Voter Participation Wrap-up

Posted on January 28, 2012 by admin

Members of the Suffolk Democratic Committee worked with the City of Suffolk Office of the Clerk of Court in assisting over twenty-five people submit applications to request restoration of their voting rights. Their story was covered in the Suffolk News-Herald

While Governor Mcdonnell should be commended for his work to streamline the restoration of civil rights for those who have lost them, Virginia remains one of only two states in which the process is not automatic.

Restoration of civil rights is an important step for those who have completed their sentences, cleared their debts, and demonstrated a positive commitment to society to become fully productive citizens and participants in our political process. The Suffolk Democratic Committee congratulates those who have taken the initiative to have their rights restored.

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Information on the Voter Resoration of Rights Workshop (short video)

Posted on January 11, 2012 by Benjamin Goldberg

Here’s some information on next week’s workshop. If you’ve lost your voting rights in Virginia and can make it to this Suffolk workshop, please join us on the 17th and 24th, at 6:30PM, at 157 North Main Street, the Suffolk Law Library

Restoration of Rights Information (YouTube)

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Reelection of Committee Officers

Posted on January 11, 2012 by Benjamin Goldberg

The primary items for last night’s meeting were the admission of new members and reelection of officers following the bi-annual reorganization of the committee. The committee re-elected Arthur Bredemeyer as committee chairman, Rev. Dwight Nixon as first vice chair, Jean Copeland as treasurer, and Lou Ward as Master at Arms. Benjamin Goldberg was elected as second vice chair. Other positions, including recording secretary, which was held by Mr. Goldberg, will be considered at the next meeting (Mr. Goldberg will continue to record the minutes until replaced). Alvin Anderson and Lisa Jackson asked not to be considered for reelection to their former positions of second and third vice chair.

Our next meeting will be February 14th.

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Meeting & Committee Elections Tuesday, Jan 10 (tonight) at 7

Posted on January 10, 2012 by admin

Tonigh we’ll be electing our officers for the reorganized committee.

The SDC meets in the Farm Fresh Community Room,
in the back of the Farm Fresh at 1401 N. Main Street,

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Restoration of Rights Workshop

Posted on January 5, 2012 by Benjamin Goldberg

The Restoration of Rights Workshop is coming up!

The workshop, presented by the Suffolk Democratic Committee, along with the Missing Voter Project and the City of Suffolk, Virginia , will provide free help with the paperwork to get your Voting Rights resored.

The process is easier and faster now than it has been.

Call Jack at 879-6707 for an appointment.

This will be a non-partisan workshop.

The workshop will be in two parts, first January 17th then a follow-up on January 24th.

Both at 6:30PM, at 157 North Main Street, the Suffolk Law Library

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Holiday Wishes

Posted on December 23, 2011 by admin

The Suffolk Democratic Committee wishes a Joyous, Peaceful, and Safe holiday for all.

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Caucus Canceled; Regular Meeting at 7 PM

Posted on December 12, 2011 by Benjamin Goldberg

All those who submitted their applications by the December 9th deadline have been automatically elected to the Committee, and a caucus will not be required. Also included are the applicants discussed in October. Anyone who still wants to be on the Committee can submit their application at the December 13th meeting.

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NOTICE OF COMMITTEE REORGANIZATION

Posted on December 7, 2011 by admin

The Suffolk Democratic Committee hereby announces that it will hold an assembled caucus at 7 p.m. on December 13, 2011 at the Farm Fresh Community Room, 1401 N. Main Street, Suffolk, Virginia for the purpose of electing members of the Suffolk Democratic Committee. Any person wishing to be a candidate for the Suffolk Democratic Committee must file a written declaration of candidacy with $20 annual dues to Arthur C. Bredemeyer, Chair of the Suffolk Democratic Committee, 424 Market Street, Suite 200, Suffolk Virginia 23434 prior to 5 p.m. on December 9, 2011. No person who has failed to comply with the pre-filing requirements may be considered for election. Any person attending the caucus, before participating in the caucus, shall sign a standardized declaration form stating that he or she is a Democrat and is a registered voter in the City of Suffolk. Declaration forms must be filled out at the caucus prior to 7 p.m. Doors to the caucus will be closed at that time and no person may complete a form or enter the caucus after that time with the exception of those persons in line at the above mentioned time. If only the number of or less than the number of persons filing written declarations are received those candidates will automatically be elected to the Committee. For further information, please contact Arthur C. Bredemeyer at 923-9384 or 925-0796.

