Kucinich - My Congressional District May Be Eliminated

From Dennis: My Congressional District May Be Eliminated

Dear Friend,

The New York Times, Newsweek, and Fox News have all recently headlined stories that I may lose my Congressional seat, not through an election, but through redistricting!

Due to the new census figures, Ohio will lose two seats in Congress. The Ohio Legislature (Republican) will redraw the map with 16 instead of 18 districts for the 2012 Election. Speculation nationally, and more importantly, in Ohio is that my district may be eliminated, absorbed into parts of other districts. Keep in mind, given the early Ohio primary, the filing deadline could be only a year away.

You have helped to make possible my presence in the Congress through seven terms, and carried me through some hotly contested elections. I am very grateful for your continued support. I am also very grateful to the people of Ohio's 10th District for the privilege of serving.

Yet, in light of the strong chance that my district may be eliminated, my continued presence in Congress, to work for everything we care about, will obviously call for a much different strategy. I will not wait until a new Ohio map is produced to begin this crucial discussion of the consequences of congressional redistricting. I will not wait until the Ohio Legislature produces a new map to start thinking of the options. The question will not be: Who is my opponent? The question will be: Where is my district? Seriously.

We are going to have to prepare for a different kind of election, possibly in a different place because my district may be eliminated. We are going to have to organize in a different way, now. The question will remain: Where?

This discussion is consequential. Please participate by providing your insight and advice advice@kucinich.us
I will be in contact with you.

Facing the New Year with the usual unsinkable optimism, and wishing you the best New Year ever, I am, yours,



Statement on Unemployment Report by ALG President Bill Wilson

June 4^th, 2010, Fairfax, VA—Americans for Limited Government President Bill Wilson today issued the following statement on this morning's unemployment numbers by the Bureau of Labor Statistics:

"This Administration's war on private business is costing millions of Americans the ability to take care of their families by having meaningful jobs.  Today's disastrous unemployment report shows that private sector employment is dead in the water, with temporary U.S. census hiring creating virtually all of the job growth.  The Obama, Reid, Pelosi spend, tax and regulate plan for our nation's economy is an historic failure.  Congress needs to return to stop trying to spend us out of what appears to be a coming double dip recession, and face the reality that it is our national debt that is the greatest threat to our nation's future. "

Durham & Dover City Managers to Wash Newmarket Fire Truck as Census Challenge Concludes

DURHAM -  Town Administrator Todd Selig and Dover City Manager Michael Joyal will be rolling up their sleeves this Friday, June 4^th, at 1 p.m., to wash one of the Town of Newmarket’s fire trucks. This comes as a result of the March 2010 Census friendly challenge between the three communities.  The “event” will take place at the Newmarket Fire Station located at 4 Young Lane, Newmarket, N.H.

The challenge, established to kick off the 2010 Census in March of this year, was to see which of the communities could produce the largest mail-in response. 

The goal of the challenge was to encourage the residents of Durham, Dover and Newmarket to become more aware of the importance of mailing in their census forms.  A strong mail-in response ensures a more accurate count as well as lowering the overall cost of the census by reducing the number of census workers needed to go door-to-door to collect the information. 

According to Strafford Regional Planning Commission Executive Director  Cynthia Copeland, “You’re creating a legacy because for every person who fills out the Census (form), eleven hundred and fifty dollars ($1,150), on average, comes in every year to the state of New Hampshire and to our communities.  You’re creating a legacy for the University of New Hampshire and the communities in which you reside.”

At the launching of the challenge, Selig said, “It’s in both our fiscal and social interests as communities and as a nation to ensure a strong Census response from our residents”.

Newmarket won the contest with a 71-percent return while Dover (69%) and Durham (68%) finished second and third respectively.

So, with buckets and sponges in hand, Dover and Durham’s municipal leaders will be going to the Newmarket Fire Station on Friday to scrub and wash one of the town’s fire trucks. 

Town Administrator Todd Selig commented on the outcome saying, “The effort was a tremendous success in bringing communities together for a positive social outcome at no additional cost to local taxpayers.  Hats off to both Newmarket and Dover.”

About $85 million is saved for every one percent increase in mail participation.  Additionally, the Census Bureau saves $60-$70 per census form returned by mail.

Durham Trails in Census Challenge - Can It Be So?

10 Questions, 10 Minutes 

The Town Managers from Durham, Dover, and Newmarket have made a friendly wager that their respective communities will have the greatest percentage of residents who mail in responses to the 2010 Census by an April 16 deadline.  After the results are tallied, the winning community will receive a visit from the other two managers, who will grab a sponge and bucket and scrub one of the winning community's fire trucks.

As of Friday, April 2, 2010, Durham trails both Newmarket and Dover, not to mention Strafford County, the State of New Hampshire, and the entire U.S. average with participation rates as follows:

Newmarket – 56% Return

Rockingham County – 56%

Dover – 55% Return

Strafford County – 55%

State of New Hampshire – 55%

U.S. Participation Rate – 54%

Durham – 49% Return

About $85 million is saved for every one percent increase in mail participation.   

