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Jeanne and Bill Doom at registration

Loretta Martin, Second Vice Chair conducting delegate selection for District Conventions

Bill Doom explaining resolutions

Max Walser, former Davidson County Commissioner

Courtroom view of Convention Attendees

Jane Hill, First Vice Chair conducting meeting

Jane Hill and Mary Cridlebaugh paying tribute to outgoing Chairman Craig Lindsay

Delegates pledging allegiance to flag

Mary Cridlebaugh presenting plaque to Craig Lindsay

Tommy Hedrick and Andy Hedrick, new chairman for Davidson County

Date: April 11, 2015

Time: 10am

Location: Davidson County Courthouse, Courtroom C

ALL Democrats are invited to attend. There will be an election of party officers.

For more information, contact Jane Hill at 475-1021.

The Democratic Party believes strong, well-funded public schools, colleges and universities will produce a skilled workforce. These are the foundation for a strong economy. We believe that our tax system must be structured to promote a strong middle class. And all our citizens are entitled to government that reflects fairness, justice, and opportunity for all. We support candidates who will use their positions to move North Carolina forward, not backward.

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The Democratic Party of Davidson County, North Carolina

For approximately 100 years, from the end of Reconstruction until the 1990s, the Democratic Party was dominant in Texas politics. After renewed competition from the Populist Party in the late 19th century and loss of a Congressional seat in 1896 and 1898 to a Republican elected by a plurality, the Democratic Party ensured its control by disfranchising most blacks, and many poor whites and Latinos, through imposition of the poll tax and white primaries in the early 20th century, as did other former Confederate states. These exclusions lasted until after passage of civil rights legislation in the mid-1960s.

In a reversal of alignments, since the late 1960s the Republican Party has grown more prominent within the state. By the mid-1990s, it became the state's dominant political party. This trend mirrors a national political realignment that has seen the once solidly Democratic South, initially dependent on disfranchisement of minorities, become increasingly dominated by Republicans. But growth among the Hispanic or Latino population in Texas, which favors the Democratic Party, may shift party alignments in the long term.

The traditional culture of the state was heavily influenced by the plantation culture of the Old South, dependent on African-American slave labor, as well as the patron system once prevalent (and still somewhat present) in northern Mexico and South Texas. In these societies the government's primary role was seen as being the preservation of social order. Solving of individual problems in society was seen as a local problem with the expectation that the individual should resolve his or her own issues.[1] These influences continue to affect Texas today. In their book, Texas Politics Today 2009-2010, authors Maxwell, Crain, and Santos attribute Texas' traditionally low voter turnout to these influences.[1] In addition, beginning in the early 20th century, voter turnout was dramatically reduced by disfranchisement of most blacks, and many poor whites and Latinos.[2]

From 1848 until Richard M. Nixon's victory in 1972, Texas voted for the Democratic candidate for president in every election except 1928, when it did not support Catholic Al Smith; and 1952 and 1956, when it joined the landslide for Dwight D. Eisenhower. (Texas did not vote in 1864 and 1868 due to the Civil War and Reconstruction).[3] From 1902 through 1965, Texas had virtually disfranchised most blacks and many Latinos and poor whites through the poll tax and white primaries.

Two of the most important Republican figures of the post-Civil War era were African Americans George T. Ruby and Norris Wright Cuney. Ruby was a black community organizer, director in the federal Freedmen's Bureau, and leader of the Galveston Union League. His protg Cuney was a mulatto whose wealthy, white planter father freed him and his siblings before the Civil War and arranged his education in Pennsylvania. Cuney returned and settled in Galveston, where he became active in the Union League and the Republican party; he rose to the leadership of the party. He became influential in Galveston and Texas politics, and is widely regarded as one of the most influential black leaders in the South during the 19th century.

