Citizens may contact the sub-committee members at the toll-free phone number listed, to urge their support for favorable legislation and opposition to anti-voter empowerment bills noted below. All legislators may be reached at 1-800-449-8366, then enter the extension of their office phone number listed below.

Sub-committee members:

• Rep. Harry Tindell, ext. 2031
• Rep. Eric Yokely, Chair, ext. 6871
• Rep. Joshua Evans, ext. 2860
• Rep. Gary Moore, ext.   4317
• Rep. Jim Coley, ext. 8201
• Rep. Eric Watson, Vice Chair, ext. 7799

Tennessee House State and Local Government Sub-committee on Elections of S&LG Calendar of Bills:

1. *HB0031 by *Hardaway. (SB1840 by *Kyle.)
Election Laws – As introduced, requires a county election commission to accept and not return a mail voter registration form received within seven days prior to the registration deadline if the form lacks postage or has insufficient postage. – Amends TCA Section 2-2-109.
Summary exists for *HB0031

2. HB1857 by *Miller L. (*SB1833 by *Kyle.)
Election Laws – As introduced, clarifies that counties using computerized voting machines are allowed to use ballot-on-demand technology for either early voting, election day voting, or both; requires coordinator of elections to promulgate rules for use of ballot-on-demand technology, including security of machines. – Amends TCA Title 2, Chapter 5.
The Abstract summarizes HB1857 as introduced.

3. *HB0105 by *McCormick. (SB0728 by *Watson.)
Campaigns and Campaign Finance – As introduced, allows corporations to make campaign contributions up to the same limits as individuals, LLCs, or partnerships can contribute. – Amends TCA Title 2, Chapter 10 and Title 2, Chapter 19, Part 1.
The Abstract summarizes HB0105 as introduced.

4. *HB0779 by *McCormick. (SB1149 by *Gresham.)
Election Laws – As introduced, requires coordinator of elections to promulgate rules and regulations to allow certain members of the U.S. armed forces to return an absentee ballot by facsimile transmission or similar electronic means. – Amends TCA Title 2, Chapter 6.
Summary exists for *HB0779

5. HB1719 by *McCormick. (*SB1423 by *Stanley.)
Campaigns and Campaign Finance – As introduced, allows trade and professional associations to fund PACs. – Amends TCA Title 2, Chapter 19, Part 1.
Summary exists for HB1719

6. HB0845 by *Mumpower. (*SB0547 by *Norris, *Black.)
Election Laws – As introduced, requires two additional members be temporarily added to the state election commission if the majority party changes as a result of the 2008 regular November election or any other regular November election every four years thereafter. – Amends TCA Title 2, Chapter 11.
Summary exists for HB0845    [Considered harmful to voter empowerment.]

7. *HB0295 by *Casada, *McDaniel. (SB0305 by *Johnson.)
Election Laws – As introduced, deletes provisions of the “Tennessee Voter Confidence Act” requiring purchase of precinct-based optical scanner voting systems and mandatory hand count audits. – Amends TCA Title 2 and Chapter 1108 of the Public Acts of 2008.
Summary exists for *HB0295   [Considered harmful to voter empowerment.]

8. *HB0614 by *Todd. (SB0872 by *Ketron.)
Election Laws – As introduced, deletes all provisions requiring the purchase of precinct-based optical scanner voting systems only, including language referring to Help America Vote Act funds; deletes mandatory hand count audits of paper ballots created by such machines; deletes language. – Amends TCA Title 2 and Chapter 1108 of the Public Acts of 2008.
The Abstract summarizes HB0614 as introduced.  [Considered harmful to voter empowerment.]

9. HB1770 by *Todd. (*SB1969 by *Norris.)
Election Laws – As introduced, makes various revisions to the election laws including allowing a person to email a transfer of voter registration with a scanned signature and increasing maximum size of precincts from 5,000 voters to 7,500 voters. – Amends TCA Title 2.
Summary exists for HB1770   [Considered harmful to voter empowerment.]

10. HB0519 by *Todd. (*SB0139 by *Ketron.)
Campaigns and Campaign Finance – As introduced, prohibits contributions from PACs after the 10th day before an election to coincide with reporting date of pre-primary and pre-general election statements. – Amends TCA Section 2-10-117.
Summary exists for HB0519

11. HB1838 by *Todd. (*SB1999 by *Norris, *Ketron.)
Election Laws – As introduced, requires citizenship status to be proven prior to registration to vote and requires certain procedures to ensure identity and citizenship status prior to voting. – Amends TCA Title 2 and Title 4.
Summary exists for HB1838    [Considered harmful to voter empowerment.]

Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey calls Senate into session

When the 106th Tennessee General Assembly convened January 13th, along with administering oaths of office and electing Senatorial and House officers, the Tennessee General Assembly also filed a slate of legislative bills for this session. These bills represent the initial onslaught of favored governmental proposals expected be to placed before the now GOP-dominated legislature.

