As we start the new year ...

year of our political dreams!

Let's begin with a little look ahead. We will have two regular elections, for nonpartisan offices including an extremely important seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court, on February 21 (a primary) and April 4 (general). Grassroots North Shore will soon put up the names of progressive candidates together with links to their online information. Our Elections page currently displays which offices are going to be on ballots in our area. Check it out.

You can find out more about the two progressive candidates — Everett Mitchell and Janet Protasiewicz plus three "conservatives" — at a forum sponsored by Citizen Action on Wednesday, January 11, at 7:00pm in a Zoom webinar. Sign up here.

We also have two special elections to fill vacant seats. One is in Mequon on Tuesday, January 10, to fill a seat for Alderman District 8. Nancy Urbani is a candidate. The second special election will fill the vacant Wisconsin State Senate District 8, formerly filled by Alberta Darling. Jodi Habush Sinykin is the only progressive in the race. You can visit her Twitter account and donate to her effort. If you live in Assembly Districts 22, 23, or 24, she will be on you ballot, both on February 21 and April 4. Even if you're not, she needs your help, and she needs your financial support.

We highly recommend that you sign up for absentee ballots for all elections in 2023. The weather is unpredictable in February and even in April. Some of you have plans to abscond to a sunny spot for the winter. And some may have shorter vacations planned that include one or the other election days. But voting in these 2023 elections is critical if we hope to have a Wisconsin Supreme Court that can review the radically gerrymandered voting maps and can rule on whether the 1849 law banning abortion is still legal. Voting absentee is absolutely secure. You can track when your ballot has been sent to you and when it is received at the clerk's office with MyVote.Wi.gov. (To return your absentee ballot, you can either drop it in the mail or take it to your municipal clerk's office. Drop boxes are not available for voting!)

Grassroots North Shore will hold our annual fundraiser on Sunday, February 5, 7:00 — 8:30pm with Nicholas Stephanopoulos, professor of law at Harvard University whose research and numerous public appearances focus on election and constitutional law, and with presentations by Wisconsin Supreme Court candidates Janet Protasiewicz and Everett Mitchell. Our Fundraiser is the kick-off of our Spring days of action. We will be doing our best to elect a new WI Supreme Court Justice AND a Democrat for the State Senate in District 8 (and thwart the GOP supermajority). Sign up here.

I apologize for the early and short newsletter this week. I've been traveling to visit family and friends in Baltimore and Ocean City, Maryland. But I'll be back at my desk by mid-week and beginning to recruit volunteers for the various tasks we'll be undertaking for the February primary. Meanwhile, I've been enjoying the crazy clown show going on this week in the US House of Representatives. Perhaps you have been too. The serious crazy, though, comes next. Hang on.

EVENTS

Tuesday, January 10

Imbalance of Power in WI's Conservation Efforts, 6:30 — 8:00pm
Zoom
Eighteen local Leagues across the state are co-sponsoring this event to promote better understanding of how environmental and conservation policies may be stymied or thwarted, and what citizens can do to ensure Wisconsin maintains its environmental legacy. As a nonpartisan organization whose mission is to Empower Voters and Defend Democracy, the LWV strives to provide a variety of programs on issues of concern to communities and to advocate for government policies in the public interest. Register here.

Wednesday, January 11

Supreme Court Forum, 7:00 — 8:30pm
Zoom
Citizen Action of Wisconsin is hosting a State Supreme Court forum for all Democratic and progressive State Supreme Court candidates. We see the State Supreme Court as the next key race in getting Wisconsin back on track, including stronger and more representative maps and ensuring fair voting practices around the state. When we win this race in 2023, we will FLIP the makeup of the court to a liberal, pro-voting rights, anti-gerrymandering majority! LET'S DO THIS! Register.

Thursday, January 12

The League of Progressive Seniors, 10:00 — 11:30am
The Knickerbocker on the Lake, 1028 E Juneau Ave, Milwaukee
The League of Progress Seniors is convening a meeting to plan our work for 2023. We are focused on the WI State Supreme Court election on April 4 which could shift the Court to the progressive side. The WI State Supreme Court plays a pivotal role in setting the rules for voter rights, gerrymandering, health care, and civil rights. To RSVP email [email protected].