Great news from Standing Rock over the weekend: President Obama has ordered the Army Corps of Engineers to look for another route for the Dakota Access Pipeline.

We had Democrats in the area when the news was announced, bringing supplies and standing in solidarity.

Also, last month, shortly after the election, our own George Morrison traveled to Standing Rock. He has written a great essay on his experience, and it’s well worth reading to get an idea of the realities on the ground.

What I love is the fact that this protest worked. This gives us all hope that, as we are active and stand together, we can make change.

Here’s George’s account:

Entering the Camp from the highway one is struck with its size and a vista of hundreds of tents, tipis, corrals, cars, campfires and people everywhere. Going down into the camp the dirt road is a scene lined on each side with the flags of all the first Nations people present. There seem to be hundreds of the flags and many people in Native dress. Across the camp is the river, with the water of life flowing by. That is when the impact becomes realization of the cause.
At the initial Camp orientation, our welcomer asks us to look out the tipi flap;

“What you see there is land upon which Lakota Sioux have lived for thousands of years, we had formal societies and government long before Europeans came here.” He pauses, giving that thought time to sink in.

“Since the day they came the whites have been taking from us,” he continues. The pipeline is on unceded Sioux Treaty land, granted by the Treaty of 1851 at Fort Laramie. They now threaten our water supply, our very lives, and our future existence from the land they have taken.

He informs us; we started this Camp several months ago and we brought from the reservation the sacred fire. It burns 24-7 at the camp meeting place. The fire-watchers keep it going in all weather conditions; they are there at all times. Many two-leggeds have come to visit and honor us and our traditions. Many do it additionally by offering cedar greens and sage and tobacco in the fire as they pray to the Great Spirit.

He says to notice we are in a circle, there are no corners. We hide nothing. All we do, we do in the open. We pray in circles we dance in circles. We include everyone and listen to the ideas and questions of all. We share all we have; there is nothing for sale here. This camp is a prayer ceremony, not a commercial enterprise. We pray often and for many reasons, we pray for people, animals and the land and water. We are here to protect our life blood, mni wiconi, (pronounced “mini-we-choh-nee”i) our water. All living things need water.

We ask you to move about this camp gently and to respect tribal protocols. Ask permission before photographing anyone and especially at ceremonies. This is not a festival, it is a prayer ceremony. This Camp is a holy act in its totality. Act accordingly.”

Each camp day begins with a prayer to the sun rising in the East; bringing warmth and nourishment to all living things. There are songs and dances. And the activities of the day begin. One of the first is to present the people who will be the water protectors for the day, the ones who will take direct action against the pipeline; the warriors include both men and women, young and old, they form a circle around the Sacred Fire. The pipe of peace is passed to each of them as a symbol of prayer and reverence, to impart the gravity of the situation. Each warrior holds it for a moment of thought and prayer. There is no hurrying, every person takes all the time they need.

Then there is a prayer, in Lakota, by an Elder. He asks that they all return safely; that they have success in stopping the great black serpent. The threat of devastation from the black snake was prophesied many years ago. They hope to counter the curse with every action they can. There are many tears, from men and women, old and young. The warriors leave the camp on ponies and in cars. As they pass down the road there are whoops. It is like being in a movie, surreal and solemn and frightening.
***
The actions of a militarized police contingent are harsh and in many cases illegal. The actions of the hired oil company thugs are immoral and way beyond being necessary. Dogs set upon peaceful people who are only offering limited resistance is not in the least called for. Spraying of mace is not necessary as the police and security people often out-number the protectors. Most egregious is the vehicle that is aiming microwave impulses into the crowd of people; no one knows what the long term consequences of that will be.

After being arrested, the protectors, especially the women, are strip searched, kept in cold areas, their possessions taken and often not returned. They are hauled off to jails many miles and counties away from the camp. This is not my idea of today’s America, but it surely reminds me of Alabama in the 1960’s; or of Germany in the 1930’s.

One of the most necessary camp needs is money for the defense fund for these people. Paying the release bonds and the attorneys required is draining what funds they have. Most of these people will also have to return to the state later in the year for trial dates.
***

DAILY CAMP LIFE

Now the Camp day begins. There will be many speakers, tribes and organizations to make presentations. From the Parliament of World Religions comes a speaker with the resolution he read to the United Nations about our plight. A Buddhist monk from Japan and a representative from the Maoris in Australia, make presentations. Several tribes from Canada speak. The man at the mic at the moment tells about a group of Hopi boys who ran to this Camp on foot from Flagstaff Arizona.

Most speakers begin in their native tribal languages. I have never heard so many different tongues in one place. It is like the United Nations of Indigenous peoples. Each tribe and organization brings gifts for the Camp as well as prayers and words of support. And they have their own stories of frustrations and losses. They are all treated with respect and reverence for their stories. It is very humbling to see and feel so much common love displayed openly.

