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Political Calendar for the Week of April 3, 2016:
Sunday, April 3: Opening Day of the Major League Baseball season opens with three games. The rest of the Major Leagues will take the field Monday, April 4 for the traditional opening day slate.
Monday, April 4, Noon: Democrats of Greater Tucson luncheon, Dragon’s View Restaurant (400 N. Bonita, South of St. Mary’s Road between the Freeway and Grande Avenue, turn South at Furr’s Cafeteria). New price: buffet lunch is $10.00 cash, $12 credit; just a drink is $3.50. Featured speaker is Arizona Daily Star columnist Tim Steller, who will focus on the need for primaries in the political parties, voter suppression and what went wrong with Arizona’s Presidential Preference Election (PPE) voting. Next Week: Ward 2 City Councilman Paul Cunningham.
Monday, April 4: NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship Game, NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas.
Monday, April 4, 6:30 p.m.: Pima County Democratic Party Executive Committee meeting.
Tuesday, April 5: Wisconsin Primary.
I Stand With Planned Parenthood Dinner – Flagstaff
Thursday, April 7, 5:00 p.m.: I Stand With Planned Parenthood Dinner in Flagstaff at the High Country Conference Center. Details TBA. Tables of 8 are $400, individual tickets are $50 each. Additional sponsorship opportunities and discounts for students and young professionals are available. For information about this event, please contact Katie Kurmes at klk349@nau.edu or call Annet at (602) 263-4213. Find more information and purchase tickets here.
Thursday, April 7, 5:30 p.m.: Yavapai County Democratic Party meeting, at the Prescott Adult Center, 1280 E. Rosser Street, Prescott, AZ. $10.00 donation, $5.00 if you bring a dish to share. Please RSVP to (928) 541-0413.
Friday, April 8 – Sunday, April 10: University of Arizona Spring Fling on the U of A Campus East Mall. Spring Fling is the largest student-run carnival in the nation attracting over 25,000 guests. Spring Fling provides over 35 rides and games to attendees, over 20 different food booths with a wide variety.
Friday, April 8 – Sunday, April 10: Tombstone Rose Tree Festival. the Rose Parade is Saturday, April 9, at 1:00 p.m. Tombstone Rose Festival – Facebook.
Saturday, April 9 – Sunday, April 10: 14th Annual Fiesta Grande Street Fair in Barrio Hollywood (between Speedway and St. Mary’s). Music, dancing, food, vendors, family and friends.
I Stand With Planned Parenthood Luncheon – Phoenix
Friday, April 8, 11:15 a.m.: I Stand With Planned Parenthood Luncheon in Phoenix at the Arizona Biltmore Resort. Details TBA. Tables of 10 are $1,000, individual tickets are $100 each. Additional sponsorship opportunities are available. For more information please contact John McDonald-O’Lear at jmcdonald-olear@ppaz.org or (602) 263-4215. Find more information and purchase tickets here.
Saturday, April 9: Wyoming (Democratic Caucus).
Saturday, April 9, 9:00 a.m.: Tanque Verde Valley Democrats meeting, at Risky Business, 8848 E. Tanque Verde Road. For more information please contact Lucy Messing at (520) 591-7615 or visit our web site. Tanque Verde Valley Democratic Club.
Saturday, April 9, 9:30 a.m.: San Tan Valley Democrats meeting, at the SRP Service Center, 3735 E. Combs Road (San Tan Valley). For more information please contact Dwight Snyder at dsnider@cox.net or (480) 331-9386, or visit our web site santanvalleydems.org and Like Us on Facebook.
Saturday, April 9, 10:00 a.m.: Mule Mountain Democrats meeting, at the Community Y, 26 Howell Avenue, Old Bisbee. Featured Speaker is Matt Heinz, candidate for Congress in CD 2. For more information please contact John Viverto at vivertos@aol.com or visit our web page
Mule Mountain Democrats.
