw poll with U.S. Senate candidates Angela Alsobrooks (Prince Georges County Executive), David Trone (U.S. Congressman from Maryland’s 6th District), and Will Jawando (Montgomery County Councilman).
Saturday starts with a breakfast speaker followed by a full day of workshops and breakout sessions. The keynote speaker is Vermont Lieutenant Governor David Zuckerman, a farmer and statesman, elected in rural Vermont to serve alongside a Republican Governor. His topic is how to message across rural America.
Tickets, which are limited and expected to go quickly, are $50 for the weekend, $25 for Friday evening only and $30 for Saturday only. To purchase tickets go to https://secure.actblue.com/donate/howwewin2023.
For more information about the conference go to www.EasternShoreDems.com.
November, January Speakers
Salisbury University President, Dr. Carolyn Ringer Lepre, is the club speaker at the Wednesday, November 15 meeting.
Our Wednesday, January 17, meeting speaker is David Ryan, executive director of Salisbury-Wicomico Economic Development.
Holiday Party
The Club hosts its annual Holiday Party on Wednesday, December 13, from 6-8 p.m. at Poplar Hill Mansion. Club members and their guests are invited to bring their favorite side dish or desert. The Club will provide smoked turkey and chicken wings. It’s BYOB; the club will have soft drinks and water. Come and celebrate the season with your Democratic friends.
Wicomico Democratic Club Summer 2023 Newsletter
September 2023 Newsletter
Salisbury Mayoral Candidates at September Dem Club Meeting
Salisbury mayoral candidates Jermichael Mitchell, Megan Outten and Randy Taylor are the speakers at the Wicomico Democratic Club meeting on Wednesday, September 20, at 5:30 p.m. at Salisbury Art Space. Club meetings are open to the public.
The Mayoral Forum allows each candidate 10 minutes to discuss his/her respective candidacy before fielding questions from the audience. The non-partisan Salisbury City municipal elections are on Tuesday, November 7.
Dem Club Is A Maryland Folk Life Festival Sponsor Again
The Maryland Folk Life Festival, a diverse celebration of arts, culture, and heritage, returns to Salisbury Friday, September 22-Sunday, September 24.
The free large-scale multi-day outdoor event celebrates the roots, richness and variety of American culture. It features hundreds of the nation’s finest musicians, dancers, craftspeople and other keepers of culture in performances, workshops, and demonstrations, plus children’s activities, nonstop participatory dancing, storytelling, parades, and more.
The Wicomico Democratic Club is a $1,000 sponsor.
Annual Crab Feast Features Food- and Fun-loving Crowd
The Club’s Crab Feast, the biggest annual gathering of Democrats on the Eastern Shore, attracted some 160 attendees who enjoyed an afternoon of crabs, fried chicken, corn on the cob, an array of sided dishes and desserts, and an assortment of beverages at Schumaker Park Pavilion in Salisbury.
Marie Cavallaro and her team of volunteers pulled off another fantastic event, one that raised over $6,000 that will go toward local Democratic candidates and causes.
Several Democratic elected officials and candidates spoke including Del. Sheree Sample-Hughes (District 37A), Salisbury mayoral candidate Megan Outten (Salisbury City Councilwoman, District 3), April Jackson (City Councilwoman, District 1), Von Siggers (City Council candidate, District 1), D’Shawn Doughty (Wicomico Democratic Central Committee and City Council candidate, District 2) and Angela Blake (City Councilwoman, District 5).
Also speaking was Salisbury Mayor Jack Heath, who recently announced he was withdrawing from the mayor’s race for health reasons. He was roundly praised by all the speakers.
Photos of the event are on the Club’s web site: www.demclubwicomico.org.
Club Approves Democratic Vision for Wicomico
At the Club’s July meeting, some 30 members discussed and subsequently approved A Democratic Vision for Wicomico County. Check it out at www.demclubwicomico.org.
Club Elections at October Meeting
The Club holds its election of officers at the Wednesday, October 18, general membership meeting. Officers serve two-year terms. The positions are: president, first vice-president, second vice-president, corresponding secretary, recording secretary, treasurer and sergeant-at-arms. For a description of the duties of each office go to the club’s web site (www.demclubwicomico.org) and click the bylaws link.
October Meeting Features Salisbury City Council Candidates
The October 18 meeting also features presentations by candidates for the Salisbury City Council. The non-partisan election has two candidates for each of the five district seats.
Support Del. Sample-Hughes for Speaker Pro Tem
Del. Sheree Sample-Hughes, the lone Democratic representative in the General Assembly from the Eastern Shore, is currently the Speaker Pro Tem in the Maryland House of Delegates. The Speaker Pro Tem, elected by the members of the House of Delegates at the beginning of the legislative session, presides over the House of Delegates in the Speaker’s absence.
Speaker Adrienne A. Jones announced this spring that she will nominate an alternative candidate to Del. Sample-Hughes at the outset of the 2024 session.
To urge Speaker Jones to reconsider and instead cast her support for Del. Sample-Hughes, contact her at [email protected] or 410-841-3800.
Wicomico Democratic Club Newsletter edited by Gains Hawkins ([email protected])
Salisbury mayoral candidates Jermichael Mitchell, Megan Outten and Randy Taylor are the speakers at the Wicomico Democratic Club meeting on Wednesday, September 20, at 5:30 p.m. at Salisbury Art Space. Club meetings are open to the public.
The Mayoral Forum allows each candidate 10 minutes to discuss his/her respective candidacy before fielding questions from the audience. The non-partisan Salisbury City municipal elections are on Tuesday, November 7.
Dem Club Is A Maryland Folk Life Festival Sponsor Again
The Maryland Folk Life Festival, a diverse celebration of arts, culture, and heritage, returns to Salisbury Friday, September 22-Sunday, September 24.
The free large-scale multi-day outdoor event celebrates the roots, richness and variety of American culture. It features hundreds of the nation’s finest musicians, dancers, craftspeople and other keepers of culture in performances, workshops, and demonstrations, plus children’s activities, nonstop participatory dancing, storytelling, parades, and more.
The Wicomico Democratic Club is a $1,000 sponsor.
Annual Crab Feast Features Food- and Fun-loving Crowd
The Club’s Crab Feast, the biggest annual gathering of Democrats on the Eastern Shore, attracted some 160 attendees who enjoyed an afternoon of crabs, fried chicken, corn on the cob, an array of sided dishes and desserts, and an assortment of beverages at Schumaker Park Pavilion in Salisbury.
Marie Cavallaro and her team of volunteers pulled off another fantastic event, one that raised over $6,000 that will go toward local Democratic candidates and causes.
Several Democratic elected officials and candidates spoke including Del. Sheree Sample-Hughes (District 37A), Salisbury mayoral candidate Megan Outten (Salisbury City Councilwoman, District 3), April Jackson (City Councilwoman, District 1), Von Siggers (City Council candidate, District 1), D’Shawn Doughty (Wicomico Democratic Central Committee and City Council candidate, District 2) and Angela Blake (City Councilwoman, District 5).
Also speaking was Salisbury Mayor Jack Heath, who recently announced he was withdrawing from the mayor’s race for health reasons. He was roundly praised by all the speakers.
Photos of the event are on the Club’s web site: www.demclubwicomico.org.
Club Approves Democratic Vision for Wicomico
At the Club’s July meeting, some 30 members discussed and subsequently approved A Democratic Vision for Wicomico County. Check it out at www.demclubwicomico.org.
Club Elections at October Meeting
The Club holds its election of officers at the Wednesday, October 18, general membership meeting. Officers serve two-year terms. The positions are: president, first vice-president, second vice-president, corresponding secretary, recording secretary, treasurer and sergeant-at-arms. For a description of the duties of each office go to the club’s web site (www.demclubwicomico.org) and click the bylaws link.
October Meeting Features Salisbury City Council Candidates
The October 18 meeting also features presentations by candidates for the Salisbury City Council. The non-partisan election has two candidates for each of the five district seats.
Support Del. Sample-Hughes for Speaker Pro Tem
Del. Sheree Sample-Hughes, the lone Democratic representative in the General Assembly from the Eastern Shore, is currently the Speaker Pro Tem in the Maryland House of Delegates. The Speaker Pro Tem, elected by the members of the House of Delegates at the beginning of the legislative session, presides over the House of Delegates in the Speaker’s absence.
Speaker Adrienne A. Jones announced this spring that she will nominate an alternative candidate to Del. Sample-Hughes at the outset of the 2024 session.
To urge Speaker Jones to reconsider and instead cast her support for Del. Sample-Hughes, contact her at [email protected] or 410-841-3800.
Wicomico Democratic Club Newsletter edited by Gains Hawkins ([email protected])
Wicomico Schools Superintendent Dem Club June 21 Speaker
Dr. Michal Stauffer, Wicomico County Superintendent of Schools, discusses the state of public schools at the Wicomico Democratic Club’s general membership meeting on Wednesday, June 21, 6:30 p.m. at the Salisbury Art Space. Refreshments are served and the public is invited.
The meeting also features updates from members of the Salisbury City Council and the Wicomico County Council.
For more information, contact Democratic Club President Gains Hawkins at [email protected].
A Democratic Vision for Wicomico County
Join Club President Gains Hawkins for a critique of his Democratic Vision for Wicomico County (www.demclubwicomico.org). Club members are encouraged to read the document in advance of the Wednesday, July 19 (6:30 p.m., Salisbury Art Space) roundtable discussion; however, copies of the document will be available at the meeting.
Hawkins interviewed over 40 Wicomico residents, Democrats and Republicans, young and old, Black and White, old and young, business and government leaders in 2022. Club officers have reviewed the document and their feedback has been incorporated.
Now it’s club members’ opportunity to offer their input and decide what to do with a final version of the vision.
Those who can’t attend the July 19 meeting can send their comments to Hawkins at [email protected].
Fundraising Appeal a Big Success
The Club’s annual spring fundraising appeal has raised over $5,000 thus far. Your gifts enables the Club to support Democratic causes and candidates. In 2022 the club spent over $20,000 in support of local Democratic candidates. Please consider making a contribution to turn Wicomico Blue by sending your check to the Democratic Club of Wicomico County, P.O. Box 1486, Salisbury, MD 21802 or make an online donation at www.demclubwicomico.org.
Crab Feast Is Sunday August 27
The Democratic Club hosts its Crab Feast on Sunday, August 27, 1-4 p.m. at Schumaker Park Pavilion in Salisbury. It’s the biggest annual gathering of Democrats in Wicomico County.
The BYOB event features steamed crabs, corn on the cob, chicken, hot dogs, side dishes, desserts, soda and water. There’s live music and the public is invited. Bring your own crab tools.
Cost is $50 per person (children under 12 $25) before August 14, $60 after that date. Send your check to Wicomico Democratic Club, P.O. Box 1486, Salisbury, MD 21802 or purchase your ticket online at www.demclubwicomico.org.
Dem Club 2023 Election of Officers
1) Election: Wednesday, October 18
2) Offices: President, First Vice President, Second Vice President, Treasurer, Corresponding Secretary, Recording Secretary, Sergeant-at-Arms
3) Two-year terms
4) See club bylaws for details about each officer’s duties on the club web site
5) Club purpose—support local Democratic causes and candidates
6) Provide an informative social gathering each month. In a magazine-style format, the club’s monthly meetings provide regular features (City and County Council updates) and a dynamic local speaker. The meetings give members the opportunity to socialize with fellow Dems and have a voice in discussions about local issues with elected officials.
7) We raise funds for Dem causes and candidates via our annual fundraising appeals and our annual Crab Feast, the largest annual gathering of Democrats in Wicomico County—and perhaps the Eastern Shore. Last year’s event attracted some 200 members and guests and raised around $6,000. Our fundraising allowed us to spend $20,000 on local candidates last year. In 2020 we undoubtedly accounted for more free Biden/Harris yard signs than any other organization.
8) We have articulated a vision for Wicomico Democrats in the past and will host a discussion on that topic in July. We are losing contested county-wide elections and need to do what we can to change that outcome. An agreed upon Democratic Vision can help guide us down a successful path toward voting day success.
9) Many of the current club officers have served for 4-6 years and it’s time for fresh faces and new ideas. Please consider running for office. Contact me or any of our club officers for additional information.
10) We’ve come a long way in the past six years, going from meetings with scarcely 10 attendees to today’s meetings with 30-70 members and guests; we are making a difference in local politics, the recent election results notwithstanding. To continue that upward trajectory, we need you to step up and sign up to run for office in the Wicomico Democratic Club.
Newsletter written by Gains Hawkins. Send comments to [email protected]
Dr. Michal Stauffer, Wicomico County Superintendent of Schools, discusses the state of public schools at the Wicomico Democratic Club’s general membership meeting on Wednesday, June 21, 6:30 p.m. at the Salisbury Art Space. Refreshments are served and the public is invited.
The meeting also features updates from members of the Salisbury City Council and the Wicomico County Council.
For more information, contact Democratic Club President Gains Hawkins at [email protected].
A Democratic Vision for Wicomico County
Join Club President Gains Hawkins for a critique of his Democratic Vision for Wicomico County (www.demclubwicomico.org). Club members are encouraged to read the document in advance of the Wednesday, July 19 (6:30 p.m., Salisbury Art Space) roundtable discussion; however, copies of the document will be available at the meeting.
Hawkins interviewed over 40 Wicomico residents, Democrats and Republicans, young and old, Black and White, old and young, business and government leaders in 2022. Club officers have reviewed the document and their feedback has been incorporated.
Now it’s club members’ opportunity to offer their input and decide what to do with a final version of the vision.
Those who can’t attend the July 19 meeting can send their comments to Hawkins at [email protected].
Fundraising Appeal a Big Success
The Club’s annual spring fundraising appeal has raised over $5,000 thus far. Your gifts enables the Club to support Democratic causes and candidates. In 2022 the club spent over $20,000 in support of local Democratic candidates. Please consider making a contribution to turn Wicomico Blue by sending your check to the Democratic Club of Wicomico County, P.O. Box 1486, Salisbury, MD 21802 or make an online donation at www.demclubwicomico.org.
Crab Feast Is Sunday August 27
The Democratic Club hosts its Crab Feast on Sunday, August 27, 1-4 p.m. at Schumaker Park Pavilion in Salisbury. It’s the biggest annual gathering of Democrats in Wicomico County.
The BYOB event features steamed crabs, corn on the cob, chicken, hot dogs, side dishes, desserts, soda and water. There’s live music and the public is invited. Bring your own crab tools.
Cost is $50 per person (children under 12 $25) before August 14, $60 after that date. Send your check to Wicomico Democratic Club, P.O. Box 1486, Salisbury, MD 21802 or purchase your ticket online at www.demclubwicomico.org.
Dem Club 2023 Election of Officers
1) Election: Wednesday, October 18
2) Offices: President, First Vice President, Second Vice President, Treasurer, Corresponding Secretary, Recording Secretary, Sergeant-at-Arms
3) Two-year terms
4) See club bylaws for details about each officer’s duties on the club web site
5) Club purpose—support local Democratic causes and candidates
6) Provide an informative social gathering each month. In a magazine-style format, the club’s monthly meetings provide regular features (City and County Council updates) and a dynamic local speaker. The meetings give members the opportunity to socialize with fellow Dems and have a voice in discussions about local issues with elected officials.
7) We raise funds for Dem causes and candidates via our annual fundraising appeals and our annual Crab Feast, the largest annual gathering of Democrats in Wicomico County—and perhaps the Eastern Shore. Last year’s event attracted some 200 members and guests and raised around $6,000. Our fundraising allowed us to spend $20,000 on local candidates last year. In 2020 we undoubtedly accounted for more free Biden/Harris yard signs than any other organization.
8) We have articulated a vision for Wicomico Democrats in the past and will host a discussion on that topic in July. We are losing contested county-wide elections and need to do what we can to change that outcome. An agreed upon Democratic Vision can help guide us down a successful path toward voting day success.
9) Many of the current club officers have served for 4-6 years and it’s time for fresh faces and new ideas. Please consider running for office. Contact me or any of our club officers for additional information.
10) We’ve come a long way in the past six years, going from meetings with scarcely 10 attendees to today’s meetings with 30-70 members and guests; we are making a difference in local politics, the recent election results notwithstanding. To continue that upward trajectory, we need you to step up and sign up to run for office in the Wicomico Democratic Club.
Newsletter written by Gains Hawkins. Send comments to [email protected]
Wicomico Democratic Club
April 2023 Newsletter
Wicomico 2023 Elections
Hebron Municipal Election: April 11
Willards Municipal Election: May 9
Mardela Springs Municipal Election: August 7
Delmar Municipal Primary Election: September 26
Pittsville Municipal Election: November 7
Salisbury Municipal election: November 7
Delmar Municipal General Election: November 21
Wicomico Dem Club Membership
Not a member? If you are a registered Democrat in Wicomico County, just complete the Membership Form (www.demclubwicomico.org/membership.html) and submit it to Club Sergeant-at-Arms Kelsie Mattox at the front table when entering the Salisbury Art Space for a club meeting. (She has membership forms with her as well.)
There are no dues. We do have an annual fundraising appeal (see below), but there is no obligation to give. Membership entitles you to vote in club elections (odd years including this fall) and for endorsements (non-partisan elections only—and not routinely; we don’t endorse for primary elections).
Spring Fundraising Appeal
Our annual postal and email fundraising appeal begins this month and goes through mid-May. Help the club support Wicomico Democratic candidates and causes with a generous donation. We will support Democratic candidates in the Wicomico municipal elections who reach out to us for financial help.
Club Award Recipients
Marie Cavallaro received the 2022 Member of the Year Award. Besides providing refreshments at all club meeting, Marie is instrumental in the success of our annual Crab Feast.
Henrietta and J.C. Parker were recognized with the 2023 President’s Award. They were honored for their behind-the-scenes support of Democratic candidates over the years, especially Del. Norman Conway’s campaigns.
For more on these three shining examples of political volunteerism, go to the club’s web site: www.demclubwicomico.org
Upcoming speakers
Wednesday, April 19: James Yamakawa, Truth and Resolution Committee
Tuesday, May 16: Del. Sheree Sample-Hughes, “2023 MD General Assembly Recap”
Wednesday, June 21: Dr. Micah Stauffer, Wicomico County Public Schools Superintendent
Wednesday, July 19: Gains Hawkins, Wicomico Democratic Club President, “A Democratic Vision for Wicomico County”
April 2023 Newsletter
Wicomico 2023 Elections
Hebron Municipal Election: April 11
Willards Municipal Election: May 9
Mardela Springs Municipal Election: August 7
Delmar Municipal Primary Election: September 26
Pittsville Municipal Election: November 7
Salisbury Municipal election: November 7
Delmar Municipal General Election: November 21
Wicomico Dem Club Membership
Not a member? If you are a registered Democrat in Wicomico County, just complete the Membership Form (www.demclubwicomico.org/membership.html) and submit it to Club Sergeant-at-Arms Kelsie Mattox at the front table when entering the Salisbury Art Space for a club meeting. (She has membership forms with her as well.)
There are no dues. We do have an annual fundraising appeal (see below), but there is no obligation to give. Membership entitles you to vote in club elections (odd years including this fall) and for endorsements (non-partisan elections only—and not routinely; we don’t endorse for primary elections).
Spring Fundraising Appeal
Our annual postal and email fundraising appeal begins this month and goes through mid-May. Help the club support Wicomico Democratic candidates and causes with a generous donation. We will support Democratic candidates in the Wicomico municipal elections who reach out to us for financial help.
Club Award Recipients
Marie Cavallaro received the 2022 Member of the Year Award. Besides providing refreshments at all club meeting, Marie is instrumental in the success of our annual Crab Feast.
Henrietta and J.C. Parker were recognized with the 2023 President’s Award. They were honored for their behind-the-scenes support of Democratic candidates over the years, especially Del. Norman Conway’s campaigns.
For more on these three shining examples of political volunteerism, go to the club’s web site: www.demclubwicomico.org
Upcoming speakers
Wednesday, April 19: James Yamakawa, Truth and Resolution Committee
Tuesday, May 16: Del. Sheree Sample-Hughes, “2023 MD General Assembly Recap”
Wednesday, June 21: Dr. Micah Stauffer, Wicomico County Public Schools Superintendent
Wednesday, July 19: Gains Hawkins, Wicomico Democratic Club President, “A Democratic Vision for Wicomico County”
Wicomico Democratic Club
February 2023 Newsletter
TidalHealth CEO Is Dem Club Feb. 15 Speaker
Dr. Steven Leonard, president and chief executive officer of Tidal Health, discusses
“TidalHealth System Overview and Legislative Matters" at the Wicomico
Democratic Club’s general membership meeting on Wednesday, February 15, at
6:30 p.m. at Salisbury Art Space. The public is invited; refreshments are served.
The meeting also features updates from the Salisbury City Council, Wicomico
County Council and Wicomico County Democratic Central Committee.
For more information, contact Democratic Club President Gains Hawkins at
[email protected].
Upcoming Speakers
Park Pavilion.
Cavallaro Wicomico Dem Club 2022 Member of the Year
“Cavallaro is a quintessential team member,” said Club President
Gains Hawkins, “bringing everyone together to achieve shared goals.”
Her friendship and welcoming nature embody the spirit of the club.
She is the unquestioned organizational leader of the club’s Crab Feast Committee,
looked to take charge of setting up, all the while in a calm and reassuring manner.
The past year’s Crab Feast drew some 200 members and guests and raised over
$6,000 for the club. The Crab Feast is the largest annual gathering of Democrats in
Wicomico County. Cavallaro, who rarely misses a meeting, sets up the meeting room and provides
snacks for every monthly general membership meeting.
She eschews recognition, explaining the reason she provides the club with refreshments: “I do it because I
enjoy doing it, and I enjoy the people; it gives me a way to thank the club members
who support Democratic causes. A little social time with food is a small donation
to keep us sticking together.”
Newsletter prepared by Gains Hawkins. For more information about the
Wicomico Democratic Club, contact Hawkins at [email protected]
February 2023 Newsletter
TidalHealth CEO Is Dem Club Feb. 15 Speaker
Dr. Steven Leonard, president and chief executive officer of Tidal Health, discusses
“TidalHealth System Overview and Legislative Matters" at the Wicomico
Democratic Club’s general membership meeting on Wednesday, February 15, at
6:30 p.m. at Salisbury Art Space. The public is invited; refreshments are served.
The meeting also features updates from the Salisbury City Council, Wicomico
County Council and Wicomico County Democratic Central Committee.
For more information, contact Democratic Club President Gains Hawkins at
[email protected].
Upcoming Speakers
- Wednesday, March 15: Gains Hawkins, “A Democratic Vision for Wicomico
- County; President’s Award announcement
- Wednesday, April 19: James Yamakawa, Truth and Resolution Committee
- Tuesday, May 16 (tentative): Del. Sheree Sample-Hughes, MD General Assembly
- Session Recap
- Wednesday, June 21: Dr/. Micah Stauffer, Wicomico County Public Schools
- Superintendent
- Annual Crab Feast
Park Pavilion.
Cavallaro Wicomico Dem Club 2022 Member of the Year
“Cavallaro is a quintessential team member,” said Club President
Gains Hawkins, “bringing everyone together to achieve shared goals.”
Her friendship and welcoming nature embody the spirit of the club.
She is the unquestioned organizational leader of the club’s Crab Feast Committee,
looked to take charge of setting up, all the while in a calm and reassuring manner.
The past year’s Crab Feast drew some 200 members and guests and raised over
$6,000 for the club. The Crab Feast is the largest annual gathering of Democrats in
Wicomico County. Cavallaro, who rarely misses a meeting, sets up the meeting room and provides
snacks for every monthly general membership meeting.
She eschews recognition, explaining the reason she provides the club with refreshments: “I do it because I
enjoy doing it, and I enjoy the people; it gives me a way to thank the club members
who support Democratic causes. A little social time with food is a small donation
to keep us sticking together.”
Newsletter prepared by Gains Hawkins. For more information about the
Wicomico Democratic Club, contact Hawkins at [email protected]
Cavallaro Wicomico Dem Club 2022 Member of the Year
Wicomico Democratic Club
November 2022 Newsletter
Political Scientists Give Election Analysis Nov. 16
Dr. Harry Basehart, professor emeritus of political science at Salisbury University, and Dr. Adam Hoffman, professor of political science at SU, examine the national and local election results at the Wicomico Democratic Club’s general membership meeting on Wednesday, November 16, at 6:30 p.m. at the Salisbury Art Space. The public is invited.
The meeting also features updates from the Salisbury City Council and the Wicomico County Council.
Holiday Party Dec. 8 at Poplar Hill Mansion
After cancelling the event the past two years due to Covid, the club invites local Democrats to its Holiday Party on Thursday, Dec. 8, 6-8 p.m. at Poplar Hill Mansion. Guests are asked to being a covered dish or dessert. The event is BYOB. Fun and fellowship provided at no charge.
Susan Robson Is New VP
Susan Robson has accepted an invitation from the club officers to become our First Vice President. She will complete the two-year term of Alyssa Hastings, who recently resigned from the board to become the Eastern Shore representative for Maryland U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen. Congratulations Alyssa, and welcome aboard Susan. Susan is responsible for the club Facebook entries and other duties as assigned.
Eastern Shore Coalition of Dem Clubs Plans In-person Winter Meeting
The Coalition celebrates its two-year anniversary in January with plans for a meeting of leadership from Eastern Shore Democratic clubs and central committees at a date to be determined. At the top of the meeting agenda will be a discussion about reviving the Eastern Shore Democratic Summit, likely in spring 2024. The summit would future guest speakers and campaign workshops.
Review of Democratic Vision for Wicomico County at January Club Meeting
Club President Gains Hawkins interviewed some 30 individuals from a variety of backgrounds over the spring and summer to draft a document entitled, “A Democratic Vision for Wicomico County.” He will share the document with club members via email in January and facilitate a discussion about its contents. Following that dialogue, Hawkins will prepare a final draft for the club’s review in the spring. With consensus approval, the final document will be posted on the club web site.
Monthly Speakers, Topics Sought
Is there an individual you would like to invite to address the club at one of its 2023 monthly meetings? How about a topic? Send your suggestions to Hawkins at [email protected].
Happy Thanksgiving
Maya Angelou: “When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed.”
November 2022 Newsletter
Political Scientists Give Election Analysis Nov. 16
Dr. Harry Basehart, professor emeritus of political science at Salisbury University, and Dr. Adam Hoffman, professor of political science at SU, examine the national and local election results at the Wicomico Democratic Club’s general membership meeting on Wednesday, November 16, at 6:30 p.m. at the Salisbury Art Space. The public is invited.
The meeting also features updates from the Salisbury City Council and the Wicomico County Council.
Holiday Party Dec. 8 at Poplar Hill Mansion
After cancelling the event the past two years due to Covid, the club invites local Democrats to its Holiday Party on Thursday, Dec. 8, 6-8 p.m. at Poplar Hill Mansion. Guests are asked to being a covered dish or dessert. The event is BYOB. Fun and fellowship provided at no charge.
Susan Robson Is New VP
Susan Robson has accepted an invitation from the club officers to become our First Vice President. She will complete the two-year term of Alyssa Hastings, who recently resigned from the board to become the Eastern Shore representative for Maryland U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen. Congratulations Alyssa, and welcome aboard Susan. Susan is responsible for the club Facebook entries and other duties as assigned.
Eastern Shore Coalition of Dem Clubs Plans In-person Winter Meeting
The Coalition celebrates its two-year anniversary in January with plans for a meeting of leadership from Eastern Shore Democratic clubs and central committees at a date to be determined. At the top of the meeting agenda will be a discussion about reviving the Eastern Shore Democratic Summit, likely in spring 2024. The summit would future guest speakers and campaign workshops.
Review of Democratic Vision for Wicomico County at January Club Meeting
Club President Gains Hawkins interviewed some 30 individuals from a variety of backgrounds over the spring and summer to draft a document entitled, “A Democratic Vision for Wicomico County.” He will share the document with club members via email in January and facilitate a discussion about its contents. Following that dialogue, Hawkins will prepare a final draft for the club’s review in the spring. With consensus approval, the final document will be posted on the club web site.
Monthly Speakers, Topics Sought
Is there an individual you would like to invite to address the club at one of its 2023 monthly meetings? How about a topic? Send your suggestions to Hawkins at [email protected].
Happy Thanksgiving
Maya Angelou: “When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed.”
Wicomico Democratic Club
September 2022 Newsletter
Sign up for Dem HQ Shifts
Sign up for shifts at Wicomico Democratic Headquarters (306 W. Main St., Salisbury) at the following link: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1oQ9ZPPfvvmHANNUHK6zDZPquWd3SON_EqLJaVu-3vJc/edit#gid=0.
Get yard signs and other promotional materials for local and statewide candidates.
MD General Assembly Candidates at Sept. 21 Wicomico Dem Club Meeting
Democratic candidates for the Maryland State Senate and House of Delegates are the guest speakers at the Wicomico Democratic Club’s general membership meeting on Wednesday, September 21, at 6:30 p.m. at Salisbury Art Space (212 W. Main St., Salisbury). The public is invited.
Candidates attending are: Naomi Hyman, Maryland State Senate, District 37 (www.naomihyman.com) ; Michele Gregory, Maryland State Senate, District 38 (www.votemichelegregory.com) ; Susan Delean-Botkin, Maryland House of Delegates, District 37B (www.susanforeasternshore.com) ; and Todd Nock, Maryland House of Delegates, District 38A (www.toddjnock.com/about/) . Sheree Sample-Hughes, Maryland House of Delegates, District 37A (www.facebook.com/shereesamplehughes37a/), cannot attend due to classes she takes on Wednesday evenings.
