FROM OUR CHAIR SEAN PARSONS
Hey Everyone,
We are in that final push leading up to the November election! I’m so proud to be associated with all of you who have given so much time and energy over these last few months on all of the important issues here in Ohio. There is no way this gets done without all of you.
We had a successful dinner Thursday night. OPD chairwoman Walters recently joined us in our office to kick off canvassing. Billboards are up. Postcards are written. We’re set to finish strong because of the work you all are committed to doing.
Please join us at the Pigskin on election night to celebrate your work and our victories!
– Sean
NOVEMBER 7 – ELECTION DAY
Be sure to vote for Josh Thomas, Democrat, for Athens City Treasurer by writing in his name.
Vote YES on Issue 1! The Athens Dems have been focused on the passage of Issue 1 -– all hands on deck! As the Vote No campaign has spread lies and mistruth to confuse voters, in Athens County and across the state we are working to educate voters about Issue 1. We are canvassing, sending out postcards, phone banking, distributing yard signs, posting to social media, and spreading the word at community events. Each of you can talk with family, friends and neighbors to urge them to vote YES this November.
Thanks to Ann Moneypenny for the billboards urging the passage of Issue 1 (photo below). Thanks to Wenda Sheard, Ari Faber, Solveig Spjeldnes, and Jennifer, Tanya, and Nicole Conrath for helming the Vote Yes booth at the Athens Farmers Market (photo above).
ISSUE 1 – FULL TEXT
The state’s summary of Issue 1 does not reflect the actual wording of the amendment. The summary on the ballot is actually longer than the amendment itself.
So here is the FULL TEXT of Issue 1:
Be it Resolved by the People of the State of Ohio that Article 1 of the Ohio Constitution is amended to add the following Section:
Article 1, Section 22. The Right to Reproductive Freedom with Protections for Health and Safety
- Every individual has a right to make and carry out one’s own reproductive decisions, including but not limited to decisions on:
- contraception;
- fertility treatment;
- continuing one’s own pregnancy;
- miscarriage care; and
- abortion.
- The State shall not, directly or indirectly, burden, penalize, prohibit, interfere with, or discriminate against either:
- an individual’s voluntary exercise of this right or
- person or entity that assists an individual exercising this right, unless the State demonstrates that it is using the least restrictive means to advance the individual’s health in accordance with widely accepted and evidence-based standards of care. However, abortion may be prohibited after fetal viability. But in no case, may such an abortion be prohibited if in the professional judgement of the pregnant patient’s treating physician it is necessary to protect the pregnant patient’s life or health.
- As used in this Section:
- “Fetal viability” means “the point in a pregnancy when, in the professional judgement of the pregnant patient’s treating physician, the fetus has a significant likelihood of survival outside the uterus with reasonable measures. This is determined on a case-by-case basis.”
- “State” includes any governmental entity and any political subdivision.
- This Section is self-executing.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR!
Nov 4 & 5 – Table outside the courthouse to inform people on Issue 1
Nov 6 – Mail-in ballots postmarked by Nov 6; drop off at BOE by Nov 7 at 7:30 pm
Nov 7 – Election Day
November 19 – Sewing Bee, 3:00 – 5:00 pm at 74 E. State St.
December 9 – Pack food boxes, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm at SE Ohio Foodbank
December 16 – Litter pick up, 8:30 – 10:30 am for Adopt a Highway
December 22 – Holiday cards delivery to nursing homes
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Tabling – The Athens Board of Elections will be open for voting over the weekend of November 4 and 5. Let’s remind people to vote! We will have a table set up outside the courthouse to answer questions on Issue 1. We still have volunteer slots available. Sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/508054AA4A82FABF49-45377223-getout
Canvassing – Talking to voters at their homes is the most effective method to reach voters! The research supports this. Please join us in canvassing. Come to the office or contact Doug Debrick or Andrea Reik.
Phone Banking – Contact Andrea Reik for a link to call from your home.
Yard Signs – We still have yard signs! Come in or we can deliver. They are not effective sitting in the office! We have planted yard signs throughout the county as well as neighboring counties.
FALL DINNER A SUCCESS!
Thank you to everyone who donated funds, time, dinner, pies, and raffle prizes – you made our Fall Fundraising Dinner a success! The lasagna was delicious.
And thank you to our inspiring speakers! Ruben Lopez, of the OU College Dems, shared a beautiful story of feeling connected to community in Athens, his adopted home, as he hails from Puerto Rico. Amesville Mayor Gary Goosman inspired us with his passion for his village’s contributions to the regional, state, and even national green-energy movement – Amesville is a leader at the forefront! Jerrad Christian introduced himself as our 2024 congressional candidate, and spoke candidly of his experiences growing up poor in Athens county, and how life led him down a path of military service and now, public service. Keynote speaker and local physician Dr. Lucy Bucher impressed upon us the importance of really listening to her patients’ needs, meeting them where they’re at, and working collaboratively to solve a constellation of interconnected problems – as we all must do to solve our country’s problems.
FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER
OFFICE HOURS
Office house are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 1 – 4 pm and Saturday 10 am – 12 pm. Stop by for yard signs or to learn more about the issues.
COMMITTEE UPDATES
Community Service Committee – Chair Janalee Stock
We are coming up on the season of gratitude and giving, and have several activities planned to embrace those words (see dates and times above, under Volunteer Opportunities). If you’ve not participated in an activity, but are interested, please email Janalee for important details.
- Sewing Bee – You don’t have to have to sew to help, as there’s cutting, measuring, and tagging to do as we up-cycle feed sacks into shopping bags for Athens Rethinks Plastics.
- Pack food boxes at South East Ohio Foodbank.
- Litter pick up on Route 550 for Adopt A Highway.
- Write holiday cards for nursing home residents – Let’s start writing cards now, with a goal of delivering 300 cards on December 22.
Fundraising Committee – Chair Kate McGuckin
A big THANK YOU to all our sponsors that made the Fall Fundraising Dinner such a huge success!
Communication Committee – Chair Ashley Sarver
THANK YOU, many times over, to our talented intern this past summer and fall, Julianna Rittenberg, who elevated ACDP’s social media presence to the next level – and has been an absolute joy to work with.
As Julianna’s internship is ending soon after the November election, we’re seeking a new Communication Committee Intern to begin by January, ideally continuing on through the 2024 election cycle. The role is a wonderful opportunity to gain real-world social media management experience – a chance to design and execute a social media strategy on behalf of ACDP! If you know of any capable and interested students (college or high school) please encourage them to contact Ashley Sarver to learn more about the opportunity.
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
The Athens County Democratic Party newsletter is a great way to stay informed about events, candidates and ballot issues. Sign-up to receive a copy of our e-newsletter each month.
CONTRIBUTE TO OUR LOCAL PARTY
We thank everyone who has financially supported the ACDP in the past. The fight to defend democracy and turn Ohio blue is far from over. If you have not donated recently to the ACDP, and have the means to do so, please donate today.
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