Here is summary listing details of some of the introduced legislation:

SB0003 By Beavers, Election Laws- as introduced, requires a voter to present qualified photographic identity before voting; voters without proper identification shall be allowed to cast a provisional ballot. Amends TCA Title 2, Chapter 7. [House companion bill: HB0009 by Waver]

SB0005 by Ketron, Election Laws- as introduced, requires identification and proof of citizenship for voter registration, requires voters present qualified photo identification before voting, those without valid credentials shall be allowed to cast a provisional that would be counted only after the election commissioner verifies the voter’s status. Amends TCA Title 2, Chapter 2 and Title 2, Chapter 7. [House companion bill: HB0010 by Maggart]

HB0031 by Hardway, Election Laws- as introduced, requires a county election commission to accept and not return a mail voter registration form received within seven days prior to the registration deadline if the form lacks postage or has insufficient postage.

HB0198 by Casada, Election Laws- as introduced, requires election officials to inspect filings for sufficiency and timelines, establishes conclusive presumption that accepted filings are sufficient and timely filed.

SJR0001 by Norris, Constitutional Amendments- adds provisions establishing the right to hunt, fish and harvest game subject to reasonable rules and regulations; establishes standard for reviewing such rules and regulations.

HJR0017 by Moore, Constitutional Amendments- as introduced, extends terms of members of the House of Representatives from two to four years and terms of the Senate from four to six years.

HJR0003 by Kelsey, Constitutional Amendments- Purposes an amendment to clarify the constitutional language that currently prohibits the levying of a tax on any class of income, other than income derived from stocks and bonds, and to prohibit any tax levied on or measured by employer payrolls.

HB0012 by Kelsey, Constitutional Amendments- as introduced, provides that the publication requirement mandated by Article XI, Section 3, is satisfied if the proposed constitutional amendment is timely posted on the official Web site of the Secretary of State or on the official Web site of the General Assembly. [Companion bill SB0111 by Black] Amends TCA Title 3, Chapter 2.

SJR0025 by Black, Constitutional Amendments- as introduced, proposes a constitutional amendment to require a two-thirds vote by the Senate and a two-thirds vote of the House of Representatives in order to approve legislation that seeks an increase in appropriations in excess of the Copeland spending cap for any fiscal year.

SJR0011 by Kyle, Memorials, Congress- Urges Congress to enact the federal stimulus package proposed by the President.

Pre-presidential debate event is well attended with diverse community population. Hispanic/Latino community activists speak out on election, progress, and issues facing all voters.

The Montgomery County Democratic Party Headquarters, 534 Madison Street, served as the host site for the Latinos For Obama House Party. As a prelude to the 2nd presidential debate, the gathering was a well attended affair that drew participants from beyond just the Latino/Hispanic community.

Fabian Bedne, making a point...

Fabian Bedne, an architectural engineer, was the guest speaker for the event. Bedne is a founding member and President of the Middle Tennessee Hispanic Democrats, founding member of the Middle Tennessee Chapter of the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals, the Tennessee Hispanic Voters Coalition PAC, and member of the Executive Committee of the Davidson County Democratic Party.

Bedne has been featured various times in news print, television and recently spoke to Latino Democrats from around the country as an Obama delegate to the Democratic National Convention.

Fabian Bedne addresses voters at MCDP headquarters

Bedne is also a board member of Habitat for Humanity, a founding member of Metro schools’ Comité de Padres Latinos (COPLA) Committee of Latino Parents, member of the Community Relations Committee of the Nashville Jewish Federation, and member of the Tennessee Delegate Selection Plan Committee of the Tennessee Democratic Party. He has also mentored students in the YMCA Hispanic Achievers program.

Parents listen intently as Bedne speaks.

Bedne stated that he is a supporter of educational achievement and economic development. In the past, the Black community and the Latino/Hispanic communities have both received the same political consideration in American politics, namely that of being ignored or taken for granted, marginalized.

“Like the Black community, we know what it is to only see or hear from politicians during an election cycle and after the election, they disappear for four years and forget your name until the next election rolls around.”~~ Fabian Bedne

During his address he noted that issues of concern to the Latino/Hispanic community are the same as with the Black community. He stated that many assume that immigration is the top concern of Latinos and Hispanics but that is incorrect. “We care about the economy, education, the war and then immigration, in that order.”

He also told the gathering that “Hispanics being seen as the largest minority in the United States has resulted in efforts targeting Latinos and Hispanics for specialized intimidation and voter suppression.” Flyers and rumors pour into the communities with misinformation and untruths designed to scare Latinos and Hispanics from seeking to register or go to the polls to vote. Bedne stated that many Latinos and Hispanics come from a background where law enforcement is not an true agent of public service for the common citizen but rather an extension of the power structure to suppress the people.

