August Mono County Democrats Updates
- monocountydemocrat
- 11 minutes ago
- 7 min read
In this newsletter:
Dear Fellow Dems:
Here we are in mid-August, counting down until the midterm election on November 3 when the Dems take back the House, and maybe the Senate. While everyone remains optimistic about the House, much will depend on getting Dems out to vote. The good news is that some late-breaking news might help the Dems, even in the face of the ridiculous partisan gerrymandering started by Trump.
For example, in Ohio, sitting Republican Congressman Max Miller has been accused by his ex-wife of committing acts of violence against her and their young daughter. Even his ex-father-in-law, Ohio Senator Bernie Moreno (also a Republican), said that he should not serve in Congress. Unlike the Democrats who withdraw with any hint of scandal (see, for example, Eric Swalwell and Graham Platner), Miller insists that he will stand for election and will not give up his seat. But clearly this has opened a path for his Democratic opponent, Brian Poindexter.
As much as this is a Congressional race, though, it also is an indication of the ways in which each of the two parties has addressed sexual scandals and violence against women. Starting at the top of the ticket, when he was still a candidate, Donald Trump joked about grabbing women by the p***y and how if you are a celeb you can get away with it. Any number of Republicans seem to have followed his lead, believing that if you are a celeb or have power, you can get away with almost anything. Dems seem to take the opposition position, believing that resigning or not running in the face of such scandal is the right thing to do. And, in the case of Max Miller in Ohio or Cory Mills, a Republican Congressman from Florida, they would prefer to face the voters, which, in effect, opens Republican seats for Democrats.
While the decision ultimately will be up to the voters in their respective districts, this should be a warning to the country about the ethics of the two parties, and ask who they think best represents them and their values.
But I digress. The main thing for us here in Mono and Inyo Counties should be to focus on what is ahead for us and what we can do to ensure that Dems take the House.
As we count down until the election, it is also important to remember that the fight to save our democracy will not end on November 4 after the midterm election is over. Instead, we are already thinking about what we will need to do to get ready for 2028. It is important to build the infrastructure now that we will need to keep the momentum going forward into the presidential election.
While it appears to many of us that our world is all Trump all the time, the reality is that he will be gone as of January 2029, and hopefully, with a Democrat replacing him. Some of what Trump has done will be undone by the next president; for example, there is no reason that the United States Institute of Peace will continue to bear Trump’s name, and that institutions, such as that one, can resume doing the good work for which they were created.
Until then, we have to keep fighting. We, as Democrats, have to look out for and protect that which is in the common good. We can do that if we work together!
-Joyce Kaufman
Mono County Democratic Central Committee Chair
Chair: Joyce P. Kaufman (June Lake) jpkaufman70@gmail.com
Vice chair: Urs Willimann (Bridgeport) willimann.urs@gmail.com
Comptroller: OJ Zeleny (Mammoth Lakes) ojz@mac.com
Recording Secretary: Rosemarie Willimann (Bridgeport) rawillimann@yahoo.com
Ways to Get Involved
Day of Action
On Sunday, August 30, we are going to join the statewide day of action. Planned for August 29 and 30, the focus is going to be on reaching voters in rural areas for a “Rural Coalition Day of Action.” Although the activities are not limited to rural areas, the goal here is to remind voters, officeholders, and members of the State Party that rural voices matter.
The activities of the "Rural Voices United: Weekend of Action" will include coordinating with existing canvassing around the state and/or creating new canvassing events in various communities. We will be canvassing in both Bishop and Mammoth, with an emphasis on getting information out for Congressional candidate Michael Masuda and Senate candidate Jaron Brandon.
Mammoth Action: This is the link to join us in Mammoth: https://mobilize.us/s/bGuzl3. We will meet at Chris Bubser’s house at about 2:30 on Sunday, August 30, for training and to assign turfs, and will go from there.
Bishop Action: If you are interested in canvassing in Bishop, they will be canvassing on Saturday, August 29, from 9:00 to 12:00. The link to join that canvass is: https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/1008310/.
By the way, Mammoth is going to do this on Sunday because the Celebration of Life for our founding mother, Wilma Wheeler, will be on Saturday, August 29.
CADEM Chair Rusty Hicks always says that the road to taking the House runs through California, and he is correct. That will be especially true in 2026 with Trump desperately trying to hold on to the slim Republican majority, which is looking less and less likely.
But a Democratic victory is by no means guaranteed, and we still have work to do. Some of that work involves reaching out to voters in the four critical districts in California.
Phone Banking
Right now, there are two phone banks going on per week, on Tuesdays, from 5:30 to 7:30, for Congressman Derek Tran in CD 45 to help him hold his seat, and against Congressman Darryl Issa in CD 48 to flip that seat. Issa has indicated he does not plan to run, but it is still a Republican seat that we would like to flip.
Then on Thursdays, from 5:30-7:30 PM, for Congressman Adam Gray in CD 13 to help him hold his seat (which he won by just under 160 votes in 2024) and against Republican Congressman Valadao in CD 22. Phone banking is one of the most effective ways to reach voters because of the direct contact and the conversations you can have. Training is provided at the start of each shift.
Please sign up to work the phones if you can. The Mobilize link to sign up is:
Mono Dems Updated Information
According to our finally approved bylaws, we are required to have an organizational meeting each year following the certification of the primary election. We fulfilled that requirement at our August meeting. I was reelected Chair of the Mono Dems, and I humbly accept that honor. Our new Vice President will be Connor Botkin, our Recording Secretary will remain Rosemarie Willimann, and our Comptroller will remain OJ Zeleny. My thanks to those who are willing to step up and become (or remain) officers, and especially to all our members who are working very hard to keep our democracy!
Remember that our meetings are open to the public. We meet the second Monday of the month at 5:00 on Zoom. If you would like to attend, all you have to do is contact me to let me know you are interested, and I will forward the Zoom link and agenda.
Our next meeting will be Monday, September 14, and candidate for State Insurance Commissioner Ben Allen is planning to join us. If you do join a meeting and decide you might be interested in formally becoming a member of our Central Committee, get in touch, and I will let you know the process for doing so.
In Other News
Recognition for our Entry in the July 4th Parade in Mammoth Lakes
On Thursday, August 6, Chris Bubser and I represented the Mono Dems when we received a check for $200 from High County Lumber on behalf of the Mammoth Lakes Chamber of Commerce.
We won second prize for our entry “We the People.” We followed a banner that had those words spelled out in the script used for the Bill of Rights, and then carried signs with each of the ten amendments that make up the Bill of Rights. We gave out copies of the Bill of Rights, and gave American flags and red, white, and blue beads to children lining the parade route.
We felt great about our entry, which was in keeping with the theme of the holiday. While we have not yet talked about it, assuming we do the same thing next year, we are always looking for more people to march with us. Get in touch if you are interested.
No Hot Creek Mine Business Coalition
As you may be aware, our local Hot Creek is being threatened by a gold mining company.
We are now engaging businesses to help support the effort to stop the damage that will be done if this mining moves forward.
Protecting Hot Creek protects our water, our wildlife, and our community. By joining our Business Coalition, you are investing in the future of Hot Creek; the future of our fisheries, our guides, our farmers and ranchers, our wildlife, our water quality, recreation enthusiasts, and millions of tourists who visit Hot Creek each year.
Your support shows customers, visitors, and decision-makers that our business community stands together for a thriving future. Every voice strengthens our collective impact.
Together, we can help preserve the landscapes, waterways, and outdoor experiences that support local businesses and define our community.
Celebration of Life for Wilma Wheeler
A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, August 29th, for our founding mother, Wilma Wheeler, for all who would like to join.
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