Also, members of the Salisbury City Council and Wicomico County Council will give respective updates.
County Executive, County Council Candidates at October Club Meeting
Wicomico County Council Executive candidate Ernie Davis (https://www.ernestdaviswicomicoco.com/) and County Council candidates are the featured speakers at the Wednesday, October 19, Wicomico Democratic Club general membership meeting. Open to the public, the meeting is at 6:30 p.m. at Salisbury Art Space.
County Council candidates attending are: Brad Gillis (www.bradleygillis.com/about) and Megan Outten (www.outtenforwicomico.com),
At-large; Shanie Shields (www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=Shanie%20Shields),
District 1; Talana Watson (www.facebook.com/TalanaDWatson/) ,
District 2; and Josh Hastings (joshhastings.com), District 4.
Dem Club Makes Donations to Local Candidates
The Wicomico Dem Club made $500 donations to the following candidates: Ernie Davis, Wicomico County Executive; Brad Gillis and Megan Outten, Wicomico County Council, At-Large; Shanie Shields, County Council, District 1; Talana Watson, County Council, District 2; Michele Gregory, Maryland State Senate, District 38; Naomi Hyman, State Senate, District 37; Susan Delean-Botkin, Maryland House of Delegates, District 37B; Todd Nock, House of Delegates, District 38A; Heather Mizeur, U.S. House of Representatives, District 1; George Demko, Wicomico Board of Education, At-large; Karin Miller, Board of Education, District 2; Leonard Arvi, Board of Education, District 3; and David Plotts, District 4.
Allen Brown (Board of Education, District 1), requested and received a $100 donation. Sheree Sample-Hughes (House of Delegates, District 37A) and Josh Hastings (County Council, District 4) asked that their $500 contribution be shared with other candidates.
Crab Feast Draws Record Crowd
The Club’s annual August Crab Feast attracted some 200 members and guests who enjoyed steamed crabs and corn, fried chicken, hot dogs, assorted salads and desserts and beverages.
Several elected officials--including Salisbury Mayor Jake Day and Maryland Speaker Pro Tempore Shree Sample-Hughes—and candidates attended.
The Crab Feast is the largest annual gathering of Wicomico Democrats.
Bridge to Beach Blue Wave
Some 20 Dem Club members waved signs supporting statewide and local candidates long U.S. Route 50 near Perdue Shorebirds Stadium to kickoff Labor Day weekend.
Joining Wicomico were clubs from Queen Anne’s, Kent, Caroline, Talbot and Worcester counties.
One member counted 147 cars and trucks honking their horns in support of our Blue Wave.
For more information, contact Wicomico Democratic Club President Gains Hawkins at [email protected] or 410-603-6677.
September 2022 Newsletter
Sign up for Dem HQ Shifts
Sign up for shifts at Wicomico Democratic Headquarters (306 W. Main St., Salisbury) at the following link: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1oQ9ZPPfvvmHANNUHK6zDZPquWd3SON_EqLJaVu-3vJc/edit#gid=0.
Get yard signs and other promotional materials for local and statewide candidates.
MD General Assembly Candidates at Sept. 21 Wicomico Dem Club Meeting
Democratic candidates for the Maryland State Senate and House of Delegates are the guest speakers at the Wicomico Democratic Club’s general membership meeting on Wednesday, September 21, at 6:30 p.m. at Salisbury Art Space (212 W. Main St., Salisbury). The public is invited.
Candidates attending are: Naomi Hyman, Maryland State Senate, District 37 (www.naomihyman.com) ; Michele Gregory, Maryland State Senate, District 38 (www.votemichelegregory.com) ; Susan Delean-Botkin, Maryland House of Delegates, District 37B (www.susanforeasternshore.com) ; and Todd Nock, Maryland House of Delegates, District 38A (www.toddjnock.com/about/) . Sheree Sample-Hughes, Maryland House of Delegates, District 37A (www.facebook.com/shereesamplehughes37a/), cannot attend due to classes she takes on Wednesday evenings.
Also, members of the Salisbury City Council and Wicomico County Council will give respective updates.
County Executive, County Council Candidates at October Club Meeting
Wicomico County Council Executive candidate Ernie Davis (https://www.ernestdaviswicomicoco.com/) and County Council candidates are the featured speakers at the Wednesday, October 19, Wicomico Democratic Club general membership meeting. Open to the public, the meeting is at 6:30 p.m. at Salisbury Art Space.
County Council candidates attending are: Brad Gillis (www.bradleygillis.com/about) and Megan Outten (www.outtenforwicomico.com),
At-large; Shanie Shields (www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=Shanie%20Shields),
District 1; Talana Watson (www.facebook.com/TalanaDWatson/) ,
District 2; and Josh Hastings (joshhastings.com), District 4.
Dem Club Makes Donations to Local Candidates
The Wicomico Dem Club made $500 donations to the following candidates: Ernie Davis, Wicomico County Executive; Brad Gillis and Megan Outten, Wicomico County Council, At-Large; Shanie Shields, County Council, District 1; Talana Watson, County Council, District 2; Michele Gregory, Maryland State Senate, District 38; Naomi Hyman, State Senate, District 37; Susan Delean-Botkin, Maryland House of Delegates, District 37B; Todd Nock, House of Delegates, District 38A; Heather Mizeur, U.S. House of Representatives, District 1; George Demko, Wicomico Board of Education, At-large; Karin Miller, Board of Education, District 2; Leonard Arvi, Board of Education, District 3; and David Plotts, District 4.
Allen Brown (Board of Education, District 1), requested and received a $100 donation. Sheree Sample-Hughes (House of Delegates, District 37A) and Josh Hastings (County Council, District 4) asked that their $500 contribution be shared with other candidates.
Crab Feast Draws Record Crowd
The Club’s annual August Crab Feast attracted some 200 members and guests who enjoyed steamed crabs and corn, fried chicken, hot dogs, assorted salads and desserts and beverages.
Several elected officials--including Salisbury Mayor Jake Day and Maryland Speaker Pro Tempore Shree Sample-Hughes—and candidates attended.
The Crab Feast is the largest annual gathering of Wicomico Democrats.
Bridge to Beach Blue Wave
Some 20 Dem Club members waved signs supporting statewide and local candidates long U.S. Route 50 near Perdue Shorebirds Stadium to kickoff Labor Day weekend.
Joining Wicomico were clubs from Queen Anne’s, Kent, Caroline, Talbot and Worcester counties.
One member counted 147 cars and trucks honking their horns in support of our Blue Wave.
For more information, contact Wicomico Democratic Club President Gains Hawkins at [email protected] or 410-603-6677.
Wicomico Democratic Club
June 2022 Newsletter
Support Your Local Democrat
Please consider supporting the Eastern Shore candidates listed below. Your
support can be via financial donations, door-to-door canvassing, phone banking,
yard signs, home meet-and-greets and word of mouth. Be public with your
support!
Club Board of Education Primary Endorsements
The Club recommends voting for the following candidates for Wicomico Board of
Education: George Demko, Donald Fitzgerald, Michael Murray and Von Siggers
(at-large); Allen Brown (District 1); Karin Miller (District 2); Leonard Arvi
(District 3); and David Plotts (District 4). County Executive, County Council Democratic Candidates
Ernie Davis an outstanding County Executive candidate. Democrats running for
County Council: Brad Gillis and Megan Outten (at-large); Monica Brooks, Amber
Green and Shanie Shields (District 1); Darrin Johnson and Talana Watson (District
2); and Josh Hastings (District 4). MD Senate, House of Delegates Races
Democrats running for Eastern Shore General Assembly seats: Michele Gregory
(Senate, District 38); Sheree Sample-Hughes (House of Delegates, District 37A);
Susan Delean-Botkin (House of Delegates, District 37B); and Todd Nock (House
of Delegates, District 38A). MD Primary Early Voting, Election Day Dates
Early Voting takes place July 7-14, 7 a.m.-8 p.m. at two locations: the Wicomico
Civic Center and First Baptist Church (Delaware Ave. and Booth St.). Primary
Election Day is Tuesday, July 19, 7 a.m.-8 p.m. at both locations.
Annual Fundraising Appeal Continues
The Club’s annual spring fundraising appeal has raised over $7,000 to date. It’s a
great start, but to elect local Democrats and support a visible and accessible
Wicomico Democratic Headquarters we need additional resources.
To make a credit card gift, please go to the Wicomico Democratic Club web site
https://demclubwicomico.org/donatehtml; to make a gift via check, mail it to the
Wicomico Democratic Club, P.O. Box 1486, Salisbury, MD 21802. Go Dems!
Annual Crab Feast
The Club’s annual Crab Feast is on Sunday, August 21, 1-4 p.m. at Schumaker
Park Pavilion. Look for more details in July.
County Council D1 Candidates at June General Membership Meeting
The three candidates vying for victory in the Wicomico County Council District 1
Primary all made impressive presentations at the Club’s June 15 general
membership meeting at Salisbury Art Space. Whoever wins—Monica Brooks,
Amber Green and Shanie Shields—District 1 will have a formidable presence on
the County Council.
Bridge to Beach Blue Wave Friday, September 2
Democratic clubs on the Shore will wave signs supporting Democratic candidates
from the Bay Bridge to the Ocean City beaches on Friday, September 2. The
Wicomico Dem Club will be at a location near Shorebirds Stadium. Come join the
Blue Wave and help elect Democrats in November.
The Wicomico Democratic Club newsletter is written by Gains Hawkins, club
president. Send comments and questions to [email protected]
June 2022 Newsletter
Support Your Local Democrat
Please consider supporting the Eastern Shore candidates listed below. Your
support can be via financial donations, door-to-door canvassing, phone banking,
yard signs, home meet-and-greets and word of mouth. Be public with your
support!
Club Board of Education Primary Endorsements
The Club recommends voting for the following candidates for Wicomico Board of
Education: George Demko, Donald Fitzgerald, Michael Murray and Von Siggers
(at-large); Allen Brown (District 1); Karin Miller (District 2); Leonard Arvi
(District 3); and David Plotts (District 4). County Executive, County Council Democratic Candidates
Ernie Davis an outstanding County Executive candidate. Democrats running for
County Council: Brad Gillis and Megan Outten (at-large); Monica Brooks, Amber
Green and Shanie Shields (District 1); Darrin Johnson and Talana Watson (District
2); and Josh Hastings (District 4). MD Senate, House of Delegates Races
Democrats running for Eastern Shore General Assembly seats: Michele Gregory
(Senate, District 38); Sheree Sample-Hughes (House of Delegates, District 37A);
Susan Delean-Botkin (House of Delegates, District 37B); and Todd Nock (House
of Delegates, District 38A). MD Primary Early Voting, Election Day Dates
Early Voting takes place July 7-14, 7 a.m.-8 p.m. at two locations: the Wicomico
Civic Center and First Baptist Church (Delaware Ave. and Booth St.). Primary
Election Day is Tuesday, July 19, 7 a.m.-8 p.m. at both locations.
Annual Fundraising Appeal Continues
The Club’s annual spring fundraising appeal has raised over $7,000 to date. It’s a
great start, but to elect local Democrats and support a visible and accessible
Wicomico Democratic Headquarters we need additional resources.
To make a credit card gift, please go to the Wicomico Democratic Club web site
https://demclubwicomico.org/donatehtml; to make a gift via check, mail it to the
Wicomico Democratic Club, P.O. Box 1486, Salisbury, MD 21802. Go Dems!
Annual Crab Feast
The Club’s annual Crab Feast is on Sunday, August 21, 1-4 p.m. at Schumaker
Park Pavilion. Look for more details in July.
County Council D1 Candidates at June General Membership Meeting
The three candidates vying for victory in the Wicomico County Council District 1
Primary all made impressive presentations at the Club’s June 15 general
membership meeting at Salisbury Art Space. Whoever wins—Monica Brooks,
Amber Green and Shanie Shields—District 1 will have a formidable presence on
the County Council.
Bridge to Beach Blue Wave Friday, September 2
Democratic clubs on the Shore will wave signs supporting Democratic candidates
from the Bay Bridge to the Ocean City beaches on Friday, September 2. The
Wicomico Dem Club will be at a location near Shorebirds Stadium. Come join the
Blue Wave and help elect Democrats in November.
The Wicomico Democratic Club newsletter is written by Gains Hawkins, club
president. Send comments and questions to [email protected]
Wicomico Democratic Club
May 2022 Newsletter
D1 County Council Candidates at June 15 Meeting
Monica Brooks, Amber Green and Shanie Shields, Democratic candidates for the
District 1 Wicomico County Council seat, make their respective cases for election
at the club’s general membership meeting on Wednesday, June 15, 6:30 p.m., at
Salisbury Art Space.
They are vying for the council spot currently held by Ernie Davis, who is running
for Wicomico County Executive. The Maryland primary election is Tuesday, July
19. Early voting is July 7-14, with two locations: the Wicomico Civic Center and
First Baptist Church.
Del. Sample-Hughes Shares MD General Assembly Bills Passed
Del. Sheree Sample-Hughes discussed the recently completed Maryland General
Assembly session at the club’s May 18 general membership meeting. She cited
$4,415,000 in initiatives that benefit Dorchester and Wicomico counties, as well as
capital budget projects that include $21 million for Mardela Middle and Senior
High schools and $11 million for Wor-Wic Community College.
The Retirement Income and Senior Tax Credit was approved by the majority
Democrat General Assembly, providing individuals 65 and older earning $100,000
or less a tax credit of $1,000 and senior couples makes $150.000 or less a tax credit
of $1,750.
For a complete summary of Del. Sample-Hughes’s presentation, contact club
president, Gains Hawkins, at
[email protected]
.
Candidates Attend May 18 Club Meeting
The following candidates attended the May 18 meeting: Ernie Davis, Wicomico
County Executive; Megan Outten, Wicomico County Council, At-large; Monica
Brooks and Shanie Shields, Wicomico County Council, District 1; and Talana
Watson, Wicomico County Council, District 2. Wicomico Board of Education
candidates in attendance: George Demko and Von Siggers, At-large; Karin Miller,
District 2; Leonard Arvi, District 3; and David Plotts, District 4. Democratic
Central Committee candidate attendees: Ernie Gibb, Alyssa Hastings, Gains
Hawkins and Dave Keosian.
City, County Council Reports
Salisbury City Councilwoman Angela Blake gave the City Council update, while
Wicomico County Councilmen Ernie Davis and Bill McCain reported on the
County Council at the May 18 general membership meeting. For a summary of
their presentations, contact President Hawkins.
Upcoming Events of Interest
1)Wicomico Board of Education Candidates Forum
a)Friday, June 3, 1-3 p.m., Bradford Room, MAC Center, the
Area Agency on Aging, 909 Prospect Circle, adjacent to the Holly Center, just off Snow Hill Road, Salisbury
b)Free and open to the public; attendees should wear KN95 equivalent face masks and practice social distancing
c)Moderator: Greg Bassett, editor and general manager, Salisbury Independent
d)Sponsor: Push4Education
2)American Idol Jay Copeland Performance
a)Friday, June 3, 7 p.m., Times Square and South Division Street, Downtown Salisbury
b)Free and open to the public
3)Freedom Fund Banquet
a)Saturday, June 4, noon-3 p.m., Assembly Hall (fourth floor), Guerrieri Academic Commons, SU
b)Tickets $35; Eventbrite.com
c)Featured Speaker: Rev. Jamar Jackson, “Together Towards Tomorrow”
d)Sponsor: Wicomico County NAACP
4)Wicomico Environmental Trust Picnic
a)Saturday, June 4, noon-5 p.m., Hazel Outdoor Discovery Center, 4025, Cooper Road, Eden
b)Tickets $30; wicomicoenvironment.org
5)MAC’s Acting Aging Expo
a)Saturday, June 11, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Wicomico Civic Center
b)Theme: Assortment of services and resources to enhance lives of Baby
Boomers and seniors. Celebrates MAC’s 50 years of service.
c)Free and open to the public
d)Sponsor: Area Agency on Aging
6)Maryland Primary Early Voting
a)Thursday, July 7-14, 7 a.m.-8 p.m.
b)Wicomico Civic Center and First Baptist Church of Salisbury (528 Booth St.)
7)Wicomico Democratic Club Annual Crab Feast
a)Sunday, August 21, 1-4 p.m., Schumaker Park Pavilion
b)Tickets: TBD
8)Eastern Shore Democratic Blue Wave
a)Friday, September 2, 4-6 p.m., Rt. 50, Salisbury
b)Sponsor: Eastern Shore Coalition of Democratic Clubs
9)Tawes Clam Bake
a)Wednesday, September 28, Crisfield
b)Tickets: TBD
c)Sponsor: Crisfield Chamber of Commerce
Candidate School a Huge Success
The club had a comprehensive presentation about running a successful political
campaign on May 11 and 14 at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
(IBEW) conference room in Salisbury. Twelve candidates for elected office
attended as well as their campaign staff.
Membership Report
Corresponding Secretary Mike Folkoff said club membership is at 240. To
become a members, one has to be a registered Democrat living in Wicomico
County and complete a membership form (MEMBERSHIP - Democratic Club of
Wicomico County (demclubwicomico.org) and return to President Hawkins. Only
club members can vote on matters before the club.
For More Information
Contactt Club President Gains Hawkins at 410-603-6677 or [email protected]
May 2022 Newsletter
D1 County Council Candidates at June 15 Meeting
Monica Brooks, Amber Green and Shanie Shields, Democratic candidates for the
District 1 Wicomico County Council seat, make their respective cases for election
at the club’s general membership meeting on Wednesday, June 15, 6:30 p.m., at
Salisbury Art Space.
They are vying for the council spot currently held by Ernie Davis, who is running
for Wicomico County Executive. The Maryland primary election is Tuesday, July
19. Early voting is July 7-14, with two locations: the Wicomico Civic Center and
First Baptist Church.
Del. Sample-Hughes Shares MD General Assembly Bills Passed
Del. Sheree Sample-Hughes discussed the recently completed Maryland General
Assembly session at the club’s May 18 general membership meeting. She cited
$4,415,000 in initiatives that benefit Dorchester and Wicomico counties, as well as
capital budget projects that include $21 million for Mardela Middle and Senior
High schools and $11 million for Wor-Wic Community College.
The Retirement Income and Senior Tax Credit was approved by the majority
Democrat General Assembly, providing individuals 65 and older earning $100,000
or less a tax credit of $1,000 and senior couples makes $150.000 or less a tax credit
of $1,750.
For a complete summary of Del. Sample-Hughes’s presentation, contact club
president, Gains Hawkins, at
[email protected]
.
Candidates Attend May 18 Club Meeting
The following candidates attended the May 18 meeting: Ernie Davis, Wicomico
County Executive; Megan Outten, Wicomico County Council, At-large; Monica
Brooks and Shanie Shields, Wicomico County Council, District 1; and Talana
Watson, Wicomico County Council, District 2. Wicomico Board of Education
candidates in attendance: George Demko and Von Siggers, At-large; Karin Miller,
District 2; Leonard Arvi, District 3; and David Plotts, District 4. Democratic
Central Committee candidate attendees: Ernie Gibb, Alyssa Hastings, Gains
Hawkins and Dave Keosian.
City, County Council Reports
Salisbury City Councilwoman Angela Blake gave the City Council update, while
Wicomico County Councilmen Ernie Davis and Bill McCain reported on the
County Council at the May 18 general membership meeting. For a summary of
their presentations, contact President Hawkins.
Upcoming Events of Interest
1)Wicomico Board of Education Candidates Forum
a)Friday, June 3, 1-3 p.m., Bradford Room, MAC Center, the
Area Agency on Aging, 909 Prospect Circle, adjacent to the Holly Center, just off Snow Hill Road, Salisbury
b)Free and open to the public; attendees should wear KN95 equivalent face masks and practice social distancing
c)Moderator: Greg Bassett, editor and general manager, Salisbury Independent
d)Sponsor: Push4Education
2)American Idol Jay Copeland Performance
a)Friday, June 3, 7 p.m., Times Square and South Division Street, Downtown Salisbury
b)Free and open to the public
3)Freedom Fund Banquet
a)Saturday, June 4, noon-3 p.m., Assembly Hall (fourth floor), Guerrieri Academic Commons, SU
b)Tickets $35; Eventbrite.com
c)Featured Speaker: Rev. Jamar Jackson, “Together Towards Tomorrow”
d)Sponsor: Wicomico County NAACP
4)Wicomico Environmental Trust Picnic
a)Saturday, June 4, noon-5 p.m., Hazel Outdoor Discovery Center, 4025, Cooper Road, Eden
b)Tickets $30; wicomicoenvironment.org
5)MAC’s Acting Aging Expo
a)Saturday, June 11, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Wicomico Civic Center
b)Theme: Assortment of services and resources to enhance lives of Baby
Boomers and seniors. Celebrates MAC’s 50 years of service.
c)Free and open to the public
d)Sponsor: Area Agency on Aging
6)Maryland Primary Early Voting
a)Thursday, July 7-14, 7 a.m.-8 p.m.
b)Wicomico Civic Center and First Baptist Church of Salisbury (528 Booth St.)
7)Wicomico Democratic Club Annual Crab Feast
a)Sunday, August 21, 1-4 p.m., Schumaker Park Pavilion
b)Tickets: TBD
8)Eastern Shore Democratic Blue Wave
a)Friday, September 2, 4-6 p.m., Rt. 50, Salisbury
b)Sponsor: Eastern Shore Coalition of Democratic Clubs
9)Tawes Clam Bake
a)Wednesday, September 28, Crisfield
b)Tickets: TBD
c)Sponsor: Crisfield Chamber of Commerce
Candidate School a Huge Success
The club had a comprehensive presentation about running a successful political
campaign on May 11 and 14 at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
(IBEW) conference room in Salisbury. Twelve candidates for elected office
attended as well as their campaign staff.
Membership Report
Corresponding Secretary Mike Folkoff said club membership is at 240. To
become a members, one has to be a registered Democrat living in Wicomico
County and complete a membership form (MEMBERSHIP - Democratic Club of
Wicomico County (demclubwicomico.org) and return to President Hawkins. Only
club members can vote on matters before the club.
For More Information
Contactt Club President Gains Hawkins at 410-603-6677 or [email protected]
Wicomico Democratic Club
April 2022 Newsletter
Spring Fundraising Appeal in May
The club’s annual fundraising postal and email appeal is in May. Members and supporters will receive letters in the mail; email subscribers will get a donation notice. Your club contributions will go toward electing Democrats to local office (including Board of Education) in Wicomico and the Lower Shore. We will make direct gifts to candidates as well as funding a Democratic Headquarters. We will ask you to volunteer for shifts at Dem HQ as well. Please give as generously as you can, as well as making personal donations to the candidates.
Democrats Pursuing Elected Office Locally
The Maryland primary is July 19. The following Democrats are seeking political office.
Michele Gregory, Senate, Legislative District 38:
[email protected]
Sheree Sample-Hughes, House of Delegates, Legislative District 37A:
[email protected]
Todd Nock, House of Delegates, Legislative District 38:
[email protected]
Ernie Davis, Wicomico County Executive: [email protected]
Brad Gillis, Wicomico County Council, At-large: [email protected]
Megan Outten, Wicomico County Council, At-large: [email protected]
Monica Brooks, Wicomico County Council, District 1:
[email protected]
Amber Green, Wicomico County Council, District 1:
[email protected]
Shanie Shields, Wicomico County Council, District 1: [email protected]
Darrin Johnson, Sr., Wicomico County Council, District 2:
[email protected]
Talana Watson, Wicomico County Council, District 2:
[email protected]
Josh Hastings, Wicomico County Council, District 4:
[email protected]
James “Bo” McAllister: Clerk of the Circuit Court:
[email protected]
Karen Lemon, Register of Wills
Melissa Pollitt Bright, Judge of the Orphans’ Court:
[email protected]
Pete Evans, Judge of the Orphans’ Court: [email protected]
David Whitelock, Judge of the Orphans’ Court: [email protected]
Democratic Central Committee Candidates
Four men and four women are elected to the Wicomico County Democratic Central Committee. Since there are only four men and four women running for those positions, all will be elected after the July primary. The candidates are DShawn Doughty, Ernie Gibb, Gains Hawkins, Alyssa Hastings, David Keosian, Demetria Marshall, Hilarie Mullen and Sonya Whited.
Club Makes Donations to BOE Candidates
The club made $250 contributions to the campaigns of the following Wicomico County Board of Education (BOE) candidates.
George Demko, At-large: [email protected]
Don Fitzgerald, At-large: [email protected]
Michael Murray, At-large: [email protected]
Lavonzella Siggers, At-Large: [email protected]
Allen Brown, District 1: [email protected]
Karin Miller: District 2: [email protected]
David Plotts, District 4: [email protected]
Harden, Mizeur Featured at April General Membership Meeting
Heather Mizeur and Dave Harden, Democratic candidates for Maryland’s First District in the U.S. House of Representatives, addressed the club at our Wednesday, April 20 meeting at Salisbury Art Space. Some 65 members and guests attended.
For a summary of their comments, contact club president, Gains Hawkins, at [email protected].
Club Sponsors National Folk Festival
The club is again a $1,000 sponsor of this summer’s National Folk Festival in Salisbury. The event is on the last weekend in August.
Eastern Shore Coalition of Democratic Clubs Meets May 4
The Coalition will discuss collaborative opportunities for the clubs to work together to elect Democrats running in District 1 as well as statewide. Club members are invited to join the Zoom meeting. For more information, contact Gains at [email protected].
Sample-Hughes May 18 General Membership Meeting Speaker
Sheree Sample Hughes, speaker pro tempore in the Maryland House of Delegates who represents Legislative District 37A, is the featured speaker on Wednesday, May 18, 6:30 p.m. at Salisbury Art Space. She will discuss the recently finished Maryland General Assembly session.
County Council Candidates at June 15 General Membership Meeting
Monica Brooks, Amber Green and Shanie Shields, candidates for the seat on the Wicomico County Council, District 1, present their respective cases for election on Wednesday, June 15, 6:30 p.m. at Salisbury Art Space. Each candidate gets 20 minutes to address the audience and field questions.
Membership Report
The club currently has 232 members. To become a member go to MEMBERSHIP - Democratic Club of Wicomico County (demclubwicomico.org) and complete the membership form and return to [email protected]. Membership only requires that you are a registered Democrat in Wicomico County and complete the membership form. The club does not charge dues.
Send questions to Gains Hawkins, president, Democratic Club of Wicomico County, at [email protected].
April 2022 Newsletter
Spring Fundraising Appeal in May
The club’s annual fundraising postal and email appeal is in May. Members and supporters will receive letters in the mail; email subscribers will get a donation notice. Your club contributions will go toward electing Democrats to local office (including Board of Education) in Wicomico and the Lower Shore. We will make direct gifts to candidates as well as funding a Democratic Headquarters. We will ask you to volunteer for shifts at Dem HQ as well. Please give as generously as you can, as well as making personal donations to the candidates.
Democrats Pursuing Elected Office Locally
The Maryland primary is July 19. The following Democrats are seeking political office.
Michele Gregory, Senate, Legislative District 38:
[email protected]
Sheree Sample-Hughes, House of Delegates, Legislative District 37A:
[email protected]
Todd Nock, House of Delegates, Legislative District 38:
[email protected]
Ernie Davis, Wicomico County Executive: [email protected]
Brad Gillis, Wicomico County Council, At-large: [email protected]
Megan Outten, Wicomico County Council, At-large: [email protected]
Monica Brooks, Wicomico County Council, District 1:
[email protected]
Amber Green, Wicomico County Council, District 1:
[email protected]
Shanie Shields, Wicomico County Council, District 1: [email protected]
Darrin Johnson, Sr., Wicomico County Council, District 2:
[email protected]
Talana Watson, Wicomico County Council, District 2:
[email protected]
Josh Hastings, Wicomico County Council, District 4:
[email protected]
James “Bo” McAllister: Clerk of the Circuit Court:
[email protected]
Karen Lemon, Register of Wills
Melissa Pollitt Bright, Judge of the Orphans’ Court:
[email protected]
Pete Evans, Judge of the Orphans’ Court: [email protected]
David Whitelock, Judge of the Orphans’ Court: [email protected]
Democratic Central Committee Candidates
Four men and four women are elected to the Wicomico County Democratic Central Committee. Since there are only four men and four women running for those positions, all will be elected after the July primary. The candidates are DShawn Doughty, Ernie Gibb, Gains Hawkins, Alyssa Hastings, David Keosian, Demetria Marshall, Hilarie Mullen and Sonya Whited.
Club Makes Donations to BOE Candidates
The club made $250 contributions to the campaigns of the following Wicomico County Board of Education (BOE) candidates.
George Demko, At-large: [email protected]
Don Fitzgerald, At-large: [email protected]
Michael Murray, At-large: [email protected]
Lavonzella Siggers, At-Large: [email protected]
Allen Brown, District 1: [email protected]
Karin Miller: District 2: [email protected]
David Plotts, District 4: [email protected]
Harden, Mizeur Featured at April General Membership Meeting
Heather Mizeur and Dave Harden, Democratic candidates for Maryland’s First District in the U.S. House of Representatives, addressed the club at our Wednesday, April 20 meeting at Salisbury Art Space. Some 65 members and guests attended.
For a summary of their comments, contact club president, Gains Hawkins, at [email protected].
Club Sponsors National Folk Festival
The club is again a $1,000 sponsor of this summer’s National Folk Festival in Salisbury. The event is on the last weekend in August.
Eastern Shore Coalition of Democratic Clubs Meets May 4
The Coalition will discuss collaborative opportunities for the clubs to work together to elect Democrats running in District 1 as well as statewide. Club members are invited to join the Zoom meeting. For more information, contact Gains at [email protected].
