This coming Sunday, the Ann Arbor Dems will host what has become one of Michigan’s premier Democratic events for bringing together Ann Arbor-area Democrats, politicians and elected officials for an afternoon of good food and conversation – their Annual Chili and Cornbread Cook-Off.
Details after the jump.
Yesterday, the Ann Arbor Dems held their monthly meeting and it featured a powerhouse line-up. In addition to Dr. John Callewaert, a University of Michigan professor who spoke for nearly 30 minutes on hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”) in Michigan, the meeting attendees heard from Dean of the U.S. House of Representatives Congressman John Dingell, President of the Michigan State Board of Education John Austin, and local State House Representatives Jeff Irwin and Adam Zemke.
The highlight of the day, however, was appearances by both Michigan Democratic Party (MDP) Chair Mark Brewer and his opponent in the upcoming election for MDP Chair, Lon Johnson. The event was extremely well-run by Ann Arbor Dems chair Mike Henry and in the overflow crowd of around 250 people was nearly every elected official from the Ann Arbor area. It was, without question, the biggest political event in Washtenaw County since the election last November.
Details and lots of photos after the jump.
If you are a Michigan Democrat, by now you probably know that Mark Brewer, who has been the Michigan Democratic Party Chair for 18 years, is being challenged for that position by Lon Johnson.
The UAW, the Teamsters, Senators Stabenow and Levin, and the entire Michigan Democratic House delegation have thrown their support behind Johnson while the Michigan Education Association and over 40 county party chairs are supporting Chair Brewer.
Both men will be speaking at the Ann Arbor Dems meeting this Saturday, February 9th starting at 9:30 a.m. Details are after the jump.
Back in August, I published a piece about Fake Democrats running in Michigan. One of those Fake Democrats is the appropriately-named Jim Fink who not only admits to being a Republican but whose biggest campaign donor is, in fact, the Republican Party. If you go to Republican Party headquarters/offices in Washtenaw County, there you will find Jim Fink signs. He has made many donations to Republican candidates, is anti-Choice and against marriage equality and civil rights for the LGBT community.
Despite this, Jim Fink has vigorously sought the endorsement of the Washtenaw County Democratic Party (full disclosure: I am on the Executive Board of the WCDP as co-Vice Chair for Precinct Organizing.) He attended our conventions and meetings. He parked his car, covered with his campaign magnets, at the entrance to the parking lot at our events to make it look as if we supported him. He asked us to put his literature and yard signs at our campaign office in Ypsilanti. In short, this confirmed, right wing Republican did everything he could do to get the Democratic Party to use their resources to support him.
We did not.
What we DID do is endorse his opponent, Carol Kuhnke. In contrast to Fink’s dishonesty and questionable character, Kuhnke is a fantastic candidate. Smart, fair-minded and a true Democrat, Carol Kuhnke is the ideal choice for the 22nd District Court in Washtenaw County.
My interview with Carol Kuhnke after the jump.
In downtown Ann Arbor, tucked into Braun Court in Kerrytown, sits one of two offices for the Obama campaign. We’re right across from the Farmer’s Market and surrounded by some of the coolest stores and eateries in the city so we get a lot of foot traffic going by while we do our work to get out the vote (GOTV) for President Obama, Democrats in general and the variety of ballot proposals that Michiganders have to vote on this year.
The Kerrytown office is one of several GOTV staging locations in Washtenaw County and we are surpassing our goals on all fronts. See what that looks like after the jump.
This Saturday, June 30th, 2012, Democratic National Committee Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz will be in Ann Arbor to kick of a Day of Action canvass and phonebank for Obama for America (OFA), the campaign to re-elect President Obama.
Starting at 10:00 a.m., the event includes both phonebanking and canvassing and YOU are invited. Before things get started, Ms. Wasserman Schultz will speak to volunteers to let them know what is at stake this year and how important their role is in the 2012 campaign.
Details after the jump.
Tonight, a community forum will be held in Ann Arbor on the subject of Public Act 4, the Emergency Manager law.
Last night I had the chance to have several beers with one of my local blogging heroes, Mark Maynard. His website, markmaynard.com (“For all your Mark Maynard needs”), is essential reading, particularly for anyone in the southeastern Michigan area. His support of the arts and local businesses and his charitable activities are unparalleled. Mark has been at this blogging thing for about ten years and it was an honor to spend some time with him.
Chris and Mark at Corner Brewery in Ypsilanti. Photo credit: Anne C. Savage
Besides, honestly, why wouldn’t you want to have beers with a guy whose city goverment has taken an official position on his penis?…
My wife has put up an amazing multi-media post from yesterday’s visit to Ann Arbor, Michigan at her blog Politics in Pictures.
If you were there, you can look for yourself in a fully interactive panoramic image (you can even make it go fullscreen and zoom in and out!) If you don’t see yourself, you can also look for your face in this amazing widescreen image:
Click image for much larger version.
There is also some video and LOTS of still images.
I highly commend your attention to her terrific post. It’s amazing and not something you’ll find anywhere else.…
If the internet gods shine their benevolent faces on us today, I’ll be posting live updates from President Obama’s speech in Ann Arbor, Michigan this morning. During his last Michigan stop at the University of Michigan spring commencement, there were so many people uploading to their Facebook pages that I was unable to get my email, much less liveblog. Today’s event should be a bit less congested but there are no guarantees.
As I said in my fundraiser post earlier, Anne and I are trying out some new technology today that will allow her to post her high quality photos just a minute or two after she takes them.…
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