Data from the Census is used to reapportion seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, for redistricting of state and local governments, and to determine how more than $400 billion annually in Federal funding is distributed.  

Durham-Dover-Newmarket, NH - Census Challenge Kick Off Announced - 1st Such Contest in History of the U.S. Census

Durham-Dover-NewmarkeT square off in 2010 Census Challenge

On Friday, March 12, 2010 at 2:00 PM, Durham Town Administrator Todd Selig, Dover City Manager J. Michael Joyal, and Newmarket Town Administrator Edward Wojnowski held a joint press conference at the Dover South End Fire Station on Durham Road in Dover to issue a 2010 Census mail participation rate challenge. A Durham fire truck and Dover fire truck were squared off as part of the press kick off.

This friendly competition is an effort to encourage residents of the Town of Durham, City of Dover, and the Town of Newmarket to mail back their 2010 Census forms upon receipt and improve their Census 2000 mail participation rates.

The community that boasts the best mail participation will enjoy a visit from the two trailing city or town administrators who will roll up their sleeves and scrub clean one of the winning community’s fire trucks. Town Administrator Selig presented the Newmarket and Dover managers with shorts and buckets so they will be prepared to wash Durham’s fire truck when Durham prevails! Administrator Selig likewise received a bucket and broom from the competing managers. In addition, all three Towns signed a proclamation kicking off the challenge. To read the challenge, click HERE.

Mailing back a form ensures an accurate count and lowers the cost of the 2010 Census by reducing the number of census workers who must go door-to-door to collect census data. About $85 million is saved for every one percent increase in mail participation.

Key story points follow: 

Durham,Dover, and Newmarket Issue Census 2010 Challenge

Durham  – The top administrators of  Durham, Dover, and Newmarket announced Friday they are challenging one another in a contest to raise public awareness and participation in the 2010 Census. The goal is to educate residents about the importance of returning Census forms by mail and to boost overall compliance.

Durham Administrator Todd I. Selig, Dover City Manager J. Michael Joyal, and Newmarket Town Administrator Edward Wojnowski declared the challenge during a press conference today at the South End Fire Station in Dover. The three administrators explained the rules of the contest: The two communities that trail behind in public participation will have to send their administrators to the community with the best percentage to scrub clean a fire truck.

All three administrators accepted the challenge and urged their communities to support the cause by filling out and mailing in Census forms, which will appear in local mailboxes over the next few weeks.

"It’s in both our physical interest and our social interests as communities and a nation to ensure a strong Census response from our residents," Selig said. "So we are adding some excitement to the experience with a city manager to city manager challenge, which to our knowledge is the first in the history of the Census."

Joyal explained that the winner of the contest will be the community with the highest mail-in rate. Joyal added the mail response to the Census diminishes the need for Census workers to visit homes to collect information and provides crucial demographic information about the local communities.

"The community with the highest mail-in participation rate, as of April 16, will be the winning community," Joyal said. "The administrators from the other two communities have offered to come over and help us clean one of our fire trucks and polish it and make it one of the cleanest pieces of apparatus in the Seacoast."

Wojnowski said he was looking forward to the challenge and the support of the community in besting Dover and Durham. "May the best commander win," he said.

District 3 Executive Councilor Beverly Hollingworth attended the press conference and urged other communities to take up the challenge.

"I’m thrilled this is taking place," Hollingworth said. "I’m going to try and get the rest of my district to get involved and do the same." Leslie Hoyt from the U.S. Census Bureau was also on hand and reminded people that mail-in participation in the Census takes much less time than in previous years.

"The Census Bureau is thrilled that the three communities have created this challenge and we just want to say its 10 minutes, 10 questions, mail it back," Hoyt said.

Cynthia Copeland of the Strafford Regional Planning Commission said she was pleased Dover, Durham and Newmarket raised the challenge because they represent a sign cant portion of the University of New Hampshire community.

"You’re creating a legacy because for every person who fills out the Census (form), eleven hundred and fifty dollars, on average, comes in every year to the state of New Hampshire and comes to our communities," she said. "You’re creating a legacy for the University of New Hampshire and the communities in which you reside."

Census data are used to reapportion seats in the U.S. House of Representatives and for the subsequent redistricting of state and local governments. Census data also help to determine how more than $400 billion per year in federal funding is distributed to state and local governments to fund services for people in need. Data from the 2010 Census will help establish locations for hospitals, senior centers and facilities for people with disabilities. Data will also help forecast transportation needs, such as new roads and public transit options.

One of the shortest census forms in U.S. Census history, the 2010 Census form asks 10 questions and takes about 10 minutes to complete. Responses to the census form should include everyone who will be living at that address as of Census Day, April 1, 2010, the official day of the population count. (It is not necessary to wait until Census Day to return the census form, however. Forms should be returned as quickly as possible.)

Mailing back a form ensures an accurate count and lowers the cost of the 2010 Census by reducing the number of census workers who must go door-to-door to collect census data. About $85 million is saved for every one percent increase in mail participation. Additionally, the Census Bureau saves $60-$70 per census form returned by mail.