Repeat! LACYD Wins Annual Softball Game Against SFVYD

On July 11, LACYD defeated the San Fernando Valley Young Democrats in the annual softball game between the two clubs.  The game, played on a cool Sunday morning at La Cienega Park in Beverly Hills, was the fifth annual game between the two largest young Democratic clubs in Southern California.

For the second year in a row, LACYD edged out the visiting Valley young Dems.  Former LACYD President Becca Doten was the hero, driving in Aaron Trask with a one-out, bases-loaded single in the bottom of the eighth inning to give LACYD a 10-9 extra-inning victory.

The groups were joined at the game by Los Angeles County Democratic Party Chair Eric Bauman, Assemblymember Mike Feuer, West Hollywood Councilmember Lindsey Horvath and Los Angeles Unified School District Board Member Tamar Galatzan.

LACYD's winning squad. (from L-R: Juan Higuera, Ruben Zaragoza, Courtney Driver, Dante Atkins, Matt Renaud, Becca Doten, Lindsey Horvath, Dan Taylor, David Graham-Caso, Aaron Trask, Odest Riley, Shara Castro)

LACYD Board Members Advise Moroccan Official on Young Voter Outreach On July 8, members of the Los Angeles County Young Democrats Executive Board met with Mr. Hassan Aghmari, Governor and Director of Elections for the Ministry of Interior in Rabat, Morocco to advise him on young voter outreach. Mr. Aghmari, who was in Los Angeles as part of a State Department trip, wanted to ask LACYD Board Members, as politically active young professionals, about tactics that we have found to be successful in increasing youth participation in the electoral process.  This is especially important information for Mr. Aghmari to bring back to Morocco, where more than half of the population is under the age of 35.  The meeting was hosted by the International Visitors Council of Los Angeles.   LACYD Board Members meet with Mr. Hassan Aghmari, Governor/Director of Elections, Ministry of Interior, Rabat, Morocco

Thank you for your continued interest and involvement in the Los Angeles County Young Democrats.

Yesterday’s Primary Election was a fantastic demonstration of the relevance of Young Democrats in the political process.  Members of the Los Angeles County Young Democrats were elected to seats ranging from Statewide Constitutional Office, to Democratic Party Central Committee to a seat on the second-largest City Council in LA County.

LACYD is very proud of James Johnson, a LACYD member who won his runoff election against an incumbent City Councilmember in Long Beach.  Councilmember-elect Johnson epitomized hard-working Young Dems by walking his district (Long Beach Council District 7) for more than 400 days in order to meet voters and talk about his vision for Long Beach.  With all precincts reporting, Johnson won nearly 53% of the vote and will now serve as the District 7 representative on the Long Beach City Council.

LACYD member Chris Parker was also victorious Tuesday evening.  Parker is now the Democratic nominee to be the next member of the California State Board of Equalization from District 2.  Chris had a novel idea when deciding to run for what is traditionally a seat occupied by termed-out Republican legislators. He thought that it would make sense for an actual tax attorney, someone that knows tax policy and could effectively enforce it, to serve in a role that is constitutionally charged with enforcing tax policy. During his Primary campaign, Parker traveled to each of the counties in this absurdly large district (which stretches from the Oregon border, down the eastern part of the state and into Los Angeles County) to talk with voters about how electing someone that is right for this job could bring in millions of dollars of revenue to the State that seat-filler Republicans have ignored for years. LACYD is incredibly proud to count Chris as a member and we are looking forward to working hard to get him elected in the fall.

Young Dems also recorded victories in races to serve on the Los Angeles County Democratic Party’s County Central Committee.  Up to seven representatives from each Assembly District in the County are elected to make up the governing body for the Los Angeles County Democratic Party.  LACYD members from the San Fernando Valley to the San Gabriel Valley, to South Los Angeles were elected Tuesday, including:

• Noel Barajas Jr. (AD 39)
• Ackley Padilla (AD 39)
• Patty Salazar (AD 39)
• Dante Atkins (AD 42)
• Ricky Choi (AD 49)
• Henry Lo (AD 49)
• Skyy Fisher (AD 52)

(If you are an LACYD member who was elected to Central Committee and your name was accidentally omitted above, please contact David Graham-Caso at d.grahamcaso@lacyd.org and we will correct the omission.  Thank you.)

Congratulations to all of our members on their success!

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2010/4/18/857819/-Wont-someone-think-of-the-children

Won't someone think of the children?

by Dante Atkins

Sun Apr 18, 2010 at 04:00:05 PM PDT

Originally posted to Huffington Post on April 13, 2010.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/becca-doten/dont-call-us-the-future-i_b_535825.html

Don't Call Us "The Future" If You Want to Win Now

This coming weekend, Democrats from across California will be converging on Los Angeles for the annual California Democratic Party State Convention. Activists, elected officials and candidates will attend the convention to shake hands, take meetings and look for the election trifecta -- endorsements, money and volunteers.