In the post-Reconstruction era, by the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Republican Party became non-competitive in the South, due to Democratic-dominated legislatures' disfranchisement of blacks and many poor whites and Latinos. In Texas, the legislature excluded them through passage of a poll tax and white primary. As can be seen on the graph at the following link, voter turnout in Texas declined dramatically following these disfranchisement measures, and Southern voting was far below the national average.[4] This resulted in their nearly total exclusion from formal politics, when blacks made up 20 percent of the state population.[5] Republican support in Texas had been based almost exclusively in the free black communities, particularly in Galveston, and the so-called "German counties" the rural Texas Hill Country inhabited by German Americans, who had opposed slavery in the antebellum period. Republican Harry M. Wurzbach was elected from the 14th district from 1920 to 1926, contesting and finally winning the election of 1928, and being re-elected in 1930.

Some of the most important American political figures of the 20th century, such as President Lyndon B. Johnson, Vice-President John Nance Garner, Speaker of the House Sam Rayburn, and Senator Ralph Yarborough were Texas Democrats. But, the Texas Democrats were rarely united, being divided into conservative, moderate and liberal factions that vied with one another for power.

The rebirth of the Republican Party in Texas can be traced back to 1952, when Democratic Governor Allan Shivers clashed with the Truman Administration over the claim on the Tidelands. He worked to help Dwight D. Eisenhower, who was born in Texas, carry the state. Beginning in the late 1960s, Republican strength increased in Texas, particularly in the growing "country club suburbs" around Dallas and Houston. The election of Republicans such as John Tower and George H. W. Bush to Congress in 1960 and 1966, respectively, reflected this trend. Nationally, Democrats supported the civil rights movement and achieved important passage of federal legislation in the mid-1960s. Following passage of the Civil Rights Act in 1964, southern Democrats began to leave the party and join the Republicans.

Unlike the rest of the South, however, Texas was never especially supportive of the various third-party candidacies of Southern Democrats. It was the only state in the former Confederacy to back Democrat Hubert Humphrey in the 1968 presidential election. The 1980s saw a number of defections by conservative Democrats to the GOP, including Senator Phil Gramm, Congressman Kent Hance, and GOP Governor Rick Perry, who was a Democrat during his time as a state lawmaker.

John Tower's 1961 election to the U.S. Senate made him the first statewide GOP officeholder since Reconstruction. Governor Bill Clements and Senator Phil Gramm (also a former Democrat) followed. Republicans became increasingly dominant in national elections in Texas. The last Democratic presidential candidate to win the state was Jimmy Carter in 1976. Previously, a Democrat had to win Texas to win the White House, but in the 1992 election, Bill Clinton won the Oval Office while losing Texas electoral votes. This significantly reduced the power of Texas Democrats at the national level, as party leaders believed the state had become unwinnable.

Despite increasing Republican strength in national elections, after the 1990 census, Texas Democrats still controlled both houses of the State Legislature and most statewide offices. As a result, they were able to direct the redistricting process. Although Congressional Texas Democrats received an average of 40 percent of the votes, Democrats consistently had a majority in the state delegation, as they had in every election since at least the end of Reconstruction.

In 1994, Democratic Governor Ann Richards lost her bid for re-election against Republican George W. Bush, ending an era in which Democrats controlled the governorship all but eight of the past 120 years. Republicans have held the governorship ever since. In 1998, Bush won re-election in a landslide victory, with Republicans sweeping to victory in all the statewide races.

After the 2000 census, the Republican-controlled state Senate sought to draw a congressional district map that would guarantee a Republican majority in the state's delegation. The Democratic-controlled state House desired to retain a plan similar to the existing lines. There was an impasse. With the Legislature unable to reach a compromise, the matter was settled by a panel of federal court judges, who ruled in favor of a district map that largely retained the status quo.

But, Republicans dominated the Legislative Redistricting Board, which draws the lines for the state legislative districts, by a majority of four to one. The Republicans on this board used their voting strength to adopt a map for the state Senate that was even more favorable to the Republicans and a map for the state House that also strongly favored them as Democrats had before.