“It takes an intensive education effort to undo that kind of conditioning. Sadly there are political operatives here in this country who prey upon the immigrants ingrained fears of police to discourage our community from fully participating in the American system of government.” ~~ Fabian Bedne

Bedne stated that education is important, on many levels. “You can’t educate the child if the parents aren’t involved. Yet many Latinos/Hispanics have many issues which prevent them from being involved in their children’s education. Lack of English language proficiency and the quest for profitable employment are chief among these issues.”

“This is a great country. For us, prior to coming here, we only know what we see in the movies. But when we get here, we stay here because we see just how great life is in the United States. The Latino/Hispanic community is not trying to tear down this country, quite the opposite.”~~ Fabian Bedne

They recognize the promise that is America and seek to participate in that ideal.

During the question and answer session that followed his address, an audience member asked, ” “How do you answer someone who tells you vote your biblical heritage?” Another individual responded saying, “I would tell them, my biblical heritage tells me to vote for someone who will help the poor, who will feed the hungry, who will shelter the homeless and clothe the naked and drive the moneychangers out of the temples. Someone who will do unto his fellowman as he or she would wish done for himself.” This response was soundly applauded.

Other Latino community activists in attendance were also introduced to the gathering.

Yoland Echezarria (at left), a Fort Campbell Middle school teacher, is also a voter registration volunteer in the Hispanic community, indicating the value she places on the rights and responsibility of individuals to not only register to vote but to show up at the polls and vote.

Angel Natal, (at right with Frankie DeJesus), is a member of the Clarksville Fire Department and is also active in voter registration activity, promoting educational achievement and community organizing.

Frankie DeJesus is a student at Austin Peay State University, a member of the APSU College Democrats, and Director of Minority Affairs for the State Federation of College Democrats Outreach to the Minority Community.

Candidates for public office were then acknowledged.

Candy Johnson (at right), candidate for City Council Ward 5, David Cutting, candidate for City council Ward 8, Tim Barnes (above right), Democratic candidate for State Senate District 22 and State Rep. Joe Pitts, State House District 67 were presented to the gathering. Socializing followed with refreshments being served as everyone waited for the second presidential debate, live from Belmont University to begin.

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]]> http://www.clarksvilleonline.com/2008/10/09/latinos-for-obama-house-party-is-a-full-house/feed/ 0 http://www.clarksvilleonline.com/2008/10/07/residents-turn-out-in-record-numbers-for-voter-registration/ http://www.clarksvilleonline.com/2008/10/07/residents-turn-out-in-record-numbers-for-voter-registration/#comments Tue, 07 Oct 2008 07:00:01 +0000 Christine Anne Piesyk http://www.clarksvilleonline.com/?p=10220 In Montgomery County on Friday, October 3, the line of prospective voters stretched snakelike inside the building, out the door, and down the sidewalk: black, white, Hispanic, old, young. Soldiers, students, young moms, older men. All ready to sign on the dotted line. Today, October 6, the last day to register to vote, some 80 people were in line at 2:30 in the afternoon, patiently waiting to register. At Montgomery County Democratic Party headquarters on Saturday, several dozen prospective voters registered, with another 15 coming through the door by noon Monday.

With just hours to go, prospective voters wait in line to register at the Montgomery County Election Commission.

Kandi Johnson and Adam Green politicking at University Drive and Madison Street on Monday.

Given the appalling primary turnout (12%) in Montgomery County, this burst of energy and interest in the upcoming election is, to say the least, both refreshing and inspiring.

Political pundits are accustomed to voting records and voter histories to predict the course of any given election. It remains to be seen what this surge of “new blood” will bring to the politcal battlefield. What it does say is that initial interest sparked over the Iraq conflict and issues such as immigration has exploded into serious concern about the U.S. economy.

Hey, Washington. Pay attention. The people you represent are about to speak. Loudly. In greater numbers, it seems, than we have seen in decades.

The line was 80-deep at mid-afternoon at the Election Commission office.

]]> http://www.clarksvilleonline.com/2008/10/07/residents-turn-out-in-record-numbers-for-voter-registration/feed/ 0 http://www.clarksvilleonline.com/2008/10/01/montgomery-county-voters-call-to-action/ http://www.clarksvilleonline.com/2008/10/01/montgomery-county-voters-call-to-action/#comments Wed, 01 Oct 2008 17:37:28 +0000 Terry McMoore http://www.clarksvilleonline.com/?p=9841

35 days and counting until Election Day!

The Montgomery County Democratic Party and Clarksville for Obama encourage everyone age 18 and up to register to vote and to encourage their friends to register, by either going to the Election Commission of on Pageant Lane or by registering online  at www.ClarksvilleForObama.com .

The last day to register to be eligible to vote in the general election is OCT. 6^th.

The MCDP and Clarksville for Obama are also seeking volunteers to work in the Madison Street office. if you are interested, please call 552-5523.