Saturday, April 9, 1:00 p.m.: Sun City Vistoso Democratic Club meeting, at the Sun City Mountain Vista Social Hall, 1495 E. Rancho Vistoso Blvd., Oro Valley. For more information please contact Maureen Salz at mosalz@outlook.com, or visit our web site.
Saturday, April 9, 3:00 p.m.: Democratic Club of The Santa Rita Area meeting, at the DCSRA Headquarters, upstairs meeting room, Continental Shopping Plaza, 240 W. Continental Road (exit 63), Green Valley. Forum on Prop. 123 with panel discussion: Sen. Steve Farley, Dr. Scott Hagerman, David Safier, and Morgan Abraham from No on Prop. 123. For more information please contact (520) 838-0590.
Special Announcements:
DCSRA Discussion Group
Wednesdays, 10:00 a.m.: Democratic Club of the Santa Rita Area hosts a Current Events Discussion Group at the DCSRA Headquarters, Continental Shopping Plaza, 240 W. Continental Road (exit 63), Green Valley. Join us at the weekly meeting of the Democratic Headquarters Current Events Discussion Group. We’ll talk about some of the major events of the previous week, including but not limited to political topics, and try and go behind the news for a deeper understanding. For more information, please contact Jean Vickers jean.vickers@cox.net.
Drinking Liberally
Third Wednesday of each month, 6:00 p.m.: Drinking Liberally returns to Tucson, at Casa Vicente (375 S. Stone Avenue, Tucson, casavicente.com) whose gracious and helpful wait staff sets the table(s) for us. Next meeting is April 20th. We need to know by the morning of each meeting approximately how many folks willattend. Please RSVP to tucson@drinkingliberally.org. Informal but thoughtful conversation, good wine and beer, and good food. There is no obligation to order anything–but as a thank you to Casa Vicente for the use of their patio, I hope everyone will order at least one drink (alcoholic or otherwise). And the Tapas are wonderful! The patio is almost completely covered, so weather isn’t much of a problem and there’s plenty of free parking.
Sunday, April 10, 10:00 a.m.: Cyclovia Tucson, downtown Tucsonans can celebrate a five-mile bike ride on carless streets from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.
22nd Annual Tucson Earth Day Festival & Parade
Sunday, April 10, 10:00 a.m.: 22nd Annual Tucson Earth Day Festival & Parade, at Himmel Park, 1000 N. Tucson Blvd., Tucson. The Tucson Earth Day Festival & Parade is hosting the Himmel Park Activity Hub of Cyclovia Tucson on Sunday, April 10, 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Parade starts at 11:00 a.m., enjoy the no-drive day entirety of Cyclovia along 2.5 miles of car-free streets between Himmel Park and the Lost Barrio. As always, this family-friendly event is free and open to the public. Environmental and education exhibits, hands-on activities for kids, entertainment and food. For more information on the Tucson Earth Day Festival and Parade, visit www.tucsonearthday.org, call (520) 206-8814 or e-mail tucsonearthday@yahoo.com. Find us on Facebook at Tucson Earth Day Festival.
Monday, April 11, 7:00 p.m.: Democrats of Oro Valley meeting, at the Oro Valley Public Library, 1305 W. Naranja Drive (SE corner at La Cañada). For more information please contact Mike Dayton at teachers12@msn.com or (520) 742-3774, or visit our web site http://www.demsov.org/.
Tuesday, April 12: National Equal Pay Day.
Tuesday, April 12, 3:30 p.m.: Saddlebrooke Democrats meeting, at SaddleBrooke Activities Center, 64518 E. Galveston Lane (Saddlebrooke). For more information please contact Hollace Lyon at Email Us or visit our web site. SaddleBrookeDemocrats.org.
Tuesday, April 12, 4:00 p.m.: Democrats for Picture Rocks meeting, at Horseshoe BBQ Restaurant, 6575 N. Sandario Road, Tucson. For more information please contact Catalina Hall at dems4prandav@gmail.com.
