Thanks to All for Another Successful Spring Fling

Thanks to All for a Successful Spring Fling

Spring Fling 2024 is in the history books. Thanks to all who attended, donated, provided items for the silent auction, and volunteered to make this year’s Fling a success.

Check out the photo page on our website to see more of the speakers who talked with the attendees at this year’s Fling.

If by some chance you missed our annual meet up and the largest fundraiser of our year, but would still like to support our work in this presidential election year, THERE’S STILL TIME! Click the button below to donate:

The annual Spring Fling is our largest fundraising event each year, and in an election year your support is especially important.

Candidate Filing Deadlines - One of Them is TODAY!

THERE ARE TWO DEADLINES FAST APPROACHING FOR THOSE THINKING OF RUNNING FOR OFFICE.

If you are interested in running for a partisan office - including many local government seats, from Houghton County Board to Township Boards - you have until 4 PM TODAY April 23rd to file to appear on the Aug. 6 primary ballot.

If you are interested in becoming a precinct delegate the filing deadline is 4 PM Tuesday May 7th. Filing for precinct delegate requires the submission of the Precinct Delegate Affidavit of Identity and Receipt of Filing form, which is available from the Houghton County Clerk. Click here to be taken to the Clerk’s web page to download the form and instructions.

If you have questions about running for any office, email us at [email protected] and we’ll be happy to provide assistance.

(NOTE: THE FILING DEADLINE FOR SCHOOL BOARD AND CITY COUNCIL ELECTIONS IS JULY 23RD.)

Election Inspectors Needed - Training on Friday May 10th

ELECTION WORKERS ARE NEEDED FOR THE AUGUST PRIMARY AND NOVEMBER GENERAL ELECTIONS.

Becoming an election worker is a great way to support the democratic process in your local community.

Election workers are hired, paid, and trained local government workers who assist with running local elections.

During an election, Houghton County needs a staff of paid and skilled election workers, called election inspectors, to assist voters and help process ballots. Anyone in Houghton County can be trained to serve as an Election Inspector in Houghton County. Houghton County Clerk Jennifer Kelly will provide training in May. The training takes about an hour. Training info below -

ELECTION INSPECTOR TRAINING

Friday, May 10th at 1:00 p.m.

Franklin Township Hall

An Election Inspector Application form is available here. To apply for the training, download, complete and submit this form to your local City/Township Clerk (use this search tool if you need help to find your local clerk). NOTE: You must declare a party on this form because State Law requires a balance of party affiliation among the Election Inspectors at each poll. It doesn't mean that you must be a member of a party, just that you identify with one of the parties.

If you’d like to learn more about what it means to be an election worker, view these Frequently Asked Questions from the Michigan Department of State.

A Look Back at the Just Completed 2024 Michigan Rural Summit

The Houghton County Democrats were well represented at the 2024 Michigan Rural Summit, held at Shanty Creek Resort in Bellaire, Michigan, over April 11-12-13. We had eight HCDP attendees at the summit - Valorie Troesch, Lois Gemignani, Bill Binroth, Glenn and Mary Lou Anderson, Brian Irizarry, Jenna Weiler, and Brian Hoduski.

Hoduski helped organize the event as the Chair of the Steering Committee. He and Valorie Troesch were also presenters in three separate breakout sessions.

Our eight were just part of the over 230 very enthusiastic Summit attendees. The list of speakers addressing the Summit featured the likes of filmmaker Michael Moore, Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist, Secretary of Agriculture Thomas Vilsack, U.S. Representative and Senatorial candidate Elissa Slotkin, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, Democratic pollster Celinda Lake, former DNC Rural Director Teresa Purcell, Rural Organizing director Dani Cook, Michigan Sierra Club’s Christy McGillivray, former MDP chair Mark Brewer and podcast partner Jeff Timmer, current MDP chair Lavora Barnes, Rural Caucus chair Mark Ludwig, Biden for President - Michigan field director Robert Leddy, and 104th District Representative Betsy Coffia. Those luminaries were joined by a panel of labor leaders representing the MEA, AFL-CIO, IBEW, & LiUNA, our U. S. Senator Gary Peters, and former U. S. Representative and presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke.

Seven members of the Michigan House of Representatives attended with all speaking in breakout sessions - Representative Joey Andrews delivered a session on flipping a red House district. The U.P.’s Jenn Hill was one of the speakers at a legislative forum. Many other breakout sessions were offered covering a wide variety of trainings and issues.

Forty of Michigan’s counties were represented by the attendees. Many are candidates for office this election cycle. Our own 110th House candidate, Kim Corcoran attended, as did as our two Congressional District 1 candidates, Dr. Bob Lorinser and Calle Barr. Almost everyone attending indicated that they will be running for precinct delegate.

The energy of the attendees was palpable. Even though it is understood that Democrats winning in rural Michigan is a tough task, so many commented on a “losing better” strategy that can help the President and our senatorial candidate win the state. And there was the expectation that our work in rural Michigan is a multi-cycle endeavor, and that we can start flipping state House and county offices a few each election.

Plans are already underway for the 2025 Michigan Rural Summit to be held one of two weekends in April, 2025, at Onaway, Michigan’s UAW resort and retreat facility at Black Lake. The Rural Caucus is thrilled to partner with the UAW in doing the next summit. Hopefully, Houghton County will send an even larger contingent then.

Our Next Monthly Meeting

HCDP Monthly Meetings: Unless otherwise communicated our monthly meetings are held the first Wednesday of each month. Potluck at 6 PM, Meeting at 7 PM. In the conference room at the Houghton Super 8, and by Zoom (starting at 7 PM).

NEXT MEETING: May 1ST

Governmental Meetings

WED APR 24

The Houghton City Council meets at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday. The Meeting Agenda can be found in the Searchable Document Center of the Council's website.

Governmental meetings are scheduled throughout the month by bodies from the County Commission to City, Village and Township boards, committees and commissions; as well as local School Boards and the Copper Country Intermediate School District.

Check by phone or on the particular governmental website for meeting notices in your community. Your participation in local government meetings lets your elected and appointed officials know you are interested in their work, and can provide you with the opportunity to speak about your concerns during public comment periods