The Voice of Douglas County Democrats November 2016

This is a confidential newsletter, but please share it with your Democratic friends!

B L U E N O T E S

From the Chair ...

Getting ‘into’ being NSDP Chair

INSIDE THIS ISSUE • More photos: Election Night & Nevada Day Parade (Pages 2, 3, 4 & 5)

• Featured Democrat Kris Kringle (Page 6)

The past few weeks have been a string of consecutive long days. Between ridiculously early mornings at the office printing canvass lists, booming daytime business, and nights that went on well past the point of being physically and mentally expended, last week was the home stretch leading up to the Tuesday election.

Somehow I was able to summon a second wind with the finish in sight, so I just kept doing everything I could.

Last Saturday evening I was still working at Douglas Dems headquarters after everyone else had called it a day.

Two very bright young Democrats, Patrick and Samantha, walked in, introduced themselves, and explained that they were Democrats on vacation. When they noticed

our sign on main street and office lights were on, they decided to stop in to see what they could do to help.

The first question I asked was, “Are you into making phone calls?” The response was, “Into making phone calls? Not really, but if that’s what needs to get done, let’s go to work.” They each grabbed a stack of phone lists and went to work, doing an absolutely great job on the calls!

It reminded me a lot of an attitude that has helped me get through life. It is not always necessary to be “into” doing something (at first) to realize it needs to get done and go to work.

For years, the construction industry was very good for me, but there were occasional down cycles when we had to get creative to keep working. At times over the years, work

(Continued on Page 2)

The voice of Douglas County, Nevada Democrats — November 2016 Page 2

Election night ‘Kick-Ass’ party

There was a good turn-out for the election party, but nobody could have guessed the results that put a damper on it!

was very slow in the area. Established construction companies were not doling out projects to “new” folks but keeping it all for their steadiest workers. I developed a very effective proposal line: “I’m looking for the toughest, most undesirable project that none of your regular workers want to touch.” If regular crews only wanted easy, I’d be glad to take the tough. It was, surprisingly, a pretty easy sell. Not only did that get me numerous projects, it also opened doors for contractors to see my skills in action. More projects invariably followed.

Was I “into” doing the tough, undesirable projects that no one else wanted to tackle? Not always, at least initially, but… they needed to get done and I wanted to keep my crews working. That led to a habit of my getting “into” whatever needs to be done.

Complaining about things has never been my style. Figuring out ways to make improvements and then getting into whatever work it takes to make the changes is my style.

For some time now I have been hearing that things need to change in the Nevada State Democratic Party. And I think there’s plenty of room for improvement, especially in the areas of engaging wider cross sections of voters and better acknowledging those whose voices need to be heard. I’m into doing whatever is necessary to help make those things happen.

I will appreciate everyone’s support in my campaign for Chair of the Nevada State Democratic Party.

(Kimi’s column continued from Page 1)

The Kick-Ass party’s official ass.

Dave and Dee Bauer sported a blast from the past shirts with a make-shift “Kaine” penciled in

The voice of Douglas County, Nevada Democrats — November 2016 Page 3

PHOTOS BY PAT STANLEY

More Election Watch photos …

The evening began as as party. It ended as a wake.

The voice of Douglas County, Nevada Democrats — November 2016 Page 4

Nevada Day Parade — 2016

Congressional District 2 Candidate Chip Evans waves and gives a thumbs-up during the parade.

PHOTOS BY PAT STANLEY

The voice of Douglas County, Nevada Democrats — November 2016 Page 5

More parade pictures

PHOTOS BY PATRICK WILKES

Catherine Cortez Masto (who later won the U.S. Senate seat now held by Harry Reid) had a contingent of supporters in the parade.

Our featured Democrat this month is a Democrat who lives more than 29-hundred miles from Douglas County but visits us every December.

He has several names and he’s about as old as any Democrat: Kris Kringle, Father Christmas, Saint Nicholas and Santa Claus.

Here is the script of a telephone interview we did with the jolly old guy:

BLUE NOTES: How old are you?CLAUS: I’m not really sure, but somebody

wrote a poem about me way back in 1823. It was titled “A Visit From St. Nicholas. “ That’s me!

The voice of Douglas County, Nevada Democrats — November 2016 Page 6

Democrat Profile:

Meet Santa

BLUE NOTES: You live at the North Pole, right?CLAUS: Yes, but the Mrs. and I a few years ago moved to

Alaska so we could vote Democrat in America. It’s not the terrestrial North Pole, but they named it North Pole. That was back in 1944. We even have a zip code … 99705, although letters sent to me at North Pole with the zip HO OHO usually get to my elves.

