*THE VOORHIS VOICE* A Liberal Voice of the Inland Empire June 2008 claremontdemocrats@yahoo.com www.claremontdems.org MEETINGS & EVENTS IN JUNE AND BEYOND The speaker on Monday, June 30, will be Joe Lyons, candidate for State Senate in District 29. As always, the meeting will begin at 7:30 p.m. in Porter Hall. Position Statement As a Democrat I believe it is time to reclaim the vision of optimism that derives from the core principle that government's role is to promote the common good and ensure justice, freedom and equal opportunity for all Californians: poor and wealthy, old and young, woman and man, immigrant and American-born. This proud heritage was the basis of the prosperity that built California's educational and economic infrastructure under Democratic leadership more than half a century ago. It is again time to make serving the common good the touchstone of every elected official's efforts to restore our State government's commitment to provide: 1) the highest quality pre-school to college public education to our children; 2) a sustainable single-payer universal health care program that provides comprehensive, high quality, efficient and accessible health care to all Californians; and 3) leadership based on a genuine and informed concern for the environment that promotes the development of clean and sustainable alternative energy sources. The focus of my campaign will be on health care and education, because having been the recipient of quality health care and a public education that was once among the best in the United States, I know that without the former, both the quality and duration of life is significantly reduced, that without the latter, the free exercise of liberty can be too easily curtailed, and that when both are inadequate, lacking, or worse, unequally distributed, the pursuit of happiness becomes and inherited privilege of the few, while being limited for the many by equally inherited circumstances of birth and life. Like all Californians, I firmly defend our shared American values and traditions that preserve and advance our right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. I am committed to standing firm on these values and leading California as we reclaim our vision of a Golden State where optimism and opportunity for all prevails. Biography Joe is the second of 5 sons born to James and Jeannette Lyons, both deceased. He was born in Fresno, California at the end of World War II, and moved with his parents back to their home in Boston, Massachusetts, where he lived until his mid-teens when the family moved to San Diego, California. He attended Point Loma High School and upon graduation went on to earn Bachelor and Master of Science Degrees in Microbiology from San Diego State University. He commenced his career in medical research at the University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine, in 1972, and in 1983 accepted a position to help establish the Infectious Diseases Research Laboratory at the City of Hope National Medical Center, where he continues to personally engage in and supervise research efforts to understand, treat, and prevent infectious diseases. Upon accepting this position, Joe and his family moved to San Dimas, California, where they resided until 1998. He and his former wife, Susan, are the proud parents of four sons, Adam, Matthew, Peter and Bryce, all of whom graduated from San Dimas High School. While raising his children, Joe was actively involved at all levels of the youth sports and other organized activities in which his boys participated. He was founding president of the San Dimas High School Academic Boosters Club, and organized and administered the Practice SAT Session Program to prepare students for this very important college entrance requirement. Joe has been a Claremont, California, resident since 2002, and lives in a committed relationship with his beloved life partner, Sharyn Webb, and between them they have 9 grandchildren. In 2004, Joe earned a Ph.D. in Immunogenetics from Vrije Universiteit Medical School, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. He currently serves as Executive Committee Vice Chair of the Bonita Democratic Council and on the boards of the Pomona Valley Chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness and Inland Valley Recovery Services. He is the Democratic candidate for the California State Senate District 29, which includes communities in northwestern Los Angeles, eastern San Bernardino, and northeastern Orange Counties. Joseph M. Lyons, M.S., Ph.D. 1774 Chatham Court Support Scientist Claremont, CA 91711 Department of Infectious Diseases (909) 392-0020 City of Hope National Medical Center jlyons001@msn.com Duarte, California 91010 There will be no luncheon or general membership meetings in July or August. SAD ANNOUNCEMENT We regret to announce that one of our Executive Committee members, Donald Stumpf, has died. Don was a recent appointment to our Executive Committee, for which he was to assume the responsibilities of Club Archivist. JULY 4 IS COMING (RIGHT AFTER JULY 3!) Our Democratic Club of Claremont will again participate inClaremont's July 4 festivities. We will have a booth during the Memorial Park festivities and we will have a sizable contingent of Democrats in the parade. Our booth in Memorial Park will feature live and replicated politicians. Both Russ Warner, Democratic candidate for the 26thCongressional District, and Joe Lyons, Democratic candidate for the29th Senate District, will be present. Along with these real people, we will have life-sized cutouts of Bill and Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and John Fitzgerald Kennedy. Photos of visitors standing with these national figures will be taken and sent to the visitors digitally. The suggested donation for the photos is $2.00. We will also have copies of "The Claremont Manifesto," political materials, register to vote forms, club membership applications, and patriotic tattoos. Russ Warner's campaign will give balloons to kids, too. Riding on our parade entry this year, besides some of our members, will be the Village Mandala Drum Circle. Also in our Democratic contingent will be Joe