President’s Message August 2024

What a summer in politics! I kept thinking, how do I frame this for my students? For many of them, this is the first presidential election that they are really tuned into. What a strange and historic election season. I am reminded of the famous curse, “may you live in interesting times.”  

At the local level, Douglas County just had a very consequential primary election, although voter turnout was only 18.5% (in the county). In our August board meeting, we mulled over what more we can do to help folks realize that their votes really do matter – and that opting out has consequences. You can help by volunteering at one of our tabling events before the general election. If you’re new and not sure what that entails, just come for an hour even if all the “slots” are filled and someone will show you the ropes. Feel free to email me or one of the Voter Services chairs to let them know you are interested and one of us will help you out!

Speaking of Voter Services, I want to welcome Fahryn Hoffman as a new co-chair for Voter Services. Fahryn is an attorney for the Department of Health and Human Services. She is also hosting (with her husband Chris White) our annual Garage Sale on Saturday, September 7th. Please support the sale by donating items and shopping. Proceeds will support the scholarship fund, and when we meet our goal the rest will be donated to the Suffragist Memorial.

I hope you all will be able to attend one or more of the general election candidate forums and Civic Engagement 101 events this fall. If anyone is interested in bringing refreshments to these events, please email me. 

Thanks again for you support for the League and commitment to civic engagement in Lawrence and Douglas County. Looking forward to seeing you out there this election season!

Ballot Resolution Committee Update

The committee researching resolution 7442 met August 8th and created a one-page flier for voter education, to be distributed at tabling events. The board approved this material at the August meeting. The text of the flier is below. Please join us for the Civic Engagement 101 event about this resolution on Thursday, October 3, at 6:00 pm at the library. 

Resolution 7442 is on the General Election ballot for November 2024

1. Direct election of a non-partisan mayor (at-large) to a four-year term. Duties would be established by ordinance and would include presiding over meetings, strategic planning, appointments to advisory boards, and ceremonial roles. The mayor would only vote to break a 3-3 tie among the city commissioners. 

2. The governing body would have six non-partisan commissioners, four of whom would represent four districts established within the city, and two of whom would represent the city at-large. Each commissioner would serve four-year terms of office, with those terms being staggered, so no more than three seats would be open for election at any time.

Pros:

●      More districts (going from 5 to 6) is more democratic because there is more representation divided by population numbers.

●      Creating districts is more democratic because commissioners elected by neighborhoods will be more accountable to their constituents. It will be easier for commissioners to know and be in tune with their constituents if there are fewer of them and they are geographically concentrated.

●      Districting may create more incentives for good candidates to run and educate themselves about city government if they feel they are truly representing their neighborhood.

●      A directly elected mayor is accountable to the whole city, not just one district, and provides greater focus and continuity in the role.

●      Campaigns for mayor could improve discussions about our city’s future and increase residents’ interest in local government.

Cons:

●      No one knows how district boundaries will be created; all districts would be determined only if the resolution is approved after the November election.

●      Districting doesn’t necessarily mean that there will be more qualified candidates. Not that many people are really familiar with or interested in city government. It’s already hard to get representation from over 12 neighborhoods at the Lawrence Association of Neighborhoods (LAN) meetings.

●      Any directly elected mayor at-large will be the candidate who raises the most money for campaign signs and ads. This system would favor the most well-funded candidate.

●      A directly elected mayor would be beholden to special interest groups that fund their campaign.

●      The current system is preferable because the mayor is based on who received the most votes at large in the last election.

A webinar arranged by Women for Kansas as part of their chapter meeting on August 11 featured Dr. Betsy Wickstrom, a maternal fetal medicine physician, who described Project 2025 and how to successfully tell others about this very concerning plan created by the Heritage Foundation.  I participated in the webinar; the following are my notes from Dr. Wickstrom’s presentation.

The Heritage Foundation, a private conservative organization, has written a lengthy blueprint for dismantling the federal government which they propose to be enacted the next time an administration is in office that agrees with their views. To be clear, Project 2025 is not the official platform of a political party.  It is an anti-democratic plan that does not guarantee rights to all Americans.

Project 2025 proposes to fIre federal employees who do not support conservative views and replace them with Heritage Foundation loyalists.  Some key proposals of Project 2025 include…

• Control reproductive healthcare with a national ban on abortion.  Limit free access to birth control.  

• End work to reverse climate change

• Undermine public education by dismantling the National Department of Education and diverting taxpayer support of education to vouchers for private schools. Abolish Head Start.