Join Obama eGroup: http://my.barackobama.com/page/group/ClarksvilleforObama

The following is a list of upcoming events:

Mass Voter Registration Drive and Rally will be held October 4 at Montgomery County Democratic Party Headquarters at 534 Madison St. from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. We will have plenty of food and guest speakers at this event. This will be our last push to register people before the last day to register to vote Oct 6^th.

RSVP: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/voterregistrationdrive/gshf75

Latinos for Obama House Party will be held October 7 at Montgomery County Democratic Party Headquarters at  534 Madison St. at 6:00 p.m.  Guest speaker for the event Fabian Bedne, chairman of the Middle Tennessee Hispanic Democratics. Join Latino Leaders, Pastors, Community Leaders and concerned citizens for a get together of Barack Obama supporters.

RSVP: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/meeting/gs78dj

2^nd Presidential Debate Watch Party will be held October 7 at 8 p.m. at Montgomery County Democratic Party Headquarters 534 Madison St.. The debate will be broadcast live from Belmont University Nashville TN.

RSVP: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/debatewatchparty/gsh884

An Early Voting Rally will be held October 18 at Veterans Plaza Parking Lot (located near the Public Library) at 10 a.m.. Join all Democrat candidates at a rally setup to encourage early voting and to energize all Democratic Party members. After the rally we will all go inside the Election Commission to vote as a group!

We encourage you to come out and participate in all the election season campaign events. RSVP not required to attend events but all eGroup members should RSVP online to these events.

]]> http://www.clarksvilleonline.com/2008/10/01/montgomery-county-voters-call-to-action/feed/ 0 http://www.clarksvilleonline.com/2008/09/24/naacp-power-justice-freedom-voter-registration-rally-planned/ http://www.clarksvilleonline.com/2008/09/24/naacp-power-justice-freedom-voter-registration-rally-planned/#comments Wed, 24 Sep 2008 16:00:38 +0000 News Staff http://www.clarksvilleonline.com/?p=9697 On Friday, September 26, hundreds of Tennessee NAACP unit presidents and members, along with the community will hold a “Register to Vote for Power, Justice & Freedom Rally” Friday, September 26, at 2:00 p.m. on the Austin Peay University Campus at  Pettus Park, across from the APSU Dunn Center.

Tennessee NAACP members will be in Clarksville for their 62nd Annual State Conference, to be held at the Riverview Inn Hotel at 501 College Street in Clarksville. The NAACP is one of the leading organizations in this country and continues to fight for the rights of people in this country.

With only one week to go before the voter registration deadline on October 6, the NAACP wants to mobilize its members and the community to register, new voters before the deadline, and begin their “Get Out The Vote” Campaign.

Early voting in Tennessee will start on October 15. Tennessee still has over 100,000 un-registered voters in the state.

“People need to realize that voting in this election will affect our lives and our communities for years to come. Everything in this Country is broken, our economy, our health care system, and the rights of workers.  It is time you stand up and make your voice heard by voting.”  ~~ Marilyn Brown, Chair of the State Labor and Industry Committee

Speakers include, Mrs. Gloria J. Sweet-Love, President of the Tennessee State Conference, Mr. Fred Hammond, International Vice President of Human Affairs for the United Steel Workers, Keith Caldwell, Director of the Urban EpiCenter and Stephen Fotopoulos, Director Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition and local advocates and community leaders.

Please call the Tennessee NAACP State Office at (731) 660-5580 or email for further information.

Local fund raiser highlighted by enthusiastic crowd and lively speakers. Montgomery County Democratic Party partners with Clarksville for Obama to stage the event. Democratic State Senate District 22 nominee Tim Barnes shares in event spotlight.

Clarksville for Obama, with an assist from the Montgomery County Democratic Party, held a fund raiser Thursday night  at the IAM Local # 129 Union Hall on 1296 Union Hall Rd.

U.S. Senate Candidate Bob Tuke and Senate District 22 candidate Tim Barnes were among the guest speakers, a roster that included candidates for state and national offices on the November ballot, and representatives of both the Democratic Party and Labor Unions.  Approximately 155 people attended the event.

Gene Lewis, MCDP chair, stood in for Kim McMiillan, who was unable to attend, as moderator for the event. He introduced each of the program’s speakers to address the gathering.

Bob Tuke (center, left), candidate for 7th US Senate District, commended Clarksville for Obama and the Montgomery County Democratic Party. He praised the county for its strong Democratic Party tradition. He additionally hailed State Senate District 22 nominee Tim Barnes.

Tuke then cited Senator Barack Obama as a “great candidate” and declared he would make a fantastic president. He declared the current financial crisis, “is not an accident, it isn’t cyclic. It’s the result of mismanagement.” He noted that “President Obama” will need a supportive Senate and that means having at least sixty democratic votes in the Senate.

