BUTTE COUNTY BUZZ
Online Auction Previews Open November 27th!
Great holiday gifts and amazing deals are yours for the bidding! Arts and crafts, musical instruments, gift baskets, wine and beer selections, curated adventures, private lessons, and gift certificates from some of our favorite Butte County businesses are just a few of the items that will be available.
Preview the auction starting on November 27th. And then start bidding on December 4th!
This is a safe, fun way to get into the holiday spirit AND support the progressive politics of the Butte County Democratic Party.
Thank you for your continued support!
Democratic Candidate Training
All politics is local, and here in the North State we have an incredible need for motivated and knowledgeable Democrats to run for and win local elective offices!
Have you ever thought of running? Or perhaps volunteering for a major role in someone else's campaign? This is your chance to get inside pointers and perspectives on local political campaigning.
The Butte County Democratic Party is offering a Candidate School. Our trainers will help you evaluate yourself as a potential candidate and learn more about how to run - or how to play a major role in someone else's campaign.
Lean about campaign plans, budgeting and fundraising, creating a compelling message, and building a field plan. Winning campaigns start with the information we can help provide.
This is your chance to make your voice heard - and make a difference in your community!
For more details, email us at buttedems@gmail.com.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - NOVEMBER 17, 2021
3 Butte County Supervisors Accused of Gerrymandering by Colleagues
CHICO – Butte County Supervisors Tami Ritter, District 3, and Debra Lucero, District 2, held a press conference at 10am Wednesday, Nov. 17 in front of The Hands Sculpture at Chico City Hall to discuss gerrymandering by their colleagues.
In a surprise move, Paradise Supervisor Doug Teeter introduced a map that divides Chico into four supervisor districts, Oroville into three, and splits Cohasset from other foothill communities despite 50 plus letters requesting otherwise. Teeter explained he was “unhappy” with all the previous map choices posted for public review.
Although the three supervisors have claimed this map had been drawn by a community member, it has come to light that it was actually drawn by a government employee and longtime Republican strategist, Josh Cook, who works for Senator Dahle as his Chief of Staff. Cook’s wife is Butte County Supervisor Tod Kimmelshue’s administrative assistant.
“The public process has been ambushed and taxpayer dollars wasted,” Lucero said.
Redistricting Partners, a professional firm with more than 30 governmental clients, was hired by the county at a cost of $80,000 to manage the redistricting process. The consultants were asked to bring back several maps for the board’s review at the Nov. 9th meeting which they did. However, Teeter, Oroville Supervisor Bill Connelly and Gridley Supervisor Kimmelshue ignored the consultant’s advice and immediately voted to move this newly introduced, publicly unvetted map to the top of the list. Ritter and Lucero protested.
All maps created by Redistricting Partners followed legal requirements, including the Federal Voting Rights Act, Fair Maps Act and the Constitution. None of these maps, however, were chosen by the three supervisors.
Below is criteria from the Fair Acts Map and is posted on the Butte County website as to how the process should work: http://www.buttecounty.net/redistricting
“What criteria should our Board of Supervisors use when drawing district lines?
To the extent practicable, district lines will be adopted using the following criteria:
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Geographically contiguous districts (each supervisorial district should share a common border with the next)
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The geographic integrity of local neighborhoods or communities shall be respected in a manner that minimizes its division.
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Geographic integrity of a city shall be respected in a manner that minimizes its division
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Easily identifiable boundaries that follow natural of artificial barriers (rivers, streets, highways, rail lines, etc.), and
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Lines shall be drawn to encourage geographic compactness
In addition, boundaries shall not be drawn for purposes of favoring or discriminating against a political party.”
The California Citizens Redistricting Commission recently said in press release, “The place of residence of any incumbent or political candidate may not be considered in the creation of a map, and districts may not be drawn for the purpose of favoring or discriminating against an incumbent, political candidate, or political party." This commission was created by the California voters and Butte County voted 55.0% in favor of NOT having politicians involved in map drawing.
The map put forth by Teeter appears to be drawn solely for political purpose for political gain which is the very definition of gerrymandering – an act that violates the Fair Maps Act.
A final map – either the MapA6, created by Redistricting Partners, or the one introduced by Teeter #69836 could be adopted at 1pm Monday Nov 22 at a Special Meeting at 25 County Center Drive in Oroville.