Fw: 2nd CD Hybrid Meeting Dec. 13th in Harrison, MI

[John Helge]

Manistee County Democrats:

The email below is the monthly newsletter from the Michigan Democratic Party Second Congressional District Committee.  We hope you will find this information informative about the efforts to defeat the incumbent US Rep and elect a replacement who will better represent all the people in this congressional district.  

Any and all are welcome to attend our monthly meetings to hear from the candidates.  The December 13 meeting will be hybrid, in-person, and via ZOOM. 

PS:  This newsletter is much easier to read if you open it in your browser! 

John M. Helge

johnm...@gmail.com

616-915-2403

Join us at 10 am over Zoom or In Person for Breakfast!

View this email in your browser MI2CD Friends:   Plan now to join us for our December hybrid in-person/ZOOM meeting on Saturday December 13, 2025, at 10am at the Technical Education Center 1375 S. Clare Ave. on the campus of Mid-Michigan Community College in Harrison, MI.  Here is the ZOOM link for this meeting:    https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82543440592?pwd=ULaeG9aFFI6fHz2EPndmXmJXl4bsct.1 Featured speaker will be Eli Savit, candidate for Michigan Attorney General.  Come early and enjoy the pancake breakfast fundraiser supporting the Clare County Democratic Party!  MAGA MOOLENAAR UPDATE: Have you noticed the flurry of emails and social media posts from our incumbent US Rep?  He is desperately trying to spin, gaslight, spread misinformation, and downright lie to us about what he is NOT doing in DC!  Here are some examples:     He is demanding that SOS Benson provide Michigan’s private voter registration information to the corrupt and inept Department of Justice even though we have consistently proven to hold secure, free, and fair elections in this state.  Elections every two years that resulted in him being in office since 2014!  He is OK with big oil companies shipping natural gas overseas for higher price/profit which will then drive up the cost of natural gas for us here in the US!   He is still breaking his arm patting himself on the back for killing 2000+ manufacturing jobs in his district   He is trying to give Trump credit for $3.00 gas.  So why did he decide to put THIS picture up on social media? Has anyone paid $1.99/gallon here in Michigan the past few weeks?  NO?  More misinformation and gaslighting! He is happy to be an obedient altar boy for the MAGA Cult leader.  He refuses to speak truth to power!  #WeDeserveBetter and we have the candidates that will do just that! HERE ARE THE CANDIDATES PROVIDING THAT ALTERNATIVE! We need someone willing to communicate, collaborate, and compromise instead of refusing to do the job we elected them to do! Every resident of the 2nd CD deserves better representation in Washington, and we are so pleased to share that we have four candidates who have officially filed with the Federal Election Commission to defeat MAGA Moolenaar in 2026!   Here are their names, websites, and email addresses, feel free to reach out and invite them to your county to meet with the voters!  They deserve your support!! Benjamin Ambrose:  email:  bambr...@gmail.com  Website:  www.ambrose4congress.com Rich Carrizales: email: richcf...@gmail.com  Website: Richard Carrizales Jamie Hill:  email: jami...@gmail.com Website:  https://electjamie.net Clyde Welford:  email: clydewelford01@gmailcom   FOCUSED ISSUE FORUMS! We will continue to challenge all twenty county Democratic party organizations to plan and execute at least one “FOCUSED ISSUE FORUM” meeting every 90 days between now and November of 2026.                The Manistee County Democratic Party held a Rural Healthcare Forum on Saturday November 22nd.  They had a panel consisting of a doctor, a registered nurse, a mental healthcare professional, and the administrator of the local Medical Care facility.  Also participating were US Senate candidate Rachel Howard, Michigan Senate candidate Rebecca Amidon, and MI2CD candidates Ben Ambrose, Rich Carrizales, and Jamie Hill.  Also invited but conspicuously absent were US Rep Moolenaar and current state reps and senators!    The MI2CD candidates all indicated that they believe these “kitchen table issue” forums will have a better chance of attracting the independent and Democrat-curious voters that we will need to win in 2026.  