Congratulation to Mark and Mary on the Call to Convention on Zoom last month. I had a prior commitment with Ms Bulah’s “Back to School Free Give-a-Way” in Idlewild, otherwise I would have surely attended.

The Midterm Election is 68 days away. I feel optimistic about Democrats holding on to the Senate and possibly the House. Biden’s legislative agenda has caught fire with the passing of important constructive bills ranging from Guns, Climate, Prescription Drugs, Inflation, Student loan Forgiveness etc.. Not to mention shots in the arm curtailing the spread of Covid-19 and checks in the mail.

On the local front. I’m please to announce that my campaign is progressing positively. The money awarded to my campaign thus far has helped me establish a website “clydewelford.com”, purchase more yard signs, print fliers, attend state candidate’s functions, and sponsor a future “Meet & Greet” to be called “Cookin with Clyde.”

I am also honored and fortunate to get Michigan’s Attorney General Dana Nessel’s Endorsement. I want to thank everyone that have given support, and I also welcome anyone willing to work the phone bank, canvas or make donations supporting my candidacy.

Good evening, The midterm Elections are 33 days away. Mostly everyone I’ve talked to realizes or has expressed their concerns about whether we the Democratic Party will hold on to, or maintain our majority of the upper and lower chambers on Capitol Hill. As we are all aware, the model has been that the Party occupying the White House during the midterms usually loses more seats allowing the other party to control one or both of the Houses of Congress.

However, that does not have to be the case in 2022. While the Democrats control both the House of Representatives and the Senate by the narrowest of margins, we still have a good chance to prevail, citing the up tick in voter registration across the country. This trend was especially evident among women voters in the Kansas Election in August of this year. Currently five States have abortion on the ballot this November. They are California Proposal 1, Kentucky Amendment 2, Michigan Proposal 3, Montana Legislative Referendum 131, commonly referred to as (LR-131) and Vermont Article 22.

In addition 12 States have restrictive abortion measures, or have ruled abortions illegal. The key to keeping both Chambers is voting. If we show up to vote we can advance the Biden’s Administration agenda. That will ease the cost on consumer spending that effects everyday needs from healthcare and prescriptions to gasoline and global warming. Not to understate the rights and freedom of every American citizen, whether it’s the right to marry, or love who you want, or choose the official of your choice, unfortunately these issues of fairness and equity will be on the ballot as well this November 8th.

On the local front, I appreciate the effort of Suzanne Breniser and committee for the article submitted in the Lake County Star highlighting each Democratic Candidate’s information along with voting venues in each district. I’ve canvassed door to door in much of District-7. The response has been encouraging. I sat in on a Commissioner’s Meeting in September. It was enlightening. Also, I attended a Garland Gilchrist Meet and Greet in Fremont, MI this past Sunday where Amanda Siggins, hopefully our next State Representative, introduced our LT. Governor. When you get the chance. check out my website at www.clydewelford.com Thank you again for remaining true blue.

The National Democratic Party performed marvelously during this month’s Mid-term Elections. The party as a whole maintained the majority in the Senate. That majority may even increase the current 50 to 49 lead. Georgians can do this by voting for and re-electing incumbent Senator Raphael Warnock. Warnock will face Republican challenger Herschel Walker in a run-off election 8 days from today on December 6.

If Warnock is defeated, the Democrats would still control the Senate with Vice-Present Kamala Harris holding the tie breaking vote. if Warnock wins the Dems will have a 51 vote majority. Not only would a 51-49 Senate allow for more committee-chair assignments, it would also diminish the role of two rouge Democratic Senators known for hampering legislation on important bills that President Biden ran on.

Republicans did however re-take the House of Representatives by a slim margin gaining the 218 seats minimum required. The final tally was Democrats 213 – Republican 221. Many had expected a Red Wave with Democrats poised to lose dozens of seats. That did not happen. Instead the Republicans managed to gain control of the House with a ripple.

The Party of Biden is presently in great position to regain the House in 2024 as the Biden Administration continues to work and produce meaningful legislation to help all Americans. The Mid-term election of 2022 was a repudiation of Trumpism/Fascism. It was however an affirmation for Democracy and the rule of law.

