Author: Chris Hinze

Thanks to all the awesome volunteers (a new record!) who turned out for the Spring Adopt-a-Highway cleanup on Tuesday, May 23rd! A special thanks to Ken Enochs for coordinating the event.

Tuesday, May 23 at 5:30 pm

Elk Creek Church Parking Lot

Valley County Democrats and friends will hold our Spring Adopt-A-Highway cleanup on Tuesday, May 23. Afterward, a no-host social will be held at Hometown Pizza in McCall for those interested. 

Those helping should meet in the south parking area of Elk Creek Church on Highway 55 at 5:30 pm.

Valley County Democrats have been cleaning up both sides of a two-mile stretch of Highway 55 twice a year since 2009. For more information contact Ken Enochs at (208) 630-4285 or krenochs@gmail.com.

Please signup below to get details and updates . (Rain Reschedule Date Tuesday, May 30)

Valley County Democratic Central Committee Meeting, Wednesday, August 18, 7 pm at CUB, Community Hub McCall

Our monthly Valley County Democratic Party Central Committee meeting will be Wednesday August 18 at 7 pm at the CUB, Community Hub McCall , 114 N. 3rd Street, McCall. Our feature speaker with be Dave Bingaman, Valley County Democratic Commissioner who will speak and answer your questions on issues pertaining to our county. After presentation we will have our regular county party meeting. Bring your ideas and passion to strengthen our party in Valley County.

On Wednesday, July 28 over 70 people gathered to hear from Democratic leaders, listen to good music, have great Mexican Food and raise money for the County and State Democratic Party.

Fred Cornfort our new State Party Chair gave us encouraging news that due to successful fundraising efforts we are putting in a number full time orgnaizers in critical areas accross the state. With the Republican Legislature taken over by a radical minority, the Democratic Party is becoming the home for people who want to address our poor education funding, protect our initiative process, maintain access to public lands and stop state politicians from catering to extremists.

We got updates from Dave Bingaman, Valley County Commissioner and Mike Maciaszek, McCall City Council on important issues facing our area. Sam Sandmire Reclaim Idaho spoke on the statewide Education Initiative to increase funding for public education (State of Idaho is dead last in state funding nationwide). Deb Fereday spoke from PELA (Payette Endoment Land Alliance) updating us on the fight to protect the land around the lake from private, distructive development.

Our pie/cake/art auction was a great success and raised the most we have raised in an off year election cycle. Thanks to all that donated items and thanks to all that open their checkbook generously to fund our efforts to elect more Democrats to local and statewide offices.

Below is some great pictures from the Picnic taken by David Gallipoli

The Valley County Democrats are sponsoring the “2021 Valley County Democratic We are Back Picnic”, Wednesday, July 28 at 6 p.m. at Woodlands Picnic/Pool area, 634 Brady Drive, McCall. Fred Conforth the new Chair of the Idaho Democratic Party will speak. Local Democratic leaders have been invited. Entertainment will be provided by Mark Stoekl’s group Braid. Representaves of Reclaim Idaho and Payette Endowment Lands Alliance (PELA) be in attendance. 

Please bring a pie/dessert or craft piece to be auctioned with proceeds to go to support state and county activities. 

Food for purchase will be available onsite from Lonchera Rosita, Mexican Food Truck. 

Please bring lawn chairs.

Sign up and let us know if you are brining an item for auction

Valley County Democrats and friends will hold their Spring Adopt-A-Highway cleanup on Sunday, June 13, at 4:30 pm. Those willing to help should meet in the south parking area of Elk Creek Church on Highway 55 at 4:30 pm. 

Valley County Democrats have been cleaning up both sides of a 2 mile stretch of Highway 55 twice a year since 2009.

Signup for Cleanup

Protect McCall Keep Mask Mandate

Just as the City of Boise maintains their mask mandate, McCall could do the same. Please comment before Thursday, February 25 at 3 pm.

Submit your comment to the City’s web portal below:

Remembering that we all live in a resort community, wouldn’t you support the continuation of the mask mandate as we move into spring and summer?

 Of special concern are the Covid-19 variants, some likely to become the norm, according to news briefs. Here’s a link to a CDC webpage with more information: 

The mask mandate protects everyone. Businesses are keeping customers and employees healthy, businesses are open, in turn, families are safer and the hospital is kept from crisis mode. 

 McCall is more vulnerable than most communities in the summer. People are coming here!! Remember last summer? That means more people frequenting the businesses, restaurants and shops. 

It’s good news the vaccine rollout has started but the timing of vaccine roll out and variants arriving on the scene could be tricky business. 

We must continue to wear masks and socially distance in the City despite vaccination – and most won’t be vaccinated till late summer. We are not in the clear yet. 

Thanks to City Council members for supporting this mandate to date. May Hardware feels support with the mandate in place, most other businesses feel that support – and our town benefits! 

Send your comments please because the City needs to hear your voices in order to act. 

Extending gratitude to you,

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Idaho Legislature Trying to Take Away the Initiative in Idaho

We’re in a make-or-break moment for the future of citizen initiatives in Idaho.

Idahoans showed up in record-breaking numbers last Friday to testify against Senate Bill 1110, a bill that would make future grassroots initiatives virtually impossible. 

Nonetheless, the Senate State Affairs Committee voted 6-3 to move the bill forward.

There’s still a chance this bill is stopped on the Senate floor, and we urge you to email and call your local state senator. But we learned a clear lesson two years ago, the last time the legislature attempted to take away our initiative rights: The only thing that protected our rights was the bold decision of Governor Little to veto the legislature’s bill.

So today we’re calling on Governor Little once again to stand up for our Constitution. Will you sign the petition and call on Governor Little to protect our initiative rights?

Thank you,

Luke Mayville

Co-Founder, Reclaim Idaho

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Valley County Democratic Party, “Taco and Politics “ will be held virtually this year on February 9th at 7 pm via Zoom. Representative Ilana Rubel, the Democratic Minority Leader in the Idaho House will discuss the pressing issues currently in the legislature. Bring your questions, concerns and comments on the topics that matter most to you.

Please sign up for the virtual event below. You will get a link emailed to you after signing up to access the virtual event. 

The Idaho Republican Party is currently seeking to end Idaho’s emergency declaration order in the House. This would obviously be reckless and harmful legislation that would halt federal dollars and further COVID-19 assistance in Idaho. Click here to tell your legislators to keep Idaho’s emergency declaration order in place.