Democrats
open headquarters in L.B.
By
Tina Page
On-line Forty-Niner
The
California Democratic Party’s 2002 campaign
season will begin on Sept. 15 at the new
Long Beach headquarters.
This marks the beginning of a full force
mission by the Democratic Party to register
voters all over the state for the Nov. 5
elections.
The kickoff will include the First Precinct
Walk of the season at 11 a.m. and will conclude
with a barbecue back at the headquarters
at 3:30 p.m.
Sharon Davis, Governor Davis’ wife, will
be in attendance to make a short speech
and enjoy the festivities, Long Beach headquarter’s
director, Ann Reiner said.
“It will be an informal get together to
celebrate the beginning of the California
Coordinator Campaign and the Alan Lowenthal
Assembly Campaign,” Reiner said.
One program that the democrats have initiated
to promote voting among college students
is called the Bounty Program, which has
been in effect since 1994, according to
Mike Monasmith.
“I believe that the most important right
we have is voting,” said Nicole Martinez,
the college organizer for the Orange County
and Long Beach area. “Our goal with this
program is to round up volunteers to get
people to register to vote.”
The Bounty Program recruits campus organizations
to volunteer to set up booths and to walk
around campus asking people to register
to vote.
“Obviously, we would like people to register
as democrats, but we are here for any person
wishing to register to vote,” Martinez said.
“Every person deserves to have a voice,
no matter what their political affiliation.”
To promote participation in the program
and to provide an incentive to register
students as democrats, the Bounty Program
pays $2 without a phone number and $2.50
with a valid phone number per person registered
as a Democrat to the volunteer organization.
The phone numbers go into a database and
are used as contact numbers for updates
on community events and upcoming elections.
“The program is a way that we encourage
involvement from local organizations so
that they can raise money while benefiting
everyone. The money raised helps fund their
local activities,” said Mike Monasmith,
with the Los Angeles Democratic Office.
Any group on campus that would like to participate
should pick up a permit for each day they
would like to collect voter registrations
at the Student Life and Development Office
at USU-203.
While the state elections take place on
Nov. 5, the last day to actually register
for eligibility to vote in this year’s elections
is Oct. 21. There will be people on campus
making registration available to all.
“We just want to encourage more students
to vote,” Martinez said. “Only 50 percent
of college students utilize their ability
to vote. I think many people don’t feel
like they can do anything or that their
voice can make a difference. Students need
to remember that voting is their duty. It
really took a long time to get a democracy
like ours where every vote can count. To
have a voice we need to have a turnout.”
To find out more about the Bounty Program
contact Nicole Martinez at (310) 489-2118.
To get more information on the First Precinct
Walk and barbecue, call (562) 438-4429.
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