September 1, 2020 minutes

Cheatham County Democratic Party
Regular Monthly Meeting
September 1, 2020, 6:00 PM, Online
Minutes
Call to Order: Chair L. Newcomb called the meeting to order at 6:08 p.m.
Attendance: A quorum was present.
Present: Lynn Newcomb (P), John Patrick (VP), Martha Wettemann (S), Roger Marriott
(T), Karen Stell, Aric Storck, Randy Fiedler, Gerald Dooley, Michael Lottman, Elena Roser,
Rick Johnson.
Absent and excused: Jane Crisp (VP), Nicole DeBaun-Phillips, Kathryn Mitchem.
Absent: Tony Gross. Resigned: James and Margaret Brooks.
Guests: Donna Baxter, Beth Cavagnolo, Brian Hallgren, Linda McGee, Savannah Price,
Shauna Russell, Joe Jaworski.
Committee Sign-ups (committees are not limited to the Executive Committee):
Advocacy Committee: Jane Crisp, Nicole DeBaun-Phillips, Mike Lottman, Karen Stell, Martha
Wettemann (chair)
Elections Committee: Kathryn Mitchem, Elena Roser(chair), Jane Crisp, Martha Wettemann,
Jessica Arthur, John Patrick.
Events Committee (including Forums): Randy Fiedler, Roger Marriott (chair), Mike Lottmann,
John Patrick, Linda McGee
Social/Print Media: Karen Stell, Mike Lottman
Approval of Minutes and Agenda for the Meeting: With no suggested corrections, the minutes were
accepted as written and the agenda was approved by acclamation.
Treasurer’s Report: R. Marriott reported after deposits our current balance would be $3,968.01. He
said there is more frequent use of the ActBlue account. Some issues with Paypal are still being worked
out.
Committee Reports:
Advocacy Committee: The focus is on promoting mask wearing. M. Lottman has written an extensive
article on it which he is working to get in the media. Mississippi, Alabama, and Texas have mask
mandates, as do most of the counties around Cheatham. Discussion was to take the article or a
shortened version and present it at the public forum time at the Cheatham County Commission meeting
on Monday September 21, and talk to commissioners ahead of time if possible. K. Stell volunteered to
research which counties in our metropolitan area have mask mandates.
Election Committee: E. Roser described the extensive contacts made by phone and postcards in County
Commission District 2 which increased voter turnout (by about 25%) and resulted in John Patrick being
elected to the County School Board. 22 volunteers have been recruited to assist in the general election.
The plan is to initially contact 2500 voters by postcard with information on the candidates and how to
2
vote safely. Holly Spann provided 25 signs for Ashland City and Pleasant View. M. Wettemann and J.
Patrick were to discuss phone banks. J. Patrick discussed a “Democrats Vote Day” and the need to call
those age 60 and over to suggest they get absentee ballots. M. Wettemann will do a Zoom to train
people on phone banking.
E. Roser said despite the recent court ruling in Tennessee, you can request an absentee ballot if you are
at risk for COVID. See the link for absentee ballots at the Secretary of State’s website for a list of the
reasons you may be eligible. To be on the permanent absentee ballot list, you need a doctor’s
statement. Absentee ballots are planned to be mailed to voters near the end of September. The
absentee ballots need to be mailed back or sent in by Fed Ex or UPS delivery. Check on Iwillvote.com to
see if your absentee ballot has been received. To work for Biden in other states, there are opportunities
for phone calling, writing letters, and texting through national groups like Indivisible, the Sierra Club,
VoteSave America and others.
Event Committee: Community Together on the Cumberland is October 10 from 10 to 4 at Riverbluff,
Preacher Poole Park. CCDP has signed up for a booth. R. Fiedler also discussed the idea of pop-up tents
with our campaign material, bumper stickers, signs, and to invite Holly Spann to come, in a location like
Pegram Park. Advertise this on Facebook and in the newspaper. Chair Newcomb and the committee
members will discuss further after this meeting.
Chair’s Report: L. Newcomb reported that Marquita Bradshaw, candidate for U.S. Senate, would be in
the 5th District on Thursday. L. Newcomb has a contact for Ms. Bradshaw’s campaign. TNDP was to meet
to discuss a texting service for statewide campaigns. Our order for campaign merchandise from TDCCA
was to be delivered to Nashville Friday. L. Newcomb reported she is on quarantine due to virus
exposure.
New Business: S. Russell reported there is a statewide coalition to take down outdated monuments. The
Nathan Bedford Forrest bust was only installed in the Capitol in 1978 and is the only statue of a nonelected official there. She urged people to join the email campaign to remove the bust by linking to the
Tennessee Historical Commission bit.ly/burythebust which allows you to edit the text.
E. Roser described Rep. Jim Cooper’s actions to reach out to her about the 14 day delay in her certified
mail just going to Nashville, which he discussed in Congress and called Speaker Pelosi to demand to
reconvene the House re the mail delay issues. She expressed her thanks for what Rep. Cooper did.
Postmaster DeJoy is being subpoenaed.
J. Patrick thanked everyone for their support in his election and said he was sworn in the night before.
There is concern about the COVID rate in the schools. The year is starting with 1st to 4th graders going to
school daily and middle and high school students on hybrid schedules.
By consensus the meeting adjourned at 7:20 p.m.
Submitted by Martha Wettemann, Secretary
Email: [email protected] Website: Cheathamcountydemocrats.org