February/March 2025 Newsletter
Volume 17 Number 2
February/March 2025 Newsletter
Upcoming Events
February 25
Absentee Voting began for the April 8 municipal, school bond, and school board election.
March 10
Platte County Federated Women’s Democratic Club: Meeting, 6:30 pm, Pizza Shoppe, 7687 NW Prairie View. Also via Zoom.
March 11
Women’s Democratic Coalition for Northern Platte: Meeting, 7:00 pm, American Bowman, 500 Welt Street, Weston.
March 12
Last day to register to vote for the April 8 municipal, school bond, and school board election.
March 15
2nd Annual Sweets Auction: Fundraiser, 2:00-3:30 pm, Harper Haus, 200 Main St., Platte City.
March 18
Northland Democratic Club: Meeting, 6:30-8:30 pm, ACA Business Club, 1400 NW Vivion Rd., Kansas City.
March 20
Platte County Democratic Central Committee: Meeting, 7:00 pm, Green Hills Library, 8581 N. Green Hills Rd., Kansas City.
March 25
No-Excuse Voting begins for the April 8 municipal, school bond, and school board election.
March 26
Last day to request Absentee Ballot by mail for the April 8 municipal, school bond, and school board election.
April 8
Municipal & School Election: In-person voting at your polling place or the Board of Elections.
April 12
Northland Ethnic Festival: Free event, 10:00 am-4:00 pm, Maple Woods Community College.
April 19
Do Something Food Drive: Time and location to be announced.
April 27
Music & Mimosas: Fundraiser, Noon-3:00 pm, Argosy Casino Hotel, Riverside.
Message from the PCDCC Chair
Dear Platte County Voters,
Since November, we have all had different feelings about the results of the election. Now we are seeing the real consequences of the newest administration, from the federal level all the way to the local level. It is a time of great concern, but for those of you who are pissed off, know that you are not alone.
When I was elected chair of the Platte County Democratic Party, we were in the middle of the 2024 election season and the energy was high. Now, in March 2025, a different type of energy is brewing—disgust at the actions of the new president. While I could rant about the horrors of the new administration, I felt this letter should focus instead on a different vision for Platte County. This is a vision of, for, and by the people; one that is truly democratic.
I’ll cut to the chase: Democrats lost in Platte County.
There is a lot of work to do to gain back the trust of voters, but that is why I’m a Democrat. I’m not afraid of hard work. The beauty of our country’s system is that in less than two years, we return to the polls with the chance to make our voices heard. Voters in Platte County will elect many different positions, including but not limited to: our state senator, three state representatives, and the presiding commissioner. While we don’t yet have a candidate for every seat, we are recruiting folks from around our county to run for these positions.
I seek to continue the work of our previous chair: growing our party. I have an ambitious goal of filling every single one of our 35 committee seats with active members of our community. These members speak for their neighbors at Democratic meetings and get to shape the future of the Democratic Party in Platte County and Missouri.
I’m also re-engaging with our brothers and sisters in labor.
For too long, Democrats have taken the support of labor unions for granted. I will not continue that trend. I hope to work alongside members of every labor union represented in Platte County to create a party that not only seeks the support of labor during elections but gives a platform to all union members.
Finally, my chairmanship is one that is unique among Democratic county parties in Missouri: I am the youngest chair in the state by roughly 20 years. Just as the Platte Democrats took a bold move to put their faith in a 26-year-old from Parkville, I will take bold actions to continue growing our party.
I will end with a quote from my favorite president; one who led our country during unprecedented peril:
“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”
– Franklin Delano Roosevelt
I look forward to hearing from anyone interested in joining our fight and standing up for our values.
In solidarity,
Peter Coyne
What is Your Voting Plan for April 8?
There is an important election this spring to determine the leadership of our county’s cities and the quality of our public schools. As you know, when we sit out elections we are misrepresented and lose our voices. Here is your chance to change that by making a plan to vote in the April 8 Election! Here is the information you need to make sure you don’t miss the VOTE!
- Absentee voting began on February 25.
- Last day to register to vote for upcoming election is March 12.
- No-Excuse Voting begins March 25.
- Last day to request an absentee ballot by mail is March 26.
- Election Day is April 8.
More Information: Platte County Board of Elections.
There are many different ballots in our county. Find out what is on yours here.
