Salinas straw poll offers a chance for dems to vote in mock
election
For the first time ever, residents of Monterey, San Benito,
Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties will have the opportunity to
vote in a Democratic party straw poll. The event will be held
Sunday, Dec. 9 at Sherwood Hall in the Salinas Community
Center.
Salinas straw poll offers a chance for dems to vote in mock election
For the first time ever, residents of Monterey, San Benito, Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties will have the opportunity to vote in a Democratic party straw poll. The event will be held Sunday, Dec. 9 at Sherwood Hall in the Salinas Community Center.
“This event is going to activate the electorate,” said Shawn Bagley, a volunteer for the event, “and show people that the Democrats are ready to take back the presidency.”
Organizers expect at least 1,000 people to attend, according to a press release.
The price of admission is $10 or two cans of food. Any money collected will help organizers recoup the cost of holding the event. Canned food will be donated to the local food bank.
“We’re trying to encourage students,” Bagley said. “We’ve got a huge outreach program in the schools.”
He expects hundreds of students from local high schools and colleges will vote.
“We’re trying to create new Democrats,” Bagley said.
Each Democratic candidate will have their own table and one or more speakers to represent their campaign.
Speakers include Anna Caballero, Assemblymember for District 28; Lynne Gravel Moiser, daughter of Democratic presidential candidate Mike Gravel; Kamala Harris, the district attorney from San Francisco; and Fred Kelly, a former California state assembly leader.
The speeches will run from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.
“With the quality of speakers we have lined up, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity,” Bagley said.
Dennis Kucinich and Bill Richardson may attend the event, Bagley said.
“I still have a shot at getting them there,” he said. “So, we’re very excited.”
The polls open at 1 p.m. and close at 4 p.m. The winner will be announced at a press conference at 4:30 p.m.
The event will help educate voters so they are ready to cast their ballot in the primary. California’s Democratic primary is less than 60 days away, on Feb. 5, Bagley said.
“The party’s job is to reconnect [people] with their democracy,” he said. “That’s what we’re trying to do.
“The road to the white house goes through Salinas,” Bagley said. “I just want the central coast to know that they are important to the national outcome of this 2008 election.”