Tuesday, April 12, Noon: Democratic Women of Rim Country meeting, at Tiny’s Family Restaurant, 600 Arizona Hwy. 260, Payson, AZ. For more information please contact paysondems@gmail.com or call (928) 468-9669.
Wednesday, April 13 – Sunday, April 17: Maricopa County Fair, AZ Exposition & State Fairgrounds, 1826 W. McDowell Road, Phoenix.
Wednesday, April 13, 6:30 p.m.: Copa City Democrats meeting, location varies. For more information please contact Constance Jackson at jcksconniejean@aol.com.
Thursday, April 14 – Sunday, April 24: Pima County Fair, 11300 S. Houghton Road. The PCDP will have a booth for the duration of the Fair. We’ll be talking about our Democratic values, we’ll be registering voters, we’ll be gathering petition signatures for our candidates, and will have a lot of fun. Candidates and/or their campaign staff are all invited. Please pick a shift or two (or more). Here is the schedule, just add your name: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1FnwSmndlbdVC527IjMBPUVXGQGOzPsGPtDdNc7_ew6w/edit?usp=sharing.
Thursday, April 14, 5:30 p.m.: Pima County Democratic Party Nucleus Club meeting, at the Viscount Suite Hotel, 4855 E. Broadway Blvd. For more information please contact Ash Silverburg at (520) 326-3716.
27th Annual LULAC Educator’s Awards and Scholarship Banquet
Thursday, April 14, 6:00 p.m.: The 27th Annual LULAC Educator’s Awards and Scholarship Banquet, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel -Reid Park, 445 S. Alvernon Way, Tucson. People, businesses and organizations bettering the lives of youth through education will be honored for their efforts at the banquet. Tickets for the banquet are $75 (dinner donations are tax deductible for the amount exceeding $27). Proceeds will go to LULAC Council 1057’s effort to send students to attend the LULAC Washington National Youth Leadership Seminar and to provide scholarships with LULAC’s National Scholarship Foundation. Please make checks payable to the Southern Arizona Institute of Leadership (SAIL – a 501c3 non-profit corporation) and mail to SAIL, c/o LULAC 1057, P.O. Box 2443, Tucson, AZ 85702. Please RSVP by April 11the by visiting www.lulacylc.org to register or by calling (520) 903-2838.
I Stand With Planned Parenthood Luncheon – Tucson
Friday, April 15, 11:15 a.m.: I Stand With Planned Parenthood Luncheon in Tucson at the Tucson Convention Center. Details TBA. Tables of 10 are $1,000, individual tickets are $100 each. Additional sponsorship opportunities are available. For more information lease contact Edna Meza Aguirre at edaguirre@ppaz.org or (520) 784-5810. Find more information and purchase tickets here.
Saturday, April 16, 10:00 a.m.: Pima County Democratic Party African-American Caucus meeting, at Grace Temple Baptist Church, 1020 E. 31st Street, Tucson. The caucus is not exclusively for African-Americans, all are welcome to join. For more information please contact Connie DeLarge at cdelarge@dmyl.com or (520) 241-8408.
Foothills Forum – Brunch With The Candidates
Sunday, April 17, 10:30 a.m.: The Foothills Forum returns for a Brunch With The Candidates, ay Skyline County Club, 5200 E. Saint Andrews Drive, Tucson. Representative from Ann Kirkpatrick for Senate, Matt Heinz for Congress, and Victoria Steele for Congress. Enjoy a wonderful brunch and then have a chance to meet the candidates and learn about their ideas and plans for representing Arizona. The first 20 people to register will receive a $10.00 gift card from Starbucks! Contributions to the candidate’s campaigns are encouraged and will be appreciated. Event Registration
Cochise County Democratic Party Big Tent Forum
Sunday, April 17, Noon: Cochise County Democratic Party Big Tent Forum and Picnic, at the home of Sharon Thomas in St. David, AZ. Please join the Cochise County Democratic Committee for our annual picnic in beautiful St. David, Arizona. This year’s event will be a “Big Tent Forum” with our local, state, and national candidates. We will have our traditional barbecue, side dishes, homemade root beer, and desserts. Music will be provided by local musicians. Click here to RSVP now Blue Cochise members attend for free and should RSVP to: cochisecodems@gmail.com or call (520) 458-9467.