Message from the Editor
Meetings in the past month have been inundated with guests looking for ways to put the anxiety and anger they feel about the new administration to work. We have all watched as the so called Department of Government Efficiency – which is not a department and whose actions are sudden but not efficient – eliminate duly authorized agencies without review or consideration of the function or purpose of those agencies.
People are dying because USAID has been shut down. Airplanes are crashing. Protections that have kept financial institutions from ripping off customers have been eliminated. Park rangers have been fired as have thousands of civil servants from federal agencies across the country. Cuts have been proposed to Medicaid which would close down nursing care facilities, cut off services to low income communities, and close the few rural hospitals still in service. Elimination of the Department of Education would cripple rural school districts already struggling to keep their doors open.
These disturbing activities are creating an opportunity to organize Democrats to revive our democracy and support essential institutions like the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA), and the National Weather Service.
Calls to Action
- Add the 5 Calls app to your phone and use it frequently. It explains the issues, provides scripts, and dials your representatives! It is making a difference.
- Attend 50501 protests with like-minded friends to make your voice heard in the community.
- Send a message of support to the Ukrainian Embassy.
- Email Republican politicians to tell them how you feel about the way Trump and Vance are bullying Volodymyr Zelenskyy and our traditional allies.
- Talk to your friends and family about the danger you see in this new administration. Encourage them to make their voices heard.
United we stand!
Alice Wadsworth
February/March Report
Platte County Central Democratic Committee
The PCDCC met February 27 at the Green Hills Library, a week late because of cold weather. The Committee welcomed ten guests to the regular monthly meeting. There were reports from the Women’s Club (PCFWDC), the Democratic Women’s Club (WDC), and the Northland Democratic Club. Paula Willmarth said she will have a report from the State Committee at the March meeting.
The newly formed Outreach/Education Committee met for the first time at the Parkville Library in February. The committee is focusing on local issues, the first being the Platte County Commission’s refusal to implement the Children’s Services Fund. The Committee will be using email, social media, and the website to keep the community informed.
Ticket sales for the 4th Annual Music & Mimosas fundraiser have begun. The event will be April 27 at the Argosy Casino Hotel. The goal of the fundraiser is to provide direct and indirect support to candidates running for elected office. This event continues to grow and attract inspiring speakers as well as Democrats from across the Kansas City metro who yearn to make a difference in our political landscape. Our keynote speaker is newly elected Missouri Senator Stephen Webber. Senator Webber was previously the Political Director for the Missouri AFL-CIO. Before that, he served two tours of duty in Iraq with the United States Marine Corps and four terms as a Missouri State Representative. Justin Short will emcee.
February Report
Platte County Federated Women’s Democratic Club
The Women’s Club meeting on February 10 at the Platte Woods Pizza Shoppe was the first indication something had finally changed in Platte County since the election. This slow awakening is in contrast to immediately after the election in 2016 when every meeting of Democrats or progressives was filled beyond capacity, starting with the Women’s March on January 21, 2017.
This year, the nation was in shock. Few people attended the January meetings. But by early February, the indiscriminate freezing of federal contracts, including the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the firing of professional civil servants including Air Traffic followed by the deadly plane crash of a passenger jet and Black Hawk helicopter that killed all 67 people on board had shaken the nation. New people started to show up at regular meetings looking for some way to express their anger and anxiety.
Topics discussed:
- Laura Bruce, Manager of Prevention at Beacon Mental Health Services, provided an update on the status of Children’s Services Fund. Although the tax passed in the November election with 56% of the vote, the Platte County Commissioners refused to implement it.
- Signup sheets for the 2nd Annual Sweets Auction to be held on March 15 at Harper Haus in Platte City were circulated.
- Katherine (Kat) Henry made a presentation about the Do Something initiative’s proposed food drive tentatively scheduled for April 19.
- Emily Alford provided some information about Kansas City Tenants Association.
- The Women’s Club will have election of officers in April. The nominating committee was set up to find candidates for each office. The committee members are Kathy Bray, Kim Hesler and Emily Alford. Please let them know if you would be willing to serve as an officer.
In honor of Black History Month, the Women’s Club made note of its connection to the efforts to renovate the historic Washington Chapel C.M.E. Church in Parkville. To support renovation efforts, send checks to 1137 West Street, Parkville, Missouri 64152 or Paypal: Paypal.me/washchapel or Cash app: $washchapel.
