NEWSLETTER
January 24, 2024
Letter from the Chair
Dear Coconino Democrats and Friends,
While I’m not fond of resolutions, I am a huge proponent of reflection and reckoning.
It’s been eight years since I put on my pink hat and marched in Washington DC with hundreds of thousands of women and allies to protest the incoming administration. The memory of that day continues to inspire me as we march on into Election 2024.
As President Biden has said many times, there is nothing we cannot accomplish when we work together.
We have accomplished a tremendous amount of work over the past year: registering hundreds of voters across the County, hosting the Arizona for Abortion Access hub, producing 18 individual community events, a weekly presence at the Community Farmer’s Market, serving meals at the Family Food Center, Happy Hours for candidates, and more. We began this year with a hugely successful Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Donation Drive, delivering warm coats, food, children’s books, clothing, blankets, and toiletries to under resourced community members across Coconino County.
I am grateful to our local Party members and allies, and the tireless efforts you all make to elect more Democrats and improve the lives of our community members. I’m proud to be your Chair, and ready to make 2024 a year of victory!
The learning curve in this role has been steep and sometimes bumpy, so I’m very grateful for the support and guidance I’ve received from the Executive Committee, local leaders, and Party membership. I’m also learning through the rough and tumble reality of experience.
At our recent Action Meeting, I learned that I didn’t yet have the skills to put my commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion to the test. I failed to maintain the order necessary to ensure that our guest felt welcome and included.
Together with other leaders, I’ve sent a formal apology to our guest for her experience and our part in it. I hope you will join me as we engage in a series of courageous conversations about diversity, equity, and inclusion at upcoming Action Meetings.
Together, we can learn how to put the words of our DEI statement into action… and elect more Democrats!
Open this link to find out important election information.
Blue AZ 2024
Forward!
Laura Carter
P.S. Join me in extending a huge thank you our 1st Vice Chair, Joshua Lavar Butler, for designing a fresh new logo for the Coconino Democrats!
Arizona for Abortion Access Ballot Initiative
The Coconino County Democrats office is your local petition hub. We have the Arizona for Abortion Access (AAA) ballot initiative petitions available and ready for circulation.
The AAA Campaign requires that all petition circulators must first complete an official petition circulator training. Right now there are online trainings available by registering with Healthcare Rising and/ or Arizona’s List. The Coconino Democratic Party and Indivisible NAZ are hosting a monthly in-person training. The next will be at 11am, February 17, 2024. If you are interested in attending, please RSVP here.
*Please note in advance, the AAA Coalition requires our circulators to provide your original training date information to check out any petitions from the Flagstaff Hub.
Check out Arizona’s List, Healthcare Rising, our website calendar & our Mobilize page for news, updates, and training information.
- You can stop by on Mondays and Fridays between 11AM-1PM to pick up petitions.
- Get petitions notarized at the office same days, Mondays and Fridays between 11AM-1PM.
- We are looking for volunteers to add new locations and hours to notarize petitions.
- If you are a notary and would like to volunteer services, please email us.
Getting this initiative onto the 2024 ballot will be key to turning out the vote and wining all races from re-electing Biden to flipping our legislature.
*** TONIGHT ***
18 Months without Roe — Petition Signing Event
Wednesday, Jan. 24th, 4pm to 7pm
Sign the Petition to Protect Abortion Access in AZ
Location: Oneo Wine Lounge
22 E. Birch Ave.
January 24th, 2024 marks 18 months since we lost
the protection for access to abortion that Roe vs. Wade provided.
Stop by Oneo Wine Lounge on Wed. Jan. 24th from 4pm to 7pm and
SIGN THE AZ FOR ABORTION ACCESS PETITION
Let’s get politicians out of our healthcare decisions!
Registration is not required for this event. Bring a friend! Volunteer and get involved!
This year’s state legislative session is off and running! Fortunately, we have some great tools for easily tracking proposed bills and communicating with our representatives at the Capitol. One great resource is the non-partisan organization, Civil Engagement Beyond Voting (CEBV). Another is the Request to Speak system from the legislature itself.
CEBV offers written and video information on our state legislative and budget processes, training on how to testify at the Capitol and how to write high-impact letters to the editor, and more. Check their website (https://www.cebv.us/ ) under Resources to get started. They also send a weekly newsletter during the session that highlights and tracks bills that we might most want to weigh in on – those with impacts on our voting rights, our civil liberties, and our social and environmental well-being.
