Linda Hoffmann, Chair, TCDC So much has happened in the news over these past two months: a new Lt. Governor has been appointed, news about redistricting both statewide and locally, new organizational meeting requirements, a possible new petitioning cycle with an additional August primary and so much more political upheaval. We spend this Newsletter reporting the latest news on these fronts to you. Additionally, we have been busy with a robust fund-raising effort for Democratic Sponsors. The issues committee is set to look at some bylaw revisions, we look forward to our June 11th Wine and Cheese Event at the Cherry, TCDC and watch for the announcement for our TCDC General Meeting and a forum on the Lt. Governor’s race. I am so thankful for the work that all of you do for the Tompkins County Democrats. I urge all of you once again to take care in the way we address our concerns to one another. Whether we are speaking face to face or writing an email take the time to ask open ended questions. Email communication can sometimes be especially misunderstood. Please know that I am always open to hearing and listening to your concerns. We, as democrats […]

Whether being new, a seasoned petitioner or somewhere in between, the commitment to petitioning is an important mission of the Tompkins County Democrats.  The petitioning calendar opened on March 1st with a flurry of petitions being shared across the five wards and nine towns. The concept and practice of petitioning has a long and rich tradition that is noted as far back in human history in the records of ancient Egyptian workers petitioning for improved working conditions.  Petitioning in 18th century America was instituted by the framers of the constitution to be included among the rights protected by the First Amendment. The world of petitions encompasses four types: political (what is being undertaken in Tompkins County with the Designated Petitions),  legal, public purpose, and Internet.  The latter is most effective to raise public awareness on an issue. As each of us continues the task of petitioning into our neighborhoods, know you are asking the Democratic voters to sign a petition as being part of  a long tradition of pursuing civic and political action to achieve a much larger political social goal.  Our purpose is in getting candidates in contested races on the Primary Election Ballots for NYS Senate 53rd and […]

submitted by Renate Ferro for the Democratic View published in the Tompkins Weekly, January 2022 Jim Gustafson, A Legacy to Celebrate: “All hands-on deck…mobilize…Let’s Get to Work” It is with the heaviest of hearts that we learned of Jim Gustafson’s death on December 21st, 2021.  We appreciated Jim within the Tompkins County Democratic Committee as a gentle soul with a very endearing sense of humor who knew how to cut through nonsense.  His legacy as the Chair of the Tompkins County Democratic Committee centers around his dedication to grassroots politics, the cultivation of a diverse set of active voices even through the challenge of the Covid pandemic, and his commitment to labor issues. Jim Gustafson was elected as interim Chair of the Tompkins County Democratic Committee on February 25th, 2019, to finish a partial term.  In June of 2019, Jim was elected to a regular two-year term.  Strongly leading our committee through the difficult days of COVID, Jim’s tenure as Chair was extended by a NYS Democratic Committee mandate through September 2022.  Jim sadly resigned because of ill health in early December, 2021. Jim’s commitment to Democratic politics is also reflected in the work he did in Tompkins County as […]

Hello Tompkins County Democrats, Happy New Year and welcome to 2022! I hope you all had a peaceful and safe holiday. Our hearts are heavy mourning the loss of our friend and former Chair, Jim Gustafson. Jim’s last words to me were “Continue the mission. I trust you to lead the committee through this change.” In that spirit, it is critical that we work together to carry on Jim’s legacy of service and his steadfast commitment to upholding our strong democratic values. Our committee is strong and we are fortunate to serve in one of our state’s Democratic strongholds. Over the last few weeks, key committee members have been working tirelessly to revamp our internal systems. We will have a robust social media presence and implement new fundraising ideas including a Peter Stein Memorial Internship Program and a Jim Gustafson Memorial Golf Tournament, while still continuing our Wine and Cheese and Summer BBQ events. We are exploring tools that will help us learn about issues that affect Tompkins County residents to craft messaging and education. Struggle has always been part of our democratic journey. Today is no different. We must persevere to ensure future generations thrive and enjoy a cool […]

It is with the heaviest of hearts that the Executive Committee of the Tompkins County Democratic Committee announces that our dear friend and chair, Jim Gustafson, passed away peacefully yesterday, December 21st, 2021, at home surrounded by his loving family. Jim was elected as interim Chair of the Tompkins County Democratic Committee on February 25th, 2019, by the Tompkins County membership to take over a partial term vacated by former TCDC Chair, Irene Stein. In June of 2019, Jim ran for a regular two-year term. Strongly leading our committee through the difficult days of COVID, Jim’s tenure as Chair was extended by the NYS Democratic Committee until September 2022. Jim Gustafson sadly resigned because of ill health in early December of 2021. Interim TCDC Chair Stacey Dimas was quoted this morning: I am deeply saddened to hear the news that Jim Gustafson has passed away. As the Chair of the Tompkins County Democratic Committee, Jim was a wonderful mentor to me and to so many others. As a leader and a friend, he encouraged, inspired, and believed in our power to work together to fight for a stronger democracy. For women of color like myself, entering politics can be challenging […]

We live in difficult times. Almost every day the news brings an onslaught of bleak news; ethnic cleansing, wars, famines, fierce weather events and senseless individual acts of violence that destroy innocent lives. We are in our second year of a plague that has killed over 750,000 of us and sickened millions more. Malicious voices distort and amplify these troubles to divide, rather than to rally us together against a common foe. Just what, many of ask ourselves, in this holiday season of joy and good will, do we have to celebrate? To whom do we owe gratitude and thanks? As I look around this small county we call home, I find one obvious answer to my question. I feel gratitude to the hundreds of public servants who govern, administer and deliver the services upon which all of us who live in Tompkins depend. For almost two years, these individuals have demonstrated how good and efficient government works for the benefit of all of us in difficult and extraordinary circumstances. Events of the past years has highlighted the critical role that the Tompkins County Public Health Department plays in our community’s well-being. As soon as the seriousness of the Corona […]