Monday, April 18: Deadline to register to vote in the May Special Election for Prop. 123 (Education Funding Inflation Adjustment Settlement).
Tuesday, April 19: New York Primary.
Tuesday, April 19, 11:00 a.m.: Democratic Women of Southeastern Arizona meeting, at the Pueblo del Sol Country Club, on St. Andrews Drive in Sierra Vista. The cost of the luncheon is $15.00. For reservations, please contact Kathy Marvin, President of the DWSEA through email at kathleencrafts@gmail.com or by telephone at (520) 803-6697. Visit our web page.Democratic Women of Southeastern Arizona.
Tuesday, April 19, 6:30 p.m.: Legislative District 9 meeting, at Northwest Medical Center, La Paloma Urgent Care Community Classroom, 4001 E. Sunrise Drive. For more information please contact Brian Clymer at brianclymer@yahoo.com or (520) 297-3539.
Tuesday, April 19, 6:30 p.m.: Oracle Democrats meeting, at the Oracle Fire Department, 1475 W. American Avenue (Oracle). For more information please contact Jim Walsh at (520) 896-2079.
Wednesday, April 20: Early voting begins in the May Special Election for Prop. 123 (Education Funding Inflation Adjustment Settlement).
Wednesday, April 20, 6:00 p.m.: Democratic Club of Northern Gila County meeting, at the Payson Public Library, 328 N. McLane Road, Payson. For more information please contact paysondems@gmail.com or call (928) 468-9669.
Wednesday, April 20, 6:30 p.m.: Legislative District 10 meeting at Pima County Democratic Party HQ, 4639 E. 1st Street (one block South of Speedway and West of Swan). For more information lease contact Rob Selby at r_ybles@hotmail.com or (520) 790-3024.
Wednesday, April 20, 6:30 p.m.: Democracy for America – Maricopa County (DFA-MC) monthly meeting is the 3rd Wednesday of every month, and the new location is Macayo’s on Central Avenue, South of Indian School. DFA-MC is on the web, Facebook and Twitter. For more information contact DFAofMC@gmail.com.
Thursday, April 21, 8:00 a.m.: Democrats of the Red Rocks breakfast, at Old Sedona Family Restaurant Bar & Grill, 1405 W. Hwy. 89A, Sedona. Speakers: candidates Bill Mundell and Tom Chabin for Arizona Corporation Commission; Yavapai County Recorder Leslie Hoffman on elections and voting process for 2016. Admission is $12, includes buffet breakfast and gratuity. Doors open at 8:00 a.m. Please RSVP to (928) 274-6541.
Friday, April 22: Earth Day 2016.
Friday, April 22, Noon: Critical Issues Forum, at the Cochise County Democratic Party HQ, 1234 E. Fry Blvd., Sierra Vista. For more information please contact cochisecodems@gmail.com or (520) 458-9467.
Saturday, April 23, 8:00 a.m.: Arizona Democratic Party Caucus for delegate selection to the 2016 Democratic National Convention. Arizona is allocated 43 district-level delegates. Arizona has chosen to allocate all of its alternatives at the at-large level. District-level delegates shall be elected at a congressional district level caucus on April 16, 2016, following the Presidential Preference Election. Only elected and appointed precinct committeepersons in your congressional district who support your presidential preference (candidate) will be allowed to vote. All precinct committeepersons that wish to participate and district delegate candidates who filed their nomination form must register their attendance during the registration period of 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. A roster of precinct committee persons shall be available for inspection during the entire caucusing period. Candidates for delegates do not have to be present to be elected. For more information, see the Delegate Selection Plan (.pdf).
