Author Archives: Chris Hinze

Save Our Schools Hosts Town Hall on Vouchers and the Threat to Public Education

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Following the passage of House Bill 93—which redirects $50 million in taxpayer dollars to private-school tuition—Save Our Schools Idaho launched a statewide Town Hall series to inform voters about the harms of this growing voucher program. September 22 event in McCall brings together public school advocates, educators, and concerned citizens to discuss the risks of expanding voucher programs in Idaho. McCall event will provide voters with facts about how similar efforts in other states have drained public school budgets, led to rising property taxes, and harmed student outcomes—especially for rural communities

Valley County Dems Fall Highway Cleanup

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Wednesday, September 24th

Valley County Democrats and friends will hold their Fall Adopt-A-Highway Cleanup on Wednesday, September 24, at 4:30 (weather permitting; if it rains, the event will be postponed to Thursday, September 25, at 4:30).

Those helping should meet in the south parking area of Elk Creek Church on Highway 55 at 4:30 p.m. Safety vests and trash bags will be provided. Participants should bring gloves, sturdy shoes, weather-appropriate clothing, and water (if it is hot).

Valley County Democrats have been cleaning up both sides of a two-mile stretch of Highway 55 twice a year since 2009.

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Talking to Dems-Door to Door

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Saturday, August 2 9:30am – 1pm at Woodlands Picnic Area 634 Brady Dr in McCall

We will be collecting phone numbers and email addresses from likely Democrats in our county by going door to door. We will also be leaving literature about our upcoming Valley Co Democratic Picnic.

We want to be prepared for the important 2026 election. Gathering contact information is critical in winning elections.

We will be joined by our young Dems coming to McCall that weekend to help out.

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Launch Party for Initiative to Restore Reproductive Rights

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In the nearly three years since Idaho’s abortion ban, Idahoans have lost a quarter of our OBGYNs, faced growing healthcare deserts, and watched labor and delivery units close. we know there is a path back to the standard of healthcare, liberty, and privacy that Idahoans had for nearly 50 years.

Join Idahoans United for Women & Families for the official launch of the Reproductive Freedom & Privacy Act on July 8, at 5 pm at the Woodlands Picnic Area, 634 Brady Dr., McCall.

This will be one of the first opportunities in Idaho to sign your name to the initiative, standing shoulder to shoulder with your fellow supporters, hearing from some incredible speakers, and celebrating a day that’s been months and months in the making!

Bring Lawn Chairs!

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Calling all Young Dems for a Weekend in McCall

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Paid Canvassers Needed
Friday, August 1- Sunday August 3

Would you like to help build the Democratic Party in Valley County this summer?
We are looking for four young Democrats that would like to join us in going door to door
talking to voters. We will be collecting phone and email information from likely
Democrats in our county.
You will work 9 hours that weekend and earn $15 per hour. Food and housing will be
provided. You will work two shifts on Saturday and a morning shift on Sunday.
Canvassers will arrive Friday evening. Canvassers are invited to stay until Monday if
they wish to enjoy more of McCall area recreation.

Apply here by July 20, 2025.

For more inforamtion contact Bill Thomas at valleycountydems@gmail.com.

Voter Registration Letter Stuffing Party – June 24 at 6:00-8:00 pm at the Community Hub McCall 114 N. 3rd St., McCall

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The Idaho Democratic Party is targeting nearly 14,000 unregistered, likely Democratic voters, across all 44 counties, with personalized mailings.

The Valley County Dems are seeking volunteers to hand-stuff 500 of these mailings. Please join us for a fun and productive gathering. Pizza, salad and drinks will be served. Sign up today, only 20 slots available.

The Community Hub McCall is on North 3rd Street just north of Peak Fitness in McCall. A Valley County Democratic Party Sign will be out front.

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Empty Chair Town Hall Hosted by Kaylee Peterson

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Poster for Kaylee Peterson Town Hall meetings in Cascade and Donnelly

Where’s Russ? Since your questions aren’t being answered in Washington, come ask them here at an Empty Chair Town Hall for Rep. Russ Fulcher — a question and answer opportunity with Kaylee for Congress about what’s happening in D.C. and what it means for us in Valley County.

Hosted by ” For the People”, Valley Co Group of citizens who highlight key issues, clarify policies, and track local events to help Idahoans navigate state politics and think for themselves. Their goal is to empower informed, independent perspectives.

Please RSVP below for the event you will be attending.

RSVP for Donnelly
RSVP for Cascade

No Kings Rally in McCall on Saturday, June 14th

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Hosted by Valley County People for Human Rights

 Let’s show our love of Democracy and not authoritarians or dictatorships. Bring your signs, bring yourselves, bring a friend and let’s exercise our first amendment rights.

Do Not engage with any counter protesters, respect the sidewalks and businesses by not blocking access and keep things respectful. 

Time to get loud. Together we are strong.

Hands Off! McCall Fights Back!

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RSVP

Are you better off today than you were prior to Trump becoming President again? Are you safer now than before? Are your rights more protected from government intrusion than before. The answer is clearly No.

Trump has:
  • Imposed crazy tariffs which are driving up costs for everyday Americans. Retirees are seeing their life savings drastically lowered due to the stock market’s major crash.

  • Recklessly fired federal employees like our valuable local U.S. Forest Workers. Over 30,000 of the Federal workforce have been fired by an unelected immigrant, billionaire Musk. 

  • Kissed up to Putin and abandoned our traditional allies which has made us less safe.Proposing to annex countries like Greenland, which are turning our NATO allies into adversaries that strengthens the global power of Russia and China.

  • Put Veteran’s care in jeopardy by planned elimination of 80,000 employees at the V.A.

  • Harmed the health of everyday Americans by drastically cutting Medicaid for millions of Americans.

  • Snatched people off the street by plainclothes agents in unmarked vans. Agents with no warrants or ignoring due process, is not a government under the rule of law. 
Many people voted for Trump thinking he would address the cost of groceries, but instead people are seeing prices go up. They voted for a strong leader and instead they find they have a leader who disregards the rule of law and fails to address our day-to-day concerns. 

The Republican Party has become an ally in this destruction of our constitutional government. Idaho Republican Congressmen and Senators are not holding town halls to hear from their constituents. They are silent in regards to these attacks on our way of life. 

Even the so called moderates in the Republican Party have caved into Trump’s ignorant and cruel actions. They allowed him to divide us, by his attack on women, minorities and by simply anyone who stands up against his chaotic rule.

In Idaho, we see the Republican Party attack Public Education with private school funding. They have attacked health care coverage for thousands, by cutting back on Medicaid Expansion with the work requirement hoax. 

While Trump talks about immigrants eating cats, the Democratic Party has been the party for the average person and not the party that looks to please only the billionaires with tax cuts. The Democratic Party is the party that brought you Medicare, Social Security, Medicaid, Affordable Care Act and Environmental Protection. 

Together we can protect our democracy and create a better life for hard working people and their families. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall said in 1992, “We must dissent from the poverty of vision and the absence of moral leadership. We must dissent because America can do better, because America has no choice but to do better.”

Bill Thomas, Chair
Valley County Democratic Party.