On Saturday, candidates will also stop by theCalifornia Young Democrats' meeting, looking for a chance to address hundreds of young activists, ages 18-35, as we gather for our annual convention, which is held concurrently with the full CDP convention.

Candidates will get a minute or two to tell us why Young Democrats should engage in their campaign and, if the CYD meeting is anything like years past, they'll tell us how, at one time, they were a Young Democrat, too. In their best attempts to pander to our demographic, many will repeat the oft-used phrase that "Young Democrats are the future."

And to be fair, many of us will continue to be involved in politics and the Democratic Party for years to come, and some of us will take on additional leadership roles in the Party or run for elected office. So, in that way, we are the future. But labeling Young Dems simply as "the future" downplays the importance of our demographic now. Young voters are not a constituency to be considered in the perpetual "future." Rather, young voters are one of the most potentially powerful demographics within the Democratic Party today.

It is a very simple equation -- when young people vote, Democrats win.

Polling shows that some very important races are terrifyingly close in California. Not only will there likely be close general election races for Governor and the US Senate, but Democrats throughout the state will face Republican opponents who are banking on a historical election trend. They are hoping that, as in years past, when the party of the President changes, there will be a large shift of seats away from the Party now in power.

Gov. Tim Kaine, the Chair of the Democratic National Committee, put it bluntly: "The average president loses 28 House seats, four Senate seats and governor's races. And we're not living in average times."

We've already seen inklings of this trend. In January, the country was stunned when Martha Coakley lost to Scott Brown in the race for the late Edward Kennedy's Senate seat. Yes, Democrats fielded an unfortunately weak candidate in Coakley, and there were lessons learned from the defeat. But in the lessons that we take from the race, there is one that has been largely overlooked -- young voters, aged 18-29, still voted overwhelmingly for Martha Coakley. In fact, almost 60% of young voters in the Special Election voted for the Democrat, even though she only ended up with 47% of the vote.

So where was the disconnect between the young voter's choice and the final results? Only 15% of young voters went to the polls and cast ballots. This is a marked difference from 2008, when a whopping 52% of young Americans voted. It was clear in the 2008 Presidential election and it was clear in the Massachusetts Special Election -- when young people vote, Democrats win.

Issue polls show us that young voters are progressive voters. A recent Public Policy Institute of California study found that Californians age 18-34 support marriage equality 66% to 49%. Republican political strategist Dan Schnur wrote a column in the LA Times last week citing a poll that young voters - regardless of race - opposed denying services to undocumented immigrants by a 20 point margin. Schnur wrote, "age has become the primary factor determining opinion on illegal immigration in California."

And young voters don't just support progressive causes; we support the candidates who champion them. The aforementioned PPIC poll also found that Jerry Brown leads Meg Whitman 44% to 30% in voters aged 18-35 and "younger voters prefer Boxer (56% to 30% for Fiorina)." This is night and day from the results of the polls of all likely voters, where these races are neck-and-neck.

The question facing campaigns this fall is not about how to convince young voters that Democrats are on the right side of issues of importance. Our generation has demonstrated a widespread acceptance of the progressive values which, for a large part, make up the Democratic Party platform. The question is how to activate these young voters and get them to the polls.

There is no silver bullet that will turn out young voters. As with every other constituency, it takes a strategic effort and focus of resources to reach young people. Ensuring young voter turnout, and in turn ensuring Democratic victories, means more than paying us lip service. It means including young voter outreach in campaign plans and investing resources in turning out our demographic. It means having young supporters play an active role in campaigns by reaching out to millennial voters with a message that resonates on a peer-to-peer level. Young voters need to understand their stake in the election, that their vote means something to their lives and that the candidate is someone who will fight for what they believe in - which is a progressive, positive agenda.

President Barack Obama did it right. He had a message that spoke to young voters, one of hope and a new direction for our country. He took bold stances and he made sure he got the word out to young voters - on our own playing field. His use of technology was strategic and innovative and it translated traditional campaign tactics to a medium accessible to our generation.

The California Young Democrats' slogan is, "the margin of victory." In these coming elections, young voters can be the margin of victory for Democrats throughout the state. But it won't happen if there are not concerted efforts to reach out to young voters and give us a compelling reason to go to the polls.

Maybe that's why, this year, the California Young Democrats' Convention slogan is simple: We vote, Democrats win.

Dear Young Dems,

::

Dear Young Dems,

Dear Young Dem,

The Los Angeles County Young Democrats have endorsed the following candidates in the June 2010 Democratic Primary election.