Michigan’s Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Secretary of State Joycelyn Benson, and Attorney General Dana Nessel were all re-elected. These women are the newly elected Charlie’s Angels of Michigan. Speaking of women, let’s give them the credit they deserve for standing up for their rights of bodily autonomy. We could not have won in so many big races without your say. Congratulation to all of you.

That brings me to the final phase of my report. I am happy to announce that I am the new Commissioner Elect of District-7 Lake County Michigan. I want to thank each and every member of the party and all of the citizens that have supported and voted for me. We shall continue to work and grow our party with the continued help and dedication you all have shown.

With 33 days left until the 2024 Presidential Election, Democrats and Republicans alike are hedging their bets. In the case of Vice President Kamala Harris, she has brought out the heavy weights to get her message across. The Harris-Walz Ticket held rallies in both red and blue states featuring the Obamas, Oprah Winfrey, along with a cadre of influencers from the music industry and media world. Jayz, Taylor Swift and Megan the Stallion were enlisted in support of Harris. Former Republican Lawmakers Adam Kinzenger and Liz Chaney have also joined the Harris-Walz campaign blitz, touring the country in this critical period of the campaign.

Harris exceeded all expectations in the days and weeks after accepting her party’s nomination in her bid to become Commander-in-Chief. In August alone, her party raised over $300 million dollars after the Democratic Convention in Chicago. 98% of the money raised has come from grassroots donors. Most donations were under $200.00 dollars.

The Republican Candidate Donald Trump, on the other hand hasn’t raised as much as Harris at this point, yet some super pacs and wealthy donors such as Citizens United, The Freedom Fund and billionaires like Elon Musk and Sheldon Adelson have made generous contributions to the Trump-Vance campaign. In fact, Casino magnate Sheldon Adelson and his wife Miriam pumped $75 million into Trump’s campaign. Also, many multinational corporations have contributed to Trump’s bid for the White House. Jonson & Johnson, Wisconsin’s Roofing Billionaire Diane Hendricks a mega donor gave $10 million dollars to the super pac MAGA Inc.

It’s worth noting that it was illegal to make political contributions that exceeded $250.00 dollars before the Supreme Court’s ruling in 2010. That ruling in the case Citizens United vs Federal Election Commission, over ruled a precedent that had allowed a prohibition on individual expenditures by corporations. The reversal of court’s decision gave corporations first amendment rights, guaranteeing freedom of speech, allowing for electioneering communication and advertising, while also stipulating that the wealth of the individual backing the corporation(s) should not be a factor in considering case.

The good news however, is that the rich may have more money to prop up a candidate, but a wealthy person’s vote doesn’t count any more than a middle, or lower income person’s vote.

A Wisconsin poll that came out today has Kamala Harris 11 points ahead of Trump among Independents (48-37). On Tuesday October, 1, 20/4 the nation was treated to a much anticipated televised debate between Vice Presidential Nominees James David Vance, Senator from Ohio, and Tim Walz, Governor of Minnesota. The tone was cordial. Vance used every opportunity to blame Harris for not getting things done, with for instance immigration. Walz pointed out that his boss Donald Trump made a phone call to House Republicans and told them to torpedo the most conservative bipartisan bill written in decades. They did, and voted it down.”Trump didn’t want to solve the problem, because he wanted to use the immigration probation run on,” said Walz.

Probably the most notable exchange occurred at the end, when Walz turned to Vance and asked him if he believed that Donald Trump won the 2020 Election? Instead of answering the question, Vance asked Walz about Kamala Harris and a Covid issue. Walz ended the debate stating, “That’s a damning non-answer.” The right to choose, along with immigration and the economy continue to be issues most important to voters.

Currently, Donald Trump is complaining about information Special Prosecutor Jack Smith has released in an unsealed document pertaining to the 2020 insurrection. Trump claims that the Democrats and Department of Justice are doing it to tank his potential presidency. If I could, I’d remind Trump that you have a right, as well as the public to a fair and speedy trial. It has been you that has used every opportunity to delay. Had you not delayed the trial for nearly four years, this Information that is now being unsealed would have been over and done with, and of no consequence, unless of course you were guilty.

On the home front, the September 12, 2024 edition of Ludington Daily News featured an article commending Commissioner Welford for his role in bringing a traffic light signal and a roundabout at the intersections of US 10 East/M-37 and US 10 West/ M-37 respectively. The tentative date to start the projects will begin in 2038, depending on funding.

That’s all I have for now.