In 2002, Texas Republicans gained control of the Texas House of Representatives for the first time since Reconstruction. The newly elected Republican legislature engaged in an unprecedented mid-decade redistricting plan. Democrats said that the redistricting was a blatant partisan gerrymander, while Republicans argued that it was a much-needed correction of the partisan lines drawn after the 1990 census. The result was a gain of six seats by the Republicans in the 2004 elections, giving them a majority of the state's delegation for the first time since Reconstruction.

In December 2005, the US Supreme Court agreed to hear an appeal that challenged the legality of this redistricting plan. While largely upholding the map, it ruled the El Paso-to-San Antonio 23rd District, which had been a protected majority-Latino district until the 2003 redistricting, was unconstitutionally drawn. The ruling forced nearly every district in the El Paso-San Antonio corridor to be reconfigured. Partly due to this, Democrats picked up two seats in the state in the 2006 elections. The 23rd's Republican incumbent was defeated in this electionthe first time a Democratic House challenger unseated a Texas Republican incumbent in 10 years.

Republicans control all statewide Texas offices, both houses of the state legislature and have a majority in the Texas congressional delegation. This makes Texas one of the most Republican states in the U.S.[citation needed]

Despite overall Republican dominance, Austin, the state capital, is primarily Democratic, as are El Paso and the Rio Grande Valley. However, the suburbs of these cities remain heavily Republican.[citation needed]

Texas, like California, is now a minority-majority state. This means that non-Hispanic whites no longer make up a majority of the population. This is predominantly due to the booming Hispanic population, which accounted for 38.1% of the state's population as of 2011[update] (compared to 44.8% for non-Hispanic whites).[6]

The state's changing demographics may well result in a change in its overall political alignment. As most Hispanic and Latino voters support the Democratic Party, Texas may eventually become a tossup state in presidential elections and turn blue for the first time since 1976.[7] Mark Yzaguirre questioned this assumption through highlighting Governor Rick Perry's courting of 39% of Hispanics in his victory in the 2010 Texas Gubernatorial.[8] However many contend that it is low turnout among Texas Hispanics that are keeping the state Red.[9]

Texas has a reputation for strict "law and order" sentencing. According to the Prison Policy Initiative, of the 21 counties in the United States where more than a fifth of residents are prison inmates, 10 are in Texas. Texas leads the nation in executions, with 464 executions from 1974 to 2011.[10] The second-highest ranking state is Virginia, with 108. A 2002 Houston Chronicle poll of Texans found that when asked "Do you support the death penalty?" 69.1% responded that they did, 21.9% did not support and 9.1% were not sure or gave no answer.

Texas has a long history with secession. It was originally a Spanish province, which in 1821 seceded from Spain and helped form the First Mexican Empire. In 1824 Texas became a state in the new Mexican republic. In 1835 Antonio Lpez de Santa Anna assumed dictatorial control over the state and several states openly rebelled against the changes: Coahuila y Tejas (the northern part of which would become the Republic of Texas), San Luis Potos, Quertaro, Durango, Guanajuato, Michoacn, Yucatn, Jalisco, Nuevo Len, Tamaulipas, and Zacatecas. Several of these states formed their own governments: the Republic of the Rio Grande, the Republic of Yucatan, and the Republic of Texas. Only the Texans defeated Santa Anna and retained their independence.