Best of all, CEBV offers easy access to the RTS (Request to Speak) system. Through their website you can request an RTS account – they do the hard work of going to the Capitol in person to get this set up for you. They also offer on-line training and video support in using the system – through which you can indicate your opinion of a proposed bill (thumbs up or down) and offer brief comments.
Our own Legislative Committee, headed by Darrell Boomgaarden, draws upon CEBV as well as other references to recommend weekly action through RTS or other communication with our elected representatives. If you have used RTS in the past, now is the time to dust off your password and account, and dig in for the session on the topics you care most about. If you haven’t used the system before, check out CEBV and use what you find there to inspire you to action.
By: Laura Huenneke
Dear Democrats,
Due to ongoing concerns about the Covid-19 virus, we offer to our members who would like to become Elected Precinct Committee People (PC) in the Democratic Party the option to apply as a write-in candidate rather than collecting signatures. This will allow candidates to follow recommendations for social distancing as we all try to keep ourselves and our community members healthy. It is also more equitable for those of us who live in dispersed communities or lack convenient transportation.
The County Party and the State Democratic Party need your help more than ever in this pivotal Presidential Election year. We need representation from every precinct or neighborhood across the County as we strive to reelect/elect more Democrats in 2024 and the midterm election in 2026.
The term of the Elected PC is October 2024 – 2026. Elected PCs vote in County and State Party elections and may pursue leadership in the County, State, or National Party. A robust PC cohort helps strengthen the Party and gives Coconino County increased representation at the State Party level. Many people are already doing the work of a PC, which is register voters and to encourage Democrats to vote. The job is self-defining; choose two or more activities from a long list of choices: attend monthly meetings, register voters, phone bank, write postcards, volunteer for a Committee or an event, be a monthly donor, be a State Committee Member, circulate petitions, canvass, recruit more members, and more!
Please join the Coconino Democrats Precinct Committeeperson ranks by filling out the “write-in” candidate form for the Precinct Committee Person position.
Mail it to:
Coconino Democrats
PO Box 701
Flagstaff, AZ 86002.
The deadline for write-in applications is April 22, 2024. Please turn in the form by April 19. It must be dated AFTER April 8th, 2024.
We will check your form to make sure it is complete and turn it in for you at the County Recorder’s office. Call our office if you have questions: 928-214-0393
Thank you for participating in leadership with the Coconino County Democratic Party!
***You may still use the nominating petition to get signatures for the position of Precinct Committeeperson instead of using the Write-in option. The Elections Office will inform us shortly about how many signatures you need, in years past it has been 10 or fewer. The deadline to apply for Precinct Committeeperson via nominating petition is April 8, 2024.
https://flagstaff.az.gov/DocumentCenter/View/71698/Nomination-Paper—Write-In
2024 Democracy Fair!
Please join the community for a lively afternoon of grassroots campaigning and hard fun. We hope to see 300+ attendees at Coconino High School to meet candidates, sign their petitions and enjoy the camaraderie of Democrats and Democratic allies.
Democratic candidates running for County, State, or National office will address the crowd and meet the voters.
City Council and School Board candidates aligned with the Coconino County Democratic Party will be introduced.
25 local partners and allies have been invited to table at the event. If you know of an organization that aligns with our values, please have them contact us. We are stronger when we act together.
The focus will also be on Voter Registration and Arizona for Abortion Access petitions.
Food truck, children’s activities, and refreshments will be available.
Democracy Fair
Coconino High School Cafeteria
2801 N Izabel St.
Saturday, February 24, 2024
12:00 – 4:00 pm
Please confirm your plans to attend at
If you can volunteer to help, let us know!
Blue Arizona 2024!
Paid for by the Coconino County Democratic Party
Thank you to everyone who volunteered and contributed to the MLK Day Donation Drive!
Please get connected with our PC’s and Volunteers Facebook group!
To share an upcoming event in our bi-monthly newsletter or the monthly events calendar on our website, please email us the details by Friday prior to each newsletter.
Fight for Democracy. Protect our Freedoms.
Support the 2024 Election. Become a monthly donor today.
