Here is our latest newsletter.

Taking the Pledge:                                 

Taking the Pledge DownEast: No Single Use Plastic Bags, Straws, Water Bottles, Stryofoam Cups - Available on the Improving Washington County Blog - I pledge to fight for pollution-free communities, and to move our country toward 100% clean energy. I will do this by urging my federal, state, and local elected officials to support this work, and hold accountable those who do not. I will support candidates who will stand up to Big Polluters and commit to our public health. And I will advocate for our right to power our homes, vehicles, businesses, and communitities with local clean energy. The future is worth the fight.
Take the Clean Energy Pledge - Available on the Maine Conservation Voters Action Page - I pledge to fight for pollution-free communities, and to move our country toward 100% clean energy. I will do this by urging my federal, state, and local elected officials to support this work, and hold accountable those who do not. I will support candidates who will stand up to Big Polluters and commit to our public health. And I will advocate for our right to power our homes, vehicles, businesses, and communitities with local clean energy. The future is worth the fight.
An Update: Indivisible Washington County has joined with 350 Downeast, Eco Sattvas DownEast, Downeast Coastal Conservancy and Maine Coast Heritage Trust to form the Washington County Coalition of Environmental Groups as a means of sharing resources and information.  Check out the WaCoCEG website.  Upcoming events are listed below: ​
What's NEW?  Some of us write occasional columns for the Machias Valley News Observer and the Calais Advertiser under the banner "Round the Table".   Here, we discuss topics of local relevance. We rotate authorship “round the table” and imagine that your, our reader, are seated across from us as we write.   We believe our democracy is working at its best when we all come together to find solutions.  We hope this column will be a springboard to do more of this.  Click here for past Round the Table columns and to add comments.  https://roundthetable.downeast.solutions
Write a Letter to the Editor
In Washington County, people still read newspapers, especially the small local weekly and biweekly papers.  Consider writing a letter to the editor about the issues which are important to you.  Your point of view, published in a letter to the editor, might help your neighbors decide how to vote, and it will influence your elected officials. Here are some suggestions to help you write effective letters to the editor.     Here is information on submitting a letter to various local papers.  
PictureFrom the Machias Valley News Observer, April 10, 2019.
Some of us marched on the dike in Machias, on April 4, demanding release of the Mueller report. 

That worked out! 

Here are links to the report:
Volume 1:  Link
Volume 2:  Coming soon!
​Additional information from the Office of the Special Counsel:  Link
  • Our county is split about 50/50 on either side of the political spectrum.  Specifically, 6693 Dems, 839 Greens, 7425 Rep, 50 Libertarian: 7532 (Left Leaning), 7475 (Right Leaning) with 8390 unenrolled (ie independent).  
  • In 2017, 31,593 people lived in WaCo, and 25,653 are eligible to vote.  Of those, 91% are registered to vote, which is better than Maine as a whole.  However, on average, in the last 3 presidential elections, only 63% of eligible people in WaCo voted.  That is a little better than the US as a whole but worse than Maine as a whole.  
  • In 2000, in Washington County, 15,708 people voted:  50. 7% (7597) for Bush, 42.7% (6707) for Gore, 5% (754) for Nader.
    In 2004, in Washington County, 17,310 people voted:  49.8% (8620) for Bush, 48.5% (8395) for Kerry.
    In 2008, in Washington County, 16,482 people voted:  50% (8241) for Obama, 49% for McCain (8070).​ (References here.) ​​
  • Washington County swings back and forth between red and blue. 
Join Us!
Come or call in to one of our Indivisible Washington County Meetings. Our calendar is accessible in this link.  We support and encourage each other in a variety of activities, including writing letters to the editor and contacting our representatives on issues important to Washington County, encouraging voter registration and education, supporting Maine Dem activities, and supporting candidates who will work for the people of Washington County.  It's more fun together....join us!  Contact us by email to get started.  We list some ways to get started on your own on our "Take Action" page.
DON'T BE INVISIBLE.  BE INDIVISIBLE!
Getting to the LTE BlogSpot:  this blog is where we will coordinate our Letters To the Editor for WaCo newspapers. 

You can get to this 'LTE Blogspot' by several different routes.  

First method:  

From our website, (which you can reach at www.indivisiblewashingtoncounty.org 
or using the shortcut www.i-waco.org)  

Go to the LTE Blog tab, which is listed in the dropdown menu on the Blog tab.  (THIS I WHERE YOU ARE NOW).  Click on the button on the LTE Blog tab, and you go directly to the LTE Blogspot.  

