timely topics - Squarespace

December 2017/January 2018

The Voter League of Women Voters of Wake County • Apex • Cary • Fuquay-Varina • Garner • Holly Springs • Knightdale • • Morrisville • Raleigh • Rolesville • Wake Forest • Wendell • Zebulon •

TIMELY TOPICS

In This Issue 2– Notes from the President 2—700 Registered to Vote

Importance of an Independent Judiciary & Contemporary Challenges to this Goal Justice Bob Orr Retired NC Supreme Court Justice

3—Annual Holiday Party 3—Redistricting Reform Resources 4—Beyond Voting

North Carolina is facing a number of potential threats to the independence of our judiciary, including the gerrymandering of judicial districts, partisan judicial elections, shorter terms for judges, and possible appointment of judges by the legislature.

5—League Happy Hour 5—Advocacy Workshop 6—Voter Services: Next Steps 7—Membership Volunteers 8—Environment Committee 9—Book Discussions 10—NC Capitol Insider 12—Join GA Team 13—Membership Survey 13—Order Name Badge

In 1986, Justice Orr was appointed to the North Carolina Court of Appeals and was elected to the state's highest court, the NC Supreme Court, in 1994. After retiring from the NC Supreme Court in 2004, Justice Orr headed the North Carolina Institute for Constitutional Law.

14—Call for Volunteers

•

15—Leadership Contact Information

•

16—Upcoming Events

• •

When: Friday, January 26th at noon Where: Ridge Road Baptist Church Cost: Free (Bring your own lunch) Registration: Please register at www.lwvwake.org

Guests and nonmembers are welcome to attend. We ask that all attendees pre-register. For more information or to register, go to www.lwvwake.org.

1

Notes from the President Marian Lewin President, LWV-Wake Leadership Team As I sit down to write, I note that we just observed one year since November 8, 2016 when Trump won the election for president. We have all experienced a great deal of change in that year. A huge dam has been breached – we can no longer take the core elements of our democracy for granted. The economic and political gaps that lead to that uneven victory have exposed deep divisions in our country.

It is apparent that the political establishment, represented by the two largest political parties, is struggling to make sense of this new reality. Both the Democrats and the Republicans are plagued by internal divisions and contradictions. As they work to create new leadership and a coherent message, they are confronted by very real frustration and anger in voters and in the public. Coincidentally, the League of Women Voters of Wake County has experienced a significant increase in membership and in people visiting both our website and our Facebook feeds. We have been able to use this growth to expand our policy committees and to strengthen our presence in the community. I am pleased that we have more than doubled our membership and have increased attendance at our events, like the Candidate Forums and Timely Topics Luncheons. The League’s focus on a nonpartisan approach and the embrace of careful, reasoned and thorough research and investigation of political issues is our strength. We celebrate our new members and our growth on this anniversary!

700 New Citizens Registered to Vote! Siobhan Millen Chair, Naturalization Ceremonies Committee

League volunteers registered at least 700 people this year at the US Citizenship and Immigration Services’ (USCIS) naturalization ceremonies. With several more ceremonies scheduled for 2017, the total number will likely be 750800 new registered voters. The committee now has 60 volunteers and will be working on aggressive plans for voter registration in 2018.

2

Mark your calendar for the annual LWV-Wake holiday party! All members are invited and are welcome to bring a guest. Bring your favorite holiday treat to this potluck party. When: Sunday, December 10th at 2:30pm to 5:00pm Where: 4143 Gardenlake Drive, Raleigh, NC 27612 RSVP: Claudia Kadis [email protected]

Redistricting Reform Resources on Our Website The Redistricting Reform Committee has developed several useful resources that are now available on our website at www.lwvwake.org/ redistricting. Scroll to the bottom of our home page to find the redistricting page. The page includes fact sheets, a strategic messaging guide, and a book discussion toolkit. Additional resources are in development, so check the site regularly.