Your county forums could include but are not limited to discussions on these challenges: Farmers where you could invite these subject matter experts A local family farmer Representative from the local MSU Extension Service Representative from the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development MDARD - Agriculture & Rural Development Representative from the local Farm Bureau or Farmers Union organizations Community Involvement | Michigan Farm Bureau Family of Companies Michigan Farmers Union | United to Grow Family Agriculture Rural Healthcare where you could invite these subject matter experts A local doctor and/or registered nurse The chief administrator of a local/regional hospital Representative from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Michigan Department of Health & Human Services Representative from the Michigan Center for Rural Health MCRH | Michigan State University Representative from the local Community Mental Health Service   Public Education where you could invite these subject matter experts A local teacher The superintendent of a local school district or ISD A member of a local school board A member of the Michigan School Board of Education State Board of Education A representative from the Michigan Education Association teachers’ union Home - Michigan Education Association   Affordable Housing where you could invite these subject matter experts A local builder or realtor A member of your regional or local public housing authority A representative from MSHDA About MSHDA A representative from your local Chamber of Commerce Affordable Childcare where you could invite these subject matter experts A local childcare provider A representative from the Michigan Great Start program Free and Low Cost Child Care - Great Start to Quality A representative from your regional or local Head Start program Home | MHSA A representative from your local Chamber of Commerce Here are some proven best practices to follow to ensure your local forum is successful: Send certified letters to Moolenaar's offices in Michigan and the offices of the Michigan State Representatives and Senators in your area inviting them to attend your meeting and be part of the panel discussion.  We do not want them to have the excuse that they were not aware of your meeting.  Invite candidates who have officially filed for running against the incumbents in your area to attend and be a part of the panel discussion.  Collaborate with other non-partisan organizations in your area.  It is OK to work with other groups who are concerned about what is happening to our country.  Invite them to join you in planning and executing this event.  Rent a large room for this event.  When you pay to rent the venue it becomes a private meeting, and you will have the right to ask people who may want to disrupt the meeting to leave. Inform your local law enforcement about the event in advance.  They will be prepared to provide more visibility and respond if needed. Invite local print, radio, and television media to attend.  Give them as much advance notice as possible.  Regional public radio stations will be most interested but do not forget your local AM right-wing talk radio station. Recruit 3-5 local subject matter experts to serve on the panel who are willing to share their personal story about how decisions in Washington are affecting their ability to deliver essential services to your community.   Recruit a person who is prepared to facilitate the discussions.  A local elected official or respected community activist that is comfortable and capable of public speaking works well.   Publicize the event using all available print, TV, and social media, posters, and word-of-mouth.     FINAL WORDS: Here is a copy of the speech I gave at the People’s Townhall in Mt. Pleasant on Thursday November 20th! I am proud to be serving as your District Chair, and I have ONE JOB…To Defeat John Moolenaar in 2026 and send a Democrat to Washington to represent all the people in these 20 mostly rural counties not just the billionaires who think their money is all powerful!  I use the hashtag #WeDeserveBetter in all my social media posts.   We deserve better than a US Rep who gleefully celebrates when a project with the potential to provide 2000+ manufacturing jobs in his rural district is abandoned due to lies and misinformation he helped spread!   We deserve better from a US Rep who refuses to meet in a public forum with his constituents to hear their concerns and issues.  