18 present at Marion Grange Hall 9 present online (including speakers) 27 Total
CALL TO ORDER/LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT
We acknowledge that our legislative district is on the traditional homelands of the Puyallup and Muckleshoot tribes, who have lived on and stewarded these lands since the beginning of time, and continue to do so today. We recognize that this land acknowledgement is one small step toward true allyship and we commit to uplifting the voices, experiences, and histories of the Indigenous people of this land and beyond. Optional Pledge of Allegiance to the US Flag.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA Robin M: motion to approve; Rudi A seconded. Unanimously approved.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES – June 25, 2025 Rudi A motioned to approve; Michelle DP seconded. Unanimously approved.
INVITED SPEAKERS
Marianna Hyke – Pierce County Democrats PCDCC (Meet on 3rd Thursday at 6pm.) Meeting starts at 6:30. COMING UP: Endorsement season for county races—Charter Review Positions and Port and County Council Seats. Still Need a chair for the endorsement committee. August meeting will be our endorsement meeting. Keep Pierce Blue fundraising event working on it now—maybe moving to late fall after primaries host a BBQ to get candidates together to meet & greet and network for 2026 season. Share events in your LD to use PCDCC to get info out to community. Organizing and sustainability on a local level. Great candidates out there now. Also City Council races. If you are out on the lines or door knocking stay hydrated and safe. Q’s: How many LDS 7 in Pierce Cty. Each LD gets 3 members on the charter review: For a total of 21 commissioners. Q: Where do you meet for the PCDCC. MH: IBEW Hall in Tacoma by the Mall. But we are hybrid as well. 31st LD is on the cusp between Pierce & King Cty. King CTY gets a lot of support—goal is for Pierce Cty to become as visible as King Cty -so that people know who we are and get behind strong candidates. Pierce is the 2nd largest County in the state!!. Charter Review Board: Still need to educate the public about importance of the Charter: these are mandated guidelines for the County Council, and all officials must defer back to the Charter (including Pierce Cty Exec, Cty , Treasurer). LD’s 31st & 25th need more representation (to balance input from ‘red’ areas) build awareness about how this charter impacts the QOL in Pierce County. Please Support the candidates in your LD!! The Charter should reflect our communities. Labor needs to be represented. Sustaining our economy and growing generational wealth in our diverse community. There are 21 Commissioners who will participate in the review process.
Rep Kim Schrier WA 8th Congressional District (Stuart, KS’ Political Director) KS Just attended a Civility & Citizenry dinner—bi-partisan, optimistic discussion about what is happening. Breaking News: the House Oversight Committee: has subpoenaed the Epstein Files—so questions may be answered with actual transparency! What we need to be talking about: the Big BAD Bill will cause major harm to uninsured, elderly and disabled Americans and rural hospitals. This is what people in our district are focused on. WA8 has Hospitals that are overrepresented with Medicare and Medicaid patients—feeling overwhelmed; Valley Med Center laid off 200 employees just in the wake of the passing of the bill. “I am VERY concerned about RFK Jr—hoping he will be forced to resign before we have to impeach him. I’ll be back in WA / 8th CD next week—with a Town Hall in Granite Falls. Working with food banks and clinics to drive home the message about the REAL HARM this bill will cause our community.” Q: Immigration? Bill in House repealing Pathway to Citizenship: concerned about stripping laborers of their rights and pathways to citizenship—where are we on these measures. KS: I haven’t seen the verbiage yet [for the Bill]. We have a system now: H1B and H2A –that is both good and bad–-“…but we need a new system so folks who enter on H1B Visa’s are encouraged to stay …University grads and tech workers—we don’t want to educate people and then lose them due to bad immigration policies.” Laborers are now afraid to come to work— even though they are doing work that many Americans choose not to —”we need to thank them for their labor and tell them ‘you are welcome to stay’.” Using the Dream Act, Farm Work Force Modernization Act, Eagle Act—“…we can speed up the Visa to Green Card process. There is a bi-partisan bill that could get support.” Q: ICE—What about scenarios of bounty hunters or random people in face masks grabbing people without proper ID and no warrant. Very scary. There are already cases of women being assaulted by men who claim to be ICE. What is the Congressional oversight to force these ‘agents’ to ID themselves and show badges and warrants? KS: “It is outrageous to have ICE agents in masks in unmarked cars grabbing people off the streets and ‘abducting them’ –it could become a Modus Operandi for any creep on the street to grab any woman,–I Agree, agents MUST have an ID Number of evidence of who they are for accountability.” Q: Is anything happening about this? KS: “It’s un-American!” House Dems are in the minority (as you know)—we do not determine oversight hearings or agendas. However, If we are in a hearing on a diff committee—these abuses can be brought up in those hearings– to bring pressure on GOP. I will be talking with Rep Jayapal about this strategy
Q: Wayne Horton: “I am a proud member of United Brotherhood of Electricians. Supported Joe Biden/ Harris 2024. Their loss is affecting our Local 46 Kent/Seattle 76 & 77 –we are trying to improve solar power, battery power and tech infrastructure for charging station … Now, ALL of these jobs have been lost –with the Green New Deal being revoked; 1000 electricians in Seattle area have lost jobs.” You don’t see cranes in Seattle, construction is declining. Copper wire is imported (made out of USA)—in MX and Canada – which affects our ability to conduct business. Contractors cannot bid for a job because they don’t know what the cost will be for materials” Is there anything Congress can do to get folks back to work? KS: …elements of the Inflation Reduction Act funds will be clawed back if not spent within the year. GOP —is committed to new energy—but not GREEN as in WA state: GOP is pushing for more power plants for electricity. There could be bi-partisan effort to improve the [electrical] Grid / beef-up power lines; expanding the Grid would employ new workers. Imposing tariffs shoots us in the foot by taxing things we don’t produce here in US—its BAD for business, consumers and agriculture. I am doing everything I can to mitigate the damage—but for now, “power” [electrical] jobs will be working on gas and other traditional energy sources.
