31st LD Dems General Meeting Minutes – Oct 22, 2025
16 present at Marion Grange Hall 13 present online (including speakers) 29 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 Mary S Motionedto approve; Sue R Seconded. Unanimously approved.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES – June 25, 2025 Mary S Motioned to approve; John W Seconded. Unanimously approved.
INVITED SPEAKERS
- Rep. Adam Smith “A lot going on right now in DC”: overarching frame: focus is on stopping/ reversing Trump’s authoritarian takeover—plus the government shut down which is subset of that fight: “Trump is not obeying the law—using the federal government to undermine the Rule of Law—consolidating as much power as possible.” Many of his [DJT’s] allies are participating, but he wants more power: corrupting ICE, Tariffs, DOJ to allow his friends to commit crimes and persecute his “enemies…” Sued Media but Kimmel was the line too far-with FCC—that got people’s attention! Every day we [Democratic members of Congress] push back on DJT/GOP overreach.: we call out Trump for challenging our core democracy. “…Yes, we care about ‘Kitchen Table’ issues—but Americans also care about Due Process and people being kidnapped off their neighborhood streets. They care about tariffs on Brazil, India, China—[DJTs] random authoritarian moves—impacts farmers and everyone.” Kitchen Table issues: –grocery prices going up energy prices up due to cancelled projects. Healthcare prices are going up; Inflation is Up; Jobs are down. “We need to do better. American people did vote for Trump—so how do we win some of them back. We have to reach out and make connections. Let’s address some of that…”. AS: Need to be tactical about campaigns and candidates. People need to show up. We’re going to have to work to turn this around. The budget fight covers all of this—if we don’t fix these [ACA] tax credits it will affect MILIONS. Focus attention on Trump’s anti-democratic actions. He cannot spend money [constitutionally] any way he wants. AS: “Shout out to all of our local NO Kings rallies—people were Peaceful and Passionate in large numbers: 7 million nationally and it got to Trump… We have momentum and need to keep building: Dems stand for increased equality, increased opportunity. But so many people are struggling to pay the bills. I’ve been making this argument on NPR and national media all weekend! I am committed to to this fight!” Trump is blocking [constitutionally allocated] funds to Democratic states—when we [Dem controlled states] pay more money into the treasury! ‘If you [GOP controlled congress] cut off our education funding—then we are not obligated to give you our [tax] money. “We have a massive coalition—spans a lot of perspectives—but we lost to Trump. Just like the Mariners, we have to own our mistakes—we have to fight and be passionate and build back our support.” Q: Ukraine weapons?? AS: In the last month Trump has started to realize Putin is the problem—we have to push this forward—talking about lifting restrictions on weapons. And now the Press has been kicked out of the Pentagon—how is our oversight role being saved—firing all the federal IG’s, all senior level officers who were not “loyal,” …now we see the results with Trump’s extrajudicial killings [of Venezuelans by bombing these small boats]. AS “The admin from start has not included Congress on any of this! I talked to [Airforce] Gen. Dan Caine [Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff] at the Pentagon today—he would not answer my questions (said it’s classified ) so he would not give me any info. This is the constitution. It is my job to know these things. Trump is blocking access to basic info on military strategy—using our military for extrajudicial killings –what else is he doing? To thwart free and fair elections… Chirag@electadamsmith.com Message me anytime!
- Rep. Kim Schrier: “Very good to see you all—I listened to Adam’s report—I can’t add too much. I feel the same despair we are all feeling— Demo-ing the East Wing, using the military to police our cities, all of this is what a monarch does. We’re seeing all of it now in spades. Other countries that have been down this road, Hungary & Poland—moved far slower than what Trump is doing.” We have little power in Congress right now—so people need to be out in the streets, every day if possible. phone calls to my office are 80% ’Don’t give in– Hold the line on the shutdown’.” We have limited leverage—so the budget is where we can make a difference for every American! We need to be damn sure that dollars$$ go where WE [congress] want them to go, We have no control right now to direct funds where they need to go. Have been approved to go. With so many cuts by DOGE—federal grant funds distribution is not happening. We’ll have to repair so much of our infrastructure once we [Dems] get back in power. KS: While Adam is back in DC—”I’ve been all around the 8thCD talking to people about what we can do if the premiums are going up—it’s hitting quickly, open enrollment starts Nov 1 and people are not going to be able to afford their insurance; and if they don’t sign up—they’ll have missed the window for the rest of 2026! The urgency is NOW!” We still have our eye on the rest of these issues. Please reach out if you ever have any questions or requests from the campaign, you can reach me at info@drkimschrier.com or call me at (415) 715-4725.
