Cantwell in Vancouver to Highlight Impact of Rising Gas Prices on Vancouver Families and Businesses

Cantwell Calls for CFTC to Crack Down on Excessive Oil Speculation 

VANCOUVER, WA – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) held a press conference to highlight the impact of gas price increases on Vancouver-area families and businesses.  Cantwell called for federal agencies to crack down on excessive oil speculation that is driving the cost of gasoline higher for families in Vancouver and across the country.

The price of a regular gallon of gasoline in the Vancouver area has gone up over 15 cents in just the last month, and over 75 cents per gallon in the last year, burdening families, small businesses, and the region’s economic recovery.  

Cantwell discussed recent actions she’s taken to try and clamp down on higher gas prices at the pump. 

Her plan and her joint letter to the CFTC are linked here.

WHEN:          Wednesday, April 20, 2011 at 1:00 PM

WHERE:       Shell Gas Station
                           7107 NE Vancouver Mall Drive #A  MAP
                           Vancouver, WA 98661 

WHO:            .     U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA)

·         Mike Leboki, Co-Owner, Taylor Transport, Inc.

·         Todd Shaw, General Manager, Vancouver Oil Company

·         Diane McWithey, Executive Director, SHARE

                                                      M. Leboki, Sen. Cantwell, T. Shaw, D. McWithey

                                       M. Manning, Sen. Cantwell, P.Aller                  T. Harris, Sen. Cantwell

04/08/11 - State Representative Jim Jacks resigned his office on Friday March 25, 2011, for "family and personal reasons".  His replacement will be chosen by the Clark County Commissioners Board from a list of 3 nominees proposed by local Democratic Precinct Committee Officers.

The meeting at which candidates may put forth their candidacy and have 5 minutes to describe their qualifications and their platform, and at which the top three nominees will be chosen, will be on April 11, 2011 at the ILWU hall at 8:00 PM, after the regular Clark County Democratic Central Committe meeting.  Voting for the three (3) nominees will be by the 49th LD Elected PCO's.

Ratification voting on the nominees slate by Clark County Democrats will occur immediately after the selection voting.  All Clark County Democrats from the 15th, 17th, 18, and 49th LD's are encouraged to attend and observe the nominee selection process and to participate in the ratification vote.

About 45 PCO's and Democratic citizens attended a discussion meeting at the Carpenter's Hall Monday Mar 28 at 7:00 PM.  The processses and strategies surrounding the selection of nominees, and the final selection of the appointee, were reviewed at length, and providing some stimulating thoughts and comments.

Seven citizens of the 49th LD are being considered for the nomination on April 11.  The list-to-date of interested candidates is:

                                     
Additional citizens interested in the State Representative appointment may submit their intent to 49th LD Chair Mike Heywood by calling 360-771-0124, or email at mikewrit@hotmail.com.

A review board interviewing candidates was held Fri April 8, at 7:00 PM at the Teamster's/Labor Hall 2212 NE Andresen Rd.

Candidates will be introduced and mingle at the regular 49th LD Meeting on Sat April 9 at 10:00 AM at the Teamsters/Labor Hall.

Currently discussions are being held on whether it is prudent to delay the nomination vote date.

Freeholder positions for inclusion into the governance of Clark County with the Board of County Commissioners are being discussed. Informational meetings are being held:

The forums, all from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., will cover the same material:

March 10: La Center High School Commons, 725 N.E. Highland Road
March 24: Dollars Corner fire station, 21609 N.E. 72nd Ave.
April 7: Camas Library, Rooms A & B, 625 NE Fourth Ave.
May 5: Union High School Commons, 6201 NW Friberg-Strunk St., Camas

Another forum is tentatively planned for 7 to 9 p.m., April 20, at Washington State University Vancouver, 14204 N.E. Salmon Creek Ave.

More information about the home rule charter process is available at http://www.clark.wa.gov/bocc/home_rule/index.html.

                                                                                                                                        RAPT STUDENTS & INSTRUCTOR

A successful training session was held for about 20 people from Clark and Cowlitz, 17, 18, and 49th LD's,  All the local LD chairs came and the County Treasurer Doug Lasher.  It was well received.

Plans are underway to do a similar session in Longview on July 09, 2011.  Donna McLain is handling the logistical details.

The training session was followed by a discussion of how to roll volunteer activities and volunteer names into the 'My Campaign' section of VoteBuilder as a master reference with retention of local Excel availability. A workable system is expected, and work continues.   

The Young Democrats provided coffee and donuts for a small donation and it was appreciated.

