A letter of important updates from Mary-Sherman
Please click the following link to view the letter: https://www.rappdems.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/RCDC-2020-May-Letter-to-the-RCDC.pdf
The Presidential Race
Even though Joe Biden appears to be the presumptive Democratic Nominee, we have a long road ahead before it’s certain. After our Super Tuesday Primary, delegates go to the 5th District convention on May 9, and the State Conventions on June 20 to pick the delegates Virginia will send to the National Convention in Milwaukee on August 13.
This year both Virginia conventions will be held virtually.
The CD5 Convention on May 9 starts at 9AM. At 1PM, delegates will vote for 6 delegates to be National Delegates from Virginia.
To participate, register here:
https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/4953873135220740365
At the State Convention on June 20, delegates will pick 21 at-large National Delegates to go to the National Convention.
Save the Date for Our Virtual Candidates Forum on May 12!
The Rappahannock Democratic Committee invites you to a virtual forum for 5th District’s candidates for U.S. Congress.
Click the following link for the official press release with photos: https://www.rappdems.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/RCDC-CD5-Forum-Press-Release.pdf
When: Tuesday, May 12th, at 6 pm.
Where: Live Streaming on Facebook and YouTube
The forum will be moderated by Leslie Cockburn, former Democratic 5th District candidate.
RD Huffstetler grew up in North Carolina and served as a sergeant in the U. S. Marine Corp in both Iraq and Afghanistan. With a Harvard MBA, he went to work in Silicon Valley. He now lives in Charlottesville with his wife, an OB-GYN, and daughter. Looks forward to “solving the challenges of the future” and pledges to improve the economy of “every community” in the 5th District.
John Lesinski of Rappahannock County. A Marine Corps colonel and one-time president of the county school board, he served as a member of the county Board of Supervisors. Successful in commercial real estate, John lives with his wife Heidi in Washington, VA. He promises better access to health care and broadband in the many rural communities of the 5th District.
Claire Russo is a veteran of the U. S. Marine Corps who served in Iraq, and later as a civilian employee of the U. S. Army in Afghanistan. “I was trained,” says Claire, “to run toward the fight” and she plans to put that same determination to work for her constituents especially when it comes to affordable health care. Claire lives in Earlysville with her husband and their three children.
Cameron Webb, a UVA grad with degrees in law and medicine, Dr Webb is Director of Health Policy and Equity at UVA’s School of Medicine. He pledges that “Common sense and fairness” come first. Then promises to put health care front and center when he is in Congress. Webb lives in Charlottesville with his wife Leigh-Ann, an ER doctor, and their children.
Participate in the discussion.
Submit your questions for candidates at Chair@RappDems.org
For more information contact: Mary-Sherman Willis at 540/987-8912 or send her an email.
A LETTER TO THE RCDC MEMBERSHIP
April 8, 2020
Dear Rappahannock Democrats,
We missed seeing you at our last monthly get together, cancelled for COVID19. Unfortunately, we will miss you again. Our scheduled general meeting for April 11 is also cancelled to keep everyone distanced and safe, following Governor Ralph Northam’s recommendations. They came not a moment too soon. Sadly, our county reported its first confirmed case this week.
Distanced as we are, we have been busy and want to keep you informed of events in the coming months.
- County delegates to the district, state, and national Democratic conventions have until April 9 at 5 pm to send in their pre-filing forms to the DPVA (Democratic Party of Virginia).
Based on your votes on Super Tuesday, the county was allotted two delegates for Joe Biden and one for Bernie Sanders. Even though Bernie has dropped out of the race, his delegates will go to the conventions!
- To be a delegate to the 5th District Convention on May 9 and State Convention on Jun 20, click HERE for the form.
- To go on to the National Convention in August 17-20 in Milwaukee, click HERE to apply.
NOTE: Compared to other counties in the CD5, Rappahannock has had a great turnout of delegate applications! The DPVA has been accepting them all, for both candidates, to cover the shortfall in other counties.
NOTE: Because of the pandemic, the Party will decide, from moment to moment, whether to hold in-person or virtual conventions. The 5th District Convention will be held virtually. (Those details to come.)
- To find out more about delegate selection and duties, click HERE.
- The 5th District Congressional
Primary is scheduled for June 9. We are urging you to vote
absentee by mail. It’s easy and complies with our distancing practices.
- I’ve attached Registrar Kim McKiernan’s instructions and the deadlines to apply for and send in absentee ballots for the June Congressional Primary and November General elections.
NOTE: Mail-in voting is going to be crucial this year for getting out the vote! We’re planning phone banks, texts blasts, and socially distanced postcard parties to get the word out, and to help voters get their ballots in. We’ll need your help.