“I want to be that 60th vote that will end the Republicans filibusters. Barack and I need your help to make that happen.” — Bob Tuke

Tim Barnes , State Senate District 22 nominee, “To my many supporters, from the bottom of my heart, Thank You!” He declared that:

“There is nothing more powerful than a group of people dedicated to a cause. I stand here before you as living proof of that you can make a difference. It is essential we take this fight to the people. Senator Obama has the opportunity to straighten out the mess of George W. Bush and Dick Cheney.”

He added that the unique thing about Senator Obama is that, “He’s not telling us what we want to hear, he’s telling us what we NEED to hear!”

Randy Morris, candidate for US Congressional District 7, spoke out about Rep. Marsha Blackburn, regarding her 90 percent track record of voting with the Bush administration: “Poor Marsha, she never got it an she never will!” He supports Senator Obama’s energy program, saying, “We are going to have to get off our oil dependence. ‘Drill, baby, drill,’ sounds cute but it’s not the answer to our energy problems. We have to go with renewable resources.”

Wade Munday, communications director of the Tennessee Democratic Party, told the crowd of looking forward to seeing Bob Tuke retire Lamar Alexander in the US Senate and Tim Barnes sitting at the District 22 seat in the State Senate. He declared that with Barack Obama in the White House and Bob Tuke in the US Senate, Democrats are ready to take control and change this nation for the better. Jerry Lee, president of AFL-CIO Tennessee State Council, spoke next. He told the gathering that “our country must turn around. We must change our nation’s direction. We must elect Barack Obama as president.”

Tyrone Taylor (left), communications director for Clarksville for Obama, enthralled the gathering, saying that “Barack’s message of change, of empowerment was simply too powerful to resist. The Republicans view our situation as natural. It’s no big deal. They represent the past. We democrats represent the future.”

Jerry Martin, director of Tennessee for Obama, told the crowd that Montgomery county is going to be blue in November. Martin noted that “Tennessee is counted as a red state but in reality that is only a superficial cover. Our everyday politics are invariably blue. In June 2006, there were 3.5 million registered voters in Tennessee. In June 2007, that number had grown to 3.8 million registered voters.” He urged the group by October 6, 2008, (ed: the deadline to register for the 2008 election) to make that number more than 4 million.

Martin also spoke of various attempts to disparage Senate Obama, false attacks on his name, his religion, and his character. He urged everyone to refer to the website, <www.stopthesmears.com> for factual information and counter arguments to refute these false attacks being circulated by his opponents. He told the supporters to respond to these untruths by referring the doubters to “stopthesmears.com” and ask if they know that Senator McCain (a) voted against the Women’s Fair Pay Act and (b) wants to tax their health care benefits. Martin said that September 30 will be celebrated as “Obama Blue Day,” a day when all Barack Obama supporters are asked to wear the color blue and register two unregistered voters.

Refreshments for this popular event included a variety of deli sandwiches with condiments, chips and pastry desserts and soft drinks. The serving line, manned by Clarksville for Obama volunteers, moved the procession along smoothly and efficiently. Additionally, Campaign Obama t-shirts and yard signs were available for purchase. These tables were well visited.

Obama bumper stickers, buttons, t-shirts and yard signs, along with material for other campaigns, are also available at the party headquarters. Volunteer campaign workers are welcome. The next General Membership meeting of the Montgomery County Democratic Party is Tuesday, September 23, at party headquarters at 534 Madison Street, located at the corner of Madison Street and University Avenue, across from United Church of Christ. All Democrats and Democratic supporters are encouraged to attend.

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New NAACP President and CEO Benjamin Todd Jealous

Benjamin Todd Jealous is president-elect of the NAACP, the nations oldest civil rights organization. When he assumes office in September 2008, the former news executive, activist and Rhodes scholar will be the youngest president and CEO in the organization’s 99-year history.

Currently, Jealous is President of the Rosenberg Foundation, a private independent institution that supports advocacy efforts on behalf of California’s working families. Under his leadership, the Foundation has significantly expanded its support of groups working to expand employment opportunities for formerly incarcerated people, as well as those that work to make economic development in the Bay Area more accountable to local residents’ needs.

Previously, Jealous served as Director of the U.S. Human Rights Program at Amnesty International. While at Amnesty, he led its efforts to pass federal legislation against prison rape, rebuild public consensus against racial profiling in the wake of the September 2001 terrorist attacks, and expose the widespread sentencing of children to life without the possibility of parole.

He is the lead author of the 2004 report Threat and Humiliation: Racial Profiling, Domestic Security, and Human Rights in the United States, the release of which received coverage by major media outlets in most states and on six continents.

Jealous, whose parents have been civil rights activists since the 1950s, organized his first voter registration drive at age 14. At age 18, he began working for the NAACP Legal Defense Fund as a community organizer in Harlem.

