Thank you to everyone who joined us at Ponce's in Kensington
for our One-Year Milestone Anniversary Event

One Year Benchmark

San Diego County Democrats for Environmental Action celebrated our first year as a chartered club of the San Diego County Democratic Party with a One Year Anniversary Celebration and Awards Ceremony on Sunday the 27th at Ponce's Mexican Restaurant in Kensington.

We've asked a lot from club members over the last year in helping get the organization off the ground, building the SDCDEA community, and presenting environmental topics and subjects in a political dynamic.

In 2016, we're going to ask even more from our club members as we undertake get-out-the-vote efforts, canvassing and phone banking for club-endorsed Democratic candidates and environmental causes. That's where the proceeds from this event will help make a difference.

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Special Guests

The presentation component of our event today got underway just before 2:30, with Tommy delivering club and event-related thank yous, followed by former state Senator Christine Kehoe. The senator delivered remarks about her conservation efforts in the Legislature and as a member of the California Coastal Commission, the need for a concentrated environmental push at state and local levels, and her role as executive director of the California Plug-In Electric Vehicle Collaborative.

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Nicole Capretz received the first-ever San Diego County Democrats for Environmental Action Environmental Making a Difference Award for her first year of leadership with the Climate Action Campaign, and her work to ensure passage of the city of San Diego's Climate Action Plan. Nicole started her day pedaling 10 miles from her home to Ocean Beach for the annual Surfrider Paddle for Clean Water. After swimming around the O.B. Pier, she pedaled the 10 miles home, rallied, and was at the event to receive the award! We appreciated her thoughtful, passionate remarks.

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Thank You to Our Sponsors

Redwood level
Sequoia sempervirens. A big thank you you all of our Redwood sponsors, including Barbara Bry for City Council, Senator Marty Block, Justin DeCesare for City Council, Joe LaCava for City Council, Rena Marrocco and Ponce's Mexican Restaurant..

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Sequoia level
Sequoiadendron giganteum. Thank you to our Sequoia sponsors, including Gil Cabrera for City Attorney, Ed Valerio and Cynara Velazquez and the Association of Cannabis Professionals.

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Manzanita level
Arctostaphylos. Thank you to all of our Manzanita sponsors, including Lee Barken and Collective Solar, Rafael Castellanos for City Attorney, Mara Elliott for City Attorney, Laurie Fisher, Jocelyn Hough, Thomas Hough Sr., Fred Rogers, Sarah Saez for City Council and Chris Ward for City Council.

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Additional thanks to Nicole Capretz, Senator Christine Kehoe, Bill Powers and program designer Steve Rivera.

Out next club meeting is Thursday, Oct. 22 at 6:30 pm, with the second of our two San Diego City Council forums, featuring District One (D-1) and District Nine (D-9) candidates. We'll have our San Diego City Council candidate endorsement meeting on Saturday, Nov. 14 at 10:00 am – and mark your calendar now for our holiday party in Poway on Saturday, Dec. 12.

We looking forward to seeing you, your friends, and family members at upcoming club meetings, events or outings. More to come as we head into our second year! Thank you!

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Thanks again to Ponce's Mexican Restaurant, 4050 Adams Ave. in Kensington.