In this issue:

• The World is watching
• Chair’s Message
• Book banning in Chester County?
• Things to do this Month
• Calendar

THE WORLD IS WATCHING

CHAIR’S MESSAGE

We are heading into the final days of the 2023 election cycle. Everyone has been working towards the goal of electing and re-electing Democrats up and down the ballot. The Endorsement Process began in January and the Endorsement Convention gave us a strong slate of endorsed Judicial and County candidates all of whom made it to the November ballot. Local candidates also claimed primary victories. Our slate from top to bottom is diverse, experienced and strong. Our Judicial Slate has experience in all areas of the law both on the defense and the prosecution sides, giving balance to the slate. The County slate, headed by our two Commissioners, is also strong and our local candidates are passionate.

We can be proud that our elected County officials have governed so well over the past four years dealing with a pandemic, a hurricane, hospital closures, a fire, and a prison escape. Our new candidates, when they win, will walk into workplaces that reflect our values. I am grateful to our local candidates, many of whom are running in very competitive and negative (on the other side) races. I commend you for standing up for our values in a climate that can be anything but welcoming.

During the last days of the election, it is imperative we focus on the one and only goal, electing all the Democratic candidates from Supreme Court down to Local School Boards, Boards of Supervisors, Borough Council, MDJs, etc. There can be no distractions, no wasting of time and energy focusing on issues that are not supporting our candidates. Positivity is what our candidates need, and they need us to be united and most of all, they need us to do whatever each of us can do to contribute to our win on November 7th.

Thank You!!

There are so many people to thank and it is always dangerous to try to do so since you inevitably miss someone, but this game is not for sissies so here goes.

Thank you to everyone who has donated to CCDC or to a candidate during this election. CCDC has never supported our candidates at this level before and we want to keep on doing so.

Thank you to everyone who donated an item for the Silent Auction – the response was overwhelming; every item was a treasure. And, thank you to those who attended and won a prize! Thank you to Diane van Mol and Mary McCloskey who wrapped auction baskets and items for people like me who have 10 thumbs.

Thank you to the Committee Chairs, especially the Communications Committee Chair, Bill Phifer, the Voter Outreach Committee Chair, Alan Yockey, the Data Analytics Co-Chairs, Gretchen Grant and David Rhoads, and the Voter Registration Committee Co-Chairs, Marc Goldberg and Kent Kingan.

A big thank you to the zone leaders who have been so supportive and who continue to motivate their Committee People and volunteers with positive and effective leadership. Both slates have benefitted from their work.

Thank you to the Committee People who make sure we have volunteers and coverage at the polls on election day. You are the back bone of CCDC.

I cannot omit thanking the Executive Board: Jerry Pyne, Alex Teplyakov, Ann McNally, and Hans van Mol, and our solicitors: Liz Curtis Swain, Emily Gorge, and Jim McMullen. They are trusted advisors and the hardest working group of volunteers I have ever worked with.

Noah S and Noah KM are a great team and work tirelessly on field operations and helping the campaigns, the zones, and individual candidates. The hours they put in are amazing. Ahh to be young!

And my final, but not least thank you is to Marcy Cornell, the glue that keeps CCDC together and keeps us on track – and she does it with a smile!

I am grateful to each and every one of you who donate your money, your time, your expertise and most importantly your November 7th vote!!

To Victory!

Charlotte

BOOK BANS IN CHESTER COUNTY?

Banning books can have detrimental effects on students’ educational experiences. History has shown that the practice can limit students’ exposure to different perspectives, stifle critical thinking, and hinder their understanding of important societal issues.

In many cases, banned books are the ones that tackle crucial, albeit uncomfortable, topics – race, gender, sexuality, religion, and politics. Not exposing children to these themes could lead to a lack of empathy, critical thinking skills, and awareness of societal problems. Shielding children from these crucial themes through practices such as book banning has far-reaching implications beyond limiting their literary exposure. It can cause a detrimental deficit in their ability to empathize with experiences outside their immediate understanding, inhibit the development of their critical thinking skills, and impair their awareness and understanding of intricate societal problems that require their engagement and responsiveness for societal progress and reform.

The real problem is that groups like Moms for Liberty and other extremists try to say, ‘I know what’s best for the school system, and for the library, and the library should reflect my own values ? no matter what the values are of other people in the community.’”

Here is Chester County, we have outstanding public schools, and science, history, and social studies that value individualism and critical thinking. Groups that would like to teach our children WHAT to think, instead of HOW to think should not be running our local school boards. Vote for Democrats for school director in our 13 county school districts on November 7!

THINGS TO DO THIS MONTH

Chester County Voter Services will be manning mail-in and absentee ballot drop boxes during normal business hours at 12 county library locations, and the Government Services Center on Westtown Road in West Chester from October 24 through Election Day, November 7. All ballots must be RECEIVED by 8:00 PM on Election Day, so we do not recommend mailing your completed ballot at this point – use the convenient drop boxes. Please be sure to follow the directions carefully to make sure your votes are counted. Place your completed (two-sided) ballot in the secrecy envelope and then in the outside mailer envelope with your signature and the date.

See instructions, locations, and hours here.

CALENDAR

Last day to REGISTER before the November Election – October 23
Last day to apply for a mail-in or civilian absentee ballot – October 31
Election Day – November 7