Worcester County Democrats will hold a forum on March 6 featuring all three Democrats running for Congress in District One. The forum will be in the large conference room at the Ocean Pines Library. It will begin at 7 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Click here to view or download a flier with full information

The three candidates, John LaFerla, Kim Letke, and Wendy Rosen are running in the April 3 Democratic primary for the opportunity to challenge Andy Harris.

Please note: Seating is limited to 100, and no standing room will be available. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for seating.

The forum is planned for two hours.  Each candidate will be given five minutes for opening remarks.  Mayor Gee Williams of Berlin will be the moderator and will present questions (provided by the audience) to the candidates.  Each candidate will be given two minutes to respond.  Attendees have an opportunity to submit questions in advance by mailing them to Worcester County Democrats, PO Box 34, Berlin, MD 21811 (you must include your name and address).  Attendees will also be provided cards at the Forum to submit additional questions.  There will be no questions from the floor, only written questions. 

(Worcester County Democrats includes the Democratic Central Committee of Worcester County, Democratic Women’s Club, Democratic Club of Worcester County and the Ocean City/Assateague Democratic Club.)

EASTERN SHORE DEMOCRATIC PARTY SUMMIT

The Democratic Central Committees of the Eastern Shore Counties and the Maryland Democratic Party will hold a two-day summit on April 21-22, 2012, at the Milestone Conference Center, just north of Easton. Major party officials, including the Governor, both U.S. Senators, and members of the General Assembly, will be in attendance and many will be speakers.  The program includes sessions on various roles for local Democrats in the upcoming 2012 and 2014 elections.  A registration fee of $100 includes breakfasts (continental) and lunches both days and a summit dinner with Gov. O’Malley as speaker.

The Democratic Central Committee of  Worcester County will provide transportation to and from the summit for both days.

Arrangements have been made for 2 vans leaving the OP Library both mornings and returning each day at the conclusion of the day.  The cost per person for transportation for the two days is $40.  The Central Committee is offering financial assistance to help with the cost in the amount of $20 per person.

Plans for the summit are not yet complete; the final price for registration may be $100 with the possibility of a lesser price for early registration. Members of the three clubs who plan to attend and would like to take advantage of the transportation should send a note to the DCCWC, PO Box 34, Berlin, MD 21811 or email your interest tosoonerlanny@gmail.com.  

Jumping with both feet into social media, we now have a Facebook page.  Key Ocean City/ Assateague Democratic Club into the Facebook search bar and you’ll find us!

Click here to go to the Facebook page.

Be sure to LIKE the page and share it with others. Click on “Everyone – Most Recent posts” to see up-to-date information. Suggestions and photos are welcome – email Judy Davis @  judymarieh55@gmail.com.

• Tuesday, March 6 –  Forum for Democratic candidates for Congress in Maryland’s District 1, sponsored by Worcester County Democrats. The three candidates are John LaFerla, Kim Letke, and Wendy Rosen. Voters will choose one of them in the Maryland Primary Election on April 3
• Wednesday, April 18 — Luncheon with a workshop to include analysis of the 2012 Maryland General Assembly session, and efforts to build a response to the results of the 2012 Primary Election. 11:30 a.m. @ Davinci’s By The Sea, 15th St. and Boardwalk.

• Wednesday, July 13 — Annual July Picnic at Fiesta Park. 5 p.m.
• Tuesday, Oct. 9 — Ocean City Candidates Forum, open to the public, to give all candidates for OC Mayor and Town Council an opportunity to share their views on how they will serve, if elected. The program will begin at 6 p.m., with the forum to start at 6:30 p.m. Forum venue to be announced soon.

2012 ELECTION DATES

• Deadline for Registering to Vote in the 2012 Primary Election — March 13 @ 9 p.m.
• Early Primary Voting – March 24, 26, 27, 28, and 29, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Sunday, March 25, Noon to 6 p.m.
• PRIMARY ELECTION DAY — TUESDAY, APRIL 3, 2012, Polls open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Voter Registration Reopens — April 16
• Deadline for Registering to Vote in the 2012 General Election, Oct. 12 @ 9 p.m.
• Ocean City Mayoral and Town Council Election — Oct. 16
• Early General Election Voting – Oct. 27, 29, 30, 31, and Nov. 1, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Sunday, Oct. 28, Noon to 6 p.m.
• GENERAL ELECTION DAY — TUESDAY, NOV. 6, 2012, polls open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

In 2012, we will be electing the President of the United States, one U.S. Senator, U.S. House of Representatives members, Judges for the Circuit Court, Court of Special Appeals and Court of Appeals, and Board of Education members.  In the primary elections, we will also elect delegates to the Democratic Party and Republican Party Conventions, which will be held during the Summer of 2012.

In 2014, elections for most Maryland state and Worcester County offices will be held.

Note: Early voting in Worcester County will be held at the Gull Creek Senior Living Community, Berlin, MD.

Membership Renewals for the Ocean City/Assateague Democratic Club are under way. Dues are $10 per person. Dues may be mailed to OCADC, P.O. Box 3196, OC, MD 21843.    If you wish to make an additional contribution, you may send it along with your dues. Thanks for your support! If you would like to join the Democratic Club, a membership form can be found and printed here.

Simply fill in your name and email address below. The “Comments” box is optional. If you’d prefer to be contacted by phone or postal service, you can add that information in the Comments box. Thanks for your help!

Photo slide show of October breakfast, below. Photos by Ted Page.

Since the election of Woodrow Wilson in 1912, the Democratic Party has used our government to make laws which have improved working conditions, provided elderly support, promoted racial equality, protected the environment and addressed other social concerns. Wilson established the Federal Reserve Board, making banking safer and monitoring financial markets. The Clayton Antitrust Act allowed workers to petition for better working conditions, shortened work days and initiated child labor laws.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s “New Deal” programs provided relief, recovery and reform to ease the Great Depression. FDR is responsible for initiating Social Security, which provides Old Age, Survivors and Disability insurance. Through FDR’s efforts, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation increased water development facilities in the U.S. and provided work for the unemployed.

What do these two leaders have in common? They were Democrats!

John Fitzgerald Kennedy established the Peace Corps and negotiated a ban on nuclear weapons testing with the United Kingdom and Soviet Union.

His successor, Lyndon B. Johnson, passed numerous socially significant programs, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and “The War on Poverty” – Medicare, Medicaid, Head Start, Work Study and food stamps.

Jimmy Carter is a human rights advocate and has worked to promote peace in the Middle East and limit the number of nuclear weapons. He encouraged energy conservation to ensure an energy-secure nation.

Bill Clinton passed the Omnibus Budget Act, which cut taxes for 15 million low-income families, made tax cuts available to 90 percent of small businesses, and raised taxes on the wealthiest 1.2 percent of taxpayers.

President Barack Obama has regulated banking and credit cards, extended health and unemployment benefits, implemented hate crime legislation, passed an economic stimulus package spurring job creation, modified bankruptcy terms, reinforced Iran sanctions, and reformed health care. No small feat for less than 2.5 years!

“Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope.” – ROBERT F. KENNEDY,  fromwww.democrats.org/issues.

Democrats speak for the people! We are responsible for each other and should provide the safety nets needed to ensure basic rights for all.

– Judy Davis

All suggestions and comments are welcome.

– Webmaster