Time to Get to Work

By Dorothy Wilkinson

Ready. Set. Go.

Vacation taken - check. Kids in school – check. Picnic over - check. 

Now we sprint to the finish line to elect our Westside candidates as well as Michelle Kavanaugh for county clerk and Tim Eichenberg as county treasurer on Nov. 5.

And we have our candidates for national office to help elect: Martin Heinrich as our senator and Melanie Stansbury as one of our representatives. 

But we also have two other very important races. We on the West Side and in the South Valley must re-elect Gabe Vasquez to represent us in the House of Representatives. We must help give control of the House to the Democrats. 

And most exciting of all, we have a chance to help elect the first woman president and defeat Donald Trump. We want to be part of that historic election. 

So let's roll up our sleeves and screw up our courage and call, canvass, text or write postcards for one or more of these candidates. 

It is not usual for individuals like you and me to have a profound effect on history. Voting is good – but on this day and at this time it is not enough. Each one of us must make a commitment to act in this historic time.

Ready. Set. Go



Young People Join Vasquez Campaign

by Peter Martin, Gabe Vasquez Campaign Organizer



We, as Democrats, must build a broad coalition of voters and volunteers to win our elections. With eyes on New Mexico’s second congressional district from across the country, this coalition must be robust and include people from all walks of life, different perspectives and all age ranges. At the Gabe Vasquez for Congress Campaign, we recognize this fact and resolve to work together with the diverse communities of CD-02 to build just such a coalition.

This mission has brought amazing people into the fold from all corners of the district. 

One group we’re particularly excited about is the Young Democrats of New Mexico. We’ve been coordinating with the organization to stage a Multigenerational Weekend of Action on Aug. 24 and 25. Our goal is to bring together activists of all generations to learn from each other and engage in canvassing or phone banking together. 

On Aug. 31, we will work with our younger volunteers to develop their skills and engage them in the campaign by hosting a Youth Professional Development Day. We will assemble as many young people as possible to give them an inside look in the campaign world. This Professional Development Day will take place about two weeks after the universities start back up, allowing us to work with students across the district.

This is the part where I ask for your help. If you, dear reader, have children or grandchildren who may be interested in getting involved in politics, I implore you to sit down with them and have a serious conversation. Persuade them to come out with you and knock on doors or make some phone calls. Make it a family event, and everyone will enjoy it even more. 

If your children or grandchildren enjoy their experience, we’d love to invite them to our Professional Development Day. We hope to see you at our Weekend of Action on Aug. 24 or 25! RSVP Today!



Let's Fight for Democracy in Our City

by Dorothy Wilkinson

On Aug. 5, the Albuquerque City Council voted to place an ordinance on the ballot in November to give voters a chance to support minority rule over majority rule. This vote came after an override to Mayor Tim Keller's veto of the original motion to place minority rule on the ballot this fall. The vote was five to four. 

This means we must fight for democracy right here in Albuquerque. A majority of the City Council does not believe in majority rule. So let's be prepared to add this issue as we canvass and call voters. An overwhelming number of speakers asked the council to reconsider their vote and vote for democracy. A majority of the council did not listen. So it is up to us once again to preserve democracy. This time in our town. 

Then it is time to support candidates for City Council who believe in majority rule and democracy. Elections will be held in 2025. If your counselor voted for minority rule maybe it is time for that person to be replaced.

Voting Deadlines

The presidential race and the race for New Mexico House and Senate and U.S. House and Senate is upon us. Below are some important dates.

September 21, 2024

• Electronic Transmission System (ETS) ballots are sent out to Federal Elector (FQE) voters.

October 8, 2024

• Clerks begin mailing absentee ballots to voters who have requested them. 
• Books close for online and paper registration. 
• Early voting and Same Day Registration (SDR) at the County Clerk's 

Annex begins Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

October 19 through November 2, 2024

• Early voting and SDR expand from Monday to Saturday. Most locations open at 10:00 a.m. and close at 7:00 p.m.

October 22, 2024

• Deadline for absentee applications to be received. Applications received after October 22 will be rejected, even if it is postmarked October 22.

  November 5, 2024   

• Election day from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Absentee ballots are due in the county clerk's office no later than 7:00 p.m. 

This information was copied from The Bernalillo County Clerk’s website.

WSD/KAMALA Joy in Our Time

by Linda G. Harris

"There’s also a time and a place for new voices, fresh voices, yes, younger voices. And that time and place is now.” So reads in part President Joseph Biden’s letter ending his run for a second presidential term. His decision capped the most eventful four weeks in recent political history. The dramatic turn began with Biden’s breath-taking failure in his June 27 debate with former President Donald Trump. On July 13 there was an assassination attempt on Trump’s life. A week later on July 21 Biden posted his fateful letter on social media. 

Democrats who had been in a state of despair since the debate, were stunned by the news. The next day Biden threw his support behind Vice President Kamala Harris for president. In general, people were shocked or relieved or a little sad. They regarded the president with genuine affection and admired him for a string of accomplishments unmatched in modern times. 

The president had enacted measures during the pandemic that helped get the nation moving again. He worked with Congress to invest in rebuilding the nation’s roads, bridges and airports. With bipartisan support, the Biden administration made the largest ever investment in green energy. Under his watch, public transit was upgraded, lead pipes were replaced, and communities in every state had greater access to clean water and high-speed internet. Businesses benefitted from a better trained workforce that included 11 million new jobs, 750,000 of those in manufacturing. Unemployment dipped to a 50-year low, as did the rate of violent crime nationwide. 

Biden’s hand-off energized a new generation eager for their voices to be heard. Party leaders nervously faced a shortened campaign season and debated the best way to select a new candidate. Poll numbers signaled a tightened race. Trump became grumpier and JD Vance immediately insulted women and their cats. 

Remarkably, Democrats are proving up to the job. Harris is everywhere. She’s on fire and she’s funny. She has demonstrated that behind that robust laugh is one tough prosecutor ready to take on the Felon.

Democrats haven’t felt this kind of joy since Barak Obama’s 2008 campaign. Pop culture absorbed the energy, and in a blink flooded the internet with light-hearted memes such as “brat summer” and “coconut tree” many of us don’t understand. But young people do and it’s their involvement we’ve been hoping for. 

Donors, large and small, opened their wallets wide. The Harris campaign raised $310 million in July. A group called White Dudes for Harris raised $4 million in a single day. Meanwhile, Trump and the hapless Vance keep rolling out well-worn insults (race, Harris’ laugh). 

They’re “weird.” (Look it up.)

While the campaign has proved entertaining, it takes more than a clever meme to win this election. Democrats still must depend on old-fashioned groundwork — making phone calls, writing post cards and door knocking — to get out the vote Nov. 5. (Early voting begins Oct. 8 at the clerk’s annex and Oct. 19 countywide.) Democrats make it easy to volunteer, just sign up online at nmdemocrats.org/volunteer. Kamala Harris, already the official nominee, will be formally elected at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago Aug. 19 to 22. 

Our time is now — time to work, time to vote and all in good time, to celebrate. 

SOURCES

“Harris campaign says it raised $310 million in July fundraising surge,” Washington Post, Aug. 4, 2024.

“The Biden-Harris Record,” The White House, https://www.whitehouse.gov/therecord, Aug. 1, 2024.

“Harris steps into the limelight. And the coconut trees and memes have followed,” Associated Press, July 23, 2024.



You Are Invited to Attend Executive Committee Meetings

 As a member of WSD you are invited to attend This Executive Committee Meetings. The Executive Council meets on the first Monday of each month at 1:00 on zoom. If you wish to attend, request a link at info@westsidedems.org