Sample-Hughes May 18 General Membership Meeting Speaker
Sheree Sample Hughes, speaker pro tempore in the Maryland House of Delegates who represents Legislative District 37A, is the featured speaker on Wednesday, May 18, 6:30 p.m. at Salisbury Art Space. She will discuss the recently finished Maryland General Assembly session.
County Council Candidates at June 15 General Membership Meeting
Monica Brooks, Amber Green and Shanie Shields, candidates for the seat on the Wicomico County Council, District 1, present their respective cases for election on Wednesday, June 15, 6:30 p.m. at Salisbury Art Space. Each candidate gets 20 minutes to address the audience and field questions.
Membership Report
The club currently has 232 members. To become a member go to MEMBERSHIP - Democratic Club of Wicomico County (demclubwicomico.org) and complete the membership form and return to [email protected]. Membership only requires that you are a registered Democrat in Wicomico County and complete the membership form. The club does not charge dues.
Send questions to Gains Hawkins, president, Democratic Club of Wicomico County, at [email protected].
Wicomico Democratic Club
March 2022 Newsletter
District 1 Candidates Talk to Club on Wednesday, April 20
Three Democratic candidates vying to oppose Andy Harris for the Maryland Congressional First District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives address the club’s general membership on Wednesday, April 20, 6:30 p.m. at Salisbury Art Space. The public invited.
Dave Harden (Harden for Congress), Heather Mizeur (Heather R. Mizeur for U.S. Congress - Heather Mizeur) and Jennifer Pingley (Jennifer Pingley — Donate via ActBlue) will each make 10-minute presentations followed by up to 10 minutes of audience questions. The format calls for the candidates’ Q&A sessions to be independent from one another.
BOE Candidates Attract Big Crowd to March Meeting
Eleven candidates for the non-partisan Wicomico County Board of Education made their respective cases for election at the club’s March 16 meeting at the Salisbury Art Space with an audience of some 70 members and guests.
Following opening remarks by Dr. Kel Nagel, who was president of the Wicomico BOE from 1984-95, the following candidates made three-minute pitches about their candidacy: George Demko (at large), Bonnie Ennis (at large), Donald Fitgerald (at large)Aaron Guy (at large), Michael Murray (at large), Allen Brown (District 1), Gene Malone (District 2), Karin Miller (District 2), Tonya Laird Lewis (District 3), David Plotts (District 4) and Ann Suthowski (District 4). The
candidates then took questions from the audience. Issues discussed included Career & Technical Education (CTE), safety in schools, school resource officers, parents/family nights and other ways to involve parents and families, and funding.
Prior to the BOE forum, Jack Heath, president of the Salisbury City Council, and Bill McCain, councilman for the Wicomico County Council, gave updates on the work of their respective governing organizations.
Other Democratic elected officials attending: Ernie Davis, vice president of the Wicomico County Council and candidate for Wicomico County Executive; Michele Gregory, Salisbury City Councilwoman and candidate for Maryland State Senate District 38; Josh Hastings, Wicomico County Councilman running for re-election in District 4; David Keosian, Wicomico Democratic Central Committee and running for e-election; and Robin Ritchie, Wicomico Democratic Central Committee.
Democratic candidates for elected office attending: Dr. Ernie Gibb, Wicomico Democratic
Central Committee; Amber Green, Wicomico County Council, District 1; Gains Hawkins, Wicomico County Democratic Central Committee; and Megan Outten, Wicomico County Council, At-large.
For contact information about candidates for elected office include BOE go to: 2022 Candidate Listing (maryland.gov) and click on Wicomico. For the Meeting Minutes featuring a full accounting of the evening, contact Ellen Lawler, recording secretary, at [email protected].
Membership Report
We added new members: Margaret Laferty, Erin Middleton, Megan Outten, Paulette Primus and Bel Troxel. We now have 229 members.
New Filing, Primary Elections Dates
The Maryland deadline to file for elected office is April 15.
The primary election date is July 19.
Save the Date: Our Annual Crab Feast
The Wicomico Democratic Club’s annual Crab Feast is on Sunday, August 21, 1-4 p.m. at the Schumaker Park Pavilion. Last year’s event attracted a record crowd of some 150 members and guests.
Spring Fundraising Appeal
The Democratic Club’s annual Spring Fundraising Appeal begins in April. Look for a letter in your postal and electronic mailboxes. Your donations help fund the candidacies of local Democrats as well as renting space for our Democratic Headquarters from August-November, a central location to pick yard signs and bumper stickers.
May Speaker: Del. Sheree Sample-Hughes
Sheree Sample-Hughes, (Maryland House of Delegates-- District 37A, Dorchester and Wicomico counties--and Speaker Pro Tempore), is the featured speaker at the Wednesday, May 18, 6:30 p.m. general membership meeting at Salisbury art Space. Del. Sample-Hughes will review the recently completed session of the Maryland General Assembly.
For more information, contact Club President Gains Hawkins at [email protected] or 410-603-6677
March 2022 Newsletter
District 1 Candidates Talk to Club on Wednesday, April 20
Three Democratic candidates vying to oppose Andy Harris for the Maryland Congressional First District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives address the club’s general membership on Wednesday, April 20, 6:30 p.m. at Salisbury Art Space. The public invited.
Dave Harden (Harden for Congress), Heather Mizeur (Heather R. Mizeur for U.S. Congress - Heather Mizeur) and Jennifer Pingley (Jennifer Pingley — Donate via ActBlue) will each make 10-minute presentations followed by up to 10 minutes of audience questions. The format calls for the candidates’ Q&A sessions to be independent from one another.
BOE Candidates Attract Big Crowd to March Meeting
Eleven candidates for the non-partisan Wicomico County Board of Education made their respective cases for election at the club’s March 16 meeting at the Salisbury Art Space with an audience of some 70 members and guests.
Following opening remarks by Dr. Kel Nagel, who was president of the Wicomico BOE from 1984-95, the following candidates made three-minute pitches about their candidacy: George Demko (at large), Bonnie Ennis (at large), Donald Fitgerald (at large)Aaron Guy (at large), Michael Murray (at large), Allen Brown (District 1), Gene Malone (District 2), Karin Miller (District 2), Tonya Laird Lewis (District 3), David Plotts (District 4) and Ann Suthowski (District 4). The
candidates then took questions from the audience. Issues discussed included Career & Technical Education (CTE), safety in schools, school resource officers, parents/family nights and other ways to involve parents and families, and funding.
Prior to the BOE forum, Jack Heath, president of the Salisbury City Council, and Bill McCain, councilman for the Wicomico County Council, gave updates on the work of their respective governing organizations.
Other Democratic elected officials attending: Ernie Davis, vice president of the Wicomico County Council and candidate for Wicomico County Executive; Michele Gregory, Salisbury City Councilwoman and candidate for Maryland State Senate District 38; Josh Hastings, Wicomico County Councilman running for re-election in District 4; David Keosian, Wicomico Democratic Central Committee and running for e-election; and Robin Ritchie, Wicomico Democratic Central Committee.
Democratic candidates for elected office attending: Dr. Ernie Gibb, Wicomico Democratic
Central Committee; Amber Green, Wicomico County Council, District 1; Gains Hawkins, Wicomico County Democratic Central Committee; and Megan Outten, Wicomico County Council, At-large.
For contact information about candidates for elected office include BOE go to: 2022 Candidate Listing (maryland.gov) and click on Wicomico. For the Meeting Minutes featuring a full accounting of the evening, contact Ellen Lawler, recording secretary, at [email protected].
Membership Report
We added new members: Margaret Laferty, Erin Middleton, Megan Outten, Paulette Primus and Bel Troxel. We now have 229 members.
New Filing, Primary Elections Dates
The Maryland deadline to file for elected office is April 15.
The primary election date is July 19.
Save the Date: Our Annual Crab Feast
The Wicomico Democratic Club’s annual Crab Feast is on Sunday, August 21, 1-4 p.m. at the Schumaker Park Pavilion. Last year’s event attracted a record crowd of some 150 members and guests.
Spring Fundraising Appeal
The Democratic Club’s annual Spring Fundraising Appeal begins in April. Look for a letter in your postal and electronic mailboxes. Your donations help fund the candidacies of local Democrats as well as renting space for our Democratic Headquarters from August-November, a central location to pick yard signs and bumper stickers.
May Speaker: Del. Sheree Sample-Hughes
Sheree Sample-Hughes, (Maryland House of Delegates-- District 37A, Dorchester and Wicomico counties--and Speaker Pro Tempore), is the featured speaker at the Wednesday, May 18, 6:30 p.m. general membership meeting at Salisbury art Space. Del. Sample-Hughes will review the recently completed session of the Maryland General Assembly.
For more information, contact Club President Gains Hawkins at [email protected] or 410-603-6677
Wicomico Democratic Club
February 2022 Newsletter
Candidate Recruitment
An ad hoc committee of Wicomico Dems has been contacting prospective
candidates for County Council and Board of Education. Those efforts have been
successful. Megan Outten and Brad Gillis have filed for County Council at-large.
Several candidates including Amber Green and Monica Brooks are expected in
District 1. Incumbent Josh Hastings is running again in District 4. However, as of
the end of February no Dems have filed in District 2, 3 or 5.
Ernie Davis, who represents County Council District 1, is running for County
Executive. To support his campaign, go to: Friends Of Ernest Davis | Facebook
The non-partisan Board of Education has been a particular focus of the committee.
Several candidates will be present at the club’s March 16 general membership
meeting (see below). The deadline to file for elected office is March 22. Anyone interested in running
for office can count on significant support from the club and its members. Please
send potential candidates to [email protected]
.
BOE Candidates at March 16 General Membership Meeting
Dr. Kel Nagel, former president of the Wicomico County Board of Education, will
give his thoughts on the importance of this year’s BOE election. Joining him will
be BOE candidates Michael Murray, George Demko, Bonnie Ennis, Allen Brown
and David Plotts. Karin Miller, a D2 candidate, is out of town on that date but will
submit written comments. Other candidates may be added.
This meeting will be the club’s first held in person (6:30 p.m., Salisbury Art Space)
since last fall. Andy Harris Successor at April 20 General Membership Meeting
The club welcomes the three Dems seeking the Maryland District 1 House of
Representatives seat at 6:30 p.m. at Salisbury Art Space. Dave Harden, Heather
Mizeur and Jennifer Pingley will each deliver a 10-minute presentation followed
by a q&a for that candidate. The Maryland Primary is June 21.
Jim Mathias Discusses Current MD Legislation at February 16 Meeting
Former State Senator Jim Mathias, now the government relations director at the
University of Maryland Eastern Shore, was the featured speaker at the club’s Feb.
16 Zoom meeting. He highlighted work on Internet connectivity for rural areas,
the Climate Solutions 2022 bill (which he thinks has a good chance of passage),
the Family Leave Act and Protecting Voting Rights (more voting access by mail
and extended early voting).
He emphasized the importance of passing the reproductive rights bill (in likelihood
Roe v. Wade is overturned), expanding ability of nurse practitioners to provide
abortions. He praised President Biden for bringing back earmarks, which help fund
community needs. Of the eight Maryland members of the House of
Representatives, only District 1’s Andy Harris did not support earmarks.
Treasurer’s Report (Keith Henry)
Total funds available to the club on January 31 (checking, savings and PayPal)
were $12,890.
Membership Report (Mike Folkoff)
The club’s voting membership is 226. MailChimp emails go to 607 addresses and
some 300 are opened.
For more information, contact Club President Gains Hawkins at 410-603-6677.
The club’s web site is at
Democratic Club of Wicomico County - Home (demclubwicomico.org)
and includes the club bylaws and contact emails for the officers
February 2022 Newsletter
Candidate Recruitment
An ad hoc committee of Wicomico Dems has been contacting prospective
candidates for County Council and Board of Education. Those efforts have been
successful. Megan Outten and Brad Gillis have filed for County Council at-large.
Several candidates including Amber Green and Monica Brooks are expected in
District 1. Incumbent Josh Hastings is running again in District 4. However, as of
the end of February no Dems have filed in District 2, 3 or 5.
Ernie Davis, who represents County Council District 1, is running for County
Executive. To support his campaign, go to: Friends Of Ernest Davis | Facebook
The non-partisan Board of Education has been a particular focus of the committee.
Several candidates will be present at the club’s March 16 general membership
meeting (see below). The deadline to file for elected office is March 22. Anyone interested in running
for office can count on significant support from the club and its members. Please
send potential candidates to [email protected]
.
BOE Candidates at March 16 General Membership Meeting
Dr. Kel Nagel, former president of the Wicomico County Board of Education, will
give his thoughts on the importance of this year’s BOE election. Joining him will
be BOE candidates Michael Murray, George Demko, Bonnie Ennis, Allen Brown
and David Plotts. Karin Miller, a D2 candidate, is out of town on that date but will
submit written comments. Other candidates may be added.
This meeting will be the club’s first held in person (6:30 p.m., Salisbury Art Space)
since last fall. Andy Harris Successor at April 20 General Membership Meeting
The club welcomes the three Dems seeking the Maryland District 1 House of
Representatives seat at 6:30 p.m. at Salisbury Art Space. Dave Harden, Heather
Mizeur and Jennifer Pingley will each deliver a 10-minute presentation followed
by a q&a for that candidate. The Maryland Primary is June 21.
Jim Mathias Discusses Current MD Legislation at February 16 Meeting
Former State Senator Jim Mathias, now the government relations director at the
University of Maryland Eastern Shore, was the featured speaker at the club’s Feb.
16 Zoom meeting. He highlighted work on Internet connectivity for rural areas,
the Climate Solutions 2022 bill (which he thinks has a good chance of passage),
the Family Leave Act and Protecting Voting Rights (more voting access by mail
and extended early voting).
He emphasized the importance of passing the reproductive rights bill (in likelihood
Roe v. Wade is overturned), expanding ability of nurse practitioners to provide
abortions. He praised President Biden for bringing back earmarks, which help fund
community needs. Of the eight Maryland members of the House of
Representatives, only District 1’s Andy Harris did not support earmarks.
Treasurer’s Report (Keith Henry)
Total funds available to the club on January 31 (checking, savings and PayPal)
were $12,890.
Membership Report (Mike Folkoff)
The club’s voting membership is 226. MailChimp emails go to 607 addresses and
some 300 are opened.
For more information, contact Club President Gains Hawkins at 410-603-6677.
The club’s web site is at
Democratic Club of Wicomico County - Home (demclubwicomico.org)
and includes the club bylaws and contact emails for the officers
Democratic Club of Wicomico County
Newsletter
January 28, 2022
Candidate Recruitment
As of this date, no Democrats have filed for Wicomico County Council. District 4
incumbent Josh Hastings will file soon. Several Dems are considering running for
County Council, but with less than a month to go (the filing deadline is February
22) none have done so.
Board of Education is a non-partisan election. Nonetheless, the club identifies
Democrats seeking election and shares that information with its members. Allen
Brown, the incumbent, is expected to file in District 1. David Plotts has filed in
District 4, George Demko has filed At-Large. Several Dems are considering filing
At-Large, but District 2, 3 and 5 are currently bereft of Democratic candidates.
Ernie Davis has filed for County Executive. Councilman Davis spoke to the
Wicomico Democratic Club earlier this week. See below for more on his
presentation.
Ernie Davis Featured Speaker at January General Membership Meeting
Some 50 individuals joined the Zoom meeting on January 26. City Council
President Jack Heath and County Councilman Josh Hastings gave updates about
issues and decisions by their respective elected groups.
Councilman Davis, a retired Maryland State Trooper, small businessman and
current councilman for District 1, discussed his views on a number of issues.
He has been a strong proponent of public education in the county, playing a
leadership role in the renovation of Westside Elementary School. He also
approved funding for school construction and improvements at Beaver Run
Elementary and Mardela High School. He helped prevent the expansion of large-
scale (CAFOs) on the Westside as well as the expansion of the Newland Park
Landfill. His was a crucial voice in the county’s decision not to sell the Salisbury
Nursing Home.
He cited the county’s lack of a Water and Sewer Department stifling the pursuit of
state funding, severely limiting new residential construction. The county is losing
top employees to nearby counties due to pay disparities with that competition,
essentially investing in the training of entry-level professionals who then take
better paying jobs across the county line.
Making the county more attractive to businesses to locate here is a priority. He
cited the need for the expansion of the airport and warehouse space. Greater local
investment in public education is vital to bringing new businesses to Wicomico.
The county needs broadband funding.
A major source of funds is going wanting due to the county’s failure to hire a
grants writer, despite having money for the position available in the budget.
For more on his campaign and to make a donation, go to
https://www.facebook.com/ernestdavis2021
State of the Club Report Read President Gains Hawkins’ State of the Club Report: https://www.demclubwicomico.org
Connie Strott Receives President’s Award, Keith Henry Member of the Year
These two outstanding community leaders earned well-deserved recognition at the
club’s January meeting: https://www.demclubwiromico.org
Eastern Shore Coalition of Democratic Clubs
Five clubs met via Zoom in January and talked about ways to work together in the
upcoming elections season. That conversation continues at the next meeting on
March 2. All club members are invited to attend. Look for the email
announcement and meeting Zoom link in mid-February.
Treasurer’s Report (Keith Henry, Treasurer)
The club’s ending checking account balance on December 31, 2021 was
$11,959.43. The savings account balance was $863.80. Total funds available was
$12,823.23.
Membership Report (Mike Folkoff, Corresponding Secretary)
The current club voting membership is 223.
February Speaker James Mathias
The general membership speaker on Wednesday, February 16, at 6:30 p.m. is
former State Senator James Mathias, who will discuss top issues in this year’s
Legislative Session. The meeting will meet on Zoom or in-person at the Salisbury
Arts Space.
For more information about the Wicomico Democratic Club contact President
Hawkins at [email protected]
For minutes from January’s membership
meeting, contact Recording Secretary Ellen Lawler at [email protected].
Wicomico Democratic Club
December 2021 Newsletter
Club Officers Elected for 2022-23
At the November general membership meeting, officers for 2022-23 were elected: Gains Hawkins, president; Alyssa Hastings, first vice president; Deborah Finkbeiner, second vice president; Keith Henry, treasurer; Mike Folkoff, corresponding secretary; Ellen Lawler, recording secretary; and Kelsie Mattox, sergeant-at-arms.
Sandra Martin Passes
Sandra Martin, the club’s correspondence secretary the past two years and the 2021 Wicomico Democratic Club Member of the year, passed away following a lengthy illness. In her memory, the club donated $200 to the scholarship fund of the Success Temple No. 154 of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks of the World.
Holiday Party Canceled
Due to the increasing number of Covid 19 cases in the county, the officers, in consultation with members attending the November general membership meeting, canceled the annual Holiday Party.
There was not a general membership meeting in December. The officers met and clarified responsibilities for the club’s communication platforms. Hastings is coordinating the club’s Facebook page; Finkbeiner is responsible for maintaining the club web site; Henry manages the financial accounts; Folkoff coordinates the club email (MailChimp) system; Lawler keeps the meeting minutes; and Mattox is responsible for meeting night set up. Hawkins writes the monthly newsletter and enjoys the luxury of such competent club officers handling the myriad club duties.
Democratic Candidate Recruitment
Club members Bruce Robson, Keith Henry, Tony Sarbanes, Harry Basehart and Gains Hawkins have been meeting to identify Democrats to run for elected office, especially County Council and Board of Education. The group met with County Councilman Bill McCain and Salisbury Mayor Jake Day to solicit their help in approaching would-be candidates. Club members are encouraged to suggest candidates to this ad-hoc committee which meets again on January 5.
Treasurer’s Report (Keith Henry)
The checking account balance as of November 30 was $9,916.45. The savings account balance was $863.59. Total cash available in the bank (First Shore Federal) was $10,780.04. Funds in the PayPal account were $2,192.05. Total cash available to the club as of November 30 was $12,972.09.
January 18 General Membership Meeting
County Councilman Ernie Davis announced his candidacy for Wicomico County Executive at the club’s November meeting. In January he will give a presentation outlining his goals and priorities for the position.
The meeting will also feature a synopsis of Club President Hawkins’ State of the Club report. The entire report will be available on the club web site.
Hawkins will also announce the Employee of the Year and the President’s Award, which goes to a Wicomico Democrat who has made outstanding lifetime contributions to the community. Previous recipients are Mike Pretl, Harry Basehart and Lee Whaley.
Upcoming Speakers
Democratic candidates for the House of Representatives in Maryland’s District 1
Questions About the Wicomico Democratic Club
The club’s web site is located at www.demclubwicomico.org. The club’s Facebook page can be found at www.facebook.com/search/top?q=democratic%20club%20of%20wicomico%20county.
Contact President Hawkins at [email protected].
Newsletter prepared by Gains Hawkins
December 2021 Newsletter
Club Officers Elected for 2022-23
At the November general membership meeting, officers for 2022-23 were elected: Gains Hawkins, president; Alyssa Hastings, first vice president; Deborah Finkbeiner, second vice president; Keith Henry, treasurer; Mike Folkoff, corresponding secretary; Ellen Lawler, recording secretary; and Kelsie Mattox, sergeant-at-arms.
Sandra Martin Passes
Sandra Martin, the club’s correspondence secretary the past two years and the 2021 Wicomico Democratic Club Member of the year, passed away following a lengthy illness. In her memory, the club donated $200 to the scholarship fund of the Success Temple No. 154 of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks of the World.
Holiday Party Canceled
Due to the increasing number of Covid 19 cases in the county, the officers, in consultation with members attending the November general membership meeting, canceled the annual Holiday Party.
There was not a general membership meeting in December. The officers met and clarified responsibilities for the club’s communication platforms. Hastings is coordinating the club’s Facebook page; Finkbeiner is responsible for maintaining the club web site; Henry manages the financial accounts; Folkoff coordinates the club email (MailChimp) system; Lawler keeps the meeting minutes; and Mattox is responsible for meeting night set up. Hawkins writes the monthly newsletter and enjoys the luxury of such competent club officers handling the myriad club duties.
Democratic Candidate Recruitment
Club members Bruce Robson, Keith Henry, Tony Sarbanes, Harry Basehart and Gains Hawkins have been meeting to identify Democrats to run for elected office, especially County Council and Board of Education. The group met with County Councilman Bill McCain and Salisbury Mayor Jake Day to solicit their help in approaching would-be candidates. Club members are encouraged to suggest candidates to this ad-hoc committee which meets again on January 5.
Treasurer’s Report (Keith Henry)
The checking account balance as of November 30 was $9,916.45. The savings account balance was $863.59. Total cash available in the bank (First Shore Federal) was $10,780.04. Funds in the PayPal account were $2,192.05. Total cash available to the club as of November 30 was $12,972.09.
January 18 General Membership Meeting
County Councilman Ernie Davis announced his candidacy for Wicomico County Executive at the club’s November meeting. In January he will give a presentation outlining his goals and priorities for the position.
The meeting will also feature a synopsis of Club President Hawkins’ State of the Club report. The entire report will be available on the club web site.
Hawkins will also announce the Employee of the Year and the President’s Award, which goes to a Wicomico Democrat who has made outstanding lifetime contributions to the community. Previous recipients are Mike Pretl, Harry Basehart and Lee Whaley.
Upcoming Speakers
Democratic candidates for the House of Representatives in Maryland’s District 1
Questions About the Wicomico Democratic Club
The club’s web site is located at www.demclubwicomico.org. The club’s Facebook page can be found at www.facebook.com/search/top?q=democratic%20club%20of%20wicomico%20county.
Contact President Hawkins at [email protected].
Newsletter prepared by Gains Hawkins
The Democratic Club of Wicomico County
Monthly Meeting
November 17, 2021
A regular monthly meeting of the Democratic Club of Wicomico County was held on Nov. 17, 2021 from 6:30-7:35pm at the Salisbury Art Space, 212 Main St. #101, Salisbury, MD 21801
Attendance:Approximately 30 people attended the meeting. Officers Present: Dr. Ernie Gibbs, 1st
Vice President, Deborah Finkbeiner, Secretary, Keith Henry, Treasurer, Kelsie Mattox, Sergeant at Arms
Welcome and Call to Order: Dr. Ernie Gibbs
Club President Gains Hawkins Is home and his health is improving. If there are any additions or corrections to the
minutes, see Ellen Lawler.
Pledge of Allegiance: led by Kelsie Mattox
Treasurer’s Report: Keith Henry
The forwarding balance in the checking account on 9/30/21 was $9,768.82. There were no new expenses; donations
totaling $130 were deposited and interest of $0.84 brought the checking account balance to $9,899.66 on 10/31/21. A
donation of $50 in memory of Renzilo Foxwell was added to the savings account to bring its balance to $813.59 and the funds held in PayPal totaled $2,192.05. The total available cash for the club on 10/31/21 was $12,905.30.
Candidate Recruitment: Keith Henry
A group of five individuals have been actively meeting and seeking strong democratic candidates to run for various local offices, including positions on the County Council and School Board. The filing deadline is Feb. 22, 2022. Bo McCallister has already filed to run for another term as Clerk of the Circuit Court and Ernie Davis just today declared that he is a candidate for the position of County Executive. Ernie then spoke briefly, mentioning that he has been a member of Council for eight years, representing District 1. One of the main focuses of his campaign is on the need for raises to the salaries of county employees and teachers. He mentioned that Wicomico has recently lost nine county employees to surrounding counties and some Wicomico teachers are leaving or considering leaving their positions for those in other Maryland counites as well.
Donation: Ernie Gibbs and Kelsie Mattox
A donation of $200 from the club was made in memory of Sandra Martin, who recently passed away, to the Scholarship fund of the Success Temple #154 of the Improved Benevolent Protective Order of Elks of the World.
Membership Report: Mike Folkoff
We still don’t have an exact number of members, but it is approximately 200. Mike is in the process of acquiring and
merging various files, including those kept by former corresponding secretary, Sandra Martin. The requirements for
membership are being a registered democrat, living in Wicomico County and filling out a membership form. Others can be included in the email list.
Election of Officers for 2022-2023: Barry King
The nominating committee of Barry King, Marie Cavallaro and Harry Basehart presented this slate of candidates - Gains Hawkins- President, Alyssa Hastings- First Vice president, Deborah Finkbeiner- Second Vice President, Ellen Lawler- Recording Secretary, Mike Folkoff- Corresponding Secretary, Keith Henry- Treasurer, Kelsie Mattox- Sergeant at Arms. The officers also serve on the club’s Board of Directors. No nominations from the floor were forthcoming. The slate was accepted unanimously by a voice vote. Barry thanked the committee members and the candidates for their willingness to serve.
Holiday Party: Ernie Gibb
The board of directors discussed and decided to not hold the annual Holiday Party this year due to the Covid situation.
Technology Workshop: to be held at SAS on Wed., Dec. 15. The board members and those with information on/access
to the club’s various accounts (Mail Chimp, membership list, Facebook, etc.) will meet to discuss, clarify and facilitate
the use of these accounts.
Zoom Coverage of Meetings: VP Gibbs asked for opinions as to whether the club should add Zoom coverage to the in
person-meetings. Comments in support of the idea included – it would be useful for Wicomico residents who don’t live in Salisbury, we gained some new members from folks who attended Zoom meetings during the pandemic and that it would allow folks from other MD counties to attend. Questions and concerns – should Zoom access be available to everyone or just registered democrats? Board should discuss the possibility that Republicans might attend via Zoom. Also, we would need someone to film and, although the audio might be fine, it would be difficult to get good video when different folks are talking. Another possibility is using FaceTime. Also, a question as to whether SAS has the capabilities.
Speakers: Dr. Phillip LeBel, Emeritus Professor of Economics at Montclair State University spoke on his new book,
Riskand the State - How Economics and Neuroscience Shape Political Legitimacy to Address Geopolitical, Environmental, and Health Risks for Sustainable Governance. Dr. Lebel discussed the differences between decisions made in the field of economics (typically rational decisions, made in the frontal lobe of the brain) versus political decisions, which are often driven by emotions (through the limbic system). People vary in their attitudes towards risk (some are willing to accept more than others), on how important past events are (whether in the immediate past or long past) and towards the future (long term versus immediate goals). Most politicians focus on short term goals, mainly the next election cycle. He mentioned the recent authoritarian tendencies in numerous countries (including Trump is the USA and Xi Jinping in China) and thought it was unusual to be occurring at a time when the economy is doing relatively well. Trump has basically trashed the various alliances and agreements that the US has had in place since WWII.
Next meeting: Wed., Jan. 19,
2022 – Review of 2021 and annual President awards. Speaker TBA.
Meeting Adjourned at 7:35.
Minutes submitted by Ellen Lawler.
Monthly Meeting
October 20, 2021
A regular monthly meeting of the Democratic Club of Wicomico County was held on Oct. 20, 2021 from 6:30-8:00pm at the Salisbury Art Space, 212 Main St. #101, Salisbury, MD 21801
Attendance: Approximately 28 people attended the meeting.
Officers Present: Dr. Ernie Gibbs, 1 st Vice President, Deborah Finkbeiner, Secretary, Keith Henry, Treasurer, Kelsie Mattox, Sergeant at Arms
Welcome and Call to Order: Dr. Ernie Gibbs
At the time of the meeting, Club President Gains Hawkins was still in the hospital. Marie Cavallaro made a “Get Well” wish board for Gains and all were encouraged to sign. Also at the time of the meeting, Sandra Martin was at home but very ill and in hospice care.
Pledge of Allegiance: Kelsie Mattox
Treasurer’s Report: Keith Henry
The forwarding balance in the checking account on 8/31/21 was $12,513.06. Expenses (mainly for the crab feast and printing of WCNAACP Freedom Fund Brochure) totaled $2745.07; interest was $0.83 for a checking account balance of $9,768.82 on 9/30/21. The savings account balance was $763.59 and the funds held in PayPal totaled $2,192.05. The total available cash for the club on 9/30/21 was $12,724.46.