Some Texans believe that because it joined the United States as a country, the Texas state constitution include the right to secede.[11] However, neither the ordinance of The Texas Annexation of 1845[12] nor The Annexation of Texas Joint Resolution of Congress March 1, 1845[13] included provisions giving Texas the right to secede. Texas did originally retain the right to divide into as many as five independent States,[14] and as part of the Compromise of 1850 continues to retain that right while ceding former claims westward and northward along the full length of the Rio Grande in exchange for $10 million from the federal government.[15]

The United States Supreme Court's primary ruling on the legality of secession involved a case brought by Texas involving a Civil War era bonds transfer.[16] In deciding the 1869 Texas v. White case, the Supreme Court first addressed the issue of whether Texas had in fact seceded when it joined the Confederacy. In a 5-3 vote the Court "held that as a matter of constitutional law, no state could leave the Union, explicitly repudiating the position of the Confederate States that the United States was a voluntary compact between sovereign states."[17] In writing the majority opinion Chief Justice Salmon Chase opined that:

When, therefore, Texas became one of the United States, she entered into an indissoluble relation. All the obligations of perpetual union, and all the guaranties of republican government in the Union, attached at once to the State. The act which consummated her admission into the Union was something more than a compact; it was the incorporation of a new member into the political body. And it was final. The union between Texas and the other States was as complete, as perpetual, and as indissoluble as the union between the original States. There was no place for reconsideration or revocation, except through revolution or through consent of the States.[18]

However, as the issue of secession per se was not the one before the court, it has been debated as to whether this reasoning is merely dicta or a binding ruling on the question.[19] It is also worth noting that Salmon Chase was nominated by Abraham Lincoln and was a staunch anti-secessionist. It is unlikely that he or his Republican appointed court would have approved of the Confederacy and Texas' choice to join it.

While the state's organized secessionist movement is relatively small, a notable minority of Texans hold secessionist sentiments.[20] A 2009 poll found that 31% of Texans believe that Texas has the legal right to secede and form an independent country and 18% believe it should do so.[21]

Until 2010, Texas had weathered the Great Recession fairly well, buffered by its vast oil and gas industries. It avoided the housing industry meltdown and its unemployment rate continues to be below the national level. It benefited from having a two-year budget cycle, allowing officials create budget plans with more time to focus on issues of importance. However, Texas was impacted by the economic downturn just like many other states, and by 2011 was suffering from tens of billions of dollars in budget deficits. In order to deal with this deficit, a supermajority of Republicans led to a massive cost cutting spree.[22] In order to draw new businesses to the state, Texas has developed a program of tax incentives to corporations willing to move there.[23] These efforts, along with Texas focusing on developing their natural energy resources, has led to a surplus as Texas begins its next two year budget cycle.[24][25]

For FY 2011, the top Texas revenue sources by category were approximately:[26] Federal Income: $42,159,665,863.56 Sales Tax: $21,523,984,733.17 Investments: $10,406,151,499.48 Other Revenue: $8,569,805,443.66 Licenses, Fees, Fines and Penalties: $7,741,880,095.57

As of 2008, Texas residents paid a total of $88,794 million dollars in income taxes.[27] This does not include Federal taxes paid by Texas businesses.

Besides sales tax, other taxes include franchise, insurance, natural gas, alcohol, cigarettee and tobacco taxes. Texas has no personal state income tax.

For FY 2011, the top Texas State Agency spending categories were approximately:[28] Public Assistance Payments: $26,501,123,478.54 Intergovernmental Payments: $21,014,819,852.52 Interfund Transfers/Other: $12,319,487,032.40 Salaries and Wages: $8,595,912,992.82 Employee Benefits: $5,743,905,057.61

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Politics of Texas - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Mount Laurel is a township in Burlington County, New Jersey, United States, and is an edge city suburb of Philadelphia. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township's population was 41,864,[9][10][11] reflecting an increase of 1,643 (+4.1%) from the 40,221 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 9,951 (+32.9%) from the 30,270 counted in the 1990 Census.[20] It is the home of NFL Films.