BLUE NOTES: Speaking of elves, how many do you have?CLAUS: Worldwide I have thousands, but at ground zero just a few. You may have heard of

them. There’s Crash and Belz and others. They handle such tasks as checking the weather on Christmas Eve, broadcasting my sleigh route and so forth. You know, so the reindeer don’t get lost.

BLUE NOTES: So how are those reindeer?CLAUS: Pretty good. The new kid, Rudolph, got a nose job recently. Then when he looked in the

mirror he got all lit up. And Donner always wants to spend more time just east of Reno. You know, at Donner Summit!

BLUE NOTES: Okay, we get it. But let’s get down to politics. Are you really a Democrat and if so, why?

CLAUS: Ho, ho, ho! Of course. My suit is about all the red I can handle. I want some blue. I believe in what Democrats stand for: higher wages, equal rights for everybody, candy in all the kid’s stockings. You know … the important stuff.

BLUE NOTES: What are your thoughts on the election earlier this month?CLAUS: The people have spoken. Now it’s time to heal the wounds. I think more Christmas

cookies would help a lot.BLUE NOTES: Anything you’d like to add?CLAUS: Just a question for everybody: have you been naughty or nice?

Mr. Claus

Leaning a bit to the left

It’s time to heal

The voice of Douglas County, Nevada Democrats — November 2016 Page 7

We can also be proud that Chip Evans did as well as he did in the battle for CD2, which has never had a Democratic representative since its official formation after the 1980 Census. I watched a late-night television interview with him. He was typically Chip — cheerful, grateful, humble, and a perfect gentleman. I was so proud. He campaigned to create better jobs, to get big money out of politics, to strengthen Medicare and Social Security, and for legislation to address climate change and protect the environment. A good Democrat. A good man. Thanks, Chip.

Also, Democrats re-took the majority in our state Senate. And I’m personally delighted that Question One passed, making it more difficult for criminals and persons with mental issues to obtain guns.

There is a lot of work ahead for us. In Douglas County we Democrats should make it a priority to elect our own Central Committee chair Kimi Cole chair of the Nevada State Democratic Party.

Yes, it’s time to heal and show a worried world that America still has the best system in existence. We fight hard and accept the results. There has to be a winner and a loser. But in this case, I would argue, there was no loser. We are all winners. We can and should all hold our heads high.

There’s one wonderful thing to say about the election: no longer will be have to watch those damned, vicious, negative TV ads!

Be proud to be a Democrat! Be proud to be an American!

“Never stop believing,” Hillary Clinton urged in her emotional concession speech the morning after losing the Presidency. “If we stand together and work together with respect for our differences, strength in our convictions, and love for this nation, our best days are still ahead of us.”

Vice Presidential candidate Sen. Tim Kaine introduced Clinton by saying, “Be proud of Hillary Clinton and be proud to be a Democrat.”

Senate Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi told America, “The peaceful transition of power is the cornerstone of our Democracy.”

The shock will wear off and now it’s time to start healing our divided nation and divided community.

As Democrats, we face some serious challenges for the next four years. We will have a Republican President, Senate and Congress. That means we’ll soon have a conservative Supreme Court.

But it’s not a time to bury our heads in the sand and cry. It’s a time to stand up for what we believe in, from the national level down to the local level right here in Douglas County.

We can be proud that we put up “the good fight.” We can be proud that Nevada went blue, giving our six electoral college votes to Hillary Clinton. We can be proud that we elected a responsible Democrat, Catherine Cortez Masto, to fill the vacancy being created by the departure of Sen. Harry Reid.

Timely Ticklers

The voice of Douglas County, Nevada Democrats — October 2016 Page 8

Your DCDCC Officers ...Chair of DCDCC: Kimi Cole (kimimcole@gmail.com)First Vice Chair: Mike AvilaSecond Vice Chair: Susan MinorSecretary: Melanie Meehan-CrossleyTreasurer: Jan WallsMember-at-large Patrick WilkesMember-at-large: Jill Cushing

Chairs of Standing Committees:Administration Katherine WinansPrograms/Policy: Kimi ColeMembership: Katherine WinansCandidate Recruitment: Nancy EpsteinPublicity/Public Relations: Pat StanleyFundraising/Finance: (Your name here)

Thursday, Nov. 17Central CommitteeDouglas Dems HQ1513 Hwy 395 N., Gardnerville(Note this meeting is a week earlier than usual)

Saturday, Nov. 19State Central Committee Carson City

Thursday, Nov. 24Thanksgiving Day

NOTE:There’ll be no DCDCC meeting in December. Have a wonderful holiday!