Please be aware that several incidents of sexual harassment and abuse by Brian Thomas, Dan Jensen, and Leo Niehorster-Cook have been reported to our Steering Committee. These incidents were covered and the perpetrators protected by Sam Allison-Natale and Hannah Allison-Natale. We are sharing this because we have an obligation to our members and to the safety of our community. For more information, please visit dsabusers.com
Category: Uncategorized
Douglas County, KS 2019 Voter Guide
Make a plan to vote:
- Election Day at your local polling place on Tuesday, Nov. 5, from 7am to 7pm.
- Bring a valid form of photo ID.
If you need a ride to vote on November 5, please email contact@lawrencedsa.com!
This election, there are three sections on the ballot:
- Lawrence City Commission
- USD 497 School Board (Lawrence Public Schools)
- Special Question (statewide)
Lawrence City Commission candidates (you may vote for up to 3)
Joey Hentzler
Joey is running on a progressive platform including affordable housing, sustainability programs to tackle climate change, and reforms to address systemic racial disparities. He supports making utility rates as progressive as possible and public funding for sidewalk repairs. Joey is Director of Advocacy for Kansas Appleseed, which works to address social, economic and political injustice in Kansas. Joey is endorsed by DSA.
Courtney Shipley
Courtney has mixed views about support for developers vs. annexation and about utility rate increases, but supports public funding of sidewalks. Courtney chairs the Lawrence Association of Neighborhoods and serves on the Board of Zoning Appeals and the Lawrence Preservation Alliance and Friends of Oak Hill Cemetery Board.
Ken Easthouse
Ken is part of a Public Incentives Review Committee that examines potential impacts of opportunity zones, which provide tax incentives for developers in areas such as business parks and KU. Ken supports funding of sidewalks by the city instead of by property owners, but he opposes the policy that developers must provide some kind of community benefit if they want to annex land to expand the city.
Stuart Boley
Stuart is running for reelection to City Commission, where his voting record reveals support for developers and high-end housing complexes rather than affordable housing. He believes the recent regressive utility rate increases are appropriate and wants homeowners to pay for sidewalk repairs. In addition, Stuart voted against lowering marijuana possession fines in Lawrence. Stuart is a retired IRS auditor.
Rob Sands
Rob supports annexation over developers but opposes the requirement that developers must provide a community benefit. He is an active duty member of the Kansas Army National Guard. Rob volunteers on two city boards: the Lawrence/Douglas County Municipal Planning Commission, and the Metropolitan Planning Organization.
Brad Finkeldei
Brad is a Republican. Brad Finkeldei accepted a substantial contribution from Scott Zaremba, the president of Zarco USA and the previous president of the Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association of Kansas. He states he is “considering” returning it. Brad wants homeowners to pay for sidewalk repairs and supports developers that don’t offer some kind of community benefit. Brad has accepted campaign donations from utility company officials who stand to benefit from changes to city energy policy.
USD 497 School Board candidates (you may vote for up to four)
Carole Cadue-Blackwood
Carole supports funding social workers and restorative justice programs, not cops in schools. She’s running to create universal pre-K, increase funding for students and teachers, and support the paraeducators union as well as our unionized teachers. Carole is a clinical social worker, has children in USD 497, and advocates for Native communities; she was instrumental in the re-dedication of Billy Mills Middle School. Carole is endorsed by DSA.
Thea Perry
Thea supports funding social workers and restorative justice programs, not cops in schools. She’s running to create universal pre-K, increase funding for students and teachers, and support the paraeducators union as well as our unionized teachers. Thea is a former teacher and an activist for education, housing, and health care access. Thea is endorsed by DSA.
Paula Smith
Paula supports funding social workers and restorative justice programs, not cops in schools. She’s running to create universal pre-K, increase funding for students and teachers, and support the paraeducators union as well as our unionized teachers. Paula volunteers with Native American Student Services and has worked as a nonprofit advocate and in Tribal Administration. Paula is endorsed by DSA.
Erica Hill
Erica is the Finance and Operations Manager of the Lawrence Memorial Hospital Health Foundation. She serves on three USD 497 committees and advisory councils. Erica did not return our DSA candidate survey.
Shannon Kimball
Shannon is running for a third term on the USD 437 School Board, having served as board President and Vice President. She takes pride in her contributions to the facilities upgrades and improvements in college and career readiness programs. Shannon is President of the Kansas Association of School Boards and an attorney. Shannon did not return our DSA candidate survey.
Special Question (statewide)
The 2020 U.S. Census is upcoming, and Kansas is the only state in the U.S. that actively adjusts the federal census numbers to exclude our nonresident students and military personnel. How Kansas counts its population affects how the districts are drawn for Legislative and State Board of Education. Keeping this policy in place is estimated to cost $835,000 in 2020. The Kansas Legislature has supported this amendment with bipartisan supermajorities. Voting YES on this question would amend the state Constitution to eliminate this adjustment procedure and include everyone in the population count.
The Lawrence Democratic Socialists of America is a nonprofit organization. We’re one chapter of a nation-wide organization, The Democratic Socialists of America, which has over 60,000 members and growing. Democratic Socialists believe that both the economy and society should be run democratically to meet human needs, not to make profits for a few. We’re a political and activist organization, not a party. Our Lawrence DSA chapter works to represent the needs of both our city’s residents and university students. We’re workers, students, long-time residents, and recent arrivals organizing in our workplaces, universities, high schools, unions, and neighborhoods to fight for the immediate needs of workers, students, and Lawrence residents while building our capacity to fight for more radical and structural changes. Join us at our next meeting!