Mount Laurel was incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 7, 1872, from portions of Evesham Township.[21] The township was named for a hill covered with laurel trees.[22]

There are several historical landmarks, including General Clinton's headquarters, Paulsdale, Evesham Friends Meeting House, Jacob's Chapel, Hattie Britt School and Farmer's Hall.[23]

The Mount Laurel Decision is a judicial interpretation of the New Jersey State Constitution that requires municipalities to use their zoning powers in an affirmative manner to provide a realistic opportunity for the production of housing affordable to low and moderate income households. The decision was a result of a lawsuit brought against the town by the N.A.A.C.P. that was decided by the New Jersey Supreme Court in 1975 and reaffirmed in a subsequent decision in 1983.[24]

The history behind this, and the story leading to the Decision was highlighted in a book by David L. Kirp called Our Town.[25]

Mount Laurel was a small, poor rural farming community until it was hit with massive suburban growth from Philadelphia in the later 1900s. Poor families, whose history had resided there for centuries, were suddenly priced out of buying additional property. In 1970, at a meeting about a proposal for affordable housing, held at an all black church in Mount Laurel, Mayor Bill Haines summed up the newcomers perspectives by saying "If you people can't afford to live in our town, then you'll just have to leave."[25]

Even though the poor black families in Mount Laurel were not from urban ghettos, and were not involved in gang activity, the new suburban influx thought otherwise, and significantly delayed the creation of affordable housing, citing concerns of gang activity and an influx of inner city criminals. Exampled comments from town meetings against being forced to build housing projects in their town included "we need this like Custer needed more Indians"; "it's reverse discrimination"; "we lived in this in South Philly and Newark" they said, and that the housing would be a "breeding ground for violent crime and drug abuse".[25]

Resident advocates of the housing were treated with abuse and threats. Leading advocate Ethel Lawrence, a poor black resident who lived her life in Mount Laurel, had her house repeatedly vandalized, and once her bedroom window was shot at.[26][27] Longtime white residents also turned to try to force the poor blacks out of town. Although the court ruled in favor of creating affordable housing, residents did manage to delay the process for decades.[25]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 21.971 square miles (56.903km2), including 21.692 square miles (56.181km2) of land and 0.279 square miles (0.722km2) of water (1.27%).[1][2]

Ramblewood (with a 2010 Census population of 5,907) is an unincorporated community and census designated place (CDP) located within Mount Laurel.[28]

Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Birchfield,[citation needed]Bougher, Centerton, Colemantown, Coxs Corner, Fellowship, Hartford, Heulings Hill, Masonville, Petersburg, Pine Grove, Rancocas Woods and Texas.[29]

At the 2010 United States Census, there were 41,864 people, 17,538 households, and 11,294 families residing in the township. The population density was 1,930.0 per square mile (745.2/km2). There were 18,249 housing units at an average density of 841.3 per square mile (324.8/km2). The racial makeup of the township was 79.42% (33,249) White, 9.70% (4,061) Black or African American, 0.16% (67) Native American, 7.26% (3,040) Asian, 0.04% (17) Pacific Islander, 1.00% (418) from other races, and 2.42% (1,012) from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 4.56% (1,907) of the population.[9]

There were 17,538 households, of which 28.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.0% were married couples living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.6% were non-families. 30.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 3.00.[9]

In the township, 22.3% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 29.2% from 45 to 64, and 16.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.8 years. For every 100 females there were 87.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.5 males.[9]

The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $84,632 (with a margin of error of +/- $5,366) and the median family income was $100,189 (+/- $4,065). Males had a median income of $75,870 (+/- $3,130) versus $54,215 (+/- $2,830) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $41,573 (+/- $1,416). About 3.0% of families and 3.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.6% of those under age 18 and 3.8% of those age 65 or over.[39]

As of the 2000 United States Census[17] there were 40,221 people, 16,570 households, and 11,068 families residing in the township. The population density was 1,844.3 people per square mile (712.0/km). There were 17,163 housing units at an average density of 787.0 per square mile (303.8/km). The racial makeup of the township was 87.10% White, 6.92% African American, 0.09% Native American, 3.80% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.64% from other races, and 1.41% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.24% of the population.[37][38]

