On February 17, Portland Dems will use our meeting to discuss and consider endorsing the Tribal Sovereignty bill currently in the legislature: LD 1626, An Act Implementing the Recommendations of the Task Force on Changes to the Maine Indian Claims Settlement Implementing Act.

Please register for the virtual Zoom meeting on Feb. 17 to be part of this important Tribal Sovereignty conversation and vote.

We will also hold an election for Vice Chair, and an endorsement vote to thank Gov. Mills and the Maine Legislature for passing LD 1664 last year, An Act To Integrate African American Studies and the History of Genocide into the Statewide System of Learning Results

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Here is the text of both statements for possible endorsement:

FOR ENDORSEMENT CONSIDERATION:
“The Portland Democratic City Committee acknowledges the need to secure the sovereignty of the tribes in Maine as a matter of legal fairness, environmental justice, and public health. The Portland Democratic City Committee endorses LD 1626, An Act Implementing the Recommendations of the Task Force on Changes to the Maine Indian Claims Settlement Implementing Act, and calls on the Maine Legislature and Governor Janet Mills to partner with Maine’s tribes and sign LD 1626 into law this year.”

FOR ENDORSEMENT CONSIDERATION:
“In light of Republican attempts in Maine and across the country to cover up the history of discrimination against African Americans, Native Americans, and other historically marginalized people; to scare educators away from their duty and constitutional right to teach all aspects of U.S. history; and to ban books that illuminate the history of the Holocaust and of genocide and racial terror in the U.S.; the Portland Democratic City Committee affirms the importance of teaching the full story of U.S. history and thanks Maine Governor Janet Mills, Portland Representative Rachel Talbot Ross, and other members of the Maine Legislature for their leadership in signing LD 1664 into law to integrate African American Studies and the History of Genocide into Maine’s public education environment.”

February PDCC Meeting

Thursday, Feb. 17, 6:30-8:00pm

(Draft agenda here) (Register link here)

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And sign up to HERE be a Portland Delegate for the Maine Democratic Convention in May!

Volunteering as a State Delegate is a crucial way to make sure that Democrats in Portland are fully represented at the State Convention in May. Why is this important? Participating in the Convention is the best way to make sure the Democratic Party’s platform reflects our values. It’s so important to have Portland Democrats like you join the process and ensure that our voices shape what Democrats stand for in Maine.

The Convention is May 13-14, 2022. Delegates may participate either virtually from home or travel in-person to the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor. There will be exciting speakers, informative workshops, and voting sessions to make decisions about the Maine Democratic Party’s platform.

Nominations are open now through February 20, so nominate yourself today at www.mainedems.org/vote. (As Maine’s biggest city, Portland gets a large number of Delegates, so don’t be shy. Sign up!)

Elections for State Delegates will happen ONLINE from February 27 through March 6. Any registered Democrat can participate in the online election.