The Grays Harbor Dems had a great time this past weekend at the local fair, registering new voters, meeting new folks. Visitors to the fair also enjoyed chatting it up with Congressman Derek Kilmer. Our congressman always enjoys the opportunity to visit with his constituents and discuss issues/concerns.
The Grays Harbor County Fair is our biggest single fund raiser of the year. It lasts five days, the first week in August. The Democrats have a political booth in the pavilion where we provide voter registration,candidate material, issue information, and initiatives to sign. This year, five sheets for I-735 were filled, and we informed many more Harborites about the oil terminal projects coming to Hoquiam.
It is a good place to recruit new members by showing ourselves to be the Party of Fun. We ran out of candy early on, but the kids stayed, entertained with “Make Your Own” campaign buttons. Be on the look out, in about thirty years, for President Levi! We also had a “take home” coloring page that could be cut out and folded into a standing donkey.
Candidates get close up time with the voters. Montesano Mayoral candidate Vini Samuels worked two nights and made a strong positive impression on the crowd.
Our booth was flanked by Fellow Travelers: ACLU on one side, Wild Olympics on the other. Ukuleles spontaneously sing out. We are definitely the Party of Fun.
Every year we have the Burger Wagon in the carnival ride area. The crew makes Demoburgers with plenty of onions, cheese and the fixin’s. It is a hot and demanding job, but creates a lot of good will for the Democrats with folks who might not make it over to the pavilion. GH County Commissioner candidate Pat Gordon and Linda Orgel braved the heat in the wagon and did a fantastic job with those Demoburgers! Our Congressman Derek Kilmer couldn’t pass one up.
This is all run by volunteers from the party. Well over twenty members put in time this year. One member even brought her Republican sister, who proclaimed disappointment with the Republican booth’s lack of friendliness.
As with any organization, some folks do little, others do double or triple their share. Our State Representative Brian Blake always puts in a lot of hours, but unfortunately ended up in the hospital on Friday. Get well, Brian!
I personally want to give a big Thank You to everyone who helped make the fair another success for the Grays Harbor Democratic Party.
Next Fun project:The Out And Proud Festival, August 22, downtown Hoquiam. Be there!
Robin Moore, Chair, GHDP
Photos by GH Dems Chair Robin Moore and Tammy Domike.