There were 16,570 households out of which 30.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.7% were married couples living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.2% were non-families. 27.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.98.[37][38]

In the township the population was spread out with 23.1% under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 32.7% from 25 to 44, 24.2% from 45 to 64, and 14.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 89.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.8 males.[37][38][38]

The median income for a household in the township was $63,750, and the median income for a family was $76,288. Males had a median income of $55,597 versus $37,198 for females. The per capita income for the township was $32,245. About 2.5% of families and 3.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.9% of those under age 18 and 2.9% of those age 65 or over.[37][38]

Laurel Acres Park is known for its Veterans Memorial, fishing lake, playground, and huge grassy hill used for concerts and sledding in the winter. Laurel Acres Park is right between Church Street at Union Mill Road. The Mount Laurel Baseball League and the Mount Laurel United Soccer Club play in the park's sports fields, and since 2008, the Mount Laurel Premiership.[40]

Mount Laurel voted to change its form of government in 1970 from a Township Council form to a Faulkner Act system using the Council-Manager (Plan E), enacted based on the recommendations of a Charter Study Commission as of January 1, 1972.[41] In this form of government, the Township Manager oversees the daily functions of the Township. Township government consists of a Township Council made up of five members elected at-large in partisan elections to serve four-year terms on a staggered basis, with either two or three seats coming up for election in odd-numbered years as part of the November general election.[7] At an annual reorganization meeting held in January, the council selects one of its members to serve as mayor and another to serve as deputy mayor, each for a one-year term.[3]

As of 2016[update], members of the Mount Laurel Township Council are Mayor Linda Bobo (R, term ends December 31, 2016), Deputy Mayor Irwin Edelson (R, term on council ends 2016), Dennis Riley (R, 2018), Jim Keenan (R, 2016) and Richard Van Noord (R, 2018).[3][42][43][44][45]

Mount Laurel Township is located in the 3rd Congressional District[46] and is part of New Jersey's 7th state legislative district.[10][47][48] Prior to the 2011 reapportionment following the 2010 Census, Mount Laurel Township had been in the 8th state legislative district.[49]

New Jersey's 3rd Congressional District is represented by Tom MacArthur (R, Toms River).[50] New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Cory Booker (D, Newark, term ends 2021)[51] and Bob Menendez (D, Paramus, 2019).[52][53]

For the 20162017 session (Senate, General Assembly), the 7th Legislative District of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Diane Allen (R, Edgewater Park Township) and in the General Assembly by Herb Conaway (D, Moorestown) and Troy Singleton (D, Palmyra).[54] The Governor of New Jersey is Chris Christie (R, Mendham Township).[55] The Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey is Kim Guadagno (R, Monmouth Beach).[56]

Burlington County is governed by a Board of chosen freeholders, whose five members are elected at-large in partisan elections to three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either one or two seats coming up for election each year.[57] The board chooses a director and deputy director from among its members at an annual reorganization meeting held in January.[57] As of 2015[update], Burlington County's Freeholders are Director Mary Ann O'Brien (R, Medford Township, 2017; Director of Administration and Human Services),[58] Deputy Director Bruce Garganio (R, Florence Township, 2017; Director of Public Works and Health),[59]Aimee Belgard (D, Edgewater Park Township, 2015; Director of Hospital, Medical Services and Education)[60] Joseph Donnelly (R, Cinnaminson Township, 2016; Director of Public Safety, Natural Resources, and Education)[61] and Joanne Schwartz (D, Southampton Township, 2015; Director of Health and Corrections).[62][57] Constitutional officers are County Clerk Tim Tyler,[63] Sheriff Jean E. Stanfield[64] and Surrogate George T. Kotch.[65]

As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 28,317 registered voters in Mount Laurel Township, of which 9,089 (32.1% vs. 33.3% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 6,880 (24.3% vs. 23.9%) were registered as Republicans and 12,328 (43.5% vs. 42.8%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 20 voters registered to other parties.[66] Among the township's 2010 Census population, 67.6% (vs. 61.7% in Burlington County) were registered to vote, including 87.0% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 80.3% countywide).[66][67]