3

Beyond Voting Marcia Ballard LWV-Wake Member “Governments

are instituted among Men, deriving their

just powers from the consent of the governed.” Declaration of Independence

The United States is a representative democracy. As with representative democracies, the citizens elect representatives at the local, state, and federal level to, among other duties, create new and/or change existing laws, collect taxes and apportion the tax dollars accordingly. Some think the process of political engagement by the governed in a representative democracy starts and ends in the voting booth. What happens after the election is over is when the voter needs to become engaged to assure the democratic process is applied justly.

the process of advocacy is necessary to bring awareness to the elected representatives of the issues and concerns affecting you and your community. Actions your representative takes to resolve the issues brought forth by you and your community need to be watched on an ongoing basis. More importantly, you must stay engaged so that when the next election cycle starts, you will be a much more informed voter in the voting booth. Look at it this way: the government by taxing the governed stays continuously engaged through the ability of taxing the governed. The local, state, and the federal government ensures taxes are collected from the majority of the governed. We, as the governed, must likewise be continuously engaged, to ensure issues affecting us and our community are moving toward resolution.

Engagement with elected representatives is equal to if not more important than voting. The individual a person votes for may or may not win the election, but that does not mean you as the governed have completed your civic duty. After the election, you as a voter are now a constituent in the district you live in. To be a constituent is to understand that regardless of who is elected, that elected official still has the responsibility to listen and be responsive to issues the constituents in their district are advocating.

How? By joining likeminded organizations who are also engaged in transforming the status quo. By staying engaged and advocating and being an informed voter who uses the leverage of the vote to elect representatives who will work toward resolving issues in our community.

The process of advocating to representatives as a constituent is fundamental to political engagement in a representative democracy. Staying engaged with your representatives through

Remember . . . you as a voter, a constituent and an advocate have the power to affect change.

4

Join us for the League of Women Voters-Wake Happy Hour Enjoy a glass of wine & appetizers in the Seasons 52 private dining area. •

When: Wednesday, January 24th at 5-7pm

•

Where: Seasons 52 at Crabtree Valley Mall

•

Cost: $15 per person (includes wine, appetizers, tax & gratuity)

Please RSVP to Cheryl Tung by January 20th at [email protected]. Checks can be made payable to Cheryl Tung and mailed to 6020 Over Hadden Court, Raleigh, NC 27614 or you may pay at the door.

Advocacy Workshop Effective Advocacy Skills for Political Engagement Do you want to learn how to become a more effective advocate for the issues you care about? This three-hour workshop is appropriate for both the beginner advocate and the experienced activist ready for some additional skills. Go to www.lwvwake.org for details and to register for this free workshop.

When: Monday, January 8th at noon to 3pm Where: League office Registration: www.lwvwake.org (limited seating)

5

Voter Services: Next Steps Marian Lewin Chair, Voter Services Committee The Voter Services Committee has completed phase I of the year: the 2017 elections are finally behind us and we can devote our energies to voter protection issues. The Voter Services Committee had record setting attendance at our Candidate Forum. Also, our Candidate Guides and our 2017 Elections pages on the website were very well-received. The Voter Protection Sub-Committee met in late October. We are particularly concerned both about the reintroduction of Voter ID requirements that may be proposed in the legislature and measures to protect our elections from outside interference. We talked extensively about how we might want to approach this issue and have taken several approaches. These include learning more about how elections operate and are regulated in North Carolina, the legal foundation of election laws, and policies for individual counties and the state Board of Election. We also want to know about improvements that have been made to the data management system maintained by the state as well as improvements other states have made.

Standing-Room-Only Attendance at 2017 Candidate Forums!

Raleigh Forum

Cary Forum

Please join us! We recognize that this will be a long-term effort that will need help from many Leaguers. Email me at [email protected] and I will connect you with other League members who are starting to work on these issues. Knightdale Forum

6

Membership Committee: New Volunteers Welcome! Are you looking for a way to be involved with the League? Consider volunteering with the Membership Committee. Our focus is making every member feel welcome and valued by the Wake League, whatever their desired level of involvement. For POTENTIAL members, we: •

Set up a membership table at public events.

•

Offer membership information to guests and visitors at League events.

For NEW members, we: •

Reach out with “Welcome” letters and phone calls.

•

Hold socials for new members to meet League leadership and each other.

•

Conduct League 101 sessions as an orientation to how the League works.

•

Host potlucks to bring new members together around a topical issue.

For ALL members, we: •

Conduct an annual “Member Interest Survey” to learn the specific interests and skills that members may wish to pursue in the League, helping us connect them to relevant committees and projects.

•

Greet and facilitate connections among members at League events.

