THANK YOU, VOTERS SERVICE!
Many, many thanks to our Voters Service Director and the Voters Service Committee. Through their efforts the LWV of the Monterey Peninsula:
- Allowed over forty candidates to present their views and differences to the voters.
- Provided the only candidates forums in the Pacific Grove and Monterey mayor and city council races.
- Cosponsored and moderated eight forums and one debate.
- Broadcast five events on AMP public access TV or KAZU public radio.
- Presented Pros and Cons to eight audiences.
The community outreach of the LWVMP is evident in the diversity of event sponsors, which includes the Pacific Grove, Seaside, Marina, and Hispanic Chambers of Commerce; the Neighborhood Associations of Pacific Grove, Seaside, and Monterey; the Retired Public Employees Association; the Seaside Police Association; NOW; the Southwest Voters Registration Project; and the Reproductive and Citizens League for Progress, among others.
Thanks to the two members of the LWV of Salinas Valley and our Treaurer for educating future voters through their work on the Mock Election. And thanks to our member who initiated a Mock Election at York School. Six other new schools were also added, bringing the total participation this year to 29 schools, representing up to 11,000 student voters.
Special recognition belongs to the LWV of Salinas Valley member for her continuing tireless efforts to track down candidates and maintain Monterey County's portion of Smart Voter.
Although none of the Help America Vote Act Grant money was awarded or released by the state, the Maldonado/Pinard debate proposed in the grant was still held on October 3. The cosponsorship of the Monterey County Herald, the Watsonville Register-Parjaronian, and KAZU yielded great publicity; and the huge reduction in site cost by the Best Western Beach Resort provided a wonderful, accessible venue. Both candidates remarked that the LWVMP had provided the largest audience they had addressed.
Our other major event, the Parker/Smith forum on October 14, even had simultaneous Spanish translation, thanks to MIIS.
The next time you see Hebard Olsen taping one of our Luncheons, thank him for taping the forums, debates, and our luncheons free of charge to be broadcast on public access TV.
And last, but not least, thanks to Monterey Copy Center for continuing to give us terrific service and prices on flyers, VOTER copy, and the Handbook. The LWVMP was one of their earliest customers, and they continue to repay our loyalty.