Financial Review: Eddie Boyd, Jr.
Submitted to Club President Gains Hawkins on Oct. 4, 2021. Review of monthly bank statements, monthly Treasurer’s Reports and available invoices and receipts from 11/30/19 to 8/31/21 showed complete consistency between all these. Mr. Boyd complimented Treasurer Henry for his excellent stewardship, reports and practices. Eddie encourages Keith to continue to retain invoices for all expenditures, to have an additional signee on checks reimbursing himself and to maintain records of donors and other deposits to the club. To ease the Treasurer’s duties, he suggested having a member of the executive committee compile a donors list and the club consider acquiring a bank credit card.
Membership Report: Mike Folkoff
The club has seen a big increase in membership in the last couple of years. The current membership is about 245 members. About 145 folks attended the crab feast.
Peace in the Park: Deborah Finkbeiner
The club participated with a booth at the event on Sept. 25, 2021. Assisting Deborah at the booth were Mary Huebner, April Jackson and Ellen Lawler, and Michele Gregory helped take the booth down. Attendance was good, pocket US Constitutions and candy were given out, and the club gained 10 new members. Photos of the event were added to the club’s web site.
PACE Workshops: Ernie Gibbs
Today was the first day of the first PACE (Institute for Public Affairs and Civic Engagement at SU) workshop for those interested in running for public office; it is still possible to sign up for tomorrow’s session. A second workshop, for those who have already filed to run for office, is scheduled for Mar. 3, 4 and 5.A donation to the club was made in memory of Renzilo Foxwell; it will go into the club’s savings account.
The Paul Sarbanes Dinner has been postponed to April 2, 2022, due to Covid concerns. Those registered for the event
should have received an email.
Slate of Officers for 2022-2023: Barry King
Gains Hawkins- President, Alyssa Hastings- First Vice president, Deborah Finkbeiner- Second Vice President, Ellen Lawler- Recording Secretary, Mike Folkoff-Corresponding Secretary, Keith Henry- Treasurer, Kelsie Mattox- Sergeant at Arms. The officers also serve on the club’s Board of Directors. Election will take place at the November meeting; additional nominations can be accepted then. Voting is open to club members present at the meeting, including new members who sign up at that meeting.
Holiday Party: Ernie Gibb
The board of directors will discuss whether to go forward with the annual party at their next meeting. If it is held it will be a covered dish, BYOB party, on Wed., Dec. 15 at Salisbury Art Space. Help will be needed to decorate. Marie
Cavallaro was thanked for providing the treats for this evening’s meeting.
Speakers: “College Student Voting” - Dr. Adam Hoffman, Professor of Political Science, Salisbury University and Zoe Bradshaw, president of the SU College Democrats. Dr. Hoffman presented interesting statistics about student voting, which is the lowest of all age groups. The younger age groups are more racially diverse and skew more to the left than older age groups. 2020 saw the largest increase in younger age voters; they helped put Biden in office. But the turnout from this group will likely be lower in the mid-term elections next year, so encouraging them to vote will be a challenge. Women students vote at a higher rate than men and upper classmen at a higher rate that lower classmen. Reasons for not voting cited by young voters is similar to other age groups – they are too busy, it conflicts with work, problems with registration, they feel their vote wouldn’t count, are just not interested.
Zoe Bradshaw stated that this is a rebuilding semester for the College Democrats. With it not being an election year, there is less interest. They meet bi-weekly on Wednesdays, 5pm in Henson Room 107, only open to those already on
campus. The next meeting is Wed., Oct. 27. We may be able to attend meetings via Zoom. For more information or to arrange that, email Zoe at [email protected]. The club’s email address is [email protected].
Next meeting: Wed., Nov. 17, Montclair State University Professor Emeritus, Phillip Lebell, will discuss his book, “Risk and the State”.
Meeting Adjourned.
Minutes submitted by Ellen Lawler.
Copyright © 2021 Democratic Club of Wicomico County, All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email because you opted in. If you wish to unsubscribe, please click below.
Our mailing address is:
Democratic Club of Wicomico County
PO Box 1486
Salisbury, Maryland 21802
Add us to your address book
Monthly Meeting
November 17, 2021
A regular monthly meeting of the Democratic Club of Wicomico County was held on Nov. 17, 2021 from 6:30-7:35pm at the Salisbury Art Space, 212 Main St. #101, Salisbury, MD 21801
Attendance:Approximately 30 people attended the meeting. Officers Present: Dr. Ernie Gibbs, 1st
Vice President, Deborah Finkbeiner, Secretary, Keith Henry, Treasurer, Kelsie Mattox, Sergeant at Arms
Welcome and Call to Order: Dr. Ernie Gibbs
Club President Gains Hawkins Is home and his health is improving. If there are any additions or corrections to the
minutes, see Ellen Lawler.
Pledge of Allegiance: led by Kelsie Mattox
Treasurer’s Report: Keith Henry
The forwarding balance in the checking account on 9/30/21 was $9,768.82. There were no new expenses; donations
totaling $130 were deposited and interest of $0.84 brought the checking account balance to $9,899.66 on 10/31/21. A
donation of $50 in memory of Renzilo Foxwell was added to the savings account to bring its balance to $813.59 and the funds held in PayPal totaled $2,192.05. The total available cash for the club on 10/31/21 was $12,905.30.
Candidate Recruitment: Keith Henry
A group of five individuals have been actively meeting and seeking strong democratic candidates to run for various local offices, including positions on the County Council and School Board. The filing deadline is Feb. 22, 2022. Bo McCallister has already filed to run for another term as Clerk of the Circuit Court and Ernie Davis just today declared that he is a candidate for the position of County Executive. Ernie then spoke briefly, mentioning that he has been a member of Council for eight years, representing District 1. One of the main focuses of his campaign is on the need for raises to the salaries of county employees and teachers. He mentioned that Wicomico has recently lost nine county employees to surrounding counties and some Wicomico teachers are leaving or considering leaving their positions for those in other Maryland counites as well.
Donation: Ernie Gibbs and Kelsie Mattox
A donation of $200 from the club was made in memory of Sandra Martin, who recently passed away, to the Scholarship fund of the Success Temple #154 of the Improved Benevolent Protective Order of Elks of the World.
Membership Report: Mike Folkoff
We still don’t have an exact number of members, but it is approximately 200. Mike is in the process of acquiring and
merging various files, including those kept by former corresponding secretary, Sandra Martin. The requirements for
membership are being a registered democrat, living in Wicomico County and filling out a membership form. Others can be included in the email list.
Election of Officers for 2022-2023: Barry King
The nominating committee of Barry King, Marie Cavallaro and Harry Basehart presented this slate of candidates - Gains Hawkins- President, Alyssa Hastings- First Vice president, Deborah Finkbeiner- Second Vice President, Ellen Lawler- Recording Secretary, Mike Folkoff- Corresponding Secretary, Keith Henry- Treasurer, Kelsie Mattox- Sergeant at Arms. The officers also serve on the club’s Board of Directors. No nominations from the floor were forthcoming. The slate was accepted unanimously by a voice vote. Barry thanked the committee members and the candidates for their willingness to serve.
Holiday Party: Ernie Gibb
The board of directors discussed and decided to not hold the annual Holiday Party this year due to the Covid situation.
Technology Workshop: to be held at SAS on Wed., Dec. 15. The board members and those with information on/access
to the club’s various accounts (Mail Chimp, membership list, Facebook, etc.) will meet to discuss, clarify and facilitate
the use of these accounts.
Zoom Coverage of Meetings: VP Gibbs asked for opinions as to whether the club should add Zoom coverage to the in
person-meetings. Comments in support of the idea included – it would be useful for Wicomico residents who don’t live in Salisbury, we gained some new members from folks who attended Zoom meetings during the pandemic and that it would allow folks from other MD counties to attend. Questions and concerns – should Zoom access be available to everyone or just registered democrats? Board should discuss the possibility that Republicans might attend via Zoom. Also, we would need someone to film and, although the audio might be fine, it would be difficult to get good video when different folks are talking. Another possibility is using FaceTime. Also, a question as to whether SAS has the capabilities.
Speakers: Dr. Phillip LeBel, Emeritus Professor of Economics at Montclair State University spoke on his new book,
Riskand the State - How Economics and Neuroscience Shape Political Legitimacy to Address Geopolitical, Environmental, and Health Risks for Sustainable Governance. Dr. Lebel discussed the differences between decisions made in the field of economics (typically rational decisions, made in the frontal lobe of the brain) versus political decisions, which are often driven by emotions (through the limbic system). People vary in their attitudes towards risk (some are willing to accept more than others), on how important past events are (whether in the immediate past or long past) and towards the future (long term versus immediate goals). Most politicians focus on short term goals, mainly the next election cycle. He mentioned the recent authoritarian tendencies in numerous countries (including Trump is the USA and Xi Jinping in China) and thought it was unusual to be occurring at a time when the economy is doing relatively well. Trump has basically trashed the various alliances and agreements that the US has had in place since WWII.
Next meeting: Wed., Jan. 19,
2022 – Review of 2021 and annual President awards. Speaker TBA.
Meeting Adjourned at 7:35.
Minutes submitted by Ellen Lawler.
Monthly Meeting
October 20, 2021
A regular monthly meeting of the Democratic Club of Wicomico County was held on Oct. 20, 2021 from 6:30-8:00pm at the Salisbury Art Space, 212 Main St. #101, Salisbury, MD 21801
Attendance: Approximately 28 people attended the meeting.
Officers Present: Dr. Ernie Gibbs, 1 st Vice President, Deborah Finkbeiner, Secretary, Keith Henry, Treasurer, Kelsie Mattox, Sergeant at Arms
Welcome and Call to Order: Dr. Ernie Gibbs
At the time of the meeting, Club President Gains Hawkins was still in the hospital. Marie Cavallaro made a “Get Well” wish board for Gains and all were encouraged to sign. Also at the time of the meeting, Sandra Martin was at home but very ill and in hospice care.
Pledge of Allegiance: Kelsie Mattox
Treasurer’s Report: Keith Henry
The forwarding balance in the checking account on 8/31/21 was $12,513.06. Expenses (mainly for the crab feast and printing of WCNAACP Freedom Fund Brochure) totaled $2745.07; interest was $0.83 for a checking account balance of $9,768.82 on 9/30/21. The savings account balance was $763.59 and the funds held in PayPal totaled $2,192.05. The total available cash for the club on 9/30/21 was $12,724.46.
Financial Review: Eddie Boyd, Jr.
Submitted to Club President Gains Hawkins on Oct. 4, 2021. Review of monthly bank statements, monthly Treasurer’s Reports and available invoices and receipts from 11/30/19 to 8/31/21 showed complete consistency between all these. Mr. Boyd complimented Treasurer Henry for his excellent stewardship, reports and practices. Eddie encourages Keith to continue to retain invoices for all expenditures, to have an additional signee on checks reimbursing himself and to maintain records of donors and other deposits to the club. To ease the Treasurer’s duties, he suggested having a member of the executive committee compile a donors list and the club consider acquiring a bank credit card.
Membership Report: Mike Folkoff
The club has seen a big increase in membership in the last couple of years. The current membership is about 245 members. About 145 folks attended the crab feast.
Peace in the Park: Deborah Finkbeiner
The club participated with a booth at the event on Sept. 25, 2021. Assisting Deborah at the booth were Mary Huebner, April Jackson and Ellen Lawler, and Michele Gregory helped take the booth down. Attendance was good, pocket US Constitutions and candy were given out, and the club gained 10 new members. Photos of the event were added to the club’s web site.
PACE Workshops: Ernie Gibbs
Today was the first day of the first PACE (Institute for Public Affairs and Civic Engagement at SU) workshop for those interested in running for public office; it is still possible to sign up for tomorrow’s session. A second workshop, for those who have already filed to run for office, is scheduled for Mar. 3, 4 and 5.A donation to the club was made in memory of Renzilo Foxwell; it will go into the club’s savings account.
The Paul Sarbanes Dinner has been postponed to April 2, 2022, due to Covid concerns. Those registered for the event
should have received an email.
Slate of Officers for 2022-2023: Barry King
Gains Hawkins- President, Alyssa Hastings- First Vice president, Deborah Finkbeiner- Second Vice President, Ellen Lawler- Recording Secretary, Mike Folkoff-Corresponding Secretary, Keith Henry- Treasurer, Kelsie Mattox- Sergeant at Arms. The officers also serve on the club’s Board of Directors. Election will take place at the November meeting; additional nominations can be accepted then. Voting is open to club members present at the meeting, including new members who sign up at that meeting.
Holiday Party: Ernie Gibb
The board of directors will discuss whether to go forward with the annual party at their next meeting. If it is held it will be a covered dish, BYOB party, on Wed., Dec. 15 at Salisbury Art Space. Help will be needed to decorate. Marie
Cavallaro was thanked for providing the treats for this evening’s meeting.
Speakers: “College Student Voting” - Dr. Adam Hoffman, Professor of Political Science, Salisbury University and Zoe Bradshaw, president of the SU College Democrats. Dr. Hoffman presented interesting statistics about student voting, which is the lowest of all age groups. The younger age groups are more racially diverse and skew more to the left than older age groups. 2020 saw the largest increase in younger age voters; they helped put Biden in office. But the turnout from this group will likely be lower in the mid-term elections next year, so encouraging them to vote will be a challenge. Women students vote at a higher rate than men and upper classmen at a higher rate that lower classmen. Reasons for not voting cited by young voters is similar to other age groups – they are too busy, it conflicts with work, problems with registration, they feel their vote wouldn’t count, are just not interested.
Zoe Bradshaw stated that this is a rebuilding semester for the College Democrats. With it not being an election year, there is less interest. They meet bi-weekly on Wednesdays, 5pm in Henson Room 107, only open to those already on
campus. The next meeting is Wed., Oct. 27. We may be able to attend meetings via Zoom. For more information or to arrange that, email Zoe at [email protected]. The club’s email address is [email protected].
Next meeting: Wed., Nov. 17, Montclair State University Professor Emeritus, Phillip Lebell, will discuss his book, “Risk and the State”.
Meeting Adjourned.
Minutes submitted by Ellen Lawler.
Copyright © 2021 Democratic Club of Wicomico County, All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email because you opted in. If you wish to unsubscribe, please click below.
Our mailing address is:
Democratic Club of Wicomico County
PO Box 1486
Salisbury, Maryland 21802
Add us to your address book
Democratic Club of Wicomico County
Newsletter
July 2021
The Wicomico Democratic Club board of directors met on July 19, 2021, via Zoom. In attendance: Gains Hawkins, president; Dr. Ernie Gibb, second vice president; Sandra Martin, corresponding secretary; Keith Henry, treasurer; and Kelsie Mattox, sergeant-at-arms. Absent: Deborah Finkbeiner, recording secretary. The meeting agenda is available upon request.
Treasurer’s Report (Keith Henry)
The checking account balance as of May 31, 2021 was $8,433.08. June expenses were $55.00. June receipts were $1,685.79. Ending checking balance on June 30 was $10,063.87. Savings account balance at end of June was $763.40. Funds in Paypal were $958.65. Total available cash on July 1 was $11,785.92.
Fundraising Appeal Final Report (Keith Henry)
The May-July fundraising appeal generated $6,105 via 66 donations (56 checks, 10 on-line). Expenses were $684 (Minuteman Press).
Membership Report (Sandra Martin)
The club has added four new members for a total membership of 245.
In-person Meetings Resume September 15, Dynamic Session Set
The club will hold in-person meetings again beginning on Wednesday, September 15, at 6:30 p.m. at Salisbury Art Space (SAS). The club has contracted with SAS to hold 10 monthly meetings a year (excluding July and August) for $1,000. The board will determine any Covid restrictions (vaccinations or mask-wearing requirements) prior to that meeting.
The topic: “A Conversation About Wicomico’s Future—and How Politics Can Shape It.” The speakers are Mayor Jake Day, Del. Sheree Sample-Hughes and County Councilman Bill McCain. They will explain the importance of securing a Democratic majority on the Wicomico
County Council, as well as serving on other community groups that advance a Democratic vision for the county.
Crab Feast, Sunday, Aug. 29, 1-4 p.m., Schumaker Pavilion (1019 South Schumaker Dr., Salisbury)
Enjoy steamed crabs, corn on the cob, fried chicken, hot dogs, side dishes, desserts, soda and water. Entertainment is by The Fellow Travelers (Celtic, Irish and American folk music).
Cost is $40 for tickets purchased in advance, $50 on the day of the event. Children under 12 are free. Send checks to Wicomico Democratic Club, P.O. Box 1486, Salisbury, MD 21802. To pay by credit card go to the club web site (demclubwicomico.org) and click Donate.
Tawes Crab and Clam Bake, Wednesday, October 13
The club will not have a tent this year. If interested in going: Crisfield Events : Crab and Clam Bake.
National Folk Festival at Salisbury, September 10-12
The club is a $1,000 sponsor of the event (National Folk Festival Salisbury, MD Comes to Eastern Shore). Enjoy the performances and consider signing up as a volunteer.
Caroline O’Hare, manager of the Salisbury Folk Festival, shared information about the performers at the club’s July 21 meeting.
Pingley July Meeting Speaker
Jennifer Pingley, a Democratic candidate for Maryland’s First District in the U.S. House of Representatives, spoke to the club at the general membership meeting on July 21 (Zoom). Pingley has served her First-District community as a nurse since 2008 alongside volunteer work for her local fire department. Her political platform focuses on health, safety and security.
She intends to reduce healthcare costs by introducing “Primary Care for All Citizens,” fiscally prudent legislation that she touts as a benefit of citizenship. She advocates protecting Second Amendment rights. As a Certified Occupational Hearing Conservationist, Pingley plans to take on firearms manufacturers and require them to engineer their noise levels down.
Pingley recognizes that infrastructure investment—including broadband access--is a necessary step to support farmers and revitalize small towns.
City Council, County Council Updates
City Councilwoman Angela Blake talked about the Salisbury City Council at the club’s July 21 meeting. She discussed: Fitzwater St. improvements complete with bike lanes and curbing to help with storm water run-off; Church St. sidewalks improvements to meet ADA recommendations; Hotel or Residential Incentive Zone (HORIZON) developing incentives in place--Ross building first project for this program; traffic circle on Main St. completed this year; and gas pipeline about 94% complete in Salisbury. The walking bridge to connect the Westside of town and downtown continues to make progress--located at the traffic circle and the old Market Street bookstore.
Upcoming projects: redo Carroll St. with bike lanes; and redevelop Eastern Shore Drive with bike lanes and landscaping.
The City continues with its successful 3rd Fridays and Friday night concerts and movies at the downtown Amphitheater.
County Councilman Josh Hastings reported on the Wicomico County Council. Council did a goal setting session where the top issues that arose were: immediately taking the next steps for the County water/sewer master plan that is due in September (was supposed to be released this past May); making progress with Dissolved Air Flotation (DAF) Tank rezoning or legislation that keeps future tanks in the industrial zone; and working on solar/renewable energy citing for the County.
The Council adopted the Annual (FY22) Audit Plan. The Council is moving forward with the County HORIZON program to incentivize major hotel or large-scale residential building developments (of $10M in size or larger) in downtown Salisbury. All three Council Democrats and John Cannon successfully introduced the bill and it will be heard again at the August 17 meeting. Also noteworthy--the County Council GOP turned down the opportunity to have an independent redistricting commission, despite the best efforts of the three Democrats on the Council.
An Eastern Shore Tribute to U.S. Senator Paul S. Sarbanes
The event is on Saturday, November 6, 5:30-9 p.m., at Salisbury University. Sponsorships (include table of 8, $1,000); individual tickets, $50 each. The keynote speaker is Congressman John P. Sarbanes, the Senator’s son. Proceeds benefit the Paul S. Sarbanes Lecture Series at SU and the Paul S. Sarbanes Endowment Fund at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. Ticket sales: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/eastern-shore-tribute-to-us-senator-paul-s-sarbanes-tickets-152364094107. Some 100 tickets have already been sold. Capacity is 220.
Eastern Shore Coalition of Democratic Clubs
The Coalition met via Zoom on July 7. Noureen Badwi, president of Young Democrats of Maryland, shared strategies to start or revitalize Young Democratic clubs. The next meeting is Wednesday, September 1, speaker TBD.
For more information about the Wicomico Democratic Club, contact Gains Hawkins at [email protected] or 410-603-6677.
Democratic Club of Wicomico County
Newsletter
June 21, 2021
The officers of the Democratic Club of Wicomico County met for its monthly board of directors
meeting on Monday, June 14, at 5 p.m. via Zoom. Attending were: Gains Hawkins, president;
Sandra Martin, corresponding secretary; Keith Henry, treasurer; Deborah Finkbeiner, recording
secretary; and Kelsie Mattox, sergeant-at-arms. Absent was Dr. Ernie Gibb, second vice
president. The meeting agenda is available upon request.
Treasurer’s Report (Keith Henry)
The checking account balance as of April 30, 2021 was $5,660.65. May expenses were $653.16
(mostly spring appeal mailing to Minuteman Press). Receipts were $3,425.59 (mostly
fundraising donations). Checking account balance as of May 31, 2021 was $8,433.08. Savings
account balance as of May 31 was $763.32, for total cash in bank of $9,196.29. Funds in Paypal
account are $920.17 for total available cash of $10,116.46.
Fundraising Appeal Report (Keith)
Thus far, we have had 61 donors and received $5,700. Last year’s final figures were 89 and
$8,255, respectively. However, the club received many 2020 donations at Democratic
Headquarters in September and October well after the mailing.
Membership applications can be mailed or emailed for completion.
Contact Sandra at
[email protected]
for a membership application
.
General Membership Meeting Speaker (Heather Mizeur)
Heather is a Democratic candidate for the First District of Maryland seat in the House of
Representatives. She’s a former state delegate, a small business owner, a farmer and founder and
CEO of a non-profit organization focused on social justice. She is considered a policy expert
who spent several years working on Capitol Hill.
Long before passage of the federal Affordable Care Act, Heather was working on solutions to
expand health care access in Maryland. She authored the Kids First Act – a law that served as a
national model to find and enroll tens of thousands of qualified uninsured children into health
plans. She fostered a unique bipartisan relationship with colleagues to win passage of The Family
Planning Works Act—legislation to reduce abortions, improve pregnancy outcomes and lower
infant mortality rates.
She was among the first to raise alarms about the dangers of a new form of drilling for natural
gas, spearheading a 2011 bill prohibiting fracking in Maryland unless the practice could be
proven safe.
Throughout her career, she has championed efforts to decriminalize possession of
marijuana, demanded equitable education funding and decent schools for all children, and
supported policies to increase transparency in government and eliminate the influence of money
in politics. Her web site is: Issues - Heather Mizeur
.
Candidate Recruitment Committee
Bruce Robson, Keith Henry, Harry Basehart and others are forming a committee to reach out to
potential Democratic candidates for local elected office. To join the committee, contact Gains at
[email protected]
.
Social Media Committee
Mike Folkoff, Deborah Finkbenier, Sandra Martin and Casey Hawkins and others are forming a
committee to increase the club presence on social media. To join the committee, contact Gains at
[email protected]
.
Annual Crab Feast (Sunday, August 29, 1-4 p.m., Schumaker Pavilion)
The planning committee (Angela Blake, Keith Henry, Deborah Finkbeiner, Debby Nagel, Kelsie
Mattox, Sandra Martin, Marie Cavallaro, Mary Huebner and Gains Hawkins) met on June 18.
Debi Rus has designed a flyer and postcard promoting the event. Tickets are $40 prior to the
event and $50 the day of the crab feast. Look for details via email, Facebook, Instagram and
your mailbox. This will represent the club’s first in-person get together since the advent of the
pandemic.
Eastern Shore Coalition of Democratic Clubs—Young Democrats Speaker
Noureen Badwi, president of Young Democrats of Maryland, shares strategies to start or
revitalize Young Democratic clubs on the Eastern Shore at the Wednesday, July 7, 7 p.m. meeting
of the Eastern Shore Coalition of Democratic Clubs. (This presentation was rescheduled from the
June meeting.) Members from all the Democratic clubs on the Shore are invited to attend.
Badwi will share how she can help the clubs and the clubs can help her better engage young
Democrats. She will speak for about 15 minutes followed by a question and answer
session.
After Badwi’s presentation, club representatives will give updates about their recent and
upcoming activities.
An Eastern Shore Tribute to U.S. Senator Paul S. Sarbanes
The event is on Saturday, November 6, 5:30-9 p.m., at Salisbury University. Sponsorships
(include table of 8, $1,000); individual tickets, $50 each. The keynote speaker is Congressman
John P. Sarbanes, the Senator’s son. Proceeds benefitthe Paul S. Sarbanes Lecture Series at SU
and the Paul S. Sarbanes Endowment Fund at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. Ticket
sales:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/eastern-shore-tribute-to-us-senator-paul-s-sarbanes-tickets-
152364094107.
Future Speakers
Wednesday, July 21, 7 p.m. (Zoom)—Jennifer Pingley, First District House of Representatives
candidate; and Caroline O-Hare, local manager of the National Folk Festival (September 9-12) in
Salisbury.
Wednesday, September 15, 6:30 p.m. (Salisbury Art Space)—Mia Mason, First District House of
Representatives candidate.
Wednesday, October 20, 6:30 p.m. (Salisbury Art Space)—Dr. Adam Hoffman, chair of the
Political Science Department at Salisbury University, is joined by the president of the SU
College Democrats.
For more information, contact Wicomico Democratic Club President Gains Hawkins at
[email protected]
or 410-603-6677.
Newsletter
July 2021
The Wicomico Democratic Club board of directors met on July 19, 2021, via Zoom. In attendance: Gains Hawkins, president; Dr. Ernie Gibb, second vice president; Sandra Martin, corresponding secretary; Keith Henry, treasurer; and Kelsie Mattox, sergeant-at-arms. Absent: Deborah Finkbeiner, recording secretary. The meeting agenda is available upon request.
Treasurer’s Report (Keith Henry)
The checking account balance as of May 31, 2021 was $8,433.08. June expenses were $55.00. June receipts were $1,685.79. Ending checking balance on June 30 was $10,063.87. Savings account balance at end of June was $763.40. Funds in Paypal were $958.65. Total available cash on July 1 was $11,785.92.
Fundraising Appeal Final Report (Keith Henry)
The May-July fundraising appeal generated $6,105 via 66 donations (56 checks, 10 on-line). Expenses were $684 (Minuteman Press).
Membership Report (Sandra Martin)
The club has added four new members for a total membership of 245.
In-person Meetings Resume September 15, Dynamic Session Set
The club will hold in-person meetings again beginning on Wednesday, September 15, at 6:30 p.m. at Salisbury Art Space (SAS). The club has contracted with SAS to hold 10 monthly meetings a year (excluding July and August) for $1,000. The board will determine any Covid restrictions (vaccinations or mask-wearing requirements) prior to that meeting.
The topic: “A Conversation About Wicomico’s Future—and How Politics Can Shape It.” The speakers are Mayor Jake Day, Del. Sheree Sample-Hughes and County Councilman Bill McCain. They will explain the importance of securing a Democratic majority on the Wicomico
County Council, as well as serving on other community groups that advance a Democratic vision for the county.
Crab Feast, Sunday, Aug. 29, 1-4 p.m., Schumaker Pavilion (1019 South Schumaker Dr., Salisbury)
Enjoy steamed crabs, corn on the cob, fried chicken, hot dogs, side dishes, desserts, soda and water. Entertainment is by The Fellow Travelers (Celtic, Irish and American folk music).
Cost is $40 for tickets purchased in advance, $50 on the day of the event. Children under 12 are free. Send checks to Wicomico Democratic Club, P.O. Box 1486, Salisbury, MD 21802. To pay by credit card go to the club web site (demclubwicomico.org) and click Donate.
Tawes Crab and Clam Bake, Wednesday, October 13
The club will not have a tent this year. If interested in going: Crisfield Events : Crab and Clam Bake.
National Folk Festival at Salisbury, September 10-12
The club is a $1,000 sponsor of the event (National Folk Festival Salisbury, MD Comes to Eastern Shore). Enjoy the performances and consider signing up as a volunteer.
Caroline O’Hare, manager of the Salisbury Folk Festival, shared information about the performers at the club’s July 21 meeting.
Pingley July Meeting Speaker
Jennifer Pingley, a Democratic candidate for Maryland’s First District in the U.S. House of Representatives, spoke to the club at the general membership meeting on July 21 (Zoom). Pingley has served her First-District community as a nurse since 2008 alongside volunteer work for her local fire department. Her political platform focuses on health, safety and security.
She intends to reduce healthcare costs by introducing “Primary Care for All Citizens,” fiscally prudent legislation that she touts as a benefit of citizenship. She advocates protecting Second Amendment rights. As a Certified Occupational Hearing Conservationist, Pingley plans to take on firearms manufacturers and require them to engineer their noise levels down.
Pingley recognizes that infrastructure investment—including broadband access--is a necessary step to support farmers and revitalize small towns.
City Council, County Council Updates
City Councilwoman Angela Blake talked about the Salisbury City Council at the club’s July 21 meeting. She discussed: Fitzwater St. improvements complete with bike lanes and curbing to help with storm water run-off; Church St. sidewalks improvements to meet ADA recommendations; Hotel or Residential Incentive Zone (HORIZON) developing incentives in place--Ross building first project for this program; traffic circle on Main St. completed this year; and gas pipeline about 94% complete in Salisbury. The walking bridge to connect the Westside of town and downtown continues to make progress--located at the traffic circle and the old Market Street bookstore.