Would you like to help with any of these activities? We’ll find a meaningful task to suit your interest and schedule. We’d especially like ad hoc help as ambassadors, the “face” of our membership committee at events with new members to greet or visitors interested in joining. This commitment could be as little as a couple of events a year. If you would enjoy helping us build community, we are the right place for you! Let us know if there’s something you’d like to do. If you want to sit in on a committee meeting, these are open and we welcome visitors to learn more about us. Our next meeting is on Thursday, January 11, 2018, 12:30 – 2:30 p.m. in the League office.

We look forward to hearing from you! Karen Ferguson [email protected] Naomi Lambert [email protected] Meredith Lundy [email protected]

November potluck with featured guest Wake County Commissioner Jessica Holmes

7

Environment Committee: Active on Multiple Issues Eve Vitaglione Co-Chair, Environment Committee The Environment Committee has had an active fall. •

Five members (Eve Vitaglione, Jackie Giordano, Jane Hortelano, Helen Cleereman, and Jeri Gray) are fresh from a Wake Flows training session, sponsored by the NC Conservation Network, on how to discuss green infrastructure (including stormwater management) and low impact development with local officials.

•

Jackie wrote a letter to the RDU Airport Authority, with a copy to the FAA, requesting greater transparency in their deliberations about their expansion plans for the Odd Fellows lot. Ten days later, they invited leasing proposals for that property. They subsequently rejected all of the proposals they received, and we are considering follow-up actions.

•

Jackie and Helen have been attending CAFT (Capital Area Friends of Transit) meetings.

•

Jane has been attending meetings of the NC Collaboratory (formed to study clean water protections for Jordan and Falls Lake).

•

Pat Butler has been following the early planning meetings for Dix Park.

•

Rachel Madsen has been attending WakeUp Wake County’s meetings on Transportation, Land Use, and Housing.

•

The Environment Committee sponsored the October Timely Topic speaker, Mary Maclean Asbill, senior attorney at the Southern Environmental Law Center. She encouraged us with examples of their successful lawsuits to protect the environment. She was accompanied by Kym Hunter who also provided useful information about local issues, including controversial aspects of the RDU Airport expansion plan.

If you are interested in working with this committee on environment issues, contact co-chairs Eve Viataglione at [email protected] or Jackie Giordano at [email protected].

8

League Book Discussions Our League Lit book discussion groups select readings that enrich participants’ knowledge and enjoyment of American culture, politics, and history. Members take turns facilitating the meetings. Leaguers enjoy getting to know each other while examining different perspectives. Book discussions are open to all LWV-Wake members. For more information go to www.lwvwake.org. Note: We have two book discussion groups. The Raleigh group meets in the League office and the Western Wake group meets at locations in the western part of the county. Make sure you go to the correct location for each session!

League Lit - Western Wake Book Discussion •

When: Wednesday, December 6th at 3pm

•

Where: Mayton Inn in Cary

•

RSVP: Terri Ring [email protected]

League Lit - Raleigh Book Discussion •

When: Thursday, January 18th at 3pm

•

Where: League office

•

RSVP: Nancy Hartge [email protected]

9

NC Capitol Insider Janis Ramquist LWV-NC General Assembly Advocacy Coordinator Leaguers at the Legislature League members were highly visible at both the Judiciary Redistricting Committee and the Rules Committee meetings at the NCGA this fall with League members comprising approximately a third of the people testifying at the hearings. The League is opposed to the judiciary redistricting bill for two reasons: inappropriate decision-making criteria and lack of a transparent process. In public statements, the LWV-Wake and the NC League requested a more deliberate process, in-depth study, nonpartisan decision-making criteria, and greater transparency.

Threats to the Judiciary The General Assembly passed the Electoral Freedom Act of 2017, eliminating a primary election for any judges running for election. Typically, when a primary election is held, the two highest votegetters participate in the November election. With the primary eliminated, the general election could have a dozen or more candidates. Potentially the winner could carry an election with only 10-15% of the total vote.