________

VoteBuilder training will be held on Sat April 23 from 12:00 - 2:00 PM at the Longshoreman's Hall (ILWU Map).

The computer portion will be projected on the computer projection screen.  The internet will be available so attendees can follow along on their laptops. 

If you need a password update, or have suggestions for the session content, contact Pete Aller at imblu17@comcast.net

SENATOR PATTY MURRAY stopped by for a special meeting with the Clark County Democratic Central Committee Executive Committee and guests.  Staff included David Hodges and Ally Coll.  Subjects included a hearty thanks from the Senator for all the hard work done by all the Clark County Democrats toward her re-election. 

Other subjects included the organization and efforts required to re-elect President Obama in 2012.  Other races discusssed were that of Senator Maria Cantwell, and the Governor's seat.  On the local front, there are races for two County Commissioner seats and Legislative District Representative and Senatorial seats. 

In 2011, the levy for light rail maintenance is of tantamount importance to assure the presence of light rail on the Columbia River Bridge and the Bridge Project itself.

Party volunteer development, organization, OFA project integration, and voter identification are on the short-term agenda.

It was a relaxed, informative, and welcome meeting.


Pictured: Nick Ande (CCDCC Vice-Chair), Senator Murray and Dave Shehorn (18th LD Chair)

Since a replacement for a 49th LD Democratic Representative is being sought in Clark County, the following process for making such a replacement was found on website -

http://www.leg.wa.gov/LawsAndAgencyRules/Documents/12-2010-WAStateConstitution.pdf

This is the historic document describing the basic re-selection process.  The process has been altered through by changes in Party representation shifting from exclusively county to Legislative District representing population size.  Hence the voting body for an LD is that LD.  Much discussion has occurred on the eligibility of appointed PCO's to vote.  Bottom line - only the elected 49th LD PCO's will vote for the 3 nominees to replace Jim Jacks on Mon April 11, 2011. 

Washington Handling Legislative Vacancies, Amendment 52 (1968)

SECTION 15    VACANCIES IN LEGISLATURE AND IN PARTISAN COUNTY ELECTIVE OFFICE. Such vacancies as may occur in either house of the legislature or in any partisan county elective office shall be filled by appointment by the county legislative authority of the county in which the vacancy occurs: Provided, That the person appointed to fill the vacancy must be from the same legislative district, county, or county commissioner or council dis- trict and the same political party as the legislator or partisan county elective officer whose office has been vacated, and shall be one of three persons who shall be nominated by the county central committee of that party, and in case a majority of the members of the county legislative authority do not agree upon the appointment within sixty days after the vacancy occurs, the governor shall within thirty days thereaf- ter, and from the list of nominees provided for herein, appoint a person who shall be from the same legislative district, county, or county commissioner or council district and of the same political party as the legislator or partisan county elec- tive officer whose office has been vacated, and the person so appointed shall hold office until his or her successor is elected at the next general election, and has qualified: Provided, That in case of a vacancy occurring after the general election in a year that the office appears on the ballot and before the start of the next term, the term of the successor who is of the same party as the incumbent may commence once he or she has qualified and shall continue through the term for which he or she was elected: Provided, That in case of a vacancy occurring in the office of joint senator, or joint representative, the vacancy shall be filled from a list of three nominees selected by the state central committee, by appoint- ment by the joint action of the boards of county legislative authorities of the counties composing the joint senatorial or joint representative district, the person appointed to fill the vacancy must be from the same legislative district and of the same political party as the legislator whose office has been vacated, and in case a majority of the members of the county legislative authority do not agree upon the appointment within sixty days after the vacancy occurs, the governor shall within thirty days thereafter, and from the list of nominees provided for herein, appoint a person who shall be from the same legislative district and of the same political party as the legislator whose office has been vacated. [AMENDMENT 96, 2003 House Joint Resolution No. 4206, p 2819. Approved November 4, 2003.]
Governmental continuity during emergency periods: Art. 2 Section 42. Vacancies in county, etc., offices, how filled: Art. 11 Section 6.
Amendment 52, part (1967) — Art. 2 Section 15 VACANCIES IN LEGISLATURE AND IN PARTISAN COUNTY ELECTIVE OFFICE — Such vacancies as may occur in either house of the legislature or in any partisan county elective office shall be filled by appointment by the board of county commissioners of the county in which the vacancy occurs: Provided, That the person appointed to fill the vacancy must be from the same legisla- tive district, county or county commissioner district and the same political party as the legislator or partisan county elective officer whose office has been vacated, and shall be one of three persons who shall be nominated by the county central committee of that party, and in case a majority of said county commissioners do not agree upon the appointment within sixty days after the vacancy occurs, the governor shall within thirty days thereafter, and from the list of nominees provided for herein, appoint a person who shall be from the same legislative district, county or county commissioner district and of the same political party as the legislator or partisan county elective officer whose office has been vacated, and the person so appointed shall hold office until his successor is elected at the next general election, and shall have qualified: Provided, That in case of a vacancy occurring in the office of joint senator, or joint representative, the vacancy shall be filled from a list of three nominees selected by the state central committee, by appointment by the joint action of the boards of county commissioners of the counties com- posing the joint senatorial or joint representative district, the person appointed to fill the vacancy must be from the same legislative district and of the same political party as the legislator whose office has been vacated, and in case a majority of said county commissioners do not agree upon the appointment within sixty days after the vacancy occurs, the governor shall within thirty days thereafter, and from the list of nominees provided for herein, appoint a person who shall be from the same legislative district and of the same political party as the legislator whose office has been vacated. [AMENDMENT 52, part, 1967 Senate Joint Resolution No. 24, part; see 1969 p 2976. Approved November 5, 1968.]