Upcoming projects: redo Carroll St. with bike lanes; and redevelop Eastern Shore Drive with bike lanes and landscaping.
The City continues with its successful 3rd Fridays and Friday night concerts and movies at the downtown Amphitheater.
County Councilman Josh Hastings reported on the Wicomico County Council. Council did a goal setting session where the top issues that arose were: immediately taking the next steps for the County water/sewer master plan that is due in September (was supposed to be released this past May); making progress with Dissolved Air Flotation (DAF) Tank rezoning or legislation that keeps future tanks in the industrial zone; and working on solar/renewable energy citing for the County.
The Council adopted the Annual (FY22) Audit Plan. The Council is moving forward with the County HORIZON program to incentivize major hotel or large-scale residential building developments (of $10M in size or larger) in downtown Salisbury. All three Council Democrats and John Cannon successfully introduced the bill and it will be heard again at the August 17 meeting. Also noteworthy--the County Council GOP turned down the opportunity to have an independent redistricting commission, despite the best efforts of the three Democrats on the Council.
An Eastern Shore Tribute to U.S. Senator Paul S. Sarbanes
The event is on Saturday, November 6, 5:30-9 p.m., at Salisbury University. Sponsorships (include table of 8, $1,000); individual tickets, $50 each. The keynote speaker is Congressman John P. Sarbanes, the Senator’s son. Proceeds benefit the Paul S. Sarbanes Lecture Series at SU and the Paul S. Sarbanes Endowment Fund at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. Ticket sales: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/eastern-shore-tribute-to-us-senator-paul-s-sarbanes-tickets-152364094107. Some 100 tickets have already been sold. Capacity is 220.
Eastern Shore Coalition of Democratic Clubs
The Coalition met via Zoom on July 7. Noureen Badwi, president of Young Democrats of Maryland, shared strategies to start or revitalize Young Democratic clubs. The next meeting is Wednesday, September 1, speaker TBD.
For more information about the Wicomico Democratic Club, contact Gains Hawkins at [email protected] or 410-603-6677.
Democratic Club of Wicomico County
Newsletter
June 21, 2021
The officers of the Democratic Club of Wicomico County met for its monthly board of directors
meeting on Monday, June 14, at 5 p.m. via Zoom. Attending were: Gains Hawkins, president;
Sandra Martin, corresponding secretary; Keith Henry, treasurer; Deborah Finkbeiner, recording
secretary; and Kelsie Mattox, sergeant-at-arms. Absent was Dr. Ernie Gibb, second vice
president. The meeting agenda is available upon request.
Treasurer’s Report (Keith Henry)
The checking account balance as of April 30, 2021 was $5,660.65. May expenses were $653.16
(mostly spring appeal mailing to Minuteman Press). Receipts were $3,425.59 (mostly
fundraising donations). Checking account balance as of May 31, 2021 was $8,433.08. Savings
account balance as of May 31 was $763.32, for total cash in bank of $9,196.29. Funds in Paypal
account are $920.17 for total available cash of $10,116.46.
Fundraising Appeal Report (Keith)
Thus far, we have had 61 donors and received $5,700. Last year’s final figures were 89 and
$8,255, respectively. However, the club received many 2020 donations at Democratic
Headquarters in September and October well after the mailing.
Membership applications can be mailed or emailed for completion.
Contact Sandra at
[email protected]
for a membership application
.
General Membership Meeting Speaker (Heather Mizeur)
Heather is a Democratic candidate for the First District of Maryland seat in the House of
Representatives. She’s a former state delegate, a small business owner, a farmer and founder and
CEO of a non-profit organization focused on social justice. She is considered a policy expert
who spent several years working on Capitol Hill.
Long before passage of the federal Affordable Care Act, Heather was working on solutions to
expand health care access in Maryland. She authored the Kids First Act – a law that served as a
national model to find and enroll tens of thousands of qualified uninsured children into health
plans. She fostered a unique bipartisan relationship with colleagues to win passage of The Family
Planning Works Act—legislation to reduce abortions, improve pregnancy outcomes and lower
infant mortality rates.
She was among the first to raise alarms about the dangers of a new form of drilling for natural
gas, spearheading a 2011 bill prohibiting fracking in Maryland unless the practice could be
proven safe.
Throughout her career, she has championed efforts to decriminalize possession of
marijuana, demanded equitable education funding and decent schools for all children, and
supported policies to increase transparency in government and eliminate the influence of money
in politics. Her web site is: Issues - Heather Mizeur
.
Candidate Recruitment Committee
Bruce Robson, Keith Henry, Harry Basehart and others are forming a committee to reach out to
potential Democratic candidates for local elected office. To join the committee, contact Gains at
[email protected]
.
Social Media Committee
Mike Folkoff, Deborah Finkbenier, Sandra Martin and Casey Hawkins and others are forming a
committee to increase the club presence on social media. To join the committee, contact Gains at
[email protected]
.
Annual Crab Feast (Sunday, August 29, 1-4 p.m., Schumaker Pavilion)
The planning committee (Angela Blake, Keith Henry, Deborah Finkbeiner, Debby Nagel, Kelsie
Mattox, Sandra Martin, Marie Cavallaro, Mary Huebner and Gains Hawkins) met on June 18.
Debi Rus has designed a flyer and postcard promoting the event. Tickets are $40 prior to the
event and $50 the day of the crab feast. Look for details via email, Facebook, Instagram and
your mailbox. This will represent the club’s first in-person get together since the advent of the
pandemic.
Eastern Shore Coalition of Democratic Clubs—Young Democrats Speaker
Noureen Badwi, president of Young Democrats of Maryland, shares strategies to start or
revitalize Young Democratic clubs on the Eastern Shore at the Wednesday, July 7, 7 p.m. meeting
of the Eastern Shore Coalition of Democratic Clubs. (This presentation was rescheduled from the
June meeting.) Members from all the Democratic clubs on the Shore are invited to attend.
Badwi will share how she can help the clubs and the clubs can help her better engage young
Democrats. She will speak for about 15 minutes followed by a question and answer
session.
After Badwi’s presentation, club representatives will give updates about their recent and
upcoming activities.
An Eastern Shore Tribute to U.S. Senator Paul S. Sarbanes
The event is on Saturday, November 6, 5:30-9 p.m., at Salisbury University. Sponsorships
(include table of 8, $1,000); individual tickets, $50 each. The keynote speaker is Congressman
John P. Sarbanes, the Senator’s son. Proceeds benefitthe Paul S. Sarbanes Lecture Series at SU
and the Paul S. Sarbanes Endowment Fund at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. Ticket
sales:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/eastern-shore-tribute-to-us-senator-paul-s-sarbanes-tickets-
152364094107.
Future Speakers
Wednesday, July 21, 7 p.m. (Zoom)—Jennifer Pingley, First District House of Representatives
candidate; and Caroline O-Hare, local manager of the National Folk Festival (September 9-12) in
Salisbury.
Wednesday, September 15, 6:30 p.m. (Salisbury Art Space)—Mia Mason, First District House of
Representatives candidate.
Wednesday, October 20, 6:30 p.m. (Salisbury Art Space)—Dr. Adam Hoffman, chair of the
Political Science Department at Salisbury University, is joined by the president of the SU
College Democrats.
For more information, contact Wicomico Democratic Club President Gains Hawkins at
[email protected]
or 410-603-6677.
Democratic Club of Wicomico County
Newsletter, May 24, 2021
The officers of the Democratic Club of Wicomico County met for its monthly board of directors meeting on Monday, May 17, at 5 p.m. via Zoom. Attending were: Gains Hawkins, president; Dr. Ernie Gibb, second vice president; Sandra Martin, corresponding secretary; Keith Henry, treasurer; and Kelsie Mattox, sergeant-at-arms. Absent was Deborah Finkbeiner, recording secretary. The meeting agenda is available upon request.
Treasurer’s Report (Keith Henry)
Checking account balance on February 28 was $4,659.65. Expenses for U.S. Post Office Box was $146.00. Funds from Paypal ($1,146.56) were transferred to checking account along with interest of $0.44. Checking account balance on April 30 was $5,660.65. Savings account balance was $763.21. Total available cash at beginning of May was $6,423.66.
Membership Report (Sandra Martin)
One new member was added (Patricia B. Harvey), bringing total membership to 240. Membership criteria: resident of Wicomico County, registered Democrat; and complete membership form (available at web site, Democratic Club of Wicomico County - Home (demclubwicomico.org). There are no dues. The club supports itself financially with an annual spring fundraising appeal and an annual summer crab feast.
Spring Fundraising Appeal (Keith Henry)
Appeal letters were sent to 584 Wicomico Democrats (vs. 494 last year) at the beginning of the month. Thus far, the club has received 49 gifts (vs. 56 last year) for a total of $4,400 (vs. $5,146 last year).
In 2021 we have an opportunity to elect a majority Democrat Wicomico County Council. The County Executive position will be up for grabs. We can defeat Andy Harris as our District 1 Congressional representative. Democrats will be challenging for seats in the House of Delegates and State Senate. Those Democratic candidates need your financial support.
If you have not made a donation, please send your gift to the Wicomico Democratic Club at P.O. Box 1486, Salisbury, MD 21802-1486, or go to our web site to make a credit card gift.
General Membership Meeting May 19 (Dave Harden Speaker)
Dave Harden is a Carroll County Democrat vying for the Maryland District 1 U.S. House of Representatives seat. He talked about our sacred duty to hand down the American Dream to our children. Rural broadband is the infrastructure investment of the 21st century. Accessible, affordable health care is a must for the realization of the American Dream. The public school system needs to modernize, starting at age 3. District 1 can be the test bed for the incubation research and development of start-up and existing companies responding to climate change.
Eastern Shore Democratic Clubs Coalition June 2 Meeting—Young Democrats Speaker Noureen Badwi, president of Young Democrats of Maryland, shares strategies to start or revitalize Young Democratic clubs on the Eastern Shore at the Wednesday, June 2, 7 p.m. meeting of the Eastern Shore Coalition of Democratic Clubs. Members from all the Democratic clubs on the Shore are invited to attend. Badwi will share how she can help the clubs and the clubs can help her better engage young Democrats. She will speak for about 15 minutes followed by a question and answer session.
After Badwi’s presentation, club representatives will give updates about their recent and upcoming activities.
Crab Feast
The Club’s annual Crab Feast is Saturday, August 29, at Schumaker Pavilion. We need a committee chair and event volunteers.
In-person Meetings in September?
The board has tentatively agreed to resume in-person meetings in September at Salisbury Art Space. We will continue to meet via Zoom in June and July.
Upcoming General Membership Meetings
Wednesday, June 16, 7 p.m. (Zoom): Heather Mizeur, Democratic candidate for Maryland District 1 U.S. House of Representatives:
Wednesday, July 21, 7 p.m. (Zoom): Jennifer Pingley, candidate for Maryland District 1 U.S. House of Representatives
Eastern Shore Tribute to U.S. Senator Paul S. Sarbanes
Saturday, November 6, 5:30 p.m., Salisbury University. Sponsorships (include table of 8, $1,000); individual tickets, $50 each. Proceeds benefit Paul S. Sarbanes Lecture Series at SU and Paul S. Sarbanes Endowment Fund at University of Maryland Eastern Shore. Ticket sales TBA.
For more information, contact Wicomico Democratic club President Gains Hawkins at [email protected] or 410-603-6677
Newsletter, May 24, 2021
The officers of the Democratic Club of Wicomico County met for its monthly board of directors meeting on Monday, May 17, at 5 p.m. via Zoom. Attending were: Gains Hawkins, president; Dr. Ernie Gibb, second vice president; Sandra Martin, corresponding secretary; Keith Henry, treasurer; and Kelsie Mattox, sergeant-at-arms. Absent was Deborah Finkbeiner, recording secretary. The meeting agenda is available upon request.
Treasurer’s Report (Keith Henry)
Checking account balance on February 28 was $4,659.65. Expenses for U.S. Post Office Box was $146.00. Funds from Paypal ($1,146.56) were transferred to checking account along with interest of $0.44. Checking account balance on April 30 was $5,660.65. Savings account balance was $763.21. Total available cash at beginning of May was $6,423.66.
Membership Report (Sandra Martin)
One new member was added (Patricia B. Harvey), bringing total membership to 240. Membership criteria: resident of Wicomico County, registered Democrat; and complete membership form (available at web site, Democratic Club of Wicomico County - Home (demclubwicomico.org). There are no dues. The club supports itself financially with an annual spring fundraising appeal and an annual summer crab feast.
Spring Fundraising Appeal (Keith Henry)
Appeal letters were sent to 584 Wicomico Democrats (vs. 494 last year) at the beginning of the month. Thus far, the club has received 49 gifts (vs. 56 last year) for a total of $4,400 (vs. $5,146 last year).
In 2021 we have an opportunity to elect a majority Democrat Wicomico County Council. The County Executive position will be up for grabs. We can defeat Andy Harris as our District 1 Congressional representative. Democrats will be challenging for seats in the House of Delegates and State Senate. Those Democratic candidates need your financial support.
If you have not made a donation, please send your gift to the Wicomico Democratic Club at P.O. Box 1486, Salisbury, MD 21802-1486, or go to our web site to make a credit card gift.
General Membership Meeting May 19 (Dave Harden Speaker)
Dave Harden is a Carroll County Democrat vying for the Maryland District 1 U.S. House of Representatives seat. He talked about our sacred duty to hand down the American Dream to our children. Rural broadband is the infrastructure investment of the 21st century. Accessible, affordable health care is a must for the realization of the American Dream. The public school system needs to modernize, starting at age 3. District 1 can be the test bed for the incubation research and development of start-up and existing companies responding to climate change.
Eastern Shore Democratic Clubs Coalition June 2 Meeting—Young Democrats Speaker Noureen Badwi, president of Young Democrats of Maryland, shares strategies to start or revitalize Young Democratic clubs on the Eastern Shore at the Wednesday, June 2, 7 p.m. meeting of the Eastern Shore Coalition of Democratic Clubs. Members from all the Democratic clubs on the Shore are invited to attend. Badwi will share how she can help the clubs and the clubs can help her better engage young Democrats. She will speak for about 15 minutes followed by a question and answer session.
After Badwi’s presentation, club representatives will give updates about their recent and upcoming activities.
Crab Feast
The Club’s annual Crab Feast is Saturday, August 29, at Schumaker Pavilion. We need a committee chair and event volunteers.
In-person Meetings in September?
The board has tentatively agreed to resume in-person meetings in September at Salisbury Art Space. We will continue to meet via Zoom in June and July.
Upcoming General Membership Meetings
Wednesday, June 16, 7 p.m. (Zoom): Heather Mizeur, Democratic candidate for Maryland District 1 U.S. House of Representatives:
Wednesday, July 21, 7 p.m. (Zoom): Jennifer Pingley, candidate for Maryland District 1 U.S. House of Representatives
Eastern Shore Tribute to U.S. Senator Paul S. Sarbanes
Saturday, November 6, 5:30 p.m., Salisbury University. Sponsorships (include table of 8, $1,000); individual tickets, $50 each. Proceeds benefit Paul S. Sarbanes Lecture Series at SU and Paul S. Sarbanes Endowment Fund at University of Maryland Eastern Shore. Ticket sales TBA.
For more information, contact Wicomico Democratic club President Gains Hawkins at [email protected] or 410-603-6677
Democratic Club of Wicomico County
Newsletter April 30, 2021
The officers of the Democratic Club of Wicomico County met for its monthly board of directors meeting on Monday, April 19, at 5 p.m. via Zoom. Attending were: Gains Hawkins, president; Dr. Ernie Gibb, second vice president; Sandra Martin, corresponding secretary; Deborah Finkbeiner, recording secretary; Keith Henry, treasurer; and Kelsie Mattox, sergeant-at-arms. The meeting agenda is available upon request.
Treasurer’s Report (Keith Henry)
The checking account balance as of February 28, 2021 was $$4,659.65. There were no expenses in March and $0.20 interest was added for a balance of $4,659.85 as of March 31, 2021. The club savings account increased by $0.19 interest to $763.21. The PayPal account held $1,146.56 for a total available cash as of March 31, 20201 of $6,569.62.
Membership Report (Sandra Martin)
Club membership remains 239.
Spring Fundraising Appeal
The Democratic Club’s annual fundraising appeal is coming to your mailbox and computer soon. We don’t have dues, but instead rely on your contributions to support local candidates and causes. You were incredibly responsive last year, and I hope you’ll be similarly generous this year as we build our cash reserves for the 2022 elections.
August Crab Feast
Our annual Crab Feast is Sunday, Aug. 29, at Schumaker Pavilion in Salisbury. We need a committee chair. If interested, please contact Gains. We have several holdover committee members, and good notes from past crab feasts. This is opportunity for someone to get more involved with the club and with club members.
Club Elections
Club elections are in November. The two-year terms for the current officers expire this fall; new leadership makes for a more vibrant volunteer organization. Contact Gains or other board members if interested. Please be interested.
Donkey Walk
Some Dem Clubs have weekly walks now that many are vaccinated. Wicomico Club members are walking Saturday morning at 8:30, leaving from Ben’s Red Swings. We walk for about an hour, around three miles. Join us: talk politics, sports, movies, TV, vacation plans, local getaways, grand kids, whatever. Exercise both body and mind.
Eastern Shore Tribute to U.S. Senator Paul S. Sarbanes
An Eastern Shore Tribute to Salisbury born and raised Paul Sarbanes is on Saturday, November 6, at Salisbury University. The Senator’s son, Congressman John Sarbanes, is the keynote speaker. Proceeds benefit the Sarbanes Lecture Series at SU and the Sarbanes Scholarship Endowment Fund at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. Sponsorship tables of eight are $1,000, individual tickets are $50 each. More details will be forthcoming in June.
Eastern Shore Democratic Clubs Coalition Meeting (April 7)
The Coalition met with 13 members in attendance. The group approved the fledgling organization’s mission statement: Mission Statement approved: The Eastern Shore Democratic Clubs Coalition’s mission is to assist Democrats running for federal, state and local political offices on the Eastern Shore. The Coalition serves as a networking opportunity for clubs to share information about legislative issues, upcoming speakers, fundraising strategies, media contacts, technological assistance and other forms of mutual support. It provides a central place for clubs to share their open events and coordinate efforts if possible. It can communicate a Common Voice, releasing a statement on behalf of all clubs versus that of a single club. The next meeting is Wednesday, May 5, at 6:30 p.m. All are invited to attend. Contact Gains for the Zoom link
General Membership Meeting (April 21)
Sheree Sample-Hughes, Speaker Pro Tempore of the Maryland House of Delegates and Delegate to the Maryland General Assembly representing legislative District 37A in Dorchester and Wicomico counties, was the main speaker at the club’s general membership meeting on April 21..
She was in the news that week after sponsoring a House bill to consign the Maryland state song, “Maryland My Maryland,” to the much deserved dustbin of our state history. She reviewed the just ended Legislative Session of the Maryland General Assembly, discussing the historic bills regarding funding for the state’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities,, police reform, education funding, proposed loss of prescription benefits for state retiree and several heath care bills she sponsored.
Also making presentations were Salisbury City council President Jack Heath and Wicomico County councilmen Josh Hastings and Ernie Davis. Hastings shared the recent announcement that the downtown Wicomico library will be renamed in honor of Sen. Sarbanes.
Other speakers in April were Julia Rentsch, environmental reporter for The (Salisbury) Daily Times, and Wicomico Superintendent of Schools Donna Hanlin and PUSH4Education founder Eileen Johnson. Rentsch talked about the reporting she has done about the Conowingo Dam and its impact on the Chesapeake Bay and its local tributaries. Dr. Hanlin discussed the impact of the pandemic on public schools and the school system’s response. Public schools will offer fall students the choice of either everyday on-site classroom instruction or virtual instruction. She also detailed present and future local, state and federal financial resources for pre-K-12 public education in the county. Johnson indicated the grass-roots education advocacy group she leads will fully support Democratic candidates running for local elected office who prioritize public education.
Upcoming Speakers
Wednesday, May 19: Dave Harden, Democratic candidate for Maryland’s First District in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Wednesday, June 16: Heather Mizeur, Democratic candidate for Maryland’s First District in the U.S. House of Representatives.
For more information about the Wicomico Democratic Club, contact President Gains Hawkins at [email protected] or 410-603-6677.
Newsletter April 30, 2021
The officers of the Democratic Club of Wicomico County met for its monthly board of directors meeting on Monday, April 19, at 5 p.m. via Zoom. Attending were: Gains Hawkins, president; Dr. Ernie Gibb, second vice president; Sandra Martin, corresponding secretary; Deborah Finkbeiner, recording secretary; Keith Henry, treasurer; and Kelsie Mattox, sergeant-at-arms. The meeting agenda is available upon request.
Treasurer’s Report (Keith Henry)
The checking account balance as of February 28, 2021 was $$4,659.65. There were no expenses in March and $0.20 interest was added for a balance of $4,659.85 as of March 31, 2021. The club savings account increased by $0.19 interest to $763.21. The PayPal account held $1,146.56 for a total available cash as of March 31, 20201 of $6,569.62.
Membership Report (Sandra Martin)
Club membership remains 239.
Spring Fundraising Appeal
The Democratic Club’s annual fundraising appeal is coming to your mailbox and computer soon. We don’t have dues, but instead rely on your contributions to support local candidates and causes. You were incredibly responsive last year, and I hope you’ll be similarly generous this year as we build our cash reserves for the 2022 elections.
August Crab Feast
Our annual Crab Feast is Sunday, Aug. 29, at Schumaker Pavilion in Salisbury. We need a committee chair. If interested, please contact Gains. We have several holdover committee members, and good notes from past crab feasts. This is opportunity for someone to get more involved with the club and with club members.
Club Elections
Club elections are in November. The two-year terms for the current officers expire this fall; new leadership makes for a more vibrant volunteer organization. Contact Gains or other board members if interested. Please be interested.
Donkey Walk
Some Dem Clubs have weekly walks now that many are vaccinated. Wicomico Club members are walking Saturday morning at 8:30, leaving from Ben’s Red Swings. We walk for about an hour, around three miles. Join us: talk politics, sports, movies, TV, vacation plans, local getaways, grand kids, whatever. Exercise both body and mind.
Eastern Shore Tribute to U.S. Senator Paul S. Sarbanes
An Eastern Shore Tribute to Salisbury born and raised Paul Sarbanes is on Saturday, November 6, at Salisbury University. The Senator’s son, Congressman John Sarbanes, is the keynote speaker. Proceeds benefit the Sarbanes Lecture Series at SU and the Sarbanes Scholarship Endowment Fund at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. Sponsorship tables of eight are $1,000, individual tickets are $50 each. More details will be forthcoming in June.
Eastern Shore Democratic Clubs Coalition Meeting (April 7)
The Coalition met with 13 members in attendance. The group approved the fledgling organization’s mission statement: Mission Statement approved: The Eastern Shore Democratic Clubs Coalition’s mission is to assist Democrats running for federal, state and local political offices on the Eastern Shore. The Coalition serves as a networking opportunity for clubs to share information about legislative issues, upcoming speakers, fundraising strategies, media contacts, technological assistance and other forms of mutual support. It provides a central place for clubs to share their open events and coordinate efforts if possible. It can communicate a Common Voice, releasing a statement on behalf of all clubs versus that of a single club. The next meeting is Wednesday, May 5, at 6:30 p.m. All are invited to attend. Contact Gains for the Zoom link
General Membership Meeting (April 21)
Sheree Sample-Hughes, Speaker Pro Tempore of the Maryland House of Delegates and Delegate to the Maryland General Assembly representing legislative District 37A in Dorchester and Wicomico counties, was the main speaker at the club’s general membership meeting on April 21..
She was in the news that week after sponsoring a House bill to consign the Maryland state song, “Maryland My Maryland,” to the much deserved dustbin of our state history. She reviewed the just ended Legislative Session of the Maryland General Assembly, discussing the historic bills regarding funding for the state’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities,, police reform, education funding, proposed loss of prescription benefits for state retiree and several heath care bills she sponsored.
Also making presentations were Salisbury City council President Jack Heath and Wicomico County councilmen Josh Hastings and Ernie Davis. Hastings shared the recent announcement that the downtown Wicomico library will be renamed in honor of Sen. Sarbanes.
Other speakers in April were Julia Rentsch, environmental reporter for The (Salisbury) Daily Times, and Wicomico Superintendent of Schools Donna Hanlin and PUSH4Education founder Eileen Johnson. Rentsch talked about the reporting she has done about the Conowingo Dam and its impact on the Chesapeake Bay and its local tributaries. Dr. Hanlin discussed the impact of the pandemic on public schools and the school system’s response. Public schools will offer fall students the choice of either everyday on-site classroom instruction or virtual instruction. She also detailed present and future local, state and federal financial resources for pre-K-12 public education in the county. Johnson indicated the grass-roots education advocacy group she leads will fully support Democratic candidates running for local elected office who prioritize public education.
Upcoming Speakers
Wednesday, May 19: Dave Harden, Democratic candidate for Maryland’s First District in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Wednesday, June 16: Heather Mizeur, Democratic candidate for Maryland’s First District in the U.S. House of Representatives.
For more information about the Wicomico Democratic Club, contact President Gains Hawkins at [email protected] or 410-603-6677.
Democratic Club of Wicomico County
Newsletter
March 20, 2021
The officers of the Democratic Club of Wicomico County met for its monthly board of directors meeting on Monday, March 15, at 5 p.m. via Zoom. Attending were: Gains Hawkins, president; Dr. Ernie Gibb, second vice president; Sandra Martin, corresponding secretary; Deborah Finkbeiner, recording secretary; Keith Henry, treasurer; and Kelsie Mattox, sergeant-at-arms. The meeting agenda is available upon request.
Treasurer’s Report (Keith Henry)
The checking account balance as of January 31, 2021 was $4,849.34. Expenses incurred in February were $190 to rent space at Schumaker Park Pavilion for annual Crab Feast in August and a $400 donation to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Coalition. The checking account balance as of February 28, 2021 was $4,659.65. The club savings account held $763.02 and PayPal account held $1,146.56 for total available cash as of February 28, 2021 of $6,569.23.
Membership Report (Sandra Martin)
No new members were added in February as total membership remained 239. Our Mailchimp correspondence was routinely opened by members 45% percent of the time, 10 % occasionally and 45% rarely. We have 931 contacts and 641 subscribers in our Mailchimp data base.
The club membership form was revised to include a section seeking volunteer opportunities: fundraising, newsletter, legislative issues, Tawes Clam Bake, social media, headquarters (when open), Club Crab Feast, hospitality and special interest of skills. The form is posted on the club web site (Democratic Club of Wicomico County - Home (demclubwicomico.org)).
General Membership Meeting March 17 (Dr. Harry Basehart Speaker)
Salisbury University Political Science Professor Emeritus Harry Basehart shared a “Guide to Legislative Redistricting in Maryland” featuring charts, maps and commentary. His 30-minute presentation was followed by another 30 minutes of questions and answers. He advocated First District Democrats actively engage members of the General Assembly to consider altering the current district configuration to make it more competitive for Democratic candidates.
Previously, Jack Heath, president of the Salisbury City Council, gave an update on city business including the status of the construction of the natural gas pipeline in Salisbury. Wicomico County Councilmen Ernie Davis, Josh Hastings and Bill McCain discussed county business. Some 300 homes were constructed in Wicomico in 2020, a pronounced increase over previous years; however, that number pales in comparison to the nearly 4,000 built in neighboring Sussex County, DE, last year. No one on the county council is advocating that kind of residential housing growth in Wicomico. It was noted that Wicomico is only county in state without a sanitary district.
The meeting had some 40 participants, several from other Democratic clubs on the Shore.
Eastern Shore Democratic Clubs Coalition
The second meeting of the group was held on March 3. A mission statement was discussed which will emphasize support for Democratic candidates at the federal, state and local levels and the networking possibilities afforded the different clubs through regular dialogue. It was agreed to publish a quarterly newsletter with articles from each club. An Eastern Shore media list is being developed. The next meeting is Wednesday, April 7, at 6:30 p.m. via Zoom. Members from all clubs are invited to attend.
Upcoming Speakers (All via Zoom; public welcome)
Thursday, April 8, 7 p.m.: Julia Rentsch, Daily Times and USA Network environmental reporter.
Wednesday, April 21, 7 p.m.: Del. Sheree Sample-Hughes (District 37A), Speaker Pro Tempore of the Maryland House of Delegates.
Thursday, April 29, 7 p.m.: Wicomico Public Schools Superintendent Donna Hanlin and PUSH4Education Founder Eileen Johnson.
Wednesday, May 19, 7 p.m.: Democratic Maryland First District U.S. House of Representatives Candidate Dave Harden.
For more information about the Wicomico Democratic Club, contact President Gains Hawkins at [email protected] or 410-603-6677.
Newsletter
March 20, 2021
The officers of the Democratic Club of Wicomico County met for its monthly board of directors meeting on Monday, March 15, at 5 p.m. via Zoom. Attending were: Gains Hawkins, president; Dr. Ernie Gibb, second vice president; Sandra Martin, corresponding secretary; Deborah Finkbeiner, recording secretary; Keith Henry, treasurer; and Kelsie Mattox, sergeant-at-arms. The meeting agenda is available upon request.
Treasurer’s Report (Keith Henry)
The checking account balance as of January 31, 2021 was $4,849.34. Expenses incurred in February were $190 to rent space at Schumaker Park Pavilion for annual Crab Feast in August and a $400 donation to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Coalition. The checking account balance as of February 28, 2021 was $4,659.65. The club savings account held $763.02 and PayPal account held $1,146.56 for total available cash as of February 28, 2021 of $6,569.23.