Saturday, April 23, 10:00 a.m.: Northern Cochise County Democratic Club meeting. Meeting locations rotate between Benson and Wilcox. For more information please contact Kathy Suagee at soprano_58@hotmail.com. Visit our web page Northern Cochise County Democrats.
Saturday, April 23, 3:00 p.m.: State Senator Andrea Dalessando (LD 2) hosts a Thank You Pot Luck Party, at the Green Valley Recreation Center, 7 S. Abrego Drive, Green Valley. Water, soft drinks, and coffee provided; BYOB. Please bring your favorite appetizer, finger food, salad, fruit, entre or dessert. Meet and greet Democratic candidates, sing their petitions and contribute to their campaigns. Please RSVP via Facebook invitation or to DalessandroForAZ@gmail.com.
Saturday, April 23, 2:00 p.m.: Legislative District 11 meeting, at the Wheeler, Taft, Abbett Library, 7800 N. Schisler Drive, Tucson. For more information please contact Jo Holt at legdist11dems@gmail.com. Find us at www.AZLD11Dems.org.
Saturday, April 23: Passover begins (sunset).
Monday, April 25, 6:00 p.m.: Legislative District 3 meeting, at the Joel Valdez Main Library, 101 N. Stone Avenue (parking under the library). For more information please contact Andrés Cano at andres@canoagroup.com or (520) 304-5778.
Tuesday, April 26: Connecticut Primary, Delaware Primary, Maryland Primary, Pennsylvania Primary, Rhode Island Primary.
Tuesday, April 26, 11:30 a.m.: Blue Tuesday Luncheon Forum, at the Starfire Golf Club, 11500 N. Hayden (Scottsdale). If you want lunch, you must RSVP by the Thursday before so we can order for you! Email jctillotson@msn.com. $22 – cash only – at the door! (If you RSVP, and then find you can’t make it, PLEASE LET US KNOW, or we’ll have to pay for your uneaten lunch!) For more information please contact bluetuesdayluncheon@gmail.com.
Wednesday, April 27 – Sunday, May 1: Verde Valley Fair, 800 E. Cherry Street, Cottonwood.
Wednesday, April 27, 11:00 a.m.: Democratic Women of the Prescott Area luncheon, at the Centennial Center, 1989 Clubhouse Drive, Prescott (on the Antelope Hills golf course). Luncheon reservations are required. A buffet luncheon will be provided. Cost is $15 for members and $17 for nonmembers. RSVP by email: DWPrescottArea@gmail.com or call (928) 848-2753. Contact us ASAP if you make reservations and are unable to attend. The public is welcome, but reservations are required. To join, email the form and pay at the luncheon, or mail with a check to Sandy Baggenstos, DWPA Treasurer, 530 N. Fitzmaurice Drive, Prescott, AZ 86303.
Thursday, April 28: Workers Memorial Day.
Thursday, April 28, 5:30 p.m.: Maricopa County Democratic Party Executive Committee meeting. Meet and greet (and dinner) begins at 5:30. Meeting begins promptly at 6:00 pm.
Thursday, April 28, 6:00 p.m.: Casa Grande Democrats meeting, at Bedillon’s Restaurant (Adobe Room), 800 N. Park Avenue, Casa Grande. For more information please contact Jack Guthrie at democratsofcasagrande@gmail.com and Like Us on Facebook.
Thursday, April 28, 7:00 p.m.: Heritage Highlands/Dove Mountain Democrats meeting, at the Heritage Highlands Clubhouse, 4949 West Heritage Club Boulevard (Marana). For more information please contact Dick Reddy at (520) 579-9460 Richard.Reddy@fredonia.edu.
Saturday, April 30, 2:00 p.m.: Maricopa County Democratic Party Diamond Event, at 40 Owls Gallery, 815 N. Central Avenue, Phoenix. Details TBA.