At age 21, Jealous moved to Mississippi to work as a field organizer as part of a successful campaign to stop the state’s plan to close two of its three public historically black universities, and convert one of them into a prison. During that time, he took a job at the Mississippi’s Jackson Advocate newspaper investigating human rights abuses. His reporting for the frequently firebombed weekly paper was credited with exposing corruption amongst high-ranking officials at the state prison in Parchman. His investigations also helped to acquit a black small farmer who had been wrongfully and maliciously accused of arson.

He soon became Managing Editor at the Advocate, and eventually went on to serve as Executive Director of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), a federation of more than 200 black community newspapers. While at the NNPA, he rebuilt its 90-year old national news service and launched a web-based initiative that more than doubled the number of black newspapers publishing online.

Active in civic life, Jealous is a board member of the California Council for the Humanities, PowerPAC, the Association of Black Foundation Executives, and a member of the Asia Society. He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Columbia University and a master’s degree in comparative social research from Oxford University where he was a Rhodes Scholar. He is married to Lia Epperson Jealous, a professor of constitutional law and former civil rights litigator with the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund. They presently reside in Alameda, CA with their two-year old daughter, Morgan.

The CCC will be looking for individuals who are Democrats and willing to run voter empowerment campaigns in an effort to bring up the number of registered voters, and most importantly, get them to the polls on election day.

These positions are paid positions, so only serious people should apply. Please come and hear about this organization and see if this mission is for you.

Here is the link to the organization and about the many community based things they are involved in.

http://www.communitychange.org/

The Montgomery County Democratic Party, in partnership with Clarksville For Obama, will host a Democratic Convention Watch Party on August 28, 2008 at the Montgomery County Democratic Party headquarters building, 534 Madison Street (on the corner of University and Madison street) starting at 7:00 p.m.

Clarksville-Montgomery County will join the millions of people watching across the country and around the world as Democratic Party Presidential nominee Barack Obama officially accepts the nomination. Along with the hundreds of Montgomery County supporters scheduled to attend this watch party, another 75,000 supporters will be packed into the INVESCO Field at Mile High, the 76,125-seat stadium that is home to the Denver Broncos football team, for a huge, free, open-air event where Barack Obama will deliver his acceptance speech to the American people.

Obama’s speech on August 28 will be on the 45th anniversary of Martin Luther King’s historic “I Have a Dream” address in Washington.

Obama is known for drawing huge crowds to many of his speeches. In May, a record 75,000 jammed into a riverside park in Portland, Ore., to hear him speak shortly before that state’s primary. Delegates from the Clarksville-Montgomery County Democratic Party will be on hand at the convention to view the history making event.

As if this unprecedented move was not enough, the Obama campaign team will seize the momentum from the convention to bring millions of new voices into the political process by conducting the Biggest phone banking rally ever! That means the conventioneers won’t be there just to whoop and holler on television. They’ll form the world’s largest phone bank to boost voter registration.

All 75,000 stadium attendees will be given a list identifying 55 million unregistered voters across the country and with the use of cell phones will start calling them and registering them to vote. This state of the art Voter Building Micro Targeting technology being used are some of the same techniques credit card companies use to track people’s spending.

The public is invited to celebrate as Barack Obama accepts the nomination as the Democratic candidate for the position of President of the United States of America. Join fellow supporters of this historic campaign as they gather to watch the Democratic National Convention on T.V. while enjoying food and political discussion.

For additional information please call (931) 378-1999

RSVP at http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/conventionwatchparty/gpgsgm

11.86. Look at that number again. Eleven-point eighty-six. Out of one hundred percent, it is only slightly more than ten percent. And yet it is just a hair less than a full twelve percent. Not even twelve percent of Montgomery County’s registered voters participated in the August 7th ballot! Not even twelve percent, people! Even with the convenience of early voting, and mail-in balloting for the elderly and infirm, not even one-quarter of eligible voters exercised their freedom and their responsibility to determine the course of their elected government.

Just what can explain this low voter interest in elections? The November ballot will determine the composition of the City Council for the next two years of Mayor Johnny Piper’s term and beyond. The course of redevelopment, planned urban growth (or the lack thereof), recreation amenities and city services, greenspace provisions, police and fire department personnel hiring, revitalization of neglected or rundown neighborhoods, installing red-light traffic cameras, improving our quality of life, all are issues likely to come before local government. The electorate must find the will to engage itself at levels above a repulsive twelve percent.

Cross generational engaged voters

National elections tend to increase general voter turnout. Local government and national selections will face voters in November. Heaven help us if this lack of turnout persists. Serious issues await the electorate in November. Issues that will have grave impact upon the lives of the everyday Clarksvillian for years to come.

There were serious issues before the public in the August ballot. Support for taxation reform, reduction or increase, were decided by candidates who were either chosen or rejected. The results will be felt by the public in the coming months. Non-voters would be well advised, here and now, to keep silent in the future on any developing disagreements over government policy and actions, as they failed to exercise their responsibility to shape the government that will impact their lives.