Membership Report (Sandra Martin)
No new members were added in February as total membership remained 239. Our Mailchimp correspondence was routinely opened by members 45% percent of the time, 10 % occasionally and 45% rarely. We have 931 contacts and 641 subscribers in our Mailchimp data base.
The club membership form was revised to include a section seeking volunteer opportunities: fundraising, newsletter, legislative issues, Tawes Clam Bake, social media, headquarters (when open), Club Crab Feast, hospitality and special interest of skills. The form is posted on the club web site (Democratic Club of Wicomico County - Home (demclubwicomico.org)).
General Membership Meeting March 17 (Dr. Harry Basehart Speaker)
Salisbury University Political Science Professor Emeritus Harry Basehart shared a “Guide to Legislative Redistricting in Maryland” featuring charts, maps and commentary. His 30-minute presentation was followed by another 30 minutes of questions and answers. He advocated First District Democrats actively engage members of the General Assembly to consider altering the current district configuration to make it more competitive for Democratic candidates.
Previously, Jack Heath, president of the Salisbury City Council, gave an update on city business including the status of the construction of the natural gas pipeline in Salisbury. Wicomico County Councilmen Ernie Davis, Josh Hastings and Bill McCain discussed county business. Some 300 homes were constructed in Wicomico in 2020, a pronounced increase over previous years; however, that number pales in comparison to the nearly 4,000 built in neighboring Sussex County, DE, last year. No one on the county council is advocating that kind of residential housing growth in Wicomico. It was noted that Wicomico is only county in state without a sanitary district.
The meeting had some 40 participants, several from other Democratic clubs on the Shore.
Eastern Shore Democratic Clubs Coalition
The second meeting of the group was held on March 3. A mission statement was discussed which will emphasize support for Democratic candidates at the federal, state and local levels and the networking possibilities afforded the different clubs through regular dialogue. It was agreed to publish a quarterly newsletter with articles from each club. An Eastern Shore media list is being developed. The next meeting is Wednesday, April 7, at 6:30 p.m. via Zoom. Members from all clubs are invited to attend.
Upcoming Speakers (All via Zoom; public welcome)
Thursday, April 8, 7 p.m.: Julia Rentsch, Daily Times and USA Network environmental reporter.
Wednesday, April 21, 7 p.m.: Del. Sheree Sample-Hughes (District 37A), Speaker Pro Tempore of the Maryland House of Delegates.
Thursday, April 29, 7 p.m.: Wicomico Public Schools Superintendent Donna Hanlin and PUSH4Education Founder Eileen Johnson.
Wednesday, May 19, 7 p.m.: Democratic Maryland First District U.S. House of Representatives Candidate Dave Harden.
For more information about the Wicomico Democratic Club, contact President Gains Hawkins at [email protected] or 410-603-6677.
Democratic Club of Wicomico County
Newsletter
February 22, 2021
The Wicomico Democratic Club board of directors met Monday, Monday, February 15, via Zoom. Attending: Gains Hawkins, president; Ernie Gibb, second vice president; Kelsie Mattox, sergeant-at-arms; Keith Henry, treasurer, and Sandra Martin, corresponding secretary. Absent: Deborah Finkbeiner, recording secretary.
Treasurer’s Report (Keith Henry)
Beginning checking account balance on January 1, 2021, was $5,005.73. Closing balance on January 31 was $4,849.34. Savings account balance at end of month was $763.02. Paypal balance at end of month was $1,146.56. Total available cash at end of month was $6,758.92.
The club received donations from club members targeted for the Tri-County MLK Coalition, Inc. Scholarship totaling $400. Additionally, several club members sent checks for the scholarship directly to the coalition. The annual Tri-County MLK Coalition dinner celebrating Martin Luther King, Jr. was canceled this year due to the coronavirus.
Membership Report (Sandra Martin)
The club added one member in January and two in February bringing the total membership to 239. Per the club’s revised bylaws (www.demclubwicomico.org) in 2019, to become a member one must be a resident of Wicomico County and a registered Democrat, and complete a membership form. The club does not charge dues.
Special Speaker Presentation: White Supremacist Thinking: The Nation's Oldest Problem
Dr. Kathryn Barrett-Gaines, professor of African history and African American history at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, discussed the history of white supremacist thinking at the Democratic Club’s Zoom meeting on Thursday, February 11. Over 65 people participated.
General Membership Meeting Featuring Salisbury Police Chief Barbara Duncan
The club held its monthly general membership meeting on Wednesday, February 17. The main speaker was Salisbury Police Chief Barbara Duncan. Also making presentations were Jack Heath, president of the Salisbury City Council, and Josh Hastings and Bill McCain, members of the Wicomico County Council. Over 55 people participated via Zoom.
Eastern Shore Democratic Clubs Coalition
The inaugural meeting of the Eastern Shore Democratic Clubs Coalition was held via Zoom on February 3. A major motivation for organizing the clubs was in response to the November re-election of Republican Andy Harris to the U.S. House of Representatives for Maryland’s First District and his alarming behavior on the floor of the Capitol and subsequent attempt to bring a firearm into the Capitol. Currently, 10 clubs have joined the coalition.
At the initial meeting, representatives from the clubs introduced themselves and gave brief backgrounds about their respective clubs. At the next meeting on Wednesday, March 3, at 6:30 p.m. participants will discuss a mission statement and other next steps. To participate, contact club president Hawkins.
PACE Program for Future Candidates for Political Office
The Institute for Public Affairs and Civic Engagement at Salisbury University is sponsoring “The Art and Science of Running for Office” from March 1-14. Sign-up deadline is February 28. Go to https://bit.ly/runforofficetraining for details.
Future Meetings
Julia Rentsch, an environmental reporter for the USA TODAY Network covering Delaware and the Eastern Shore, will discuss her recently published project, "Killing the Chesapeake," at the Wicomico Democratic Club’s Zoom meeting on Thursday, March 4 at 7 p.m. Like all club meetings, her presentation is open to the public. The Zoom link will be shared with club members soon.
Dr. Harry Basehart, professor emeritus from Salisbury University, will share his research on redistricting, both nationally and locally, on Wednesday, March 17, 7 p.m. via Zoom. The political scientist served two terms on the Wicomico Democratic Central Committee.
Sheree Sample-Hughes, Speaker Pro Tempore of the Maryland House of Delegates and Delegate to the Maryland General Assembly representing legislative district 37A in Dorchester and Wicomico counties, will talk about the just completed Maryland General Assembly session on Wednesday, April 21, at 7 p.m. via Zoom.
For more information about the Wicomico Democratic Club, contact President Gains Hawkins at [email protected] or 410-603-6677.
Newsletter
February 22, 2021
The Wicomico Democratic Club board of directors met Monday, Monday, February 15, via Zoom. Attending: Gains Hawkins, president; Ernie Gibb, second vice president; Kelsie Mattox, sergeant-at-arms; Keith Henry, treasurer, and Sandra Martin, corresponding secretary. Absent: Deborah Finkbeiner, recording secretary.
Treasurer’s Report (Keith Henry)
Beginning checking account balance on January 1, 2021, was $5,005.73. Closing balance on January 31 was $4,849.34. Savings account balance at end of month was $763.02. Paypal balance at end of month was $1,146.56. Total available cash at end of month was $6,758.92.
The club received donations from club members targeted for the Tri-County MLK Coalition, Inc. Scholarship totaling $400. Additionally, several club members sent checks for the scholarship directly to the coalition. The annual Tri-County MLK Coalition dinner celebrating Martin Luther King, Jr. was canceled this year due to the coronavirus.
Membership Report (Sandra Martin)
The club added one member in January and two in February bringing the total membership to 239. Per the club’s revised bylaws (www.demclubwicomico.org) in 2019, to become a member one must be a resident of Wicomico County and a registered Democrat, and complete a membership form. The club does not charge dues.
Special Speaker Presentation: White Supremacist Thinking: The Nation's Oldest Problem
Dr. Kathryn Barrett-Gaines, professor of African history and African American history at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, discussed the history of white supremacist thinking at the Democratic Club’s Zoom meeting on Thursday, February 11. Over 65 people participated.
General Membership Meeting Featuring Salisbury Police Chief Barbara Duncan
The club held its monthly general membership meeting on Wednesday, February 17. The main speaker was Salisbury Police Chief Barbara Duncan. Also making presentations were Jack Heath, president of the Salisbury City Council, and Josh Hastings and Bill McCain, members of the Wicomico County Council. Over 55 people participated via Zoom.
Eastern Shore Democratic Clubs Coalition
The inaugural meeting of the Eastern Shore Democratic Clubs Coalition was held via Zoom on February 3. A major motivation for organizing the clubs was in response to the November re-election of Republican Andy Harris to the U.S. House of Representatives for Maryland’s First District and his alarming behavior on the floor of the Capitol and subsequent attempt to bring a firearm into the Capitol. Currently, 10 clubs have joined the coalition.
At the initial meeting, representatives from the clubs introduced themselves and gave brief backgrounds about their respective clubs. At the next meeting on Wednesday, March 3, at 6:30 p.m. participants will discuss a mission statement and other next steps. To participate, contact club president Hawkins.
PACE Program for Future Candidates for Political Office
The Institute for Public Affairs and Civic Engagement at Salisbury University is sponsoring “The Art and Science of Running for Office” from March 1-14. Sign-up deadline is February 28. Go to https://bit.ly/runforofficetraining for details.
Future Meetings
Julia Rentsch, an environmental reporter for the USA TODAY Network covering Delaware and the Eastern Shore, will discuss her recently published project, "Killing the Chesapeake," at the Wicomico Democratic Club’s Zoom meeting on Thursday, March 4 at 7 p.m. Like all club meetings, her presentation is open to the public. The Zoom link will be shared with club members soon.
Dr. Harry Basehart, professor emeritus from Salisbury University, will share his research on redistricting, both nationally and locally, on Wednesday, March 17, 7 p.m. via Zoom. The political scientist served two terms on the Wicomico Democratic Central Committee.
Sheree Sample-Hughes, Speaker Pro Tempore of the Maryland House of Delegates and Delegate to the Maryland General Assembly representing legislative district 37A in Dorchester and Wicomico counties, will talk about the just completed Maryland General Assembly session on Wednesday, April 21, at 7 p.m. via Zoom.
For more information about the Wicomico Democratic Club, contact President Gains Hawkins at [email protected] or 410-603-6677.
Democratic Club of Wicomico County
State of the Club Address (Wednesday, January 20, 2021) By Gains Hawkins, club president
Before I dive into a Democratic Club review of 2020 and a look ahead to 2021, let’s bask in the momentous events of earlier today, the inauguration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, our nation’s first female vice
president, first Black vice president and first of Asian heritage. A year ago we dreamed of ousting Donald Trump, retaining the House and winning the Senate. We achieved the Triple Crown. Now, let’s make those hard won victories count with policies and programs.
As President Biden said today: “Together we shall write an American story of hope, not fear. Of unity, not division. Of light, not darkness. A story of decency and dignity, love and healing, greatness and goodness. May this be the story that guides us, the story that inspires us and the story that tells ages yet to come that we answered the call of history; we met the moment; democracy and hope, truth and justice did not die on our watch but thrived; that America secured liberty at home and stood once again as a beacon to the world.”
While today is one of celebration, our country endured a trying 2020. So did Wicomico County. By late February the Democratic Club’s prospects looked dim. Yet we held true to our values. Please indulge me as I reiterate those values that we voted on and agreed to in 2019. Democrats in Wicomico County, like their party nationwide, have evolved
into a coalition of different groups, with the overarching values of social and economic justice tying them together. Among our important issues: access to adequate health care for everyone; environmental health and safety
While today is one of celebration, our country endured a trying 2020. So did Wicomico County. By late February the Democratic Club’s prospects looked dim. Yet we held true to our values. Please indulge me as I reiterate those values that we voted on and agreed to in 2019.
Democrats in Wicomico County, like their party nationwide, have evolved into a coalition of different groups, with the overarching values of social and economic justice tying them together. Among our important issues: access to
adequate health care for everyone; environmental health and safety protections and the recognition of human-altering climate change; income inequality that has gotten progressively worse over the past five decades;
immigration reform consistent with our heritage as a nation of immigrants; equal rights for all regardless of age, race, gender, religion or sexual orientation; and protection from enemies at home and abroad. We are a
party that advocates for greater regulation of gun purchases to make our communities safer.
We support raising the minimum wage to provide a livable wage for working Americans and strengthening Wall Street regulations. We believe a significant investment in education is critical to our future as a path to better jobs.
We’re a party of tolerance and inclusiveness. We’re a party of truth and science. We’re a party of personal integrity. We believe that government can positively influence our quality of life. We’re a party that advocates on
behalf of all Americans, not just a chosen group. We’re loyal to our nation above our party. And we accept that all of us are imperfect, so compromise is inevitable and desirable.
2020—A Lemonade Year
This is the tale of this year, and it seemingly only begat the worst of times, day after day, week after week, month after month. Yet, as the Tom Hanks character, Chuck Noland, says in the movie Castaway, “I’ve got to keep breathing because tomorrow the sun will rise, and who knows what the tide will bring.” And thanks to the effort of your club officers and dozens of volunteers, the tide brought in a plethora of treasures. Before I unveil that trove, let me acknowledge your outstanding 2020 club officers: Dr. Ernie Gibb, second vice president; Sandra Martin, corresponding secretary; Deborah Finkbeiner, recording secretary; Keith Henry, treasurer; and Kelsie Mattox, sergeant-at-arms.
Now on to our ... 2020 Accomplishments
We managed just two meetings at our regular meeting place, the Salisbury Art Space, before the pandemic forced us to an on-line meeting mechanism we didn’t know existed until March—the Zoom. We took advantage, often conducting multiple meetings a month, mostly due to the dynamic series of speakers we attracted. Zoom in on these A-listers who graced us with their presentations: Maryland’s U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (twice) and Chris Van Hollen; District 37A Delegate and Speaker Pro Tempore of the Maryland House of Delegates Sheree Sample-
Hughes; Wicomico County Council members Bill McCain, Josh Hastings and Ernie Davis; Acting Salisbury Mayor Julia Glanz; Salisbury City Council President Jack Heath; District 2 County Council Candidate Alex Scott and his Campaign
Manager Dave Layfield; Political Science professors Harry Basehart and Adam Hoffman; Wicomico Board of Elections Executive Director Anthony Gutierrez and his Deputy Director Dionne Church; Wicomico and Somerset Health Officer Lori Brewster; African-American History Professor Emeritus Clara Small; Salisbury Lynching Memorial Task Force Member James Yamakawa; Conservation Community Consulting Principal Dave Wilson; and Club Member Tony Sarbanes, who gave a loving memorial presentation about his late brother, Senator Paul Sarbanes. Duplicating that lineup this year will certainly be a challenge.
Among the other major challenges will be matching our financial and membership successes. Keith Henry, the club treasurer, will summarize our fiscal status and recount the generous response to our fundraising appeal:
“A quick review of the financials gives a clear picture of the health of the club and the direction we are moving.
Our annual fundraising appeal reached a new high point with $8,655 donated through mail-in checks, online giving, in-kind giving, and several cash donations at campaign headquarters. In 2018 $3,075 was raised, 2019 saw $5,146 raised, and in 2020 we raised $8,655, almost tripling our fundraising in three years. The number of donors in 2018 was 31, in 2019 we had 56 donors, and 2020 increased to 98 donors plus several cash contributors at campaign headquarters. Some of our significant expenditures included: -$1,000 donation to the Community Foundation for Covid relief, a sum matched by the Wicomico Republican Club. -Campaign contributions to our two local and regional candidates of $1,000. -Purchase of campaign banner, yard signs, bumper stickers, buttons and literature
amounted to $4,666. Everyone was able to receive a free yard sign this year. We began 2020 with a cash balance of $5,266 and end the year with $6,914 in the bank.”
Wow! I’ll reiterate: almost double the number of donors from 2019-2020; our goal was 75 donors and we bested that by 23; a 70 percent increase in amount donated —our goal was $6,000 and we beat that by $2,655; a substantial financial contribution to the fall election, mostly Biden/Harris yard signs; and we finished the year ahead of where we started a year ago.
But, arguably more impressive was our growth in membership. The club’s corresponding secretary, Sandra Martin, will review the gains in membership. “Mailchimp is the email carrier we use to send messages to the Democratic Club of Wicomico County membership. According to Mailchimp, we have 926 contacts and 653 subscribers (someone who opted in to receive our email marketing campaigns). Of the 653 subscribers, 47% are highly engaged and often open our emails; 6% are sometimes engaged and moderately open our emails; and 40% are not very engaged and rarely open our emails. During 2020, we sent some 130 emails; 47% of 653 is 307, the number of subscribers who routinely read those emails. As of December 31, 2019, we had 87 members (registered Democrats residing in Wicomico County who filled out a membership form). During 2020 we received
149 completed membership forms, 107 of them completed during September and October at Democratic Headquarters. Our total membership as of December 31, 2020, is 236.” Double wow!! 170 percent increase in membership.
As Sandra reported, much of the membership increase occurred in the fall, greatly attributable to our 9-5 staffing of the Wicomico Democratic Headquarters in downtown Salisbury. Thanks to Dave Layfield and Tom Ayd for contributing thespace and a special thank you to the over 20 club members who took shifts—by my count we received over 320 volunteer hours. The Headquarters marked the unveiling of our new Wicomico Democratic Club booth display, designed by member Debi Rus and paid for by member Michelle Hughes.
Just before our Headquarters effort geared up, we coordinated a local Blue Wave; 30 local Democrats waved Biden/Harris signs for two hours to motorists on their way to Ocean City. Altogether there were over 160 Dems waving Biden signs from the Bay Bridge to OC. Additionally, members participated in the Maryland State Party phone bank, making calls locally and nationally in support of Democratic candidates. We also mailed postcards in support of the Georgia Senatorial candidates—how’d that turn out? We made the media. The Salisbury Independent reported on the Blue Wave and the ribbon-cutting of Democratic Headquarters. And for the sake of a little humor, I penned, ”Donald at the Bat,” to playfully commemorate the Biden/Harris victory.
While it was a lemonade year, we did have to endure some less than tasty lemons. Our annual late summer Crab Feast and December Holiday Party were canceled due to the virus, as was the Tawes Crab and Clam Bake in Crisfield. Our scheduled visit to the Capitol to meet with Sen. Cardin was canceled, but we will reschedule, probably in 2022. We initiated a planned series of Huddles with local elected Democrats in February and secured a remarkable turnout with Mayor Jake Day, the three County Council members—Davis, Hastings and McCain, Clerk of the County Bo McAllister and many club members at the Salisbury Art Space. It was an eventful meeting with an agreement to continue the sessions every three months. Unfortunately, Covid intervened and the meetings were shelved for the balance of the year.
A somewhat minor accomplishment was our ability to disseminate hundreds ofpost cards supporting the candidacy of Mia Mason for the District 1 House of Representatives. We gave out hundreds of her yard signs and donated financially to her campaign. But as we all know, she lost decisively to Republican Andy Harris.
That’s a good time to segue into our goals for the year. 2021 Goals
1.We will work toward unseating Andy Harris (District 1, U.S. House ofRepresentatives). Attracting formidable Democratic candidates is naturallyimportant, but due to the sizeable party registration favoring Republicans in
the district, convincing the Maryland General Assembly to re-draw thedistrict lines that would make the district more competitive is vital. Dr. Harry Basehart, professor emeritus at Salisbury University, will lead a discussion about this issue at our March general membership meeting
2. We will support the Black Lives Matter movement. White supremacism is a disease we have watched fester for 500 years in America. What we are watching is not new, not shocking, not unexpected, but absolutely unacceptable.
White supremacism needs to be fought at all levels, by all of us. We will have a speaker on this topic in February.
3. We will develop a Digital Outreach plan, coordinated by club member Monica Lea: recruit dedicated Digital Outreach Volunteers, 3 to 4 individuals well versed in the use and protocols of at least two social media
platforms with a goal of being able to reliably cover Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at the minimum; train Digital Outreach Team on best practices for the use of each platform; work with the state party to ensure that there is a
unity of message while maintaining our own integrity as a club; assess the current number of followers on various platforms and the current level of engagement (likes, shares, comments, etc); and integrate the information from meetings, newsletters, press releases, and the like with our day to day engagement activities. The goal of this
is to let people know that we are here and working for them everyday, not just during election seasons, and to connect with a vibrant, diverse community. This will also allow us to serve as an incubator for the candidates and campaign staff members of the future.
4. We will increase membership to 300 (from 236).
5. We will raise $7,000 through our spring fundraising annual appeal with 100 donors.
6. We will raise $3,000 at the August/September Crab Feast, assuming Covid restrictions are over.
7. We will present a 2021 budget for membership review. We began the year with a cash balance of $6,914. We project expenses of $4,800 and income of $12,800 (spring fundraising appeal and crab feast), for projected net
income of $8,000, and projected cash balance at year’s end of $14,914.
8. We will have a year-end cash-on-hand balance of $15,000. We will prioritize banking as much of those funds as possible—toward supporting local Democratic candidates in the 2022 election.
9. We will discuss purchasing a tent at the Tawes Crab and Clam Bake in July versus members purchasing individual tickets.
10. We will continue to invite representatives, respectively, from the City Council and County Council, to give 5-minute updates at each general membership meeting.
11. Once Covid restrictions are lifted, we will revive quarterly in-person meetings between Democratic elected officials. All club members will be invited to attend.
12. We will invite interesting and highly qualified speakers to our monthly meetings, and provide financial and membership reports at each.
13. We will conduct an in-house review of our financial records and share that report with the membership.
14. We will continue to prioritize support for county public school education and environmental issues.
15. We will conduct club elections for officers for 2022-23 in November.
16. We will host a Holiday Party in December.
Thanks for being part of a growing and energetic club.
State of the Club Address (Wednesday, January 20, 2021) By Gains Hawkins, club president
Before I dive into a Democratic Club review of 2020 and a look ahead to 2021, let’s bask in the momentous events of earlier today, the inauguration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, our nation’s first female vice
president, first Black vice president and first of Asian heritage. A year ago we dreamed of ousting Donald Trump, retaining the House and winning the Senate. We achieved the Triple Crown. Now, let’s make those hard won victories count with policies and programs.
As President Biden said today: “Together we shall write an American story of hope, not fear. Of unity, not division. Of light, not darkness. A story of decency and dignity, love and healing, greatness and goodness. May this be the story that guides us, the story that inspires us and the story that tells ages yet to come that we answered the call of history; we met the moment; democracy and hope, truth and justice did not die on our watch but thrived; that America secured liberty at home and stood once again as a beacon to the world.”
While today is one of celebration, our country endured a trying 2020. So did Wicomico County. By late February the Democratic Club’s prospects looked dim. Yet we held true to our values. Please indulge me as I reiterate those values that we voted on and agreed to in 2019. Democrats in Wicomico County, like their party nationwide, have evolved
into a coalition of different groups, with the overarching values of social and economic justice tying them together. Among our important issues: access to adequate health care for everyone; environmental health and safety
While today is one of celebration, our country endured a trying 2020. So did Wicomico County. By late February the Democratic Club’s prospects looked dim. Yet we held true to our values. Please indulge me as I reiterate those values that we voted on and agreed to in 2019.
Democrats in Wicomico County, like their party nationwide, have evolved into a coalition of different groups, with the overarching values of social and economic justice tying them together. Among our important issues: access to
adequate health care for everyone; environmental health and safety protections and the recognition of human-altering climate change; income inequality that has gotten progressively worse over the past five decades;
immigration reform consistent with our heritage as a nation of immigrants; equal rights for all regardless of age, race, gender, religion or sexual orientation; and protection from enemies at home and abroad. We are a
party that advocates for greater regulation of gun purchases to make our communities safer.
We support raising the minimum wage to provide a livable wage for working Americans and strengthening Wall Street regulations. We believe a significant investment in education is critical to our future as a path to better jobs.
We’re a party of tolerance and inclusiveness. We’re a party of truth and science. We’re a party of personal integrity. We believe that government can positively influence our quality of life. We’re a party that advocates on
behalf of all Americans, not just a chosen group. We’re loyal to our nation above our party. And we accept that all of us are imperfect, so compromise is inevitable and desirable.
2020—A Lemonade Year
This is the tale of this year, and it seemingly only begat the worst of times, day after day, week after week, month after month. Yet, as the Tom Hanks character, Chuck Noland, says in the movie Castaway, “I’ve got to keep breathing because tomorrow the sun will rise, and who knows what the tide will bring.” And thanks to the effort of your club officers and dozens of volunteers, the tide brought in a plethora of treasures. Before I unveil that trove, let me acknowledge your outstanding 2020 club officers: Dr. Ernie Gibb, second vice president; Sandra Martin, corresponding secretary; Deborah Finkbeiner, recording secretary; Keith Henry, treasurer; and Kelsie Mattox, sergeant-at-arms.
Now on to our ... 2020 Accomplishments
We managed just two meetings at our regular meeting place, the Salisbury Art Space, before the pandemic forced us to an on-line meeting mechanism we didn’t know existed until March—the Zoom. We took advantage, often conducting multiple meetings a month, mostly due to the dynamic series of speakers we attracted. Zoom in on these A-listers who graced us with their presentations: Maryland’s U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (twice) and Chris Van Hollen; District 37A Delegate and Speaker Pro Tempore of the Maryland House of Delegates Sheree Sample-
Hughes; Wicomico County Council members Bill McCain, Josh Hastings and Ernie Davis; Acting Salisbury Mayor Julia Glanz; Salisbury City Council President Jack Heath; District 2 County Council Candidate Alex Scott and his Campaign
Manager Dave Layfield; Political Science professors Harry Basehart and Adam Hoffman; Wicomico Board of Elections Executive Director Anthony Gutierrez and his Deputy Director Dionne Church; Wicomico and Somerset Health Officer Lori Brewster; African-American History Professor Emeritus Clara Small; Salisbury Lynching Memorial Task Force Member James Yamakawa; Conservation Community Consulting Principal Dave Wilson; and Club Member Tony Sarbanes, who gave a loving memorial presentation about his late brother, Senator Paul Sarbanes. Duplicating that lineup this year will certainly be a challenge.
Among the other major challenges will be matching our financial and membership successes. Keith Henry, the club treasurer, will summarize our fiscal status and recount the generous response to our fundraising appeal:
“A quick review of the financials gives a clear picture of the health of the club and the direction we are moving.
Our annual fundraising appeal reached a new high point with $8,655 donated through mail-in checks, online giving, in-kind giving, and several cash donations at campaign headquarters. In 2018 $3,075 was raised, 2019 saw $5,146 raised, and in 2020 we raised $8,655, almost tripling our fundraising in three years. The number of donors in 2018 was 31, in 2019 we had 56 donors, and 2020 increased to 98 donors plus several cash contributors at campaign headquarters. Some of our significant expenditures included: -$1,000 donation to the Community Foundation for Covid relief, a sum matched by the Wicomico Republican Club. -Campaign contributions to our two local and regional candidates of $1,000. -Purchase of campaign banner, yard signs, bumper stickers, buttons and literature
amounted to $4,666. Everyone was able to receive a free yard sign this year. We began 2020 with a cash balance of $5,266 and end the year with $6,914 in the bank.”
Wow! I’ll reiterate: almost double the number of donors from 2019-2020; our goal was 75 donors and we bested that by 23; a 70 percent increase in amount donated —our goal was $6,000 and we beat that by $2,655; a substantial financial contribution to the fall election, mostly Biden/Harris yard signs; and we finished the year ahead of where we started a year ago.
But, arguably more impressive was our growth in membership. The club’s corresponding secretary, Sandra Martin, will review the gains in membership. “Mailchimp is the email carrier we use to send messages to the Democratic Club of Wicomico County membership. According to Mailchimp, we have 926 contacts and 653 subscribers (someone who opted in to receive our email marketing campaigns). Of the 653 subscribers, 47% are highly engaged and often open our emails; 6% are sometimes engaged and moderately open our emails; and 40% are not very engaged and rarely open our emails. During 2020, we sent some 130 emails; 47% of 653 is 307, the number of subscribers who routinely read those emails. As of December 31, 2019, we had 87 members (registered Democrats residing in Wicomico County who filled out a membership form). During 2020 we received
149 completed membership forms, 107 of them completed during September and October at Democratic Headquarters. Our total membership as of December 31, 2020, is 236.” Double wow!! 170 percent increase in membership.
As Sandra reported, much of the membership increase occurred in the fall, greatly attributable to our 9-5 staffing of the Wicomico Democratic Headquarters in downtown Salisbury. Thanks to Dave Layfield and Tom Ayd for contributing thespace and a special thank you to the over 20 club members who took shifts—by my count we received over 320 volunteer hours. The Headquarters marked the unveiling of our new Wicomico Democratic Club booth display, designed by member Debi Rus and paid for by member Michelle Hughes.
Just before our Headquarters effort geared up, we coordinated a local Blue Wave; 30 local Democrats waved Biden/Harris signs for two hours to motorists on their way to Ocean City. Altogether there were over 160 Dems waving Biden signs from the Bay Bridge to OC. Additionally, members participated in the Maryland State Party phone bank, making calls locally and nationally in support of Democratic candidates. We also mailed postcards in support of the Georgia Senatorial candidates—how’d that turn out? We made the media. The Salisbury Independent reported on the Blue Wave and the ribbon-cutting of Democratic Headquarters. And for the sake of a little humor, I penned, ”Donald at the Bat,” to playfully commemorate the Biden/Harris victory.