In recent developments, the NC General Assembly revised judicial elections from the previous nonpartisan format to partisan races. Following the calculated move to partisan judicial elections, Representative Justin Burr (R) introduced a partisan Judiciary Redistricting Bill (H717), “to correct districts to adjust for population growth.” Despite universal opposition from the NC legal profession and requests for a study, including the Association of District Court Judges, North Carolina Bar Council, North Carolina Conference of Superior Court Judges, Pitt County Bar Association, and some Republicans, Representative Burr lunged forward. In response, judges took the unusual step of hiring lobbyists to oppose the bill. Since the Bell Commission unified the court system 50 years ago, the districts have been modified to reflect changes in population. Speakers at the meetings stated affirmatively that other entities, including the NC Courts Commission, Futures Commission, and Chief Justice’s Commission on the Administration of Law and Justice, are best equipped to recommend changes to the districts. Despite the fact that most population growth has been within urban districts, the proposed districts shift more control to rural districts. Voting patterns indicate that the old urban districts leaning Democratic were divided to apportion half of these seats to Republicans, while Republican rural areas were kept whole leaving 100 percent of rural districts in Republican hands. (continued on next page)

10

NC Capital Insider (continued) Although Burr stated that he didn’t consider race, Republicans’ reconfigured districts pack AfricanAmerican precincts into single districts. Meanwhile, rumors abounded that the Republican Caucus was divided prior to the Judiciary Committee meeting. A proposed committee substitute (PCS) for H717 replaced the original bill and passed. It was apparent that considerable deal-making occurred within the Republican Caucus. Bill H717 was re-referred to the Rules Committee where bills migrate for further negotiation or to be held. The following day, a House Rules Committee meeting that had been scheduled for 2:00pm was postponed for an hour later. LWV-Wake Redistricting Committee Co-Chair Dianna Wynn rushed downtown to monitor the bill as the meeting was postposed repeatedly. Finally, the bill was heard at 7:30pm. According to Dianna Wynn, “There was limited discussion regarding specific changes. Almost all the questions related to making sure that whatever deal had been cut with a legislator was in fact reflected in the amended version. One legislator even used the phrase “the deal” in reference to confirming the changes in a particular district. Clearly, the time preceding the meeting was spent accommodating individual legislators’ requests and making deals to get support for the bill. No one spoke or voted in opposition to the proposed amendments, and PCS H717 passed with bipartisan support.” Unfortunately, “the deal” wasn’t a judiciary redistricting study. During the House session, Democrats offered numerous amendments pertinent to specific districts. Burr supported some of these amendments, signaling that Republicans could vote for them. As expected, several amendments failed with his opposition. The failed amendments offered by Fisher (Buncombe), C. Graham (Robeson), Morey, (Durham), and W. Richardson (Cumberland) impacted districts adjudged to be most partisan. Representatives John, Morey, Martin, and Michaux’s impassioned pleas to vote against the bill were particularly notable. The bill passed the House along party lines with the exception of Representative Brisson (D) who voted with the Republicans. (There were a few representatives on both sides of the aisle who were absent or abstained.) H717 is now headed to the Senate.

The Senate will not reconvene for votes on any bills until January 10, 2018. In the meantime, a Select Committee on Judiciary Reform and Redistricting has been appointed and met on November 8th indicating the Senate intends to move forward. Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger, an attorney, has undoubtedly heard from his peers in opposition to the bill. His fundraising and other activities lead some to think he is considering running for governor. The adjournment resolution allows the legislature to continue to address a number of issues ranging from conference reports to constitutional amendments. (continued on next page)

11

NC Capital Insider (continued) Possible Constitutional Amendments Representative David Lewis (R-Harnett) said the General Assembly anticipated taking up constitutional amendments. However, due to the legislative redistricting schedule, the amendments have been put aside for a "future session," most likely in 2018. A Voter ID constitutional amendment is rumored as a possibility in the 2018 election. Another potential constitutional amendment would change how judges are selected by establishing a new judicial appointment/merit selection process, giving the Republican majority the power to appoint. A constitutional amendment could create a judicial retention election wherein a judge holding office would be voted in or out of office, even when the judge is not running against another candidate.

Update on Redistricting Litigation The case of League of Women Voters of North Carolina v. Rucho went to trial in October in the US District Court for the Middle District. In the case of Covington v. North Carolina, the court rejected (based on racial bias) the GOP controlled General Assembly maps that were drawn in August. The court appointed a “special master” to redraw and submit alternative legislative maps for the 2018 elections. The US Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the case of Gill v. Whitford, a case out of Wisconsin arguing that extreme partisan gerrymandering is unconstitutional. There were a couple interesting exchanges during oral arguments. Associate Justice Neil Gorsuch remarked that the US Constitution is silent on redistricting. Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg responded without even looking up, “one man, one, vote.” Associate Justice Anthony Kennedy, a swing vote, had many questions for the Wisconsin attorneys and few for the plaintiff attorneys. A decision is expected in spring 2018.