In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 12,634 votes (55.5% vs. 58.1% countywide), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 9,797 votes (43.0% vs. 40.2%) and other candidates with 194 votes (0.9% vs. 1.0%), among the 22,762 ballots cast by the township's 29,792 registered voters, for a turnout of 76.4% (vs. 74.5% in Burlington County).[68][69] In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 13,420 votes (57.2% vs. 58.4% countywide), ahead of Republican John McCain with 9,657 votes (41.2% vs. 39.9%) and other candidates with 220 votes (0.9% vs. 1.0%), among the 23,443 ballots cast by the township's 28,847 registered voters, for a turnout of 81.3% (vs. 80.0% in Burlington County).[70] In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 11,618 votes (52.3% vs. 52.9% countywide), ahead of Republican George W. Bush with 10,382 votes (46.7% vs. 46.0%) and other candidates with 146 votes (0.7% vs. 0.8%), among the 22,231 ballots cast by the township's 27,385 registered voters, for a turnout of 81.2% (vs. 78.8% in the whole county).[71]

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 8,696 votes (65.1% vs. 61.4% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 4,341 votes (32.5% vs. 35.8%) and other candidates with 148 votes (1.1% vs. 1.2%), among the 13,354 ballots cast by the township's 29,635 registered voters, yielding a 45.1% turnout (vs. 44.5% in the county).[72][73] In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 7,082 votes (50.4% vs. 47.7% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 6,149 votes (43.8% vs. 44.5%), Independent Chris Daggett with 617 votes (4.4% vs. 4.8%) and other candidates with 108 votes (0.8% vs. 1.2%), among the 14,047 ballots cast by the township's 29,086 registered voters, yielding a 48.3% turnout (vs. 44.9% in the county).[74]

The Mount Laurel Schools serve public school students in pre-Kindergarten through eighth grade. As of the 2011-12 school year, the district's eight schools had an enrollment of 4,201 students and 329.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a studentteacher ratio of 12.77:1.[75] Schools in the district (with 2011-12 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics)[76] are Countryside Elementary School[77] (grades PreK-4; 315 students), Fleetwood Elementary School[78] (PreK-4; 362), Hillside Elementary School[79] (K-4; 407), Larchmont Elementary School[80] (PreK-4; 359), Parkway Elementary School[81] (PreK-4; 410), Springville Elementary School[82] (PreK-4; 466), Mount Laurel Hartford School[83] for grades 5 & 6 (908 students) and Thomas E. Harrington Middle School[84] for grades 7 & 8 (974).[85][86] Parkway Elementary School was one of four schools in New Jersey recognized by the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program, awarded by the United States Department of Education, for the 200506 school year.[87]

Public school students from Mount Laurel in ninth through twelfth grades attend Lenape High School, located in Medford Township.[88][89] Shawnee is part of the Lenape Regional High School District, a regional secondary school district in Burlington County that also serves the eight municipalities of Evesham Township, Medford Lakes, Medford Township, Shamong Township, Southampton Township, Tabernacle Township and Woodland Township at its four high schools.[90][91]

Students from Mount Laurel Township, and from all of Burlington County, are eligible to attend the Burlington County Institute of Technology, a countywide public school district that serves the vocational and technical education needs of students at the high school and post-secondary level at its campuses in Medford and Westampton Township.[92]

As of May 2010[update], the township had a total of 170.19 miles (273.89km) of roadways, of which 115.86 miles (186.46km) were maintained by the municipality, 33.26 miles (53.53km) by Burlington County and 13.55 miles (21.81km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation and 7.52 miles (12.10km) by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.[93]