May 2019 General Meeting Agenda
The April 2019 General Meeting will be on Monday, May 6th at 7PM in the Ecumenical Campus Ministry Building (1204 Oread Ave). Childcare will be provided on-site.
The Agenda for the meeting is as follows. Time estimates in parentheses.
(5:00) Ice-Breaker
(1:00) Overview of Robert’s Rules / Community Agreements
(1:00) Quorum Check
(2:00) Open Floor for adding items to the agenda
(2:00) Vote on Agenda
(10:00) Reportbacks / Intro to Working Groups
(10:00) Discuss with Working Groups!
(1:00) Call for Dues Renewal
(32:00) Chapter Business Track (For Dues Payers or Regular Attendees)
- (3:00) Announcement of Election Results for Secretary & Social Media Com Chair
- (5:00) Social Media Security Discussion
- (7:00) Bylaw Amendment Committee 2
- (3:00) Announcement of National Delegate Election Rules
- (1:00) Announcement of National Delegate Election Meeting
- (3:00) Overview and vote on creating the Electoral Working Group
- (10:00) Discussion on electoral WG plan
(32:00) New Attendee Track (For New or Prospective Members)
- (8:00) Small Group Discussion
- (12:00) Explainer about How DSA Works (Locally, Regionally, Nationally)
- (10:00) Question and Answer about DSA
- (2:00) Call To Action
(5:00) All Attendees Meet Back Up for Open Floor
(5:00) Announcement of Revolution School
(2:00) Plan for Next General Meeting
(3:00) Close Out
April 2019 General Meeting Agenda
The April 2019 General Meeting will be on Monday, April 1st at 7PM in the Ecumenical Campus Ministry Building (1204 Oread Ave). Childcare will be provided on-site.
The Agenda for the meeting is as follows. Time estimates in parentheses.
(10:00) Ice-Breaker
(1:00) Overview of Robert’s Rules / Community Agreements
(2:00) Open Floor for adding items to the agenda
(2:00) Vote on Agenda
(10:00) Working Group & Committee Report backs
(15:00) Discuss with Working Groups!
(10:00) Report Back from Regional Convention
(5:00) Quarterly Expense Report
(5:00) Call for Dues Renewal
(1:00) Split up into Chapter Members and New Attendees
(24:00) Chapter Members Track
(5:00) Saying Goodbye to Kellin ❤️
(6:00) Announce Nominees For Secretary
(3:00) Announce Nominees For Social Media Committee Chair
(5:00) Socialist Education Working Group Renewal
- (4:00) Overview of reason for renewal
- (1:00) Vote for Renewal
(10:00) BAC 2
- (3:00) Overview of the Committee
- (6:00) Debate and Motion
- (1:00) Vote for Ratification
(24:00) New Attendee Track
(5:00) Small Group Discussion
(12:00) Explainer about How DSA Works (Locally, Regionally, Nationally)
(5:00) Question and Answer about DSA
(2:00) Call To Action
(5:00) All Attendees Meet Back Up for Open Floor
(2:00) Plan for Next General Meeting
(3:00) Close Out / Call To Action
March 2019 General Meeting Agenda
The March 2019 General Meeting will be on Monday, March 4th at 7PM in the Ecumenical Campus Ministry Building (1204 Oread Ave). Childcare will be provided on-site.
The Agenda for the meeting is as follows. Time estimates in parentheses.
(10:00) Ice-Breaker
(2:00) Open Floor for adding items to the agenda
(2:00) Vote on Agenda
(3:00) Overview of Robert’s Rules / Community Agreements
(10:00) Reportbacks / Intro to Working Groups (1 Minute each)
- Electoral
- Healthcare
- Homelessness / Mutual Aid
- Brief announcement that it is open to projects
- Housing
- KU
- Labor
- Newsletter
- Socialist Feminism
- Socialist Education
- Transport
(10:00) Discuss with Working Groups!
(5:00) Overview of Pre-Convention Information
(3:00) Overview of Bernie Discussion from March 3rd
(28:00) Chapter Business Track (For Dues Payers or Regular Attendees)
- (7:00) Caucus Rules
- (4:00) Bylaw Amendment Committee #1
- (3:00) Tech Training – File Server
- (2:00) Security Chair Confirmation Vote
- (4:00) Social Media Secretary Position
- (2:00) Explainer of Monthly Event Priorities
- (3:00) Vote on Monthly Event Priority Rules
- (3:00) Discussion on Monthly Priority Events for March
(28:00) New Attendee Track (For New or Prospective Members)
- (7:00) Small Group Discussion about Bernie
- (15:00) Explainer about How DSA Works (Locally, Regionally, Nationally)
- (6:00) Question and Answer about DSA
- (2:00) Call To Action
(5:00) DSA-Cation Explainer
(5:00) Open Floor
(2:00) Plan for Next General Meeting
(2:00) Close Out / Call To Action
We’ve got a bus!
We’re excited to announce that we’ve got a bus!
We’re holding a nation-wide fundraiser right now to help cover the initial costs of getting up and running.
If you’re a DSA member in the Midwest we hope to see you on the bus soon!
Find the bus fundraiser and more details here:
https://www.gofundme.com/lkdsabus