While it was a lemonade year, we did have to endure some less than tasty lemons. Our annual late summer Crab Feast and December Holiday Party were canceled due to the virus, as was the Tawes Crab and Clam Bake in Crisfield. Our scheduled visit to the Capitol to meet with Sen. Cardin was canceled, but we will reschedule, probably in 2022. We initiated a planned series of Huddles with local elected Democrats in February and secured a remarkable turnout with Mayor Jake Day, the three County Council members—Davis, Hastings and McCain, Clerk of the County Bo McAllister and many club members at the Salisbury Art Space. It was an eventful meeting with an agreement to continue the sessions every three months. Unfortunately, Covid intervened and the meetings were shelved for the balance of the year.
A somewhat minor accomplishment was our ability to disseminate hundreds ofpost cards supporting the candidacy of Mia Mason for the District 1 House of Representatives. We gave out hundreds of her yard signs and donated financially to her campaign. But as we all know, she lost decisively to Republican Andy Harris.
That’s a good time to segue into our goals for the year. 2021 Goals
1.We will work toward unseating Andy Harris (District 1, U.S. House ofRepresentatives). Attracting formidable Democratic candidates is naturallyimportant, but due to the sizeable party registration favoring Republicans in
the district, convincing the Maryland General Assembly to re-draw thedistrict lines that would make the district more competitive is vital. Dr. Harry Basehart, professor emeritus at Salisbury University, will lead a discussion about this issue at our March general membership meeting
2. We will support the Black Lives Matter movement. White supremacism is a disease we have watched fester for 500 years in America. What we are watching is not new, not shocking, not unexpected, but absolutely unacceptable.
White supremacism needs to be fought at all levels, by all of us. We will have a speaker on this topic in February.
3. We will develop a Digital Outreach plan, coordinated by club member Monica Lea: recruit dedicated Digital Outreach Volunteers, 3 to 4 individuals well versed in the use and protocols of at least two social media
platforms with a goal of being able to reliably cover Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at the minimum; train Digital Outreach Team on best practices for the use of each platform; work with the state party to ensure that there is a
unity of message while maintaining our own integrity as a club; assess the current number of followers on various platforms and the current level of engagement (likes, shares, comments, etc); and integrate the information from meetings, newsletters, press releases, and the like with our day to day engagement activities. The goal of this
is to let people know that we are here and working for them everyday, not just during election seasons, and to connect with a vibrant, diverse community. This will also allow us to serve as an incubator for the candidates and campaign staff members of the future.
4. We will increase membership to 300 (from 236).
5. We will raise $7,000 through our spring fundraising annual appeal with 100 donors.
6. We will raise $3,000 at the August/September Crab Feast, assuming Covid restrictions are over.
7. We will present a 2021 budget for membership review. We began the year with a cash balance of $6,914. We project expenses of $4,800 and income of $12,800 (spring fundraising appeal and crab feast), for projected net
income of $8,000, and projected cash balance at year’s end of $14,914.
8. We will have a year-end cash-on-hand balance of $15,000. We will prioritize banking as much of those funds as possible—toward supporting local Democratic candidates in the 2022 election.
9. We will discuss purchasing a tent at the Tawes Crab and Clam Bake in July versus members purchasing individual tickets.
10. We will continue to invite representatives, respectively, from the City Council and County Council, to give 5-minute updates at each general membership meeting.
11. Once Covid restrictions are lifted, we will revive quarterly in-person meetings between Democratic elected officials. All club members will be invited to attend.
12. We will invite interesting and highly qualified speakers to our monthly meetings, and provide financial and membership reports at each.
13. We will conduct an in-house review of our financial records and share that report with the membership.
14. We will continue to prioritize support for county public school education and environmental issues.
15. We will conduct club elections for officers for 2022-23 in November.
16. We will host a Holiday Party in December.
Thanks for being part of a growing and energetic club.
Democratic Club of Wicomico County
E-newsletter
December 21, 2020
The Wicomico Democratic Club board of directors met Monday, December 14, via Zoom. Attending: Gains Hawkins, president; Ernie Gibb, second vice president; Kelsie Mattox, sergeant-at-arms; and Sandra Martin, corresponding secretary. Absent: Deborah Finkbeiner, recording secretary, and Keith Henry, treasurer. Special guest: Monica Lea, club member.
The club held its monthly general membership meeting on Wednesday, December 16, via Zoom. Tony Sarbanes shared memories of his brother, Senator Paul Sarbanes, who passed away December 6 at age 87. Tony gave a beautiful chronological narrative about his brother, growing up in Salisbury, going on to serve three terms in the U.S. House of Representatives and five terms in the U.S. Senate, and the family’s emphasis on community and political integrity. Other members shared their remembrances as well.
That night’s originally scheduled speaker, Anthony Field, Maryland campaign coordinator for the Chesapeake Climate Action Network, who was going to talk about the Eastern Shore natural gas pipeline, had a family issue come up and couldn’t make it. We hope to reschedule his presentation for January.
Treasurer’s Report (Keith Henry)
The club’s sole expenditure in November was $500 to Wicomico for Alex Scott. The checking account balance as of November 30 was $4,950.38; the savings account has $762.73; funds in the club’s PayPal account are $1,146.56; for total available cash on hand of $6,859.67.
Membership Report (Sandra Martin)
The club added 11 members to its Mailchimp email list, growing from 197 to 208. Gains needs to give Sandra a folder of new members with completed membership forms, filled out at Wicomico Democratic Headquarters this fall. Those additional names will further increase membership rolls.
Digital Outreach Strategy
Monica volunteered to develop a digital outreach strategy, working with Deborah, who manages the club web site, and Gains, who posts on the club Facebook page. Her goal is to make a presentation to the club at its January general membership meeting.
January General Membership Meeting (Jan. 20)
The meeting coincides with President Joe Biden’s Inauguration earlier in the day in Washington, D.C. The club meets at 7 p.m. via Zoom.
Gains will deliver a State of the Club report. That presentation will feature Keith discussing the club’s 2020 Financial Report including fundraising totals and expenditures in support of local and national candidates, and Sandra sharing the club’s considerable membership growth. Gains will review the club’s 2020 goals and how it fared, other accomplishments, and 2021 goals.
Gains will then announce the recipients of the 2020 Member of the Year Award and the 2021 President’s Award, a lifetime achievement award to a Wicomico Democrat.
For more information, contact Gains Hawkins at [email protected].
E-newsletter
December 21, 2020
The Wicomico Democratic Club board of directors met Monday, December 14, via Zoom. Attending: Gains Hawkins, president; Ernie Gibb, second vice president; Kelsie Mattox, sergeant-at-arms; and Sandra Martin, corresponding secretary. Absent: Deborah Finkbeiner, recording secretary, and Keith Henry, treasurer. Special guest: Monica Lea, club member.
The club held its monthly general membership meeting on Wednesday, December 16, via Zoom. Tony Sarbanes shared memories of his brother, Senator Paul Sarbanes, who passed away December 6 at age 87. Tony gave a beautiful chronological narrative about his brother, growing up in Salisbury, going on to serve three terms in the U.S. House of Representatives and five terms in the U.S. Senate, and the family’s emphasis on community and political integrity. Other members shared their remembrances as well.
That night’s originally scheduled speaker, Anthony Field, Maryland campaign coordinator for the Chesapeake Climate Action Network, who was going to talk about the Eastern Shore natural gas pipeline, had a family issue come up and couldn’t make it. We hope to reschedule his presentation for January.
Treasurer’s Report (Keith Henry)
The club’s sole expenditure in November was $500 to Wicomico for Alex Scott. The checking account balance as of November 30 was $4,950.38; the savings account has $762.73; funds in the club’s PayPal account are $1,146.56; for total available cash on hand of $6,859.67.
Membership Report (Sandra Martin)
The club added 11 members to its Mailchimp email list, growing from 197 to 208. Gains needs to give Sandra a folder of new members with completed membership forms, filled out at Wicomico Democratic Headquarters this fall. Those additional names will further increase membership rolls.
Digital Outreach Strategy
Monica volunteered to develop a digital outreach strategy, working with Deborah, who manages the club web site, and Gains, who posts on the club Facebook page. Her goal is to make a presentation to the club at its January general membership meeting.
January General Membership Meeting (Jan. 20)
The meeting coincides with President Joe Biden’s Inauguration earlier in the day in Washington, D.C. The club meets at 7 p.m. via Zoom.
Gains will deliver a State of the Club report. That presentation will feature Keith discussing the club’s 2020 Financial Report including fundraising totals and expenditures in support of local and national candidates, and Sandra sharing the club’s considerable membership growth. Gains will review the club’s 2020 goals and how it fared, other accomplishments, and 2021 goals.
Gains will then announce the recipients of the 2020 Member of the Year Award and the 2021 President’s Award, a lifetime achievement award to a Wicomico Democrat.
For more information, contact Gains Hawkins at [email protected].
Democratic Club of Wicomico County
E-newsletter
November 23, 2020
The Wicomico Democratic Club board of directors met Monday, November 16, via Zoom. Attending: Gains Hawkins, president; Ernie Gibb, second vice president; Keith Henry, treasurer; Kelsie Mattox, sergeant-at-arms; Deborah Finkbeiner, recording secretary; and Sandra Martin, corresponding secretary.
The club held its monthly meeting on Wednesday, November 18, via Zoom. The speakers were Salisbury University’s Dr. Harry Basehart, professor emeritus of the Department of Political Science, and Dr. Adam Hoffman, professor and chair of the Department of Political Science, who discussed the recent election from both national and local perspectives. Alex Scott, candidate for Wicomico County Council, District 2, and his campaign chair, Dave Layfield, shared insights about that campaign Details below from those speakers.
Also, Wicomico Board of Elections Director Anthony Gutierrez joined the meeting to talk about the unique challenges faced by his organization during a pandemic. There were over 40 participants.
Treasurer’s Report (Keith Henry)
The club began October with a cash balance of $9,598.47. Expenses (Biden/Harris yard signs, banners, bumper stickers, button and face masks) totaled $4665.80. Receipts plus bank account interest totaled $517.49. The savings account has $762.73 and the PayPal account has $1,146.56. Total available cash is $7,369.45.
Membership Report (Sandra Martin)
Since our last meeting, the club has grown from 197 members to 202. The club’s email list numbers 890 (which includes members and non-members); 45 percent of those receiving emails routinely open that club correspondence.
November Meeting Summary, National (Dr. Adam Hoffman)
Across Maryland, Joe Biden hit a home run with 1.9 million votes (65 percent) to Donald Trump’s 0.9 million (33 percent); 2 percent went to third-party candidates or write-ins.
In Wicomico County, Joe Biden scored higher than Democratic presidential candidates since Bill Clinton’s race in 1996, winning 22,054 votes (48 percent), losing to Donald Trump’s 22,944 (50 percent). President-elect Biden received 4,000 more votes than Hillary Clinton in 2016.
In the gerrymandered First Congressional District of Maryland, Republican Andy Harris easily defeated Democrat Mia Mason, 250,099 (64 percent) votes to 142,981 (36 percent). In Wicomico County Harris had 24,724 votes (54 percent) to Mason’s 20,552 (45 percent). Mason ran considerably better in Wicomico County than district-wide, but still short of a majority.
Final observation: In Wicomico County, Harris, ran ahead of his party’s presidential candidate by 1,780 votes. It’s likely a number of Harris voters decided to vote for someone other than the Republican presidential candidate. For the Democrats, it was reversed with Biden, running ahead of Mason by 1,502 votes. Here it’s likely some Biden voters decided to vote for Harris. We only know for sure that approximately 7 percent of the voters in each party voted a split ticket in these two races or voted in only one race and not the other.
November Meeting Summary, District 2 (Dave Layfield)
In the Alex Scott vs. incumbent Nicole Acle race:
The club meets on Wednesday, December 16, at 7 p.m., via Zoom. The speaker, Anthony Field (Maryland Campaign Coordinator, Chesapeake Climate Action Network & CCAN Action Fund, gives a presentation on the proposed natural gas pipeline project in Somerset County.
For more information, contact Gains Hawkins at [email protected].
E-newsletter
November 23, 2020
The Wicomico Democratic Club board of directors met Monday, November 16, via Zoom. Attending: Gains Hawkins, president; Ernie Gibb, second vice president; Keith Henry, treasurer; Kelsie Mattox, sergeant-at-arms; Deborah Finkbeiner, recording secretary; and Sandra Martin, corresponding secretary.
The club held its monthly meeting on Wednesday, November 18, via Zoom. The speakers were Salisbury University’s Dr. Harry Basehart, professor emeritus of the Department of Political Science, and Dr. Adam Hoffman, professor and chair of the Department of Political Science, who discussed the recent election from both national and local perspectives. Alex Scott, candidate for Wicomico County Council, District 2, and his campaign chair, Dave Layfield, shared insights about that campaign Details below from those speakers.
Also, Wicomico Board of Elections Director Anthony Gutierrez joined the meeting to talk about the unique challenges faced by his organization during a pandemic. There were over 40 participants.
Treasurer’s Report (Keith Henry)
The club began October with a cash balance of $9,598.47. Expenses (Biden/Harris yard signs, banners, bumper stickers, button and face masks) totaled $4665.80. Receipts plus bank account interest totaled $517.49. The savings account has $762.73 and the PayPal account has $1,146.56. Total available cash is $7,369.45.
Membership Report (Sandra Martin)
Since our last meeting, the club has grown from 197 members to 202. The club’s email list numbers 890 (which includes members and non-members); 45 percent of those receiving emails routinely open that club correspondence.
November Meeting Summary, National (Dr. Adam Hoffman)
- Compared to other elections during the past 20 years, Biden’s margin of victory over Trump ranks somewhere in the middle.
- The U.S. has not seen voter turnout this high (67%) since 1908.
- Biden’s victory in states such as Pennsylvania as well as Trump’s win of Florida was due to a small number of voters in important swing counties.
- When it comes to voting blocks, Trump’s loss is most attributable to the decline in support from both non-college and college educated white men.
November Meeting Summary, Local (Dr. Harry Basehart)
Across Maryland, Joe Biden hit a home run with 1.9 million votes (65 percent) to Donald Trump’s 0.9 million (33 percent); 2 percent went to third-party candidates or write-ins.
In Wicomico County, Joe Biden scored higher than Democratic presidential candidates since Bill Clinton’s race in 1996, winning 22,054 votes (48 percent), losing to Donald Trump’s 22,944 (50 percent). President-elect Biden received 4,000 more votes than Hillary Clinton in 2016.
In the gerrymandered First Congressional District of Maryland, Republican Andy Harris easily defeated Democrat Mia Mason, 250,099 (64 percent) votes to 142,981 (36 percent). In Wicomico County Harris had 24,724 votes (54 percent) to Mason’s 20,552 (45 percent). Mason ran considerably better in Wicomico County than district-wide, but still short of a majority.
Final observation: In Wicomico County, Harris, ran ahead of his party’s presidential candidate by 1,780 votes. It’s likely a number of Harris voters decided to vote for someone other than the Republican presidential candidate. For the Democrats, it was reversed with Biden, running ahead of Mason by 1,502 votes. Here it’s likely some Biden voters decided to vote for Harris. We only know for sure that approximately 7 percent of the voters in each party voted a split ticket in these two races or voted in only one race and not the other.
November Meeting Summary, District 2 (Dave Layfield)
In the Alex Scott vs. incumbent Nicole Acle race:
- Wicomico District 2 is the largest geographic County Council district in Wicomico and is a very “red” district with only 33 percent of voters registered as Democrats.
- The 2020 presidential election turnout for District 2 was the lowest in the last four presidential cycles at 77.2 percent.
- Scott lost to Acle by only 782 votes, a margin of 6.9 points.
- The average margin of victory for a Republican in District 2 for the last three cycles has been 33.9 points, meaning Scott shaved 27 points off of the Republicans' traditional lead.
- Democrats voted early through mail-in ballots. Scott received 68.4 percent of mail-in ballots received by October 19. Overall, he received 65.8 percent of all mail-in ballots. Of voters who voted by mail, 51.1 percent were Democrats while 31.3 percent were Republicans.
The club meets on Wednesday, December 16, at 7 p.m., via Zoom. The speaker, Anthony Field (Maryland Campaign Coordinator, Chesapeake Climate Action Network & CCAN Action Fund, gives a presentation on the proposed natural gas pipeline project in Somerset County.
For more information, contact Gains Hawkins at [email protected].
Democratic Club of Wicomico County
E-newsletter
October 26, 2020
The Wicomico Democratic Club board of directors met Monday, October 19, via Zoom.
Attending: Gains Hawkins, president; Ernie Gibb, second vice president; Keith Henry, treasurer;
Kelsie Mattox, sergeant-at-arms; and Deborah Finkbeiner, recording secretary. Absent: Sandra
Martin, corresponding secretary.
The club held its monthly meeting on Wednesday, October 21, via Zoom. The speakers were
Lori Brewster, health officer for Wicomico and Somerset counties, who discussed Wicomico
County’s current Covid-19 situation, and Maryland’s senior U.S. Senator, Ben Cardin, who
encouraged club members to remain energetic in our support of Democratic candidates in the
upcoming election. There were over 40 participants.
Treasurer’s Report (Keith Henry)
The club has $4,933 in its checking account; $1,146 in its Paypal account; and $763 in its
savings account. The club has spent $4,666 this fall on Biden/Harris yard signs, buttons, bumper
stickers, banners and facemasks. The Treasurer’s Report was approved by the board of directors.
Membership Report (Sandra Martin)
At our last report the club had 115 members; currently we have 197 members, an increase of 82.
The majority of those new members completed club membership forms when picking up yard
signs at Democratic Headquarters. 52 members have been processed into Mailchimp (the club’s
email marketing service), but 27 were already subscribers in Mailchimp and their applications
have been updated to show they are members and not just subscribers. The other 25 were new to
the database. We have an additional 30 applications to process into Mailchimp.
Our Mailchimp audience increased from 834 to 870 and subscribers increased from 578 to 603.
According to Mailchimp, 55 percent of our audience is often engaged (2 percent increase), 10
percent are engaged sometimes (6 percent decrease) and 28 percent are rarely engaged (1 percent
increase). The Membership Report was approved by the board of directors.
Wicomico Democratic Headquarters Report (Gains Hawkins)
The Headquarters (209 E. Market St., Salisbury) has been staffed 9 a.m.-5 p.m. each weekday
since opening Monday, September 7. The club has given away some 1,200 Biden and
Biden/Harris yard signs, 500 Biden/Harris facemasks and hundreds of Biden and Biden/Harris
bumper stickers and buttons. The club has also given away hundreds of Mia Mason and Alex
Scott yard signs. Many thanks go to Dave Layfield and Tom Ayd for donating the Headquarters
office space. Also recognition goes to the following club members who took shifts at
Headquarters: Sharon Walsh, Monica Lea, Kelsie Mattox, Mary Huebner, George Demko, Greg
Townsend, City Councilwoman Angela Blake, Lennart Elmlund, Deb and Kel Nagel, Bob and
Winona Hocutt, Dan Savoy, Barry King, Keith Henry, Susan Gordon, Ernie Gibb, Deborah
Finkbeiner, Mary Ashanti and Robin Ritchie.
Phone Banking
Want to make phone calls in support of Joe Biden or local Democratic candidates? Contact
Justin Butler, Maryland Democratic Party’s regional organizing director on the Eastern Shore, at
[email protected]
.
November Club Meeting
Dr. Harry Basehart, political science professor emeritus at Salisbury University, and Dr. Adam
Hoffman, professor and chair of the SU Political Science Department, will provide a wrap-up of
the November 3 election at the club’s November 18, 7 p.m., monthly meeting (Zoom information
to come). Joining them will be Wicomico Board of Elections Director Anthony Gutierrez to talk
about the unique challenges faced by his department during the 2020 election.
For more information, contact Gains Hawkins at [email protected]
.
E-newsletter
October 26, 2020
The Wicomico Democratic Club board of directors met Monday, October 19, via Zoom.
Attending: Gains Hawkins, president; Ernie Gibb, second vice president; Keith Henry, treasurer;
Kelsie Mattox, sergeant-at-arms; and Deborah Finkbeiner, recording secretary. Absent: Sandra
Martin, corresponding secretary.
The club held its monthly meeting on Wednesday, October 21, via Zoom. The speakers were
Lori Brewster, health officer for Wicomico and Somerset counties, who discussed Wicomico
County’s current Covid-19 situation, and Maryland’s senior U.S. Senator, Ben Cardin, who
encouraged club members to remain energetic in our support of Democratic candidates in the
upcoming election. There were over 40 participants.
Treasurer’s Report (Keith Henry)
The club has $4,933 in its checking account; $1,146 in its Paypal account; and $763 in its
savings account. The club has spent $4,666 this fall on Biden/Harris yard signs, buttons, bumper
stickers, banners and facemasks. The Treasurer’s Report was approved by the board of directors.
Membership Report (Sandra Martin)
At our last report the club had 115 members; currently we have 197 members, an increase of 82.
The majority of those new members completed club membership forms when picking up yard
signs at Democratic Headquarters. 52 members have been processed into Mailchimp (the club’s
email marketing service), but 27 were already subscribers in Mailchimp and their applications
have been updated to show they are members and not just subscribers. The other 25 were new to
the database. We have an additional 30 applications to process into Mailchimp.
Our Mailchimp audience increased from 834 to 870 and subscribers increased from 578 to 603.
According to Mailchimp, 55 percent of our audience is often engaged (2 percent increase), 10
percent are engaged sometimes (6 percent decrease) and 28 percent are rarely engaged (1 percent
increase). The Membership Report was approved by the board of directors.
Wicomico Democratic Headquarters Report (Gains Hawkins)
The Headquarters (209 E. Market St., Salisbury) has been staffed 9 a.m.-5 p.m. each weekday
since opening Monday, September 7. The club has given away some 1,200 Biden and
Biden/Harris yard signs, 500 Biden/Harris facemasks and hundreds of Biden and Biden/Harris
bumper stickers and buttons. The club has also given away hundreds of Mia Mason and Alex
Scott yard signs. Many thanks go to Dave Layfield and Tom Ayd for donating the Headquarters
office space. Also recognition goes to the following club members who took shifts at
Headquarters: Sharon Walsh, Monica Lea, Kelsie Mattox, Mary Huebner, George Demko, Greg
Townsend, City Councilwoman Angela Blake, Lennart Elmlund, Deb and Kel Nagel, Bob and
Winona Hocutt, Dan Savoy, Barry King, Keith Henry, Susan Gordon, Ernie Gibb, Deborah
Finkbeiner, Mary Ashanti and Robin Ritchie.
Phone Banking
Want to make phone calls in support of Joe Biden or local Democratic candidates? Contact
Justin Butler, Maryland Democratic Party’s regional organizing director on the Eastern Shore, at
[email protected]
.
November Club Meeting
Dr. Harry Basehart, political science professor emeritus at Salisbury University, and Dr. Adam
Hoffman, professor and chair of the SU Political Science Department, will provide a wrap-up of
the November 3 election at the club’s November 18, 7 p.m., monthly meeting (Zoom information
to come). Joining them will be Wicomico Board of Elections Director Anthony Gutierrez to talk
about the unique challenges faced by his department during the 2020 election.
For more information, contact Gains Hawkins at [email protected]
.
Democratic Club of Wicomico County
E-newsletter
September 12, 2020
The Wicomico Democratic Club board of directors met Thursday, September 3, via Zoom.
Attending: Gains Hawkins, president; Ernie Gibb, second vice president; Sandra Martin,
corresponding secretary; Keith Henry, treasurer; and Kelsie Mattox, sergeant-at-arms. Absent:
Deborah Finkbeiner, recording secretary.
The club resumed monthly meetings, via Zoom, on Wednesday, September 9. Some 30
participants listened to a presentation by Alex Scott, Democratic candidate for Wicomico County
Council, District 2, followed by a presentation by Wicomico Board of Elections Director Anthony Gutierrez and Deputy Director Dionne Church. Director Gutierrez recommended mail-in voting, but early voting and Election Day voting are available alternatives. For more information, go to the Wicomico Board of Elections web site at
https://www.wicomicocounty.org/132/Board-of-Elections
.
Treasurer’s Report (Keith Henry)
The club checking account balance as of August 31, 2020, was $9,171.51. Our savings account
balance was $762.44. Our PayPal account balance was $1,064.93. The Treasurer’s Report was
approved by the board of directors.
Fundraising Campaign Report (Keith Henry)
The campaign has received $8,137.15 from 88 donors as of September 9. The cost of our
fundraising mailer was $639.36. Net revenue from the campaign to date is $7,497.79.
Political Campaign Contributions (Gains Hawkins)
The club donated $250 to Alex Scott’s campaign as well as to the campaign of Democrat Mia
Mason, running for the U.S. House of Representatives, Maryland’s First District (opponent is
incumbent Andy Harris)..
Membership Report (Sandra Martin)
We currently have 129 members.
Wicomico Democratic Headquarters
Thanks to the donation of office space by local Democrats Dave Layfield and Tom Ayd, the club
is managing Wicomico Democratic Headquarters at 209 E. Market St., Salisbury. Hours of
operation thus far are Monday and Wednesday, 9-noon, and Tuesday and Thursday, 2-5.
However, a call for volunteers promises to expand those hours. Weekly hours of operation will
be announced via Facebook, Instagram and the club email list on Sundays through the election. A
ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday, September 16, at 5:15 p.m. The Wicomico
County Democratic Central Committee and the Wicomico Democratic Club are coordinating the
ribbon-cutting. Local Democratic elected officials are invited as well as the general public.
The HQ has Biden, Mason and Scott yard signs, as well as Biden bumper stickers. A shipment
of Biden/Harris yard signs is due by Friday, September 18.
Maryland Ballot Referendum Presentation
There are two referendum questions on the Maryland state ballot this year: Question 1 is the
Legislative Authority over State Budget Amendment; question 2 is the Sports Betting Expansion
Measure. Delegate Sheree-Sample Hughes, will discuss both at a special Democratic Club
Zoom meeting on Tuesday, September 22, at 6 p.m. We will send you the Zoom link this week.
Blue Wave a Big Success
We want to thank all those who participated in our Blue Wave event Friday, September 4, with
some 30 local Democrats waving Biden signs for two hours to motorists on their way to Ocean
City. Altogether there were over 160 Dems waving Biden signs from the Bay Bridge to OC.
Check out the photos on the club Facebook page. An article is in this week’s Salisbury
Independent.
Mia Mason Postcard Mailing
Club members volunteering at HQ will be mailing some 500 postcards to Wicomico Democrats
supporting Mia Mason’s campaign.
Phone Banking
Want to make phone call in support of Joe Biden or local Democratic candidates? Contact Justin
Butler, Maryland Democratic Party’s regional organizing director on the Eastern Shore, at
[email protected]
.
October Monthly Club Meeting
The next meeting of the Wicomico Democratic Club is on Wednesday, October 21, at 7 p.m. via
Zoom. The speaker is Lori Brewster, health officer for Wicomico and Somerset counties. She
will give us an update on the Covid 19 pandemic. A Zoom link will be set to our email list in
advance of the meeting.
For more information, contact Gains at [email protected]
.
E-newsletter
September 12, 2020
The Wicomico Democratic Club board of directors met Thursday, September 3, via Zoom.
Attending: Gains Hawkins, president; Ernie Gibb, second vice president; Sandra Martin,
corresponding secretary; Keith Henry, treasurer; and Kelsie Mattox, sergeant-at-arms. Absent:
Deborah Finkbeiner, recording secretary.
The club resumed monthly meetings, via Zoom, on Wednesday, September 9. Some 30
participants listened to a presentation by Alex Scott, Democratic candidate for Wicomico County
Council, District 2, followed by a presentation by Wicomico Board of Elections Director Anthony Gutierrez and Deputy Director Dionne Church. Director Gutierrez recommended mail-in voting, but early voting and Election Day voting are available alternatives. For more information, go to the Wicomico Board of Elections web site at
https://www.wicomicocounty.org/132/Board-of-Elections
.
Treasurer’s Report (Keith Henry)
The club checking account balance as of August 31, 2020, was $9,171.51. Our savings account
balance was $762.44. Our PayPal account balance was $1,064.93. The Treasurer’s Report was
approved by the board of directors.
Fundraising Campaign Report (Keith Henry)
The campaign has received $8,137.15 from 88 donors as of September 9. The cost of our
fundraising mailer was $639.36. Net revenue from the campaign to date is $7,497.79.
Political Campaign Contributions (Gains Hawkins)
The club donated $250 to Alex Scott’s campaign as well as to the campaign of Democrat Mia
Mason, running for the U.S. House of Representatives, Maryland’s First District (opponent is
incumbent Andy Harris)..
Membership Report (Sandra Martin)
We currently have 129 members.
Wicomico Democratic Headquarters
Thanks to the donation of office space by local Democrats Dave Layfield and Tom Ayd, the club
is managing Wicomico Democratic Headquarters at 209 E. Market St., Salisbury. Hours of
operation thus far are Monday and Wednesday, 9-noon, and Tuesday and Thursday, 2-5.
However, a call for volunteers promises to expand those hours. Weekly hours of operation will
be announced via Facebook, Instagram and the club email list on Sundays through the election. A
ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday, September 16, at 5:15 p.m. The Wicomico
County Democratic Central Committee and the Wicomico Democratic Club are coordinating the
ribbon-cutting. Local Democratic elected officials are invited as well as the general public.
The HQ has Biden, Mason and Scott yard signs, as well as Biden bumper stickers. A shipment
of Biden/Harris yard signs is due by Friday, September 18.
Maryland Ballot Referendum Presentation
There are two referendum questions on the Maryland state ballot this year: Question 1 is the
Legislative Authority over State Budget Amendment; question 2 is the Sports Betting Expansion
Measure. Delegate Sheree-Sample Hughes, will discuss both at a special Democratic Club
Zoom meeting on Tuesday, September 22, at 6 p.m. We will send you the Zoom link this week.