Join the General Assembly (GA) Team Janis Ramquist is a retired lobbyist and a longtime LWV-Wake member. She now coordinates League volunteers engaged in advocacy in the NC General Assembly. Volunteers are provided training and assigned specific legislators. If you are interested in joining this team, contact Jan at [email protected].

12

Take the Membership Interest Survey

We have an online survey that replaces the old form that used to be mailed with membership invoices each year. We ask that all members take the survey every year. The purpose of the new survey is to: •

Learn what issues our members care about

•

Identify members willing to volunteer

•

Match members’ volunteer interests to the League’s needs

We ask that you take the survey even if you are not interested or are unable to volunteer. That’s helpful for us to know. The survey takes less than five minutes to complete and consists of only four questions. You can find the survey in the “Resources” tab at the bottom of our website at www.lwvwake.org. Thank you to the members who have already completed the survey!

Order a Name Badge Personalized League name badges are now available for $15. The plastic badge is printed with your name, has a magnetic fastener, and comes with a velvet storage pouch. For more information and to order your badge, go to the “Resources” tab at the bottom of our website at www.lwvwake.org.

Remember to wear your badge to all League events! 13

The League of Women Voters of Wake County is an allvolunteer organization. Our members devote countless hours to educating the public on important issues, advocating for change with elected officials, preparing voters to participate in elections, and managing the operations of a busy nonprofit organization. We need more volunteers! To volunteer please contact any Leadership Team member or a committee chair. Go to www.lwvwake.org/committees/.

Policy on Waiving Event Fees for Volunteers—As an all-volunteer organization working within a very limited budget, we cannot afford to waive registration fees for our volunteers at League events. We nevertheless appreciate our volunteers’ hard work and their commitment to the League.

Follow Us On Social Media

www.facebook.com/LWVofWake/

lwvofwake 14

@LWVofWake

LWV-Wake Leadership Leadership Team Marian Lewin (President)

[email protected]

Mary Jane Slipsky (Treasurer)

[email protected]

Karen Ferguson (Membership Coordinator)

[email protected]

Dianna Wynn (Communications Coordinator)

[email protected]

Sherry MacQueen (Secretary)

[email protected]

Marlene Wilson (Policy Coordinator)

[email protected]

Pam Dowdy

[email protected]

Committees

Chairs

Communications

Dianna Wynn [email protected]

Development

Mary Jane Slipsky [email protected]

Environment

Eve Vitaglione [email protected] or Jackie Giordano [email protected]

ERA

Sherry MacQueen [email protected] or Elaine Okal [email protected]

Field Trips

Pat Butler [email protected]

Finance

Mary Jane Slipsky [email protected]

League Lit - Raleigh

Nancy Hartge [email protected]

League Lit - Western Wake

Terri Ring [email protected] or Mary Maher [email protected]

Membership

Karen Ferguson [email protected]

Naturalization Ceremonies

Siobhan Millen [email protected]

Nominating

Vicki Gerig [email protected]

Observer Corps

Marlene Wilson [email protected] or Paula Jennings [email protected]

Redistricting Reform

Dianna Wynn [email protected] or Sheila Denn [email protected]

Social Committee

Cheryl Tung [email protected]

Timely Topics

Joyce Gad [email protected] or Claudia Kadis [email protected]

Voter Services

Marian Lewin [email protected]

15

Upcoming League Events For more information and updates about League events, please regularly check our website at www.lwvwake.org or follow our Facebook page. For information on committee meetings, refer to the “Calendar” page at the bottom of the website. December 2

League 101

December 5

Leadership Team Meeting

December 6

League Lit-Western Wake -- “When Everything Changed: The Amazing Journey of American Women from 1960 to the Present”

December 10

Annual Holiday Party

January 8

Effective Advocacy Skills for Political Engagement Workshop

January 16

Discussing the Future of North Carolina (w/Meredith College)

January 18

League Lit-Raleigh -- “The Third Reconstruction”

January 26

Timely Topics Lunch - “Importance of an Independent Judiciary & Contemporary Challenges to this Goal”

We ask that attendees to all Timely Topics events register for these events via our website at www.lwvwake.org. You can pay online by credit card via PayPal. (Please also pre-register for free events.)

Wishing you a wonderful holiday season and a happy new year!

16