Congratulating a newly registered voter

Voter registration efforts have been mounted to increase the registration rolls. More will be conducted by local candidates. Every effort is to be commended. More importantly, registered voters must participate. You MUST go the polls and cast your vote. No amount of campaigning, no matter how massive, can make up for the failure of the registered voter to actually vote. Don’t wait. Get involved now; become familiar with the candidates, identify your issues of concern and determine who you are willing to support. Finally, each registered voter must vote.

The struggle to gain the ballot plays out the same the world over. We live in the nation that is the world’s standard-bearer for universal suffrage. The right to vote has been paid for with spilled blood and the loss of precious life. Don’t let those sacrifices be in vain!

In November, “Do The Right Thing” — Vote.

Mrs. Doris Witherspoon, PCA Secretary and Pastor Gloria Hall, PCA Ass't Director

On Saturday, Fairgrounds Park was the site of Progressive Citizens Advocates’ 6th Annual African Street Festival. The event commemorates the emancipation of Tennessee slaves during the Civil War. That historical context is the motivating background of this colorful family-centered community celebration. While an appreciation of the historical perspective of the one-day festival is crucial to its organizers, the festival itself offers far more than a review of a bitter time period of American history.

From its originating start on the campus of APSU, the festival has grown and evolved to include participants from a diverse cultural background. The festival provides an opportunity for reflection on contributions made by African Americans, the history of the Motherland Africa and its early rulers and leaders and the ongoing struggle of African Americans and other minorities as they strive to achieve the American ideal. Performers have ranged from a showcase of local rappers and R&B artists to Polynesian Firewalk Dancers to this year’s Ballet Folklorico Viva Panama, the art of the diverse elements of the Clarksville and Montgomery County community has always played an important role in the festival celebration.

Ballet Folklorico Viva Panama dancers

From the opening prayer to the closing evening dance the festival program held a myriad of choice activities. Health information and awareness outreach was available at the Clarksville Area Ministers Technical Assistance Network, CAMTAN, station. Information on health ailments troubling the minority communities, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, colorectal cancer, breast cancer and obesity, was on hand. HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment assistance information was also there. Pastor James Hill serves as the senior executive director of the CAMTAN outreach serving Montgomery, Stewart, Robertson, Dickson, Houston and Humphreys Counties. HIV/AIDS infection rates correlation, treatment assistance, overall general awareness and fellowship are some of the ways by which CAMTAN furthers the cause of awarenessand assistance. CAMTAN T-shirts were available for sale and donations are always appreciated as CAMTAN is a non-government funded program. Pastor Hill is available at 931-647-5777 for more information.

"Grandmother sent me to buy a shirt!" Clarksville Team Obama volunteer helps a young man fulfill his tasking.

The Clarksville for Obama station had information on the local unit’s outreach to promote Senator Barack Obama’s presidential campaign. T-shirts and other campaign material were available. Information on hosting a house party and other support efforts was also on hand. For more information or volunteer options, visit their website.

Deliverance Outreach Temple was also on hand. It’s “Taking it to the Street” ministry held a free Clothing Give-A-Way at the festival. This effort is part of the church’s philosophy of hands-on outreach to the community. Steve and Dee Pearson are the co-chairs of “Taking it to the Street”. Pastor Timothy Grant is the minister at Deliverance Outreach Temple, 851 Garrettsburg Road. The church also distributes a Community Information Resource Pamphlet listing businesses of interest to the community. For more information on this or the Clothing Give-A-Way, call 931-553-0060.

Candy Johnson greets a new supporter.

Ms Candy Johnson manned her Ward 5 City Council seat station. The Clarksville native is competing with Dianne Ward and Lewis Baggett for the contested city council seat in the November elections. She had questionaires and copies of her mission statement on hand. She also provided voter registration forms at her station. She believes that personal involvement is crucial to improving city government and insuring that all elements of our community have a voice and are considered in government decisions and activities. The public is invited to join her on August 28, at First Federal Savings Bank, Ft. Campbell Blvd. at 6 PM for her Campaign Kick-Off and discussion on how to put government back into the hands of the citizens.

Attorney Muriel Neal held sway at the Kids History Quiz station. Questions about famous African Americans and contributions made by African Americans were posed to youngsters. Correct answers earned the child a free prize of their choosing. Assisting her was MTSU senior, Terri McMoore, youngest daughter of Wanda and Terry McMoore.

Attorney Mureil Neal and Ms Terri McMoore at the Kids History Quiz Station

The Blues Doctor's Magical Saxaphone

Poetry readings, historical recitations, songs of praise, softball games, Latin American folk dancing, and mini concerts by blues saxaphonist James Witherspoon were all part of th day’s activities. Steve Jones and A.D.licious Barbecue, as well as Jerry’s Barbecue, served barbecue ribs, pulled pork and chicken sandwiches and dinners along with a variety of soft drinks.