The New Jersey Turnpike passes through Mount Laurel Township, entering from Cherry Hill Township in the township's southwest corner and continuing for about 7.5 miles (12.1km) to Westampton Township at Mount Laurel's northern edge.[94] The Turnpike's James Fenimore Cooper rest area is located between Interchanges 4 and 5 northbound at milepost 39.4.[95] Mount Laurel also hosts the toll gate for Exit 4 of the Turnpike, which provides access to Route 73.[96]

Interstate 295 passes through the township, with three exits (Exit 36: Berlin/Tacony Bridge/Route 73, Exit 40: Moorestown/Mount Holly/Route 38, Exit 43: Delran/Rancocas Woods).[97] Other major thoroughfares through Mount Laurel are Route 38, Route 73 and County Route 537.

New Jersey Transit provides bus service to and from Philadelphia on routes 317 (from Asbury Park), the 413 route between Camden and Burlington and the 457 route between Moorestown Mall and Camden.[98][99]

The Greyhound Lines bus station at 538 Fellowship Road 395555N 745727.0W / 39.93194N 74.957500W / 39.93194; -74.957500 provides service to Philadelphia, New York City, Atlantic City and other points.[100]

People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Mount Laurel Township include:

Continued here:
Mount Laurel, New Jersey - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Port Angeles High School 304 E Park Ave, Port Angeles, WA 98362

Saturday, May 21

6th Congressional District Caucus*

Suquamish, WA

June 17-10

WA State Democratic Convention

Tacoma, WA

July 25-28

Democratic National Convention

Philadelphia, PA

* There is no Legislative District caucus

* * * *

Supreme Court Nominees Consdered During Election Years

The Senate hasnever taken more than 125 daysto vote on a successor from the time of nomination. On average, a nominee has been confirmed, rejected or withdrawn within 25 days. When Justice Antonin Scalia died, 342 days remained in President Obamas term.

--New York Times(2/15/2016) * * * * * * * * * *

Following are charts that illustrate just how huge and regressive these proposed cuts are, at least twice as big as George W. Bush's tax cuts relative to the size of the economy.

How GOP Tax Cut Plans Compare (Increasing the national debt over a 10-year windowas % of GDP)

Each of the top three GOP presidential contenders have proposed a huge tax cut plan, increasing the federal debt byover28 percent of GDPover the next decade.

Average Tax Cuts

Source: Tax Policy Center

Even worse, Cruz wouldraise taxes an average of $67 on taxpayers making $10,000 or less a year by enacting a 19 percent sales tax.

Source: Tax Policy Center

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President Obama's Record - A Record to be Proud Of

America is finally recovering from the Bush era's Great Recession. "Unemployment is now 4.9%, the lowest since February 2008, and even wages are finally rising again."

Government spendingincreased by 88%under President Bush. Which is the party of big spenders?!

The National Record...

These 47 Republican Senators sent Iran a letter in an unprecedented effort to sabotage historic nuclear negotiations:

Deficit at 6-Year Low!

WASHINGTON The deficit for the just completed 2014 budget year was $483 billion [It was $680 billion in 2013]... It's the lowest since 2008 and, when measured against the size of the economy, is below the average deficits of the past 40 years.

Peninsula Daily News October 16, 2014

Robert Reich The Limits of Corporate Citizenship Source: http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/277-75/24642-the-limits-of-corporate-citizenship

What did the GOP do?

Click here to view the President's full remarks.

FACT CHECK: President Obama has used executive orders less frequently than nine of his predecessors beginning with President Eisenhower. Eisenhower issued 484 executive orders compared to Obama's 168. Republican Presidents Reagan, Nixon, Ford, G.W. Bush ALL issued more executive orders than President Obama.

The Democrats of Clallam County are committed to promoting wise environmental stewardship, social justice, economic prosperity for working families, and vital social programs for those in need by electing principled public servants who will pursue these goals at the county, state, and federal level.

Follow this link:
Clallam County Democrats

Compendium

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