Amendment 32 (1956) — Art. 2 Section 15 VACANCIES IN LEG- ISLATURE AND IN PARTISAN COUNTY ELECTIVE OFFICE — Such vacancies as may occur in either house of the legislature or in any par- tisan county elective office shall be filled by appointment by the board of county commissioners of the county in which the vacancy occurs: Provided, That the person appointed to fill the vacancy must be from the same legisla- tive district and the same political party as the legislator whose office has been vacated, and shall be one of three persons who shall be nominated by the county central committee of that party, and the person so appointed shall hold office until his successor is elected at the next general election, and shall have qualified: Provided, That in case of a vacancy occurring in the office of joint senator, or joint representative, the vacancy shall be filled from a list of three nominees selected by the state central committee, by appointment by the joint action of the boards of county commissioners of the counties composing the joint senatorial or joint representative district, the person appointed to fill the vacancy must be from the same legislative dis- trict and of the same political party as the legislator whose office has been vacated, and in case a majority of said county commissioners do not agree upon the appointment within sixty days after the vacancy occurs, the gover- nor shall within thirty days thereafter, and from the list of nominees provided for herein, appoint a person who shall be from the same legislative district and of the same political party as the legislator whose office has been vacated. [AMENDMENT 32, 1955 Senate Joint Resolution No. 14, p 1862. Approved November 6, 1956.]

Amendment 13 (1930) — Art. 2 Section 15 VACANCIES IN LEG- ISLATURE — Such vacancies as may occur in either house of the legisla- ture shall be filled by appointment by the board of county commissioners of the county in which the vacancy occurs, and the person so appointed shall hold office until his successor is elected at the next general election, and shall have qualified: Provided, That in case of a vacancy occurring in the office of joint senator, the vacancy shall be filled by appointment by the joint action of the boards of county commissioners of the counties composing the joint senatorial district. [AMENDMENT 13, 1929 p 690. Approved November, 1930.]
Original text — Art. 2 Section 15 WRITS OF ELECTION TO FILL VACANCIES — The governor shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies as may occur in either house of the legislature.

State of Washington Constitutional Amendment 52 was a legislatively-referred constitutional amendment to the Washington State Constitution. It was on the November 5, 1968 ballot in the State of Washington, where it was approved.

Amendment 52 amended Section 15 of Article II and Article XI, Section 6 of the Washington State Constitution. It was the 52nd amendment approved to the Washington State Constitution subsequent to its adoption in 1889.

At the River I Stand

At the River I Stand is a film honoring the 1968 Memphis Sanitation Workers Strike and the Assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King.  It will be shown hourly today April 04, 2011 at Clark College from 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM at PUB 161, Clark College AHE.

"Today is 43 years since [Martin Luther King] was shot in an ambush and killed in Memphis, Tenn.  Martin Luther King's last public actions were in defense of labor and union rights.

One wonders, then, what he would say of Wisconsin.

Or Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Florida, or any of the other places, where, like a contagion, the move to weaken or effectively outlaw unions has spread.  One wonders what he would make of a conservative governing ethos that now defines public employees - teachers, police officers, firefighters - as the enemy."*

Join others in the communinty by seeing this film today and rebuilding that sensitivity toward the right of collective bargaining, free speech, and gathering.

* Quoted from "Attacks on unions slap at King's work", by Leonard Pitts Jr, the Miami Herald & the Columbian, 04/04/11.