Supporting vendors listed included CAMTAN, Deliverance Outreach Temple, Mt. Olive Baptist Church, Temple of Truth, James Shelley-State Farm, Jeff Jerkins, Birdie Hayes, Attorney Muriel Neal, Candy Johnson, Pastor Eddie Sumier, Yvonne Leighton, Linda Hunter, Mary Gilmer, Steve Jones-A. D. Licious Bar-B-Cue, Lilly Webb, Nannie Cobb, James Ledlow and Florence Grant.

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Senator Obama has accomplished an incredible first for the African-American community, and for the United States. Barack Obama is the first African American to be nominated for President on a major party ticket.

This historic event shows just how far this country has come to healing the racial divides that have plagued our history as a nation. But along the way the campaign provided some painful reminders of just how much further we have to go to achieve true equality for all Americans.

This is a day that should make us all proud, and then it should make us redouble our efforts to protect those rights that many have given their lives to secure. And for 100 years, that’s exactly what the NAACP has done.

As a bipartisan, 501 C3 organization the NAACP doesn’t get involved directly with candidates. What we do, I think better than any other organization, is organize the voting efforts of the African American community. This year the NAACP is focused on four things: voter registration, voter education, election protection and getting out the vote. We’ve been hard at work already, and over the summer you’ll be hearing more from us as we roll out new phases of our program. But here are just a few updates.

NAACP and its coalition partners have already registered hundreds of thousands of new voters, and we are expanding our efforts so that we can reach even more young people through technology and field efforts on college campuses. Our goal is to register many thousands more new voters between now and November with an eye to increasing African-American voter turnout by 5%.

Earlier this year the NAACP’s Washington Bureau published its annual Congressional Scorecard so that voters could see how their representatives in Congress have voted on civil rights issues. We also published the written responses to the NAACP’s Presidential Questionnaire, distributed to all campaigns earlier this year.

In July, when the NAACP holds its 99th Annual Convention in Cincinnati, John McCain and Barack Obama will participate in the NAACP’s Presidential Forum. The Forum will give the candidates the opportunity to answer questions on issues that are critical to civil rights and to communities of color. The NAACP will distribute this information through its network so that every voter has access to unvarnished information about the candidates’ positions.

Over the next several months, our work together will help define the future of civil rights in this great country. I hope that we can count on you to stand with us in every way possible.

Julian Bond, Chairman of the NAACP National Board of Directors, submitted this release to Mr. McMoore. All questions should be directed to the NAACP Washington Bureau at (202) 463-2940

On Saturday, May 31, the Democratic women will be at Krogers at Dover Road from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.. On June 2, they will host a voter forum at the Public Library on Pageant Lane at 6 p.m. The public is welcome to take this opportunity to learn about the upcoming elections and register to vote.

Members of the Clarksville Team Obama attended the Nashville Nation For Change Obama rally Saturday. On the plaza behind the state capitol, members of Nation for Change held a rally in support of Senator Barack Obama’s presidential campaign. Regional and local speakers addressed the supporters. Several performers were also on hand to entertain.

Rev. Jerry Jerkins of Clarksville (at left) next addressed the rally. He enthused the crowd with his message that “Senator Obama reflects that new morning has arisen! There’s a fire growing in the hearts of America!”

Randall Dunn, state coordinator of Nation For Change, kicked off the rally with a welcome message. He reminded everyone that this event was part of a simultaneous nationwide rally and thanked everyone for their continued support of the Obama campaign and the staging of this event.

Arlene McDonald (left) of Clarksville told the crowd why she was supporting Senator Obama. “Senator Obama not only listened to the people, he heard them and made us to know our concerns are his own. He hears us whether we be Black,White, Hispanic, Native American, old, young, male, or female. He hears the people.”

Robert Reed a Belmont University student, served as MC, encouraging the crowd and introduced each speaker and entertainer. Despite the threatening weather, many people turned out for the rally. There were tables for voter registration volunteers and phone-canvassing later in the afternoon. T-Shirts were available and food vendors offered refreshments.

The crowd was entertained by Amealia Akputu, a singer/performer, (below left)She sang a song that was performed at Nelson Mandela’s inauguration. She explained it was a song of inspiration and an expression of the hope for a better tomorrow. She expressed her belief that Senator Obama represents that better tomorrow for the United States.

Student James Mooney spoke of his reasons for his support of Senator Obama: “His authentic integrity, his intelligence and his irritation- an irritation to correct the ills afflicting our nation and all her people.”

The weather turned inclement, forcing an early end to the rally. Event organizer, Alicia Bell, thanked everyone for turning out and all those who, like her, volunteered their time and talents to stage the rally.

Clarksville Team Obama holds weekly meetings every Thursday evening at New York Pizza Depot, 3297 Fort Campbell Blvd. The meetings start at 7 PM. You can find information at <www.myspace.com/clarksvilleforobama>