Sunday, May 1: International Worker’s Day.
Tuesday, May 3: National Teacher Appreciation Day.
Tuesday, May 3: Indiana Primary.
Wednesday, May 4: Holocaust Remembrance Day (begins at sunset).
Thursday, May 5: Cinco de Mayo.
Saturday, May 7: 11th Annual West End Fair on Fry Blvd. from Garden Avenue to North Avenue, Sierra Vista, AZ.
LD 11 and Five Clubs Picnic
Saturday, May 7, 4:00 p.m.: LD 11 and 5 Clubs Picnic, at the Sun City Activity Center, 1495 W. Rancho Vistoso Blvd., Oro Valley, AZ. Menu: grilled hamburgers, brats and veggie burgers with all the fixin’s, delicious salads, side dishes, plus scrumptious desserts, drinks and popcorn. Tickets are $20 per person in advance, or $25 at the door. (Buy from a club seller to provide the required donation information). All proceeds go to LD11 Democratic Committee. For more information please contact legdist11dems@gmail.com.
Sunday, May 8: Mother’s Day.
Tuesday, May 10: Nebraska (GOP Primary), West Virginia Primary.
Monday, May 16, 2:00 p.m.: The White Mountain Democrats’ major fund-raiser for the Love Kitchen and Meals on Wheels at the Pinetop-Lakeside Town Hall. Features music, refreshments and a silent auction. The benefit provides thousands of dollars in funding, as well as food items, to support these two important institutions in our community.
Tuesday, May 17: Special Election for school funding inflation adjustment settlement and changes to Arizona Constitution.
Tuesday, May 17: Kentucky (Democratic Primary), Oregon Primary.
Wednesday, June 1: Last day to file candidate nomination petitions.
3rd Annual PALF Community Partnership Awards
Thursday, June 2, 6:00 p.m.: 3rd Annual PALF Community Partnership Awards, at the Randolph Golf Course Club House 600 S. Alvernon Way, Tucson. PALF is a coalition of labor unions affiliated with the AFL-CIO. The purpose of the awards celebration is to honor individuals and organizations (both union and non-union) for their ability to raise awareness about local issues and union activities through acts of civic engagement. Doors open at 6:00 PM with Dinner/No Host Cocktails and Silent Auction. Program: 7-8 PM. Individual tickets and great raffle prizes tickets are available at the PALF Office. Individual Tickets $50.00/ Raffle Tickets prices $10 each or 3/$25. A portion of the proceeds to benefit Dancing In The Streets scholarship fund.
Please contact awards.palf@gmail.com for Sponsorship packages and more information.
Sunday, June 5: Puerto Rico (Democratic Primary).
Tuesday, June 7: California Primary, Montana Primary, New Jersey Primary, New Mexico Primary, North Dakota (Democratic), South Dakota Primary.
Tuesday, June 14: Flag Day.
Tuesday, June 14: Washington, D.C. Primary.
Sunday, June 19: Father’s Day.
Monday, July 4: Independence Day.
Thursday, July 7: Last day to file constitution and initiative petitions.
Wednesday, July 13: Last day to file arguments for or against ballot measures (General Election).
Monday, July 18 – Thursday, July 21: Republican National Convention in Cleveland aka “the mistake by the lake” — seems almost prescient.
Thursday July 21: Last day to file as a write-in candidate for the Primary Election.
Monday, July 25 – Thursday, July 28: Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia.
Monday, August 1: Deadline to register to vote in the Primary Election. Note: Those of you not registered with a political party will need to request a primary ballot for the party of your choice.
Wednesday, August 3: Early voting begins in the Primary Election.
Tuesday, August 30: Primary Election.
Thursday, September 29: Last day to file as a write-in candidate for the General Election.
Monday, October 10: Voter registration deadline for General Election.
Wednesday, October 12: Early voting begins in the General Election.
Tuesday, November 8: ELECTION DAY.