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(In alphabetical order) PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATS:
May 10, 2008, email from Mervis Reissig,
Congressional District Point National Coordinator, Progressive Democrats of America, Chair, Endorsement Committee, Progressive
Democrats Los Angeles, Executive Board, Westside Progressives to Marilee Montgomery. Reproduced here with Mervis'
permission:
" I'm sorry to hear that there are people in Sonoma County who are intimidating Supervisorial
Candidates, in particular, and likely others, so the Casino is not talked about as an issue in this election.
It's a shame that people thwart the democratic process instead of allowing the issues to be openly discussed so
people can make up their own minds. Unfortunately, until we are able to vote in CLEAN MONEY, dollars will
speak louder than values, and people with money will try to have undue influence on our elections. As you know, I came
out against the Casino when I ran for Supervisor against Mike Kerns in 2006. What you may not know is that
I originally supported the Casino. I am not in favor of legislating morals, so the gambling issue is not
an issue for me. And, as a Democratic, I have fought for Native American rights many times in my lifetime.
I do think it's a commentary on the continuing racism in this country that relegates Native American prosperity
to one small sector of our economy. When I became aware of the severe water
problem in Sonoma County is when I realized how bad an idea the Casino is for our area. I recognize that
we have to balance environmental issues against economic growth in the region, and as a Progressive Democrat, I believe there
are ways we can accomplish that if we all sit down at the table. But it is really unwise for all our futures
to allow a development with Federal water rights, which will trump all other water rights – both residential
and commercial – should water ever get to the point of rationing, which it already has in two Sonoma County cities.
Further, I believe it is the responsibility of our local elected officials to get involved
in Federal issues – whether it's stopping the Casino or ending the Iraq War, because people in Sonoma County
are affected by these issues!
As you know, I'm
not currently living in Sonoma County, but I do stay involved with Progressive Democrats Sonoma County. They
have Endorsed Candidates in this election, and while I can't tell you whether or not they've asked the specific Casino
question, I can tell you that they have asked all candidates the hard questions about the environment and our specific water
issues and development in the County. Based on these endorsements, I can suggest to your group that they
would be voting for the protection of the Commons in Sonoma County if they follow the Endorsement Recommendations of PDSC
with regard to the Supervisors' races:
District 1
Will Pier
District 3
Shirley Zane / or / Veronica Jacobi (dual endorsement) District 5 Rue Furch
Keep up the good work! Getting the facts out to the citizens is important!
Regards,
Mervis Reissig
Sonoma County Republican Party
Anti-Casino Pledge Announcement Emailed May 6, 2008
On April 1, 2008, the
Sonoma County Republican Party mailed an anti-casino pledge to all of the current members of the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors,
as well as all of the candidates now seeking to be elected to the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors.
In
past months, the Sonoma County Republican Party has passed a Resolution opposing the proposed casino development in Rohnert
Park. We support the non-partisan efforts of “Stop the Casino 101” and other groups and individuals opposed to
this backroom deal.
The Sonoma County Republican Party also came out against Propositions 94-97, even when
the California Republican Party came out in favor of the Schwarzenegger favored compacts with Indian Tribes, which allow for
more casino developments in California and promise to open the floodgates in the future.
Most recently,
the Sonoma County Republican Party has denounced the decision of the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors to deny an advisory
vote of the people.
As Sonoma County Republican Party Chairman Michael Erickson remarks:
“The Board claims that this is a federal prerogative and that an advisory vote will be a waste of tax dollars. That
is bogus. We all know that if the federal government wanted to install some sort of military weapons installation in the heart
of Sonoma County, the local community, and their elected representatives, would find ample ways to stall that effort.”
Michael Erickson also remarks on this same issue:
“Sadly, too many local politicians,
both Republicans and Democrats alike, are rolling over on the casino issue. While they claim that they oppose it, they shrug
their shoulders and state that they cannot do anything about it. In fact, they are looking forward to the revenue and are
willing to throw aside our cultural and environmental future to get their hands on it.”
Results of the mailing of the Sonoma County Republican Party Anti-Casino Pledge
We
gave the members of the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors and the current candidates a month to respond. Here are the only
respondents to date:
Tom Lynch, Democrat – Candidate in the 5th Supervisor District
David Reber, Republican – Candidate in the 1st Supervisor District
Lawrence Wiesner, Republican –
Candidate in the 1st Supervisor District
We want to thank these courageous candidates for taking a stand
against the casino and for the vast majority of Sonoma County citizens who have voiced their opposition to this or similar
casino developments.
We urge the rest to come on board; and we urge our fellow voters to take this into
their consideration when they vote in future elections. Regardless of their party registration, those members or candidates
who fail to sign should be held accountable at the polls.
Original Text of the Sonoma
County Republican Party Anti-Casino Pledge
SONOMA COUNTY REPUBLICAN CENTRAL COMMITTEE
NONPARTISAN PLEDGE ON CASINO DEVELOPMENT
AND EXPANSION IN SONOMA COUNTY
I, ___________________________________________, the candidate for/member of the
Your Name as Registered to Vote
Sonoma County Board of Supervisors, do pledge and affirm that:
•
I will not seek, nor will I accept, any financial contributions or services in kind to my campaign and its fund accounts from
any organization or individual who represents, speaks for, lobbies for, or otherwise is substantially connected with the gambling
and/or the casino industry, including any Indian tribal organization which is presently engaged in promotion or the operation
of any form of gambling enterprise.
• I support the right of the citizens of Sonoma County under
the First Amendment of the United States Constitution to redress by petition their grievances against their government in
the form of a plebiscite vote on the question of public support for the building of new casinos and the expansion of existing
casinos in Sonoma County to be placed on the general ballot for the November 4, 2008, election.
Attested and signed at ________________________________,
City and State
on this _______________
day of _________________________ , 2008.
______________________________________________________
Signature
______________________________________________________
Street Address
______________________________________________________
City, State, ZIP
Sincerely,
Michael Erickson, Chairman
Sonoma County Republican
Party
532 College Avenue, Suite 3
Santa Rosa, CA 95404
707-542-7066
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Sonoma County Republican Party
Emailed
May 7, 2008
Endorsements and Statement of Preference for the June 2008 election
Sonoma County Board of Supervisor Contests
1st Supervisor District:
The Sonoma County Republican Party proudly endorses Lawrence Wiesner for the 1st Supervisor District in the
June 2008 election.
3rd Supervisor District:
The Sonoma County Republican
Party has no preference from among the several non-Republicans running in the 3rd Supervisor District in the June 2008 election.
5th Supervisor District:
The Sonoma County Republican Party prefers Tom Lynch,
from among the several non-Republicans running in the 5th Supervisor District in the June 2008 election.
Please
note that a “Statement of Preference” is reserved for a non-Republican only where there is no Republican running
in the same race. It is not the same as the full endorsement, which we may provide for a Republican. We acknowledge that there
will be some positions taken by a non-Republican, which indeed may be at odds with the core principles of the Sonoma County
Republican Party. Nevertheless, we desire to provide guidance for our own voters, where we are able to do so. Later, we intend
to publish a more declarative statement on why we have chosen to provide now this “Statement of Preference” for
Tom Lynch.
Statewide Propositions
Proposition 98: The
Sonoma County Republican Party does not offer any statement separate from the California Republican Party on this particular
proposition. Thus, we urge a YES vote.
Proposition 99: The Sonoma County Republican Party
does not offer any statement separate from the California Republican Party on this particular proposition. Thus, we urge a
NO vote.
Sincerely,
Michael Erickson, Chairman
Sonoma County Republican
Party
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