Lyons and his family, riding, while Russ Warner, family and friends will walk along the parade route. Volunteers are needed for staffing our booth for two hour shifts and for riding on our parade entry. Please contact Carolee Monroe at 909 626 8122 or email at as soon as possible. CABLE TV PROGRAMS FOR JUNE Our June television programs, hosted by Merrill Ring, feature two longtime activists, Lois Thompson and Ardi Rashidi. Mr. Rashidi, President of the Kurdish-American Education Society and also President of the Southern California Division of the United Nations Association of the United States of America, spoke with Merrill about a possible resolution of the conflict in the Middle East. During this program, part of our "Claremont Democratic Forum" airing on Thursday evenings at 8:30 PM, Mr. Rashidi recalls the history of the various peoples of the area as far back as Biblical times, along with the resulting conflicts. The resolution he proposes consists of a redrawing of political boundaries based on cultural and religious practices and is one that the United Nations is considering. Our Friday program, "Democrats: People and Ideas," begins at 8:00 PM. This month we feature a discussion with DCC member and lifelong peace and justice activist, Lois Thompson. Lois readily admits that her activism includes political involvement. Since her early years in Mississippi, she has continued to involve herself in resolving the injustices within her community, our nation, and the world. Lois is our 2008 Woman Democrat of the Year while Merrill is her male counterpart for 2008. See why these two members so deserve their recognition! These two half-hour programs air on TimeWarner Cable channel 29 in the cities of Claremont, Pomona, and Covina. On Visiting Washington, D.C. Recently (Commentary by the "Voice" Editor, Ron Wolff) A man, clearly homeless and mentally ill, staring at nothing in particular, talking to nobody in particular, motioning randomly toward the sky, lies in a public park. "Is this America?" I want to ask the stoic guard behind the tall black gate at the White House, three blocks away. But I already know the answer. JUNE 3 ELECTION RESULTS -- AND CAMPAIGN NEWS (News and editorial opinion by Gar Byrum) Russ Warner defeated Cynthia Matthews for the Democratic Nomination for Congress from the 26th Congressional District, Tuesday night, June 3. He won 67.5% of the vote with Matthews receiving 32.5% of the vote. We have a real chance to defeat Representative Dreier. If the Democratic challengers in Illinois, Louisiana, and Mississippi could defeat the Republican candidates in districts that have long been held by Republicans, then anything is possible. THE 2008 CAMPAIGN Nationally Democratic prospects have not looked this good in sometime. There are 75 House races up for grabs. The United States Senate races are heating up. Currently Democrats are leading in seven states. Some of those races are pleasant surprises such as Alaska, Mississippi, and Kentucky, but we have a long ways to go. Two other races are close and within the statistical range of error; one of those states is Oregon, where the challenger is behind by 3%. So far Maine's incumbent Senator is comfortably ahead by 10%, and the one Democratic incumbent from Louisiana, who was at one time thought to be in trouble, is ahead at this time. Regarding the poll results of the Presidential race, the overall national poll numbers, which indicate a close race, are not reflective of state by state polling thus far. The good news is that Senator Obama, our presumptive nominee, is ahead in the electoral race thus far by a considerable margin. States such as Pennsylvania and Ohio have Obama ahead, with Indiana surprisingly indicating Obama leading thus far as well. In Florida and Michigan we are behind, but swing states such as Colorado and Iowa show Obama substantially in front. Virginia at this point is virtually tied. We cannot be overconfident because we have a long ways to go, but it is better to be ahead than behind. MILFORD ZORNES PROJECT CONTINUES Further contributions to the Milford Zornes Mural Project have been received. Recent donors: Jim Van Cleve Jean Beckner Mary Louise and Robert Stafford. The club, which proposed the idea, is working with Claremont Heritage to secure historical recognition status. We paid, from contributions, the cost of the photographs which were submitted in support of the application for such status. The monies we have received over and above the photography cost will be used to pay for the ceremony which will be held, perhaps at the Claremont Post Office, when the recognition becomes official. ADVERTISING POLICY MAY HELP PAY FOR "THE VOICE" P.S. -- Matt Lyons is president of the Democratic club in LaVerne and San Dimas. He donates part of his sales commission to our club if you become his client and tell him you saw his ad here. The Voorhis Voice PO Box 1201 Claremont CA 91711 Return Service Requested Executive Committee of the Club Comprised of five elected Officers, appointed Chairpersons of Standing Committees and The Past President President: Bob Gerecke 626-2858 gerecke@surfside.net VP Organization: Gar Byrum 621-9730 garlandbyrum@aol.com VP-Education: Ivan Light 621-1159 ihlight@yahoo.com Secretary: Carolee Monroe 626-8122 jackncarolee@verizon.net Treasurer: Merrill Ring 626-8467 m36ring@earthlink.net Past President: Parkes Riley 227-1961 wpriley2001@yahoo.com Development Chair: Eric Andersson 621-9015 eandersson@aol.com Newsletter: Ronald Wolff 625-2033 RPWinSOCAL@aol.com Speakers Bureau: David Levering 621-5811 davidlil2@verizon.net Ways & Means: Betty Cramer 621-0100 Peace & Justice Liaison: Lois Thompson Rhodesth@verizon.net, 621-2061 Publicity: Ted Radamaker Tedrad@uia.net; 593-5364 Transportation: Sally Alexander 714-654-8085 SallyAlexander10@aol.com Webmaster:Ned Freed 625-7933 ned@mrochek.com Political Liaison: Carol Whitson 629-7994 cwhitson@roadrunner.com The Club does not officially endorse any product or service that is advertised in these pages, but it appreciates the financial support of our advertisers. If you would like to advertise, please e-mail Voice editor Ron Wolff at RPWinSOCAL@AOL.COM.