• Restructure the Justice Department by stripping the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division, which is responsible for enforcing the federal laws that protect the right to vote

• Raise taxes for average Americans and cut taxes for wealthy and corporations

• Create greater tariffs on imported goods.

• Limit rights of LGBTQIA+ Americans

• Eliminate due process in detaining and deporting illegal immigrants; discriminate against certain groups for legal immigration.

• Unlimited power to the president

• Remove child tax credit

• Privatize healthcare, Social Security, the National Weather Service, and other government services

What can we do to keep Project 2025 from being enacted?

• Learn more about Project 2025 and question candidates about their support of Project 2025 so you can defend democracy by stopping this radical agenda at the ballot box.  

• Empower voters by talking to your friends and family to be sure they are informed about Project 2025. 

• If you would like to watch the webinar, the recording is on YouTube.

Submitted by Carol Williamson

Lawrence Suffragists: A Walking Tour at Oak Hill Cemetery

Tuesday, September 24 and 25, 5:30-7:00 p.m.

The lives of suffragists in Lawrence are such a big story that we will take two nights to learn about them. The first night will introduce you to 11 women, including France Schlegel Carruth, Charles & Mary Langston, Dr. Lucy Hobbs Taylor, and Sarah A. Brown. On the second night, meet 11 more, including Kate Stephens, Charles & Sara Robinson, Genevieve H. Chalkley, and Lizzie S. Sheldon. A portion of registration fees will support the Kansas Suffragist Memorial mural at the Kansas State Capitol Building. Tour guide: Jeanne Klein. Fee: $27 (Locations TBA)

Register for Activity #727409 at Life-Long Learning, Parks & Rec 

The LWVUS National Convention was held in Washington, DC and virtually June 27-30.  Our local League delegates were Cille King (virtual delegate), Kristin Salmans (in-person delegate), and Carol Williamson (virtual delegate). 

The convention was effectively led by our LWVUS President, Dr. Sania Irwin.  She led with patience, pleasant perseverance, and passion.  There is no shortage of opinions when you get over 1000 LWV members together, and Dr. Irwin navigated the parliamentary procedures deftly. A new board was elected, the budget approved and bylaws were amended with minor changes. There were bylaws changes suggested that would allow free student members of LWVUS, but those suggested changes were defeated. Dr. Irwin was elected to continue on the board as Vice President and our new president is Dianna Wynn of North Carolina. Dianna celebrated in her remarks that in a recent national poll, the League is the most trusted voice in politics.

We engaged in a wonderful tribute to our former LWVUS President, Dr. Deborah Turner who died suddenly in January.  Dr. Turner’s niece spoke and told us, “She (Dr. Turner) made me want to be a better person.” We were reminded that Dr. Turner challenged League members that “We hold the power to create a more perfect democracy,” and that (on the overturning of Roe in 2022) “We must use our anger as fuel for action.”

The LWVUS Board announced the hiring of a new Executive Director, Celina Stewart.  Celian spoke to the convention and called Leaguers “Firefighters of democracy - running toward the fire with all the tools we have in our arsenal - studies, charts, lawsuits, and all of our sass.”   She was formerly Senior Advocacy Director and Chief Council for LWVUS.

Program Adoption: It was approved to readopt the Making Democracy Work Program Campaign that focuses on redistricting reform, voting rights protection, improving elections, money in politics, and direct election of the President.  An amendment was defeated to add “restoring reproductive rights” to the language of Making Democracy Work.  A concurrence was approved on the LWV of Washington State’s position on the decline of local news and its impact on democracy.  A 1 year study on the independence of the federal judiciary was approved. 

In a session on National Organizational and Corporate Partnerships we learned about LWVUS Partnerships and got ideas for local organizations and partnerships we might engage to provide voter information to these potential partners and from whom we might ask for donations for the Suffragist Memorial or other League activities.

At the end of the conventions, attendees gave Instructions to the LWVUS Board, including…

Re: LWVUS Transformation: It was an omission in the conference program that there was no session on the progress of the Transformation that will be implemented in January 2025 with a new website, Chapter Spot, where all dues will be paid to LWVUS and shared with state and local Leagues. 

Re: LWVUS emails:  LWVUS is sending out so many fundraising emails, some members are not paying attention to any LWV email - local, state or national. 

Attending a LWVUS convention gives perspective on League initiatives and is a place to glean ideas and inspiration to act locally.