It’s happening, folks! The Standish Democratic Committee, of which I am currently the chair, is alive and thriving! We were so surprised and delighted last February to discover there were over 60 other like-minded souls in our town, that we were determined to keep the energy moving.
Recently, many of us reconvened and set our sights on the future. We agreed that we want to invest our time, energy and resources in assuring that our town is governed fairly, that we have a thriving, safe community and that we, as a community, invest in the future of Standish, the Lakes Region and Maine. There is a lot of work to do! Let me tell you about it, so you may become inspired to get more involved in your own town’s committee.
At our meeting, we learned how the Cumberland County Democratic Committee (CCDC) is organized and able to support our local efforts. First and foremost is identification of strong candidates for the 2006 elections, especially an enthusiastic and pro-active person to run for the 102nd District Seat in the Maine House of Representatives. But also, we are working to find candidates for openings on Town Council and the School Board, as well, aiming to improve the balance of representation in these municipal committees. If you or someone you know has any interest in exploring the possibility of making a run for an office, send an email to Paul Brunetti at house@mainedems.org. Keep in mind that Clean Elections Candidates are provided with $5,000 to run their campaign. Find out who is the chair of your town’s Democratic Committee at www.ccdcmaine.org, and ask when your next meeting is! And if you don’t find an active group in your town, then do as I did…call one!
At the last meeting of the CCDC, we heard from Jean Hay Bright, of Dixmont, who is already actively and effectively criss-crossing the state in her campaign for the U.S. Senate seat currently occupied by Olympia Snowe (www.jeanhaybright.us). We also learned of numerous projects, from updating the voter files to crafting the Democratic Platform to publishing the next issue of the Cumberland County Democrat. Our members are welcome to help with any of these very useful projects.
It was great, too, to hear from those present talking about the projects they are involved in. The Committee for Responsible Development is still working for fairness in addressing zoning issues in our village center. The Standish Historic Preservation Committee is actively trying to protect treasures in the town. Several groups are working on creating a beautiful garden for the Steep Falls Library and other public gardening projects. A representative from the Recreation Committee reported developing great programs for our senior citizens. And I reported on our efforts to minimize the damage from gravel pits between Route 35 and the Presumpscot River. Our town has a lot going on and all the projects could use help! Getting to know each other better in this way, we’ll be able to generate more active support for these projects.
So, please feel free to contact me at fair@lubauer.com to get connected with a project or to report what’s going on in your own town! Civic engagement is part of what makes the United States such a great country, and it is only through the efforts of organized citizens that our nation has advanced so far in realizing the aspirations in our Declaration of Independence and our Constitution.
Note: The next meeting of the Standish Democratic Committee is scheduled for Jan. 17, 2006, so you who are Standish Democrats should save that date!
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