On becoming county chair

by: Jason

Mon Nov 17, 2008 at 17:22:49 PM EST

We have a good mix of new and old-time party members as officers.  We retained three people from the previous term, brought on Barb Geno (she has been an officer in the past and will be doing double-duty as our newly elected county commissioner!) and took on three first-time officers, including myself.

Moving forward our immediate plans include reviewing the past election to identify areas where we need improvement.  We'll also be taking a hard look at our committees and making sure they have a clear vision of their responsibilities.  Fundraising will also be a major focus as we work on our ability to provide assistance to our local candidates.

I'm going to try and continue posting my thoughts here as time goes by and I settle into being a county chair.  It's definitely going to be an exciting couple of years!

Now follow me below the fold for a pretty picture ...

Robert Kennedy Jr. Speaks on the New Energy Future in Newaygo County

by: philgoblue

Tue Oct 14, 2008 at 15:00:20 PM EDT

Kennedy argued that energy policy was the key issue for the future of the country, even while the economy was collapsing around us. Kennedy believe that the U.S. must transition away from a carbon-based economy -- which relies largely on burning fossil fuels that contribute to global warming and other environmental problems -- to one powered by clean energy harvested from the wind, sun and the geothermal heat.

"The way we deploy energy in this country is really the key economic and national security issue in this election."

"Carbon is the principal drag on American capitalism; we're borrowing a billion dollars a day to buy oil from countries that don't like us very much. What we're spending to bail out Wall Street ($700 billion) is chump change compared to what we spend on foreign oil."

For the new energy economy to become a reality, Kennedy believes we must build an energy grid that could capture energy from clean sources and distribute it to far away places. Building a new national network of power lines would cost more than $500 billion, Kennedy said. But he said a modern power grid could do for the alternative energy economy what the Internet did for businesses in the 1990s: Unleash a tsunami of new technology that creates jobs and bolsters the sagging economy.

Indeed, Kennedy argued that the old claim of a zero-sum gain between economic growth and environmental protection was simply out-dated.

"Good environmental policy is identical to good economic policy."

And Kennedy asserted that the alternative energy future wasn't something that had to be a partisan issue.  

"There's nothing radical about the idea of having clean air and clean water for our children."

Kennedy praised Republican California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger as one of the nation's most progressive politicians when it comes to promoting wind and solar power.

The Chronicle concluded their report:

That Kennedy's alternative energy sermon received a standing ovation in the Republican stronghold of Newaygo County said something about the issue's appeal to people of all political persuasions.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Coming to West Michigan

by: philgoblue

Wed Sep 17, 2008 at 08:03:40 AM EDT

The event is being hosted by the Fremont Area Community Foundation speaker series and will begin at 7:00 pm at the Grant Fine Arts Center on 331 E State St. in Grant, Michigan.  Grant is about 10 miles north of Sparta/Kent City (so north north-west of GR) -- map.

Tickets are available on a first-come, first-serve basis by calling the Grant Fine Arts Center at 231-834-5630.

Newaygo for Obama: Unite and Vote for Change

by: mikelangdon

Mon Jun 30, 2008 at 16:35:39 PM EDT

Newaygo County Democratic Party Launches Website

by: AikoAdam

Tue Jun 10, 2008 at 12:17:09 PM EDT

The Newaygo County Dems meet the second Wednesday of the month. The meetings are currently held at the Commission on Aging building at 93 S. Gibbs St., White Cloud, MI  49349. The public is encouraged to attend. For more information contact Party Chair Linda Dean by email at dallin730@yahoo.com.

Links to other West Michigan county party websites can be found on the right hand navigation box here on WMR.

h/t to WMR user Jason who is also the webmaster for NCDP

State of the Newaygo County Commission 2008 Primary

by: Jason

Wed May 14, 2008 at 13:30:25 PM EDT

All but one of the current Newaygo County Commissioners will be running for re-election. The Board is currently composed entirely of Republicans, all of whom will be facing challengers in their primary. In addition, three districts will be challenged in November by Democrats.

The Newaygo County Board of Commissioners is divided into seven districts. You can find more information on the Board (and a map) at their website.

Below the fold I'll detail the upcoming races in each district and provide a little historical background (if I happen to know any!) on the candidates.