"Last Month" at the Political Committee Meeting

Read the notes, or if there is an available link click on it and read about what was discussed at a given political committee meeting.  

2008
• FROM March 18, 2008 POLITICAL COMMITTEE MEETING, JIMI'S IN ROYAL OAK

Held at Jimi’s in Royal Oak
Attending: Mitch Mitchell(chair),Hal Newnan, Richard Kuszmar,Tom Schultz,Gayle Bettega,Kevin Mc Gunagle,Gillian Talwar,Brad Wilson,Marie Wiegold, Lizz Newell, Ed McArdle,Mary Bogush
OLD BUSINESS-
We finalized Early endorsements for Congressional candidates. This included a spirited debate on the merits of Congressmen Levin and Dingell. This debate will be continued at the next meeting. The National Sierra Club is very concerned about this.
The suggestion was made by Marie to obtain a written reason why any of the Group Political Committee’s endorsements are rejected by any higher committee.
We discussed news on candidates who have filed for State Rep and County Commissioner races.
Brad brought news of a fundraiser for Sarah Roberts (D) in Macomb’s 24th. While we have not endorsed her, I sent a personal message to the Political Committee in regards to this. The fundraiser is in Lansing on Lobby Day so some people may be in town for it. If you can not make it, do not worry. There will be more opportunities to support this outstanding environmental candidate.
NEW BUSINESS-
We completed the County Commissioner questionnaires for Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties.
Marie and Gillian did a great job pulling the information together so that we had targeted issues for each county. The whole committee did a fine job of discussing each question at length and adding the finishing touches. It’s no secret that this committee is the pride of the Michigan Chapter and it is efforts like this that keep us held in high esteem. Outstanding work, all!!
We had a brief discussion about inviting guests to the next meeting. Perhaps Bernard Parker to fill us in on Wayne County happenings. I also have been trying to get Sarah Roberts in to see us. Fred Miller would also be good. The next meeting will be the calm before the 2008 election storm so we have an opportunity for issue education. What is everyone’s thoughts on this? Let me know.
Dates to remember:
April 15th – next SEMG Political meeting
May 13th- candidate filing deadline and 3rd Party declarations
June 10th- special County Commissioner questionnaire endorsement session at Jimi’s
Mitch Mitchell
SEMG Political Committee Chairperson

2008
• FROM FEBRUARY 19, 2008 POLITICAL COMMITTEE MEETING, JIMI'S IN ROYAL OAK

ATTENDING: Mitch Mitchell (Chair), Carol Izant, Ed McArdle, Kein McGunagle, Ann Kerwin, Gill Talwar, Hal Newnan, Richard Kuszmar, Gayle Bettega, Bev & Dave Wolf
Recall Updates: We discussed the crazy, convoluted upside-down world of recalls. The Marie Donigan recall language was rejected on appeal. Thankfully this one looks dead. Aldo Vagnozzi's is alive pending appeal. Steve Bieda's is alive but there doesn't seem to be any enthusiasm or strength to any of the recalls. We must stay vigilant but hopefully these all die slow deaths, for both parties.
Website: Hal Newnan gave us an update on his much needed attention to our website. He will be adding new items and information as needed including an edited version of these notes. Yea Hal!
Endorsement Sub-Committee: The Committee approved a group that will study State Representative questionnaires and give endorsement recommendations to the full Committee. The group includes the County volunteers Mitch, Lizz, Ed, Hal and Brad Wilson. Also included are Bev & Dave Wolf and Ann Kerwin. Thank you to all these people who will be doing a lot of work in the coming election cycle.
County Commission Endorsements will be done by the full Committee with Primary endorsements done in a special session on Tuesday June 10th.
Everyone received a copy of the Sierra Club Endorsement Criteria.
Congressional Endorsements: The Committee took votes on Sander Levin, Carolyn C Kirkpatrick, John Dingell and John Conyers. All of these candidates were previously endorsed. E-mail me if you want the results of the votes.
We also had a spirited debate on Early endorsing Gary Peters. The results of all these votes were passed along to the Group Ex-Comm.
In our announcements, Ed told of a mass transit summit hosted by Congresswoman Carolyn C Kirkpatrick. It will be held on March 3 at Wayne State Community Arts Center. Time is 9am-2am. Please contact Rodney Johnson at 313-965-9004 for more information.

2007
• May, Mitch Mitchell, Chair (.pdf)

2006
• January by Jim Nash (.pdf)

2005
• January by Patti Smith (.pdf)
• February by Ed McArdle (.pdf)
• March by David L. Richards
• April by David Llewellyn

2004
• February by Jim Nash (Word doc.)
• March by Patti Smith (.pdf)
• April by Bev Wolf (.pdf)

2003
• November by Jim Nash (.pdf)
• October by Jean Gramlich (.pdf)