Time flies when you are not paying attention. Summer is nearly gone and we will be coming up on the biggest fund raiser of the year for the Weld Dems. I know it is easy to be distracted with tariffs and pedophile files, and funerals for the famous, flooding and fires and billion-dollar boondoggles, but we really need to have your attention to help us battle billionaires! Here in Weld County, we are so fortunate to have so many excellent, qualified candidates stepping up to take on the challenges of state and congressional leadership. We have already seen many candidates stepping up with many donors and dollars. It is a great start, but these candidates are going to need even more help, your help, our help if they are going to be able to surmount the dark money funneled to MAGA and project 2025 candidates. I know so many of you have stepped up to show up and protest so many injustices and assaults on our Democracy. Now is the time to put your money where your mouth is.

I know many of you think; well, that candidate is not in my district or there is plenty of time to donate, and I will do it later, or how will any of these local races even affect me? I want to tell you a story… Once a contented little house mouse observed the farmer’s wife laying mouse straps in the kitchen and basement. He became very distraught. He ran out to his farm animal friends and said, “Oh Ms. Hen, the farmer’s wife has laid mousetraps to kill me, can you help me stay safe? The hen said, “Well I never go in the house, this sounds like a you problem.” The little mouse went to his friend, the pig. The pig said, “I am taking a mud bath now and have no time to think about your problems. try back next month.” The mouse then saw his friend the cow and asked the same pleading questions. The cow looked at him and said, “It looks like you are the only one this problem is a problem for, I suggest you find a way to help yourself as this does not affect me.” The troubled mouse went back into the farmhouse carefully hiding in the hole in the wall. That night there was a loud snap in the basement. The farmer’s wife went down to the traps and found a large venomous snake in the trap. It rose up and bit the farmer’s wife. She fell terribly ill. So, the farmer killed the chicken to make soup for her. The wife ended up in the hospital and died. Sadly, the farmer slaughtered the pig to make a funeral feast for all who came to mourn. Finally, without his wife, the farmer could not keep up withall the farm needs or pay the medical bills, so he sold the cow for meat. Then he finally sold the farm.

So, you see, even if you don’t think a race, campaign or even what the Democratic party does is of any consequence to you. You may find that many issues affect you, many races will make a difference and if you are not someone who supports democratic causes, issues, candidates or party, there may be grave consequences down the road.

We are seeing that a lot now. Thirty percent of eligible voters here and across the country did not think it mattered if they voted. They believed that their voting or not voting really didn’t affect the outcome of anything. How different things might be now for immigrants, documented and undocumented alike. How different might it be for Gaza. How different it might be for healthcare and education and childcare and cost of living if they had voted. This all brings me back to you. How will you respond when we ask for help and funding to make voter registration a priority? Will you step up and help us find candidates for all of the upcoming races, House District, Senate District, County Commissioners, City Councils, Mayors, school boards, District Attorney, Sherriff and County Clerk? Will you help keep our all-volunteer office open and help us keep Democrats informed? Will you help fund our caucus and assembly next year to pick primary candidates?

All of our election and campaign efforts start now. On August 16 our big fundraiser, The Roosevelt Dinner, will be held at the UNC Campus Commons in Greeley. Our guest speaker will be Congressman Joe Neguse. I am sure he will have a lot to say regarding what is going on in Washington, and how we can best battle billionaires. Tickets for a nice dinner and evening with like-minded Democrats is $100. You can also meet many of the other candidates running and decide to whom you will give your support. Even if you can’t attend, you can donate funds to pay for a student or volunteer to be able to attend. Please hurry though, we need reservations by August 3. We also have a silent auction. If you would like to donate a basket or pay to have one put together, please contact our office and Julie will get back to you. You can buy tickets through ActBlue or send in a check to the office (Weld County Democrats, 710 11th Ave Ste L10 Greeley CO 80631). But do so right away.

Thank you! We cannot do anything without your support. Democracy is a precious thing, and we are working to ensure that it stays alive and well in Weld County. I look forward to seeing you at the Roosevelt Dinner.

Bev Wallace, Vice Chair