Statewide Constitutional Officers
Governor- Jerry Brown
Lieutenant Governor- Janice Hahn
Secretary of State- Debra Bowen
Attorney General- Ted Lieu
State Treasurer- Bill Lockyer
State Controller- John Chiang
Insurance Commissioner- Hector De la Torre
Superintendent of Public Instruction- Tom Torlarkson
State Board of Equalization, District 2- Chris Parker

State Assembly Races
AD 36- Linda Jones
AD 37- Ferial Masry
AD 38- Diana G. Shaw
AD 39- Felipe Fuentes
AD 40- Bob Blumenfield
AD 41- Julia Brownley
AD 42- Mike Feuer
AD 43- Mike Gatto *Special election on April 13
AD 44- Anthony Portantino
AD 45- Gil Cedillo
AD 46- John A. Perez
AD 47- Reggie Jones-Sawyer
AD 48- Mike Davis
AD 49- Mike Eng
AD 50- Ricardo Lara
AD 51- Steve Bradford
AD 52- Isadore Hall
AD 54- Bonnie Lowenthal
AD 55- Warren Furutani
AD 56- Tony Mendoza
AD 57- Roger Hernandez
AD 58- Charles Calderon
AD 59- Darcel D. Woods
AD 60- Gregg D. Fritchle
AD 61- Norma J. Torres

State Senate Races
SD 20- Alex Padilla
SD 22- Kevin de Leon
SD 24- Ed Hernandez
SD 26- Curren Price Jr.
SD 28- Jenny Oropeza
SD 30- Ron Calderon

Remarks from Katherine Hennigan, LACYD President, at the 2009 Laurel Awards reception:

This has been a year of change and progress. Throughout 2009 lacyd has met with and supported more than thirty democratic candidates and important legislative measures. Some of the candidates include:

♦       Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa

♦       City controller Wendy Greuel

♦       Los Angeles City Councilmembers Richard Alarcon, Janice Hahn, Paul Koretz, Ed Reyes, and Bill Rosendahl

♦       US Congressperson Judy Chu

♦       West Hollywood Councilmembers John Duran and Jeffrey Prang

♦       LAUSD board members Monica Garcia, Nury Martinez, and Steve Zimmer

♦       Los Angeles Community College District Trustee candidates Kelly Candaele; Angela Reddock; and Miguel Santiago

♦       State Assemblymembers Steve Bradford and Paul Krekorian

♦       State Senators Gil Cedillo and Curren Price, Jr.

In addition to these candidates, we continually support the many LACYD members who run for elected office and for state and national Democratic Party positions.

LACYD does more than endorse candidates, however. In the past year we walked precincts, contributed money to campaigns, organized phone banks, hosted candidate forums and debates, and created a popular speakers’ series that included such themes as “faith in politics” and “youth involvement in the labor movement.” We’ve helped to educate young voters about democratic values. We continued the fight for marriage equality, sending LACYD members to camp courage and co-sponsoring the “out west” campaign training to prepare our members for the important next round in the fight for equality.

Further, in 2009 we had close to a dozen LACYD members elected as delegates to the California Democratic Party convention.

LACYD brought policy discussion to our members, endorsing bills in the state legislature ranging from voter registration to water recycling. With other young democrats clubs, we lobbied our national representatives to support the employee free choice act.

Our top legislative priority, Senator Curren Price’s Assembly Bill 30, was signed into law, allowing 17 year-olds in California to pre-register to vote.

We did all this…and still found time to recapture the trophy in our annual softball game against the San Fernando Valley Young Democrats.

We are proud of our accomplishments, but we understand that we have a lot of very hard work ahead of us in 2010 - and we ask for your support to get this work done:

We need to bring more democratic votes to the state legislature to wrest control away from republicans hell-bent on derailing vital budget negotiations;

We need to make sure our legislative agenda is furthered including the fight to make affordable healthcare available to all;
 

And, we need to work as hard as we can to put a democrat back in the governor’s seat of our great state.

LACYD Approves Resolution in Support of Clean CA Gubernatorial Primary Campaign Pledge

RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF A CLEAN CAMPAIGN PLEDGE

 

“Whereas, California will suffer irreparable harm to our economy, education, and health care systems, environment, infrastructure and more, unless we elect a Democratic governor in 2010; and,

 

“Whereas, the Republicans are on track to nominate a candidate for governor who is independently wealthy and who will invest tens of millions of dollars in negative attacks on the Democratic nominee; and,

 

“Whereas, Democrats cannot afford a negative, bruising primary that leaves our nominee weakened and damaged going into the general election;

 

“Therefore, Be It Resolved, that the Los Angeles County Young Democrats urge Democrats to work together in a way that guarantees a Democratic victory in November by requesting any current and prospective Democratic gubernatorial candidates to sign a Clean Campaign Pledge which includes campaigning in an open and fair manner, without resorting to defamatory attacks or unwarranted invasions of personal privacy issues; and,

 

“Be It Further Resolved, that the Los Angeles County Young Democrats contact each candidate to make its position known and ask the candidate to sign such a pledge.”