CANDIDATES SEEKING ENDORSEMENT (7:10)
Kelsey Barrans, Pierce County Charter Review, District 1, Position 1 KB Spoke to the attendees for 3 minutes. She/her pronouns—asking for endorsement for Piece County Charter Review. Not many residents are very familiar with the charter per se—yet It informs/regulates what governs Pierce County Council. Every 10 years we review the charter –historically, this has been a very homogenous group that engaged in this process for over the years. We need more diversity on the Charter Review Board. I lived in Bonney Lake for 11 years—now living in Graham. Works at GRCC. I Serve residents of our district every day. Q: I’m concerned about our current Sherrif in Pierce County. Would the review have jurisdiction over policies of the sheriff’s dept? KB My short answer is YES… Q: Sherriff –is it possible to bring an ombudsman or oversight independently to reign in overreach of power? KB I am a social worker by training—there are critical rules and expectations for public to understand and have faith these are being followed to the intent for public accountability. www.voteKelseyBarrans.com Helen M motioned to endorse Kelsey Barrans. Rudy A seconded. Kelsey Barrans is unanimously approved by voice vote for candidate endorsement of Pierce County Charter Review, District 1, Position 1.
TIME OF SHARING Rudy A shared about Taking It To The Streets in Bonney Lake every Sunday from 2-3pm. Kristi H: participated in sign waiving in Bonney Lake so energizing to do this—and has really shifted in past 3 months—more people waving support and honking in support and thanking us! Someone even handed us 2 boxes of popsicles! Also—National indivisible organized Protest Rally Getting Into GOOD TROUBLE well attended last week in Enumclaw—Indivisible Enumclaw rallies every Thursday 5:30-6:30 at City Hall FYI: The 31st LD lost most of Enumclaw and gained Graham during last year’s redistricting.
BREAK
NEW BUSINESS
- Resolution for Ranked Choice Voting (RCV): Michelle DP: This proposed resolution is based on the VOICES Act to research info about RCV so we can enact it a state law. “Therefore, be it resolved….to support RCV AND vote for the passage of the HB1448 VOICES Act.” The bill provides clear rules for consistency. There is a Lawsuit which says each jurisdiction can choose to adopt RCV—so, therefore, the state should be able to also have this choice. The goal is to get legislators to sign the “Voices Act.” But we need to explain WHY this is so important. If we support this resolution, it could become a template for other LDs to use. We have expanded and contextualized the original language from FairVote WA. Vicki B: motioned to table this resolution for vote on our Sept Agenda, Helen M: seconded. To postpone until September. Unanimously approved to table the resolution vote for Sept. Discussion followed, in favor and against.
- PCO appointment, Elizabeth Parent 31-391: Tamara S: EP: “I have 3 boys, ages 5-10, in public school. Originally from Poulsbo, WA, grew up on small family farm (was raised GOP, but now I’m a proud Democrat) moved to N Carolina in 2018. Got involved with the N Carolina State Party and was organizing for counties in the state. Left in 2024 to return to WA. Elizabeth is now living in Bonney Lake. Michelle DP motioned to accept Elizabeth’s nomination for PCO, Amber OW seconded. Elizabeth Parent is unanimously approved as PCO for precinct 31-391.
OFFICER & COMMITTEE REPORTS
- Treasurer’s Report Helen M – Helen reviewed current month’s activity. She has developed 2 new formats for viewing / sharing to help our members better understand what we are spending on which projects. ‘Balance sheet must match PDC report!’ —& if not, why? Shows what is outstanding with the bank. Wayne H motioned to accept the report, Jeff S seconded. Treasurer’s Report is unanimously approved by voice vote.
- Democracy Summer / Fairs: Helen M:
Saturday, July 26: Plateau Pride (sign up to help!) Wilkeson is not staffed. 11-1 shift
Saturday, August 9: 31st Democrats Summer Picnic! 5pm on Saturday, Sunset Park in Auburn.
Saturday, August 16: Milton Days (sign up to help!) 2 slots still open morning & afternoon
Check SIGN UP GRNIUS on 31st LD Dems Website & FB page to sign up for a spot!
- PCO report: Amber OW: NEW PCO Handbook just published by WA State Dems—with updated training components. For new PCO’s this is a great tool. “…Lots of fun to canvas. Watch for our 2025 PCO Training session at the Auburn library in September.
- Communications Report: Chellie DP: Check your email for the newsletter format. Cleaned up and easier to read. We continue getting new signups at the summer booths. Reply to newsletter to be placed on specific volunteer lists and give opinion on new format.
- State Dems Committee: Rudy A: Invitation for 2-session “Urban vs Rural Divide” Training. 2 x 2hour training focuses on how our opponents feel they are perceived; second part was on solutions to bridge the divide.
- No General LD meeting in August –Please Join Us at our ANNUAL PICNIC in Auburn at Sunset Park off Lake Tapps Pkwy. NO fundraiser this year—just a potluck. BBQ provided. Bring a dessert or side salad.
GOOD AND WELFARE
- Jeff Smith: congratulated Wayne Horton. for bringing a specific issue to Rep Kim Schrier attention during our meeting to give her a specific example of how the BBB is impacting people in her CD.
- Amber OW: Tell your story!! Our elected leaders are desperately looking for personal stories about how issues are impacting people in the district. Medicaid, ICE, small business costs-tariffs.
ADJOURNMENT Rudy A motioned to adjourn. Amber OW seconded. Meeting adjourned at 9:16pm
