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Meeting notices, Progressive Candidates

PDB Meeting: September 11, 2018, 7PM

General meeting: Tuesday Sept. 11, 7:00 pm

Dona Benicia Room of the Benicia Library

Featured topic was Benicia School Board November election.  Candidates’ panel.

Message from Ralph Dennis, Chair
Sept. 4, 2018

Hello all…

This is an especially important meeting. We have invited all five candidates running for the three open Trustee seats on the Benicia Unified School District Governing Board (Benicia School Board). A panel discussion is scheduled, which will include lots of time for questions from members and others present.

At the conclusion of the panel discussion, PDB members will vote for any of the candidates – up to three – that PDB should endorse or otherwise support to be elected to the Benicia School Board.

Also on the program, just prior to the School Board panel, is a candidate for Benicia City Council – Bill Emes, Jr. He filed papers after our meeting last month and wasn’t on our City Council candidates program, so we’ve provided him some time at this meeting to share his thoughts and answer questions from the audience.

DON’T FORGET – you’ve got to be a member to vote for endorsements in the elections. So, if you think you’re ready to join, you can pay at the meeting and vote that night – only $20/year. Our membership is up to 76, and we’ve shown a steady growth over the past 15 months or so of organization. JOIN US!!!!

It should be an informative and helpful meeting, with significant information on upcoming elections, as the election season moves into full gear. Signs are up all over town!

Hope you are able to make it – SEPT. 11TH, 7:00 PM, BENICIA LIBRARY.  

Ralph E. Dennis
Chair, Progressive Democrats of Benicia

United Democrats of Southern Solano County

You’re invited: United Democrats of Southern Solano County’s annual BBQ

By Ralph Dennis
Event flyer – click for more info and printable PDF

The United Democrats of Southern Solano County’s annual BBQ event is just around the corner and you should put it down on your schedule right now! It’s being held on September 8 in Vallejo at the Norman King Community Center, 545 Magazine Street, Vallejo, CA, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.

Early bird tickets are $25. After August 31, tickets will be $35 each. Sponsorships are also available.  Tickets and Activity Info @ https://secure.actblue.com/donate/2018_bbq

In addition to all the good BBQ, salads, and sides, there will also be a silent auction of desserts and other activities. It’s also a fundraiser to support candidates in the upcoming November 6 elections.

An anonymous donor has provided a Progressive Democrats of Benicia sponsorship of this year’s BBQ as well. The United Democrats have been very supportive of PDB since our formation in the early, dark days of 2017, and the specific help of United Dems members Paula Bauer and Stephen Hallett all along PDB’s path has been instrumental in PDB’s efforts to present.

Thank you, Paula and Stephen!!!

The BBQ is always a fun event and the food is terrific. September 8th, 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. We encourage you to come, maybe you’ll meet some new Democrats and new friends!

Ralph E. Dennis
Chair, Progressive Democrats of Benicia

Benicia City Council, Christina Strawbridge, Endorsements, Kari Birdseye, November election, Solano County Board of Education

Vallejo Times-Herald on Progressive Dems endorsements

Repost from the Vallejo Times-Herald

Birdseye gets nod from Progressive Dems of Benicia

Staff report, 08/15/18, 4:55 PM PDT 

BENICIA >> The Progressive Democrats of Benicia have endorsed Kari Birdseye in her bid for a seat on the Benicia City Council.

The group’s membership voted on the endorsement during a membership meeting Tuesday night.

Birdseye is current chair of the city’s Planning Commission.

Fellow candidate and former Councilwoman Christina Strawbridge failed to secure the endorsement of the Progressive Democrats, group officials said.

Strawbridge, who served on the council from 2011 to 2016, is also a member of the Progressive Democrats of Benicia.

Two seats are open on the Benicia City Council this fall. Incumbents Mark Hughes and Alan Schwartzman are leaving the council after their terms end this year. Current Economic Development Board Chair Lionel Largaespada is also a candidate for a council seat.

Members further endorsed Dana Dean for the Solano County Board of Education Trustee Area 3. Dean was the only person to pull and submit candidacy paperwork prior to the Aug. 10 deadline. Thus, her contest was removed from the ballot and she was automatically re-elected to a new four-year term.

The election is Nov. 6.

For more information, visit progressivedemocratsofbenicia.com.