 

 

Katherine Hennigan

President

Los Angeles County Young Democrats

LACYD congratulates Dr. Judy Chu, our incoming representative for CD-32!  Dr. Judy Chu is an extraordinary leader, author of numerous legislation to protect victims of domestic violence, to crack down on hate crimes, to promote environmental justice and to improve our educational systems.  She is an inspiring leader.

Statement from Los Angeles County Young Democrats President Kathryn Hennigan Regarding Proposition 8 Ruling

LOS ANGELES- Los Angeles County Young Democrats (LACYD) President Katherine Hennigan released the following statement today in reaction to the California Supreme Court’s ruling to uphold Proposition 8. 

“As a representative of the Los Angeles County Young Democrats, I am extremely disappointed in today's ruling.  LACYD is one of California's largest groups of civically-minded young professionals and we stand firm in our belief that it is not the will of the people to uphold laws that violate any basic civil liberties.  We are committed to continue our role in the fight to right this wrong and to ensure equality for all.”

20 DAYS TO GO! Cedillo for Congress: Volunteer Phone Banks

Make a difference! SIGN UP TODAY

Campaign Headquarters – 7 days a week
10808 Valley Mall
El Monte, CA 91731

Phonebank: M-F 10:00 am to 9:00 pm
Weekend Canvassing: Sat, 9:30 am to 8:00 pm. Sun, 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm

Satellite Phonebanks 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm

East Los Angeles – Tuesday & Thursday
1137 South EasternLos Angeles, CA 90022

West Covina – Tuesday & Thursday
415 S. Glendora Ave, Suite E
West Covina, CA 91790

Koreatown - Wednesday
3325 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 768
Los Angeles, CA 90010

To confirm your attendance please contact Louis Reyes at (626) 454-2601 or Campaign@GilCedillo.com // www.GilCedillo.com

Louis R. Reyes
Cedillo for Congress

Young adults played a crucial role in the national elections and are likely to help a candidate get the edge with low voter turnout expected this March.  Los Angeles County Young Democrats (LACYD) are announcing today their recommendations for the upcoming elections. Founded in 1973, LACYD was established to give young adults a voice and a vehicle for activism in local, state and federal political issues. 

"I firmly believe that the candidates endorsed by the Los Angeles County Young Democrats will best serve the interests of young people across our cities," said LACYD president, Katherine Hennigan. "We are proud to represent the voices of so many young voters during this important and historic moment."

These candidates and city measures have received LACYD's endorsement:

• Mayor of Los Angeles: Antonio Villaraigosa
• Los Angeles City Attorney: Jack Weiss
• Los Angeles City Controller: Wendy Gruel
• Los Angeles City Council District 1: Ed Reyes
• Los Angeles City Council District 5: No Endorsement
• Los Angeles City Council District 7: Richard Alarcόn
• Los Angeles City Council District 9: Jan Perry
• Los Angeles City Council District 11: Bill Rosendahl
• Los Angeles City Council District 13: Eric Garcetti
• Los Angeles City Council District 15: Janice Hahn
• LAUSD Board of Education District 2: Monica Garcia
• LAUSD Board of Education District 4: Steve Zimmer
• LAUSD Board of Education District 6: Nury Martinez
• Los Angeles Community College Board of Trustees Seat 2: Angela Reddock
• Los Angeles Community College Board of Trustees Seat 4: Kelly Candaele
• Los Angeles Community College Board of Trustees Seat 6: No endorsement
• Los Angeles Community College Board of Trustees Seat 7: Miguel Santiago
• Rosemead City Council: John Tran & Henry Lo
• West Hollywood City Council: John Duran & Jeffrey Prang
• Los Angeles Measure B: No endorsement

Members of Los Angeles County Young Democrats have elected the following team for our 2009 Board:

• Katherine Hennigan, President
• Kellie Hawkins, Vice President of Programming
• Dan Witzling, Vice President of Communications
• Ruben Zaragosa, Vice President of Administration
• Dante Atkins, Political Director
• Jennifer Badger, Outreach Director
• Sean Gabe, Treasurer
• David Graham-Caso, Legislative Director
• Denise Lopez, Activities Director
• Sofia Sami, Membership Director
• Paulina Velaso, Fundraising Director
• Gemma Jimenez, Publicity Director

There are many opportunities to take a leadership role on issues or events, including a number of committees extending from various board positions (ESPECIALLY FUNDRAISING!!).  Please contact Katherine Hennigan to discuss your interest.