Blue Wave a Big Success
We want to thank all those who participated in our Blue Wave event Friday, September 4, with
some 30 local Democrats waving Biden signs for two hours to motorists on their way to Ocean
City. Altogether there were over 160 Dems waving Biden signs from the Bay Bridge to OC.
Check out the photos on the club Facebook page. An article is in this week’s Salisbury
Independent.
Mia Mason Postcard Mailing
Club members volunteering at HQ will be mailing some 500 postcards to Wicomico Democrats
supporting Mia Mason’s campaign.
Phone Banking
Want to make phone call in support of Joe Biden or local Democratic candidates? Contact Justin
Butler, Maryland Democratic Party’s regional organizing director on the Eastern Shore, at
[email protected]
.
October Monthly Club Meeting
The next meeting of the Wicomico Democratic Club is on Wednesday, October 21, at 7 p.m. via
Zoom. The speaker is Lori Brewster, health officer for Wicomico and Somerset counties. She
will give us an update on the Covid 19 pandemic. A Zoom link will be set to our email list in
advance of the meeting.
For more information, contact Gains at [email protected]
.
Democratic Club of Wicomico County
E-newsletter, 2nd Edition
July 21, 2020
The Wicomico Democratic Club board of directors met Friday, July 17, in Keith Henry’s back yard, wearing masks and socially distanced. Attending: Gains Hawkins, president; Ernie Gibb, second vice president; Sandra K. Martin, corresponding secretary; Keith Henry, treasurer; and Kelsie Mattox, sergeant-at-arms. Absent: Deborah Finkbeiner, recording secretary.
Treasurer’s Report (Keith Henry)
Keith reported the club has a checking account balance of $4,115.62 and a savings account balance of $762.44 for total cash available of $4878.06. For more details (expenses and receipts), contact Keith at [email protected]. The board unanimously approved the Treasurer’s Report.
Membership Report (Sandra Martin)
We have 111 members. We have added seven members since March. Sandra is continually working to clean up our email list.
Fundraising Appeal (Gains Hawkins)
Minuteman mailed 494 fundraising letters to club members and friends of the club on Friday, July 17. Cost of the mailing was $599.61.
The club sent or posted email, Facebook and Instagram appeals on Saturday, July 18.
Tawes Crab and Clam Bake (Ernie Gibb)
This year’s Tawes Crab and Clam Bake was rescheduled from mid-July to Wednesday, October 14. Last year the club teamed with Worcester County Democratic clubs and its Central Committee to purchase a tent with tables and chairs to accommodate 40 people. Additional expenses (beer, and condiments) . Cost was almost $5,000 and included 40 tickets (20 per Wicomico and Worcester) to sell at $50 each to recoup our investment. Worcester is unable to team with us this year due to the pandemic’s impact of its fundraising efforts. The board of directors felt our club would be unable to sell 30 tickets (this year’s allocation per tent) and unanimously voted to not participate as a club this year. Club members can, of course, go to the Tawes web site (https://www.crisfieldevents.com/clambake) to purchase individual tickets. Post-pandemic, the club hopes to partner with Worcester next year and purchase a tent.
In-person Club Meetings (Gains)
The board decided not to resume in-person meetings at Salisbury Art Space until indoor meetings are deemed safe by the CDC and the State of Maryland.
Holiday Party (Gains)
Keith will contact the Salisbury Art Space to determine if it is possible to hold our annual holiday party there in December. The party will only be held if CDC and State of Maryland protocols support indoor gatherings.
Zoom Meetings (Gains)
The club has supported some very successful Zoom meetings recently, including with Wicomico County Council members Bill McCain and Josh Hastings (some 40 participants) and U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (some 45 participants).
We invite members to suggest future guests for Zoom meetings. In the works are efforts to arrange Zooms with Julia Glanz (Acting Mayor of Salisbury) and Jack Heath (president of Salisbury City Council), an environmental speaker, a U.S. Census representative and the Wicomico Board of Elections (in of August or beginning of September).
Election Day
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, and will be conducted in person, with precinct level polling locations open on Election Day and various early voting locations open throughout Maryland.
The Maryland State Board of Elections (BOE) will automatically mail an absentee ballot application (not your actual ballot, as was done in the primary) to the address that it has on file for you. You may also request an absentee ballot online by October 27. You can check which address the Wicomico BOE has on file for you at http://www.wicomicocounty.org/132/Board-of-Elections.
If you need to register to vote or update your current address, you must do so by Tuesday, October 13. Or you may exercise your right to “same day” register and vote during the early voting period and on Election Day.
If you are unable to vote by mail, you must vote in-person during the early vote period or on Election Day at your designated polling location in your jurisdiction.
For more information, contact Gains at [email protected]
Meetings: 3rd Wednesday of each month at 6:30 p.m., Salisbury Art Space, 212 W. Main Street, #101, Salisbury, MD 21801 (Meetings cancelled now due to Covid-19)
E-newsletter, 2nd Edition
July 21, 2020
The Wicomico Democratic Club board of directors met Friday, July 17, in Keith Henry’s back yard, wearing masks and socially distanced. Attending: Gains Hawkins, president; Ernie Gibb, second vice president; Sandra K. Martin, corresponding secretary; Keith Henry, treasurer; and Kelsie Mattox, sergeant-at-arms. Absent: Deborah Finkbeiner, recording secretary.
Treasurer’s Report (Keith Henry)
Keith reported the club has a checking account balance of $4,115.62 and a savings account balance of $762.44 for total cash available of $4878.06. For more details (expenses and receipts), contact Keith at [email protected]. The board unanimously approved the Treasurer’s Report.
Membership Report (Sandra Martin)
We have 111 members. We have added seven members since March. Sandra is continually working to clean up our email list.
Fundraising Appeal (Gains Hawkins)
Minuteman mailed 494 fundraising letters to club members and friends of the club on Friday, July 17. Cost of the mailing was $599.61.
The club sent or posted email, Facebook and Instagram appeals on Saturday, July 18.
Tawes Crab and Clam Bake (Ernie Gibb)
This year’s Tawes Crab and Clam Bake was rescheduled from mid-July to Wednesday, October 14. Last year the club teamed with Worcester County Democratic clubs and its Central Committee to purchase a tent with tables and chairs to accommodate 40 people. Additional expenses (beer, and condiments) . Cost was almost $5,000 and included 40 tickets (20 per Wicomico and Worcester) to sell at $50 each to recoup our investment. Worcester is unable to team with us this year due to the pandemic’s impact of its fundraising efforts. The board of directors felt our club would be unable to sell 30 tickets (this year’s allocation per tent) and unanimously voted to not participate as a club this year. Club members can, of course, go to the Tawes web site (https://www.crisfieldevents.com/clambake) to purchase individual tickets. Post-pandemic, the club hopes to partner with Worcester next year and purchase a tent.
In-person Club Meetings (Gains)
The board decided not to resume in-person meetings at Salisbury Art Space until indoor meetings are deemed safe by the CDC and the State of Maryland.
Holiday Party (Gains)
Keith will contact the Salisbury Art Space to determine if it is possible to hold our annual holiday party there in December. The party will only be held if CDC and State of Maryland protocols support indoor gatherings.
Zoom Meetings (Gains)
The club has supported some very successful Zoom meetings recently, including with Wicomico County Council members Bill McCain and Josh Hastings (some 40 participants) and U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (some 45 participants).
We invite members to suggest future guests for Zoom meetings. In the works are efforts to arrange Zooms with Julia Glanz (Acting Mayor of Salisbury) and Jack Heath (president of Salisbury City Council), an environmental speaker, a U.S. Census representative and the Wicomico Board of Elections (in of August or beginning of September).
Election Day
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, and will be conducted in person, with precinct level polling locations open on Election Day and various early voting locations open throughout Maryland.
The Maryland State Board of Elections (BOE) will automatically mail an absentee ballot application (not your actual ballot, as was done in the primary) to the address that it has on file for you. You may also request an absentee ballot online by October 27. You can check which address the Wicomico BOE has on file for you at http://www.wicomicocounty.org/132/Board-of-Elections.
If you need to register to vote or update your current address, you must do so by Tuesday, October 13. Or you may exercise your right to “same day” register and vote during the early voting period and on Election Day.
If you are unable to vote by mail, you must vote in-person during the early vote period or on Election Day at your designated polling location in your jurisdiction.
For more information, contact Gains at [email protected]
Meetings: 3rd Wednesday of each month at 6:30 p.m., Salisbury Art Space, 212 W. Main Street, #101, Salisbury, MD 21801 (Meetings cancelled now due to Covid-19)
Wicomico Democratic Club
E-newsletter
June 23, 2020
Welcome to the second edition of the Democratic Club of Wicomico County’s second newsletter. Since May the most consuming and alarming issue uniting club members has been rejection of Sheriff Mike Lewis’ Second Amendment Sanctuary resolution. Club members sent dozens of letters calling on Wicomico County Council members to oppose the resolution outright or table the issue until council meetings can be attended live without social distancing. Following a rally by the Watchmen Ministerial Alliance at First Baptist Church in Salisbury on Monday, Sheriff Lewis pulled the resolution from consideration at the next day’s council meeting. Council members Josh Hastings, Ernie Davis and Bill McCain as well as Del. Sheree Sample-Hughes (District 37A) played pivotal roles in Lewis’ decision, as did other local groups (Wicomico County chapter of the NAACP, Lower Shore Progressive Caucus, PUSH4Education, Wicomico Truth and Reconciliation Initiative, Salisbury Lynching Memorial Task Force, Salisbury Junior Chamber of Commerce and Moms Demand Action). But as all the local elected Democrats observed at the end of the week, this issue will return. We will need to be well organized in combined efforts with other groups to thwart the next attempt to pass the gun sanctuary resolution.
Meeting of the Board of Directors
The board met Friday, June 19, via Zoom. In attendance were Gains Hawkins, president; Ernie Gibb, second vice president; Sandra Martin, corresponding secretary; Keith Henry, treasurer; and Kelsie Mattox, sergeant-at-arms.
Crab Feast
The annual club Crab Feast, our major fundraising event of the year, is canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. It had been scheduled for Sunday, August 30, at Schumaker Park Pavilion.
The cancellation means our annual fundraising appeal (postal and email) takes on added importance. The Crab Feast raised some $3,000 annually. We’ll ask club members to consider increasing their yearly donation in lieu of the one-year hiatus of the Crab Feast.
Annual Fundraising Appeal
Expect to receive letters and emails announcing the fundraising campaign in early July. While our expenses have been limited this year due to the coronavirus, we hope to be paying monthly rent on our Salisbury Art Space meeting place soon, as well as contribute toward Wicomico Democratic Headquarters this fall. Additionally, the club wants to build its war chest for the 2022 local elections, and, of course, fund any local efforts to defeat Trump.
In-person Club Meetings
We hope to resume in-person meetings at Salisbury Art Space on Wednesday, September 17. All depends on the virus.
Zoom Meetings
We had two well attended Zooms, on June 1 with Maryland U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen, and Thursday night with Wicomico County Council members Bill McCain and Josh Hastings. We were pleased to be joined by Del. Sample-Hughes.
If you have suggestions for future Zoom guests or topics, please contact us.
Treasurer’s Report
The treasurer’s report was presented by Keith Henry. The current balance in our checking account is $4,197.54. The current balance in savings is $762.16. There was minimal activity in both accounts last month. The treasurer’s report was approved by the board.
Membership Report
The membership report was presented by Sandra Martin. According to Mail Chimp, we have 833 contacts and 581 subscribers including 100 members. We are currently cleaning up the data base, confirming and fixing email addresses.
Notification of Protests, Rallies
We will notify members via email and Facebook of any protest marches and rallies regarding the Black Lives Matter movement in the region. Please send us information to share with the club membership.
In Closing
Do you have questions about the club or items in this newsletter? Contact Gains Hawkins, Dem Club president, at [email protected], or 410-603-6677.
Go Dems!
For more information contact Gains Hawkins, President WDC at [email protected]
Meetings: 3rd Wednesday of each month at 6:30 p.m., Salisbury Art Space, 212 W. Main Street, #101, Salisbury, MD 21801
E-newsletter
June 23, 2020
Welcome to the second edition of the Democratic Club of Wicomico County’s second newsletter. Since May the most consuming and alarming issue uniting club members has been rejection of Sheriff Mike Lewis’ Second Amendment Sanctuary resolution. Club members sent dozens of letters calling on Wicomico County Council members to oppose the resolution outright or table the issue until council meetings can be attended live without social distancing. Following a rally by the Watchmen Ministerial Alliance at First Baptist Church in Salisbury on Monday, Sheriff Lewis pulled the resolution from consideration at the next day’s council meeting. Council members Josh Hastings, Ernie Davis and Bill McCain as well as Del. Sheree Sample-Hughes (District 37A) played pivotal roles in Lewis’ decision, as did other local groups (Wicomico County chapter of the NAACP, Lower Shore Progressive Caucus, PUSH4Education, Wicomico Truth and Reconciliation Initiative, Salisbury Lynching Memorial Task Force, Salisbury Junior Chamber of Commerce and Moms Demand Action). But as all the local elected Democrats observed at the end of the week, this issue will return. We will need to be well organized in combined efforts with other groups to thwart the next attempt to pass the gun sanctuary resolution.
Meeting of the Board of Directors
The board met Friday, June 19, via Zoom. In attendance were Gains Hawkins, president; Ernie Gibb, second vice president; Sandra Martin, corresponding secretary; Keith Henry, treasurer; and Kelsie Mattox, sergeant-at-arms.
Crab Feast
The annual club Crab Feast, our major fundraising event of the year, is canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. It had been scheduled for Sunday, August 30, at Schumaker Park Pavilion.
The cancellation means our annual fundraising appeal (postal and email) takes on added importance. The Crab Feast raised some $3,000 annually. We’ll ask club members to consider increasing their yearly donation in lieu of the one-year hiatus of the Crab Feast.
Annual Fundraising Appeal
Expect to receive letters and emails announcing the fundraising campaign in early July. While our expenses have been limited this year due to the coronavirus, we hope to be paying monthly rent on our Salisbury Art Space meeting place soon, as well as contribute toward Wicomico Democratic Headquarters this fall. Additionally, the club wants to build its war chest for the 2022 local elections, and, of course, fund any local efforts to defeat Trump.
In-person Club Meetings
We hope to resume in-person meetings at Salisbury Art Space on Wednesday, September 17. All depends on the virus.
Zoom Meetings
We had two well attended Zooms, on June 1 with Maryland U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen, and Thursday night with Wicomico County Council members Bill McCain and Josh Hastings. We were pleased to be joined by Del. Sample-Hughes.
If you have suggestions for future Zoom guests or topics, please contact us.
Treasurer’s Report
The treasurer’s report was presented by Keith Henry. The current balance in our checking account is $4,197.54. The current balance in savings is $762.16. There was minimal activity in both accounts last month. The treasurer’s report was approved by the board.
Membership Report
The membership report was presented by Sandra Martin. According to Mail Chimp, we have 833 contacts and 581 subscribers including 100 members. We are currently cleaning up the data base, confirming and fixing email addresses.
Notification of Protests, Rallies
We will notify members via email and Facebook of any protest marches and rallies regarding the Black Lives Matter movement in the region. Please send us information to share with the club membership.
In Closing
Do you have questions about the club or items in this newsletter? Contact Gains Hawkins, Dem Club president, at [email protected], or 410-603-6677.
Go Dems!
For more information contact Gains Hawkins, President WDC at [email protected]
Meetings: 3rd Wednesday of each month at 6:30 p.m., Salisbury Art Space, 212 W. Main Street, #101, Salisbury, MD 21801
Democratic Club of Wicomico County
E-newsletter
May 18, 2020
Welcome to the inaugural E-Newsletter for the Democratic Club of Wicomico County. Born out of the isolation caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, this monthly communication vehicle will share discussions and decisions that come out of the club’s monthly board meetings. It will also feature submissions by local elected Democrats. This month, Salisbury City Council President Jack Heath and Wicomico County Councilman Bill McCain write about their priority issues. However, all Democratic politicians are invited to participate. Also this month, Justin Butler of the Maryland Democratic Party cites the need for more volunteers to make calls to fellow Dems prior to the June 2 Maryland Primary. The Democratic Club has over 100 members and 500 people on our email list; the vast majority vote and most make financial contributions and/or volunteer for local Democratic candidates. In other words, Wicomico Democratic Club members are an active political constituency that craves political information. If you have political information you would like to share, send it to Club President Gains Hawkins at [email protected].
Wicomico Democratic Party Board Meeting, May 17, 2020 (via Zoom)
Treasurer’s Report See report by Treasurer Keith Henry attached to this email. Not reflected in the report is the recent purchase of a new club banner, designed by member Debi Rus, and display unit ($214.12). The unit was paid for by an anonymous club member. The new display unit will give the club a much more attractive, professional representation at events open to political party presentations.
44th Annual J. Millard Tawes Crab and Clam Bake It has been rescheduled for Wednesday, October 14. The board will determine if the club will rent space again this year at the June board meeting. Member feedback before the board meeting is appreciated.
Club Crab Feast A decision to hold the annual event currently scheduled for Sunday, September 27, will be re-evaluated in June. The club has the event site, the Schumaker Park Pavilion, reserved for that date, but county officials may not authorize its use for public gatherings on that date. Also, club members may be wary of attending. If the site is available as of mid-June, the club will reach out to members to gauge interest in attending the fundraiser.
Volunteer Phone Bank Many members have been making calls to newly registered Wicomico Democrats, who were previously Republicans or Independents. The purpose of the calls is to advise/remind voters about the upcoming June 2 Maryland Primary and the change to a primarily mail-in ballot. See more below from Justin Butler.
Fundraising Appeal Last year our annual fundraising appeal was mailed in May. We have delayed the appeal this year because we didn’t want to compete with charities and non-profits raising money for Covid-19 victims and healthcare workers. (Note, the Wicomico Democratic and Republican clubs made a joint $2,000 gift to the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore’s Covid-19 Emergency Response Fund last month.) The board anticipates a summer fundraising appeal.
Democratic National Convention Delegates Candidates to represent Maryland’s First District at the National Democratic Convention are on the Primary ballot. They can share their reasons to secure members’ votes by submitting a document to [email protected]; it will be sent to club members via email.
Zoom Meetings The club has hosted three Zoom meetings in the past month. On April 29 the club hosted Maryland First District House of Representatives candidates Mia Mason and Jen Pingley. There were 34 participants. On May 6, Anthony Gutierrez and Dionne Church of the Wicomico Board of Elections met with 17 club members. On May 14, Del. Sheree Sample-Hughes (District 37A and Speaker Pro Tem), addressed 21 club members.
Census 60.3% of Wicomico residents have completed and returned the census survey. That compares to 63.5% statewide. If you have not completed the census, please do so. Questions? Go to: https://www.wicomicocounty.org/699/Census-2020
Comments by Political Leaders
Jack Heath, Salisbury City Council President The City Council has been conducting meetings (work sessions and legislative meetings) via Zoom. These meetings are transmitted live on PAC 14. The Zoom meeting information can be found on the city website (https://salisbury.md/citizen-services/city-council). We have had the first reading of the 2021 budget. There will be a session at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, May 19, for final adjustments. The second and final reading and approval of the budget is scheduled for Tuesday, May 26. There will be no increase in the tax rate or water & sewer rate. We recently passed a resolution authorizing Mayor Day to enter into an agreement with the county to provide city water to the airport. We have seen a growing number of requests for annexation, and development activity is strong.
Bill McCain, Wicomico County Councilman The most noteworthy Wicomico County Council news is it recently passed two resolutions that will allow for a dedicated public water line to be extended to our regional airport. This may arguably be the most important economic development project for the county in the last two decades. Wicomico Dems should be proud of their representatives on the council concerning this project. Some council members were objecting to the project and preventing/delaying it from being placed on the agenda for a vote. Thanks to the cohesiveness of the three council Dems (Josh Hastings, Ernie Davis and myself), a majority vote prevailed and the citizens of Wicomico County will greatly benefit as a result. The council is currently in the midst of reviewing and discussing the submitted budget which has to be finalized in June. The timing and presence of Covid-19 presents a lot of unknowns regarding the county’s finances. The Executive Office prepared the budget prior to the Covid-19 outbreak. However, next year’s budget may be more challenging because that is where we will see the local economic impact of the virus. This year’s budget does not contain any big ticket items of particular notice. Education is typically what receives the most attention, but the Wicomico County Board of Education (WCBOE) has only asked for maintenance of effort funding. This is the minimum the county must fund WCBOE to receive state funds. We will keep you posted as the budget talks continue. One other item of interest is a proposal for Wicomico County to be a Second Amendment Sanctuary. Gun advocates have been pushing this very aggressively and it is likely to be placed on the council’s agenda. Your voices need to be expressed regarding this issue. Obviously, Wicomico County Council members do not determine the constitutionality of laws. This is carried out by the courts of the land and ultimately the Supreme Court. Regardless, I expect this to be hotly debated.
Salisbury Mayor Jake Day His daily Facebook briefings are “Must see TV.” https://salisburyindependent.net/salisbury-news/daily-mayor-tv-report-is-a-must-see-during-health-crisis/
Justin Butler, Maryland Democratic Party, Regional Organizing Director We have two weeks until June 2 Election Day and Maryland Democrats need your help to spread the word. Due to the pandemic, we are focusing on contacting Democratic voters in Wicomico through a virtual phone bank. To sign up and get going, simply follow this link and click get started. https://www.openvpb.com/vpb_bycode/909A83N-805447
If you haven't phone banked from home in the past, or if you just want a refresher, join my training, Saturday, May 23, from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83587209073
We believe that a gentle reminder can go a long way to boosting turnout, especially when voting has been made so easy for so many. We hope you'll join this effort. If you have any questions, call Justin at 410-829-6435.
Final Thoughts New York Times columnist David Brooks writes Friday: “Tim Dixon tells me that in his More in Common surveys, the share of Americans who feel they live in a divided society has fallen from 87 percent to 48 percent. Eighty-two percent now say we have more that unites us than divides us.” As unsettling as some television news images of people protesting stay-at-home orders, many waving Confederate flags, carrying guns and displaying Trump signs, the majority of Americans recognize the disciplined sacrifices that are necessary to hold our nation together during this crisis of our lifetime. Continue to do your part, stay safe, and be well.
The board of directors hopes this newsletter is useful. Any recommendations to improve this informational document are welcome. Send your comments to [email protected].
For more information contact Gains Hawkins, President WDC at [email protected]
Meetings: 3rd Wednesday of each month at 6:30 p.m., Salisbury Art Space, 212 W. Main Street, #101, Salisbury, MD 21801
E-newsletter
May 18, 2020
Welcome to the inaugural E-Newsletter for the Democratic Club of Wicomico County. Born out of the isolation caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, this monthly communication vehicle will share discussions and decisions that come out of the club’s monthly board meetings. It will also feature submissions by local elected Democrats. This month, Salisbury City Council President Jack Heath and Wicomico County Councilman Bill McCain write about their priority issues. However, all Democratic politicians are invited to participate. Also this month, Justin Butler of the Maryland Democratic Party cites the need for more volunteers to make calls to fellow Dems prior to the June 2 Maryland Primary. The Democratic Club has over 100 members and 500 people on our email list; the vast majority vote and most make financial contributions and/or volunteer for local Democratic candidates. In other words, Wicomico Democratic Club members are an active political constituency that craves political information. If you have political information you would like to share, send it to Club President Gains Hawkins at [email protected].
Wicomico Democratic Party Board Meeting, May 17, 2020 (via Zoom)
Treasurer’s Report See report by Treasurer Keith Henry attached to this email. Not reflected in the report is the recent purchase of a new club banner, designed by member Debi Rus, and display unit ($214.12). The unit was paid for by an anonymous club member. The new display unit will give the club a much more attractive, professional representation at events open to political party presentations.
44th Annual J. Millard Tawes Crab and Clam Bake It has been rescheduled for Wednesday, October 14. The board will determine if the club will rent space again this year at the June board meeting. Member feedback before the board meeting is appreciated.
Club Crab Feast A decision to hold the annual event currently scheduled for Sunday, September 27, will be re-evaluated in June. The club has the event site, the Schumaker Park Pavilion, reserved for that date, but county officials may not authorize its use for public gatherings on that date. Also, club members may be wary of attending. If the site is available as of mid-June, the club will reach out to members to gauge interest in attending the fundraiser.
Volunteer Phone Bank Many members have been making calls to newly registered Wicomico Democrats, who were previously Republicans or Independents. The purpose of the calls is to advise/remind voters about the upcoming June 2 Maryland Primary and the change to a primarily mail-in ballot. See more below from Justin Butler.
Fundraising Appeal Last year our annual fundraising appeal was mailed in May. We have delayed the appeal this year because we didn’t want to compete with charities and non-profits raising money for Covid-19 victims and healthcare workers. (Note, the Wicomico Democratic and Republican clubs made a joint $2,000 gift to the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore’s Covid-19 Emergency Response Fund last month.) The board anticipates a summer fundraising appeal.
Democratic National Convention Delegates Candidates to represent Maryland’s First District at the National Democratic Convention are on the Primary ballot. They can share their reasons to secure members’ votes by submitting a document to [email protected]; it will be sent to club members via email.
Zoom Meetings The club has hosted three Zoom meetings in the past month. On April 29 the club hosted Maryland First District House of Representatives candidates Mia Mason and Jen Pingley. There were 34 participants. On May 6, Anthony Gutierrez and Dionne Church of the Wicomico Board of Elections met with 17 club members. On May 14, Del. Sheree Sample-Hughes (District 37A and Speaker Pro Tem), addressed 21 club members.
Census 60.3% of Wicomico residents have completed and returned the census survey. That compares to 63.5% statewide. If you have not completed the census, please do so. Questions? Go to: https://www.wicomicocounty.org/699/Census-2020
Comments by Political Leaders
Jack Heath, Salisbury City Council President The City Council has been conducting meetings (work sessions and legislative meetings) via Zoom. These meetings are transmitted live on PAC 14. The Zoom meeting information can be found on the city website (https://salisbury.md/citizen-services/city-council). We have had the first reading of the 2021 budget. There will be a session at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, May 19, for final adjustments. The second and final reading and approval of the budget is scheduled for Tuesday, May 26. There will be no increase in the tax rate or water & sewer rate. We recently passed a resolution authorizing Mayor Day to enter into an agreement with the county to provide city water to the airport. We have seen a growing number of requests for annexation, and development activity is strong.
Bill McCain, Wicomico County Councilman The most noteworthy Wicomico County Council news is it recently passed two resolutions that will allow for a dedicated public water line to be extended to our regional airport. This may arguably be the most important economic development project for the county in the last two decades. Wicomico Dems should be proud of their representatives on the council concerning this project. Some council members were objecting to the project and preventing/delaying it from being placed on the agenda for a vote. Thanks to the cohesiveness of the three council Dems (Josh Hastings, Ernie Davis and myself), a majority vote prevailed and the citizens of Wicomico County will greatly benefit as a result. The council is currently in the midst of reviewing and discussing the submitted budget which has to be finalized in June. The timing and presence of Covid-19 presents a lot of unknowns regarding the county’s finances. The Executive Office prepared the budget prior to the Covid-19 outbreak. However, next year’s budget may be more challenging because that is where we will see the local economic impact of the virus. This year’s budget does not contain any big ticket items of particular notice. Education is typically what receives the most attention, but the Wicomico County Board of Education (WCBOE) has only asked for maintenance of effort funding. This is the minimum the county must fund WCBOE to receive state funds. We will keep you posted as the budget talks continue. One other item of interest is a proposal for Wicomico County to be a Second Amendment Sanctuary. Gun advocates have been pushing this very aggressively and it is likely to be placed on the council’s agenda. Your voices need to be expressed regarding this issue. Obviously, Wicomico County Council members do not determine the constitutionality of laws. This is carried out by the courts of the land and ultimately the Supreme Court. Regardless, I expect this to be hotly debated.
Salisbury Mayor Jake Day His daily Facebook briefings are “Must see TV.” https://salisburyindependent.net/salisbury-news/daily-mayor-tv-report-is-a-must-see-during-health-crisis/
Justin Butler, Maryland Democratic Party, Regional Organizing Director We have two weeks until June 2 Election Day and Maryland Democrats need your help to spread the word. Due to the pandemic, we are focusing on contacting Democratic voters in Wicomico through a virtual phone bank. To sign up and get going, simply follow this link and click get started. https://www.openvpb.com/vpb_bycode/909A83N-805447
If you haven't phone banked from home in the past, or if you just want a refresher, join my training, Saturday, May 23, from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83587209073
We believe that a gentle reminder can go a long way to boosting turnout, especially when voting has been made so easy for so many. We hope you'll join this effort. If you have any questions, call Justin at 410-829-6435.
Final Thoughts New York Times columnist David Brooks writes Friday: “Tim Dixon tells me that in his More in Common surveys, the share of Americans who feel they live in a divided society has fallen from 87 percent to 48 percent. Eighty-two percent now say we have more that unites us than divides us.” As unsettling as some television news images of people protesting stay-at-home orders, many waving Confederate flags, carrying guns and displaying Trump signs, the majority of Americans recognize the disciplined sacrifices that are necessary to hold our nation together during this crisis of our lifetime. Continue to do your part, stay safe, and be well.
The board of directors hopes this newsletter is useful. Any recommendations to improve this informational document are welcome. Send your comments to [email protected].
For more information contact Gains Hawkins, President WDC at [email protected]
Meetings: 3rd Wednesday of each month at 6:30 p.m., Salisbury Art Space, 212 W. Main Street, #101, Salisbury, MD 21801