Authorized by the Suffolk Democratic Committee

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Call to Caucus

Posted on December 7, 2011 by admin

Whereas it is the duty of the Suffolk Democratic Committee to issue the Call to Caucus for the purpose of electing Committee members.

Now therefore be it resolved that the Suffolk Democratic Committee hereby issues the Call to Caucus to convene at 7 p.m., Tuesday, December 13, 2011 at the Farm Fresh Community Room, 1401 N. Main Street, Suffolk, Virginia 23434 for the sole purpose of electing Committee members and the following provisions shall govern the caucus, to wit:
1. Type of Caucus
The caucus will be an Assembled caucus.
2. Any Democrat desiring to declare their candidacy for election to the Suffolk Democratic Committee shall file a Declaration of Candidacy no later than 5 p.m. on Friday, December 9, 2011 with the Chair of the Suffolk Democratic Party at 424 Market Street, Suite 200, Suffolk, Virginia 23434. Dues are $20 per annum. Only those candidates properly pre-filed will be considered at the caucus.
3. Notice will be placed on the Suffolk Democratic Committee and Democratic Party of Virginia websites no earlier than November 30, 2011 and no later than December 6, 2011 with a press release to the Suffolk News-Herald and the Virginia-Pilot SUN.
4. Voting will be one vote per caucus attendee who signs a Declaration and is accepted by the Credentials Committee.
5. There will be two caucus committees, to wit: the Credentials Committee and the Rules Committee.
6. Discrimination on the basis of race, sex, age, color, national origin, religion, ethnic identity or economic status in the delegate selection process is prohibited.
7. If no more than applications than the number of open positions is received those applicants will automatically be elected.

Adopted: October 11, 2011

___________________________
Arthur C. Bredemeyer
Chair, Suffolk Democratic Committee

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Civil Rights Restoration

Posted on November 18, 2011 by Jack Crowley

There are approximately 378,000 Virginians who have lost their Civil Rights due to a felony conviction. This means they can’t vote, hold public office, serve on a jury or be a notary. It also means that in many cases they are excluded from that “good job”. Additionally, the Virginia Department of Corrections supervises over 49,000 felon offenders annually. With a pipeline of approximately 49,000 feeding into an estimated population of 378,000, simple math says the number of disenfranchised citizens is not going to go down. They need help. What can be done?

One’s civil rights may be restored. These rights may be restored through application to the Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia. A convicted felon is eligible to apply for Rights Restoration (1) 2 years after completion of supervised probation for non-violent offenses and (2) 5 years after completion of supervised probation for violent offenses. Once eligible and having applied to the Governor’s Secretary of the Commonwealth, their application will be processed and returned with a reply within 60 days. This is one way to make the numbers go down and there is a process in place to help work the problem.

An application for Restoration of Civil Rights may be obtained by writing to the Secretary of the Commonwealth, PO Box 2454, Richmond, VA 23218 or calling (804)786-2441 and asking for an application package. Or on line to: http://www.commonwealth.virginia.gov/judicialsystem/clemency/restoration.cfm and download the application package.

There are also local groups who will assist you. For example, on 17 & 24 January, 2012, the City of Suffolk, the Suffolk Democratic Committee and others will be conducting a restoration of voter rights workshop, 6:30 – 9:00 P.M. at the Workforce Development Center, 157 North Main Street, Suite D, Suffolk VA, 23434. It is free and open to the public. This two-session workshop will include a presentation as well as one-on-one assistance to help applicants fill out the required paperwork. And, if you want to talk about it, call Jack @ 757-879-6707.

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