Second Method:  To get to the LTE blogspot directly, go to http://[email protected]
Getting to the Postcard BlogSpot:   This is the actual blog where we will coordinate postcard campaign details.

You can get to this 'Postcard Blogspot' by several different routes.  

First method:  

From our website, (which you can reach at www.indivisiblewashingtoncounty.org 
or using the shortcut www.i-waco.org)  

Go to the Postcard Blog tab, which is listed in the dropdown menu on the Blog tab.  (THIS I WHERE YOU ARE NOW).  Click on the button on the Postcard Blog tab, and you go directly to the Postcard Blogspot.  

Second Method:  To get to the LTE blogspot directly, go to http://[email protected]

Track Federal Legislation Supporting Civil Discourse with fellow residents of Washington County, ME ​Contacting your representatives in Government.  More info here.
Civic Dashboard - Courtesy of Suit Up Maine:
  • "Track legislation, connect with your elected officials, and navigate your state and federal government."
Track Federal Legislation Supporting Civil Discourse with fellow residents of Washington County, ME ​Contacting your representatives in Government.  More info here.
The Calais Advertiser
​31 Broadway
Machias, Me 04654
255-6561, 255-4058 (f)
Published –Wed
Deadline – Sat. PM or Sunday AM
HOW - email
[email protected]
Bangor Daily News
One Merchants Plaza
PO Box 1329
Bangor, ME 04402
207.990.8000
Published daily.
HOW - online here
250 word limit –Paper will call you to confirm your identity prior to publishing.
Quoddy Tides
123 Water St.
Eastport, ME 04631
853-4806, 853-4095 (f)
Published -- 2nd & 4th Fri
Deadline – 3rd Mon 
HOW - email
[email protected]       
​attn. Edward French
Ellsworth American
30 Water St.
Ellsworth, Me 04605
667-2576, 667-7656 (f)
Published – Thursday
​HOW - email
[email protected]  
Deadline Friday by 5 PM
The Machias Valley News Observer 
31 Broadway
Machias, Me 04654
255-6561, 255-4058 (f)
Published –Wed
Deadline – Sat. PM or Sunday AM
HOW - email
[email protected]
 ​​United States Senate:    United States House of Representatives: 
  • Rep. Bruce Poliquin (Represents Washington County in Maine Election District 2, up for reelection in 2018) 
Maine Senate Representative:  Find your State Senator
Maine House Representative:  Find your House Representative
​Washington County Maine Legislators: Click here
Papers We Read in Washington County Maine  -  The Calais Advertiser and The  Machias Valley News Observer share an owner and are published in Washington County.  The Bangor Daily news is published in Penobscot County.  The Ellsworth American is published in Hancock County.  Below is information on how to submit a letter to the editor, deadlines, and word limits (if any).
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Get out the Vote on Machias Dike
Ranked Choice Voting upheld In Maine's Ballot Referendum
Press Herald: Yes on measure to keep ranked-choice voting has big lead, as ballot counting continues
Bangor Daily News:  Maine again backs ranked-choice voting
Governing: http://www.governing.com/topics/politics/gov-maine-ranked-choice-voting-primary.html​
EMERA MAINE CUSTOMERS: RAISE YOUR VOICE BEFORE THEY RAISE YOUR RATES!
Emera has raised rates by 8.6% in 2013 and 3.75% in 2015.  They are currently requesting a 12% increase, despite the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 which cut the corporate tax rate from 35% to 21%.  Citizens and organizations such as Maine AARP spoke out against this tax rate in public hearings.  The Maine Public Utilities Commission is expected to make a decision in June.  You can still make your voice heard by posting comments at the Maine PUC website at this link.
​
Think, Act, Vote
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Be Heard. It makes a difference!
Contact your representatives. They care about your vote!
Write a letter to the editor.  Help others understand.
​Run for local office.  Really!
This is just a parking lot for ideas at the moment

Progressive Organizations

Progressive Secretary.Org​  -  Suggestions for letters to your representatives and an easy way to email them.  Range of issues.​
​Suit Up Maine! - A platform for communication and coordination among Maine's Progressive Groups.
Maine People's Alliance - "Brings people and organizations together to realize shared goals" for a range of progressive issues.
Mainers for Accountable Leadership ​ -  "MFAL s a group of engaged Mainers with eyes on Maine's Congressional Delegation"
National
Indivisible.org
​Move On.org