Kelsey Barrans Pierce County Charter Review Committee, Position 1 Campaign Update: “Thank you for getting out and doorbelling the past few weeks. I have a series on social media about the Charter review process: Instagram and FB”: Every 10 years we elect 3 people from each of 7 positions of the County, 21 people total on the Charter Review Committee: we review the elections and guidelines founding document for Pierce County government. Does it meet the needs of the county? Any changes suggested will go on the ballot in next voting cycle.
TIME OF SHARING Attendees shared their recent actions to support our community and democracy. XX was a safety monitor at Enumclaw rally. 10 counter-protesters, 800 attended No Kings Rally. XX also was there and at Bonney Lake weekly protest on Sundays by Costco. Judi C has started a google group Champions of Democracy—the next day we were out there on Sunday on 410 at the Costco.
BREAK
NEW BUSINESS
OFFICER & COMMITTEE REPORTS
- Treasurer’s Report Mary S: Summarized the latest report. Showed the latest info from bank statement and compared to the monthly PDC report to balance. Some differences indicate that certain checks haven’t been recorded yet or there are fees that have been taken. Q: Are there funds available to still be distributed to 31st LD candidates? $750 for 3 candidates. Robin M Motioned to allocate an additional $250 to Erica Thomas; $250 to Kelsey Barrans; & $250 to Tamara Strammel in campaigns fund budget. Mary S Seconded. Robin M advocated for funds to be spent now in these close campaigns. Erica has a new flyer for mailing, Tamara also, and Kelsey just printed more lit for doorbelling: voice vote: Unanimously approved to allocate funds for candidates. Mary S motioned to accept Treasurers Report. Robin M seconded. The Report is unanimously approved:
- Other Reports Sarah Edwards. Thanx to all who showed up at Enumclaw last weekend. If you like this activity—join us on 410 on Sundays. Thank you to Matthew and Cora for cleaning up the website. Please join us on canvassing the next 2 weekends Sat at 1pm Sunset Park in Lakeland hillsand Orting for the School Bond—still trying to get this passed.
Moving our meeting to third Wed in November (thanksgiving) same time. Holiday party will be at the Grange Sta Dec 6th. Good Food & friends. Potluck! Lowkey lots of fun.
(4) more canvasses / doorbelling –Candidates and volunteers have been knocking hundreds of doors—thank you to all who have come out. Special Thank you to Helen M for training Mary as our new Treasurer and also TY to Rudy. Tamara S: Rudy and I Tamara went to state central meeting: DNC members reported on process of appointment process—more democratic process, now WA has appointed people on the National board. Increases diversity and youth participation. In Maine-the DNC & dem caucuses are not connected –the DNC is not taking a side. The VoteBuilder issue has been pushed further out –pricing etc. costs oer campaign has been increasing and are not fairly weighted. Being re-evaluated. The DNC provides VB for free to all states, so some states do not charge candidates for access. WA believes that If you can’t raise sufficient funds to pay for VB, then you prob can’t raise enough $$ to run a campaign. Judi C also attended the meeting: people who may be interested in attending the state convention of 2026. If you have opinions or issues about policies –then you may be interested in attending.
GOOD AND WELFARE
ADJOURNMENT Tamara S motioned to adjourn, Paul A. seconded. Meeting adjourned. See you on the third Wed in Nov. 11/19/25