We deserve better than a coward who refuses to speak truth to power about how tariffs are raising prices for everything. We deserve better than a US Rep who will reliably vote with his party for a so-called big, beautiful bill even when it decimates affordable healthcare for so many in his district.    Democrats in every one of the 20 counties in this District have become more engaged, active, and outspoken taking to the streets protesting and rallying against the openly chaotic, corrupt, and cruel Trump regime. County Democratic Parties are holding “kitchen table issues” forums to help our candidates hear what the voters want and to enable to voters to meet and listen to our candidates.  You can meet them tonight because THEY are here to learn what is important to YOU.  Take the time tonight to meet Ben Ambrose, Rich Carrizales, Jamie Hill, and Clyde Welford.  They all want to end this nightmare and rebuild our federal government to better serve the people, not just the Scamway billionaires! Moolenaar has over $2 million in the bank, but the last time I looked, elections were won by the candidate with the most votes, not the most money!  A Democrat can win in this district but only with a compelling grassroots effort. When you leave here tonight, I challenge you to tell your family, friends, and neighbors that we have a core cadre of candidates that can beat Moolenaar but only if their supporters get educated enough, enraged enough, and engaged enough! Do not hesitate to contact me if you have questions or need additional information! John Helge  Chairperson  Michigan Democratic Party 2nd Congressional District (MI2CD)  johnm...@gmail.com  616-915-2403     AGENDA FOR MDP 2ND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT COMMITTEE MONTHLY HYBRID IN-PERSON/ZOOM MEETING Saturday December 13, 2025, 10:00am  Technical Education Center, 1375 S. Clare Ave. Harrison, MI Via ZOOM: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82543440592?pwd=ULaeG9aFFI6fHz2EPndmXmJXl4bsct.1 Pledge to the Flag   Indigenous Land Acknowledgement:   “The State of Michigan occupies the ancestral, traditional, and contemporary lands of the Anishinabek – Three Fires Confederacy, the Odawa (Ottawa), Ojibwe (Chippewa), and Bodewadmi (Potawatomi). The Michigan Democratic Party recognizes historic Indigenous communities in Michigan and those forcibly removed from their homelands. We further recognize the ongoing relationship of dependence upon, and respect for, all living beings of earth, sky, and water. In offering this land acknowledgment, we affirm Indigenous sovereignty, history, and experiences.”   Speaker and/or Program:   Updates from candidates running to defeat Moolenaar in 2026 Update from candidates running for statewide offices Update from candidates running for Michigan House and Senate Roll call of officers:   (Peggy) Roll Call of District Committee Members:    (Peggy) Roll call of Counties:   Determination of quorum:   Approval of agenda:   Approval of minutes: Officer’s reports: Chairperson John Helge Vice Chairperson Cathy Willermet  Treasurer Dallas Dean  Secretary Peggy Raddatz    Committee Reports: ● Rules and Bylaws Committee:  1). Dallas Dean (Chair) 2). John Helge - Manistee County D.P. ● Finance and Fundraising Committee: 1). Dallas Dean (Chair)  2). Ken Mahoney - Muskegon C.D.P. 3). Jessica Iliff – Osceola C.D.P 4). Betsy-Anne Moskowitz –  5). K.P. Mahoney – Muskegon C.D.P.  ● Candidate Recruitment and Support (for candidate) Committee: 1). Mark Yonkman (Chair) – Wexford County 2). David Austin – Gratiot County 3). Deborah Van Dyke – Kent County  4). Ed Miller – Mason County ● Political and 2nd CD Party Organizing Committee: 1). Cathy Willermet (Chair)  2). Karen Turnbull - Mecosta County   ● Communications Committee: ​1). Michelle VanSlambrouck (Chair)  2). Karen Greenbay – Mecosta County  3.) Deborah Van Dyke- Kent County 4). Brad Wade – Lake County  ● Policy and Resolution Committee: 1). John Helge (Chair)  2). Michael Lynch - Gratiot C.D.P. ● Audit Committee: 1). Robin (Alexson) Aslakson (Chair)  2). Unfinished Business: ​New Business:  Election of new Vice Chairperson of the MI2CD County Reports: Good and Welfare:    Copyright © 2025 Congressional District 2 -- Michigan, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in via our website. Our mailing address is: Congressional District 2 -- Michigan 2531 W 140th St Grant, MI 49327-8992 Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.