NOTE: We have four terrific candidates to run against Denver Riggleman in November: RD Huffstetler, John Lesinski, Claire Russo, and Cameron Webb. Instead of live forums to let voters meet the candidates, we’re coordinating with other 5th District committees to hold virtual forums in our localities. Ours is tentatively scheduled for May 12 at 6 pm, to be moderated by former candidate Leslie Cockburn. (Details to come.)
- RCDC fundraising has become one of the casualties of COVID19. Our April 4 Blue State Blue Grass Brunch and auction were cancelled. The Yard Sale in August may be too. While our expenses will go down, our income will too. As the season progresses, we’ll need to buy yard and highway signs, and campaign ads. We appreciate any donations you’re able to make along the way.
We want to thank everyone for your work and support, for stepping up even as our world is upended by this invisible threat wreaking such havoc to ourselves and our democracy. Thanks in particular to Ron Goodman, Tommy Bruce, Larry Wohlers, and Rachel Taylor for representing us as delegates to the State Convention (and beyond!).
Please send your questions and comments at maryswillis@me.com. We want to hear from you! Keep up with our news at www.RappDems.org and on our Facebook page.
Stay safe, stay engaged, and let us bring the light of Democratic competence and compassion into this dark time.
Mary-Sherman Willis
RCDC, Chair
Delegate Selection in the time of Covid-19
In the altered reality of COVID-19, the Democratic election picture is coming into focus! To get either Joe Biden or Bernie Sanders to the White House, Democrats have to nominate one or the other. Here are the steps ahead for us in Virginia:
First, we Rapp Dems have to our select delegates to represent either Bernie Sanders or Joe Biden to ultimately go to the National Democratic Convention. Rapp has been allocated one Biden delegate and one Biden alternate delegate (to fill in if needed), and one Bernie delegate. Now we have to pick those delegates.
In normal times, Rapp Dems step up to become delegates and we’d hold a caucus at the Library to elect them them. Because of restrictions brought on by COVID-19, this year we’ll hold a virtual caucus.
Here’s what you need to do:
If you want to be a delegate or alternate for Bernie or Biden, submit this pre-filing form to the Democratic Committee of Virginia by April 9. You’ll need to pledge to one candidate.
To participate in picking the delegates (and we hope EVERYONE will!), submit this form to the Democratic Committee by April 9.
After April 9, the DPVA will let us know who has applied to be a delegate and who wants to participate in selecting delegates.
Then on April 20 we will hold our virtual caucus. All registered participants will receive an emailed ballot, which they will email back to us. We then notify the winners and send our results back to the DPVA.
On May 9 is the 5th Congressional District Convention to whittle down the local delegates to those who will go to the State Convention. This will also be held virtually. (Details to come.)
June 9 is the State Convention, where delegates will be picked to go to the National Convention. Chances are good that we’ll have to find a way to hold a virtual convention.
July 13-16 is the National Convention.
The DPVA and DNC are working hard to make the nominating process safe, inclusive, and transparent. The situation is still fluid, but now is the time to get involved!
It’s never been easier!
Questions? Email chair@RappDems.org or call 540/987-8912
What’s Next? Important RCDC info
To all Rappahannock Democrats:
After Super Tuesday, there is still work to do to nominate a Democratic Presidential candidate to rid us of Donald Trump and his entire incompetent apparatus.
In spite of the chaos and upheavals of the past week, we are charting our course (with guidance from the Democratic Party of Virginia) to safely select delegates to send to the 5th District Nominating Convention on May 9, then on to the State Convention on June 20. From there, VA delegates will go to the National Convention in Milwaukee on July 13 to 16.
It’s still unclear what form these conventions will take, given the cancellations due to the coronavirus outbreak across the country. What we do know is that:
- Rappahannock County has been allotted 2 delegates and one alternate delegate to represent us on May 9.
- Each delegate may only pledge to either Bernie Sanders or Joe Biden.
- We will be holding an unassembled caucus to pick those delegates on Monday April 20 from 7:30 to 9:30 pm at the Rappahannock Library. This is like a typical voting experience: you’ll come to the library, present an ID, complete a form certifying that you are a Democrat registered to vote in the county, and fill out a ballot for one of a list of potential delegates. (Click here to open the call for caucus form)
- To run for delegate, fill out the pre-filing form (Click here to open and download the pre-filing form). You’ll be asked
- whether you want to be a delegate or an alternate (to fill in for a delegate unable to go to the convention), and
- to which candidate you’re pledging.
- You must submit the form to the committee by April 13 at 5 pm
- by mail at: RCDC, PO Box 277, Washington VA 22747
- by email to chair@RappDems.com
- in person to an officer of the RCDC.
Delegates will take part in one of the most important Democratic conventions in our history. IT COULD BE YOU!
Until then, enjoy the spring season in our beautiful county, and look for updates from us as they come along.
In solidarity,
Mary-Sherman Willis and the Rappahannock Democratic Committee