I came here to learn and understand; to get a feel of the entire event by the Water Protectors. Now, I feel as I did on September 11 2001. The depression, the helplessness, and the sadness are all present. Yet, there is a feeling in the Camp of love and togetherness I have never felt before. Everyone is very friendly and talkative. It is like we are all covered with the same blanket as one people. People are here from every state, from Canada, from Europe, Japan and Central America. Auto license plates are a mural of travel from the entire U.S. The population of the Camp is constant, but many people come anew and many leave each day.

There are several thousand people here; in many tents and built structures. Lots of folks; like me for instance, are sleeping and camping out of their cars. The camp site has many portapotties and a central place to get water and dispose of trash. There are five kitchens where the meals of the day are prepared. There is no charge for anything. The Oceti-Sakowin tribe is footing the bill. Tribal members arrive at 5:30 am to prepare coffee and hot water for tea and chocolate; so by the time the Sun greeters pray and campers arrive, coffee is ready.

Groups of people and individuals move about the Camp; young men ride their ponies all over the place. Campfires smoking and the smells of food abound. In many places sturdy wooden structures are being built to fend off the harsh winter that is on its way. Carpenters and helpers are working around the clock to finish these things. Many structures and tipis are lined on the outside with hay bales to repel wind and act as insulation against the coming cold weather.

Large groups that have come here, mostly the individual tribes, have mini camps within the main one. They are fenced off and have corrals for their horses. There is the Red Warrior camp, whose men are doing the most direct action; there are the Oglala Sioux, the One Nation people and several other big camps with tipis in a circle. Each of these sub-camps has drummers and singers who perform after dark when people start to settle in for the night. It provides quite a potpourri of sound.

The camp is dusty and smoky from campfires and traffic. The ground is covered with loose dusty soil and I can’t imagine the mess it will be when it rains. But it is tidy, no trash on the ground. The camp is peaceful. Alcohol, drugs and weapons are banned. I did not hear a harsh or contrary word spoken in the time I was there.
There is a specific medical area with doctors to provide for those who need aid, for any illness, as well as to treat the people who have been sprayed with pepper or shot with rubber bullets. They probably treated the wounded horses also. There is a yurt that has psychologists to treat people who have been traumatized.

Each day there is a meeting to talk about direct action; how to prepare, what to take with you or not, what to wear and how to give support to each other; how to be peaceful, yet firm. Most arrestees are charged with trespassing and as many other true or false charges the police can concoct. Usually 4-5 charges per person. Simply speaking to the police politely asking questions is grounds for resisting arrest. The pipeline company is shooting unarmed people and horses with rubber bullets, which are not as harmless as they purport. Many people and horses have huge bruises and cuts from some of the confrontations.

There is a legal office with lawyers to work for the release of arrestees. There is a media hill where phone connections work fairly well. It has become known as Facebook hill. Also there are plugins for phone charging. The camp is quite self-sustaining; however some supplies are over used daily, such as fire wood. I have no idea how many hundred cords of wood it will take to manage the winter; it is one of the most needed supplies. I have no clue where they get the wood. There are virtually no trees around here. This is prairie.

Throughout the camp are many combinations of solar collectors, gasoline generators and wind generators; self-sufficiency is an important goal to reduce the demand on the Camp organizers. While there is a lot of food and fuel, stores need to be set aside for winter when moving about will be very difficult.

Everyone here has a story; where they are from, what they brought and they all express feelings of solidarity. Many people have been in camp for several months. One group told the story of a nearby farmer who had 200 bison on his land that he cared for. The pipeline company, after they took over his property, cut the fences and herded the bison off the property and after that prevented them from water and their food sources. Some bison have died and others are very weak. Winter will do them in. People are working to get feed to them and to bring them water.

Each day is filled with songs, ceremonies and prayers. There is a celebratory feeling in the midst of great depression; a stoicism of having been in this fight many times. There was a special ceremony to welcome the full moon. There was a water ceremony by grandmothers to honor the water. They carried a vessel with water they had collected from various places around the world. They brought it to the Oceti Camp to mix with the waters of the Missouri. It was a lovely and touching event with many tears.

Often during the day the firewatchers will fill a vessel with sage and cedar, put in some hot coals to ignite it; then pass through the crowds allowing people to smudge themselves in little ceremonies.

Meanwhile, the oil company is continually flying over in a helicopter and two fixed wing craft. The only reason I can see for that is just to make noise and harass the Camp.

One day while the direct action meeting was underway a fire somehow had started; the whole area around the camp is dry brown grass, so it was very scary. Fortunately, by the quick action of about ten people they got the fire out, beating it with their shirts. As the last hot spots were being smothered and hand patted, two bald eagles flew overhead as if to say thank you. Many people dropped to their knees in prayer. It was a special moment and the feeling that Mother Nature is with this cause. A hopeful omen.

CONCLUSION

I came to the Camp to learn first-hand and to help as much as I could. I leave a better version of myself because of the experience. In Camp there is a tremendous feeling of oneness and hope, but a sense of hopelessness against the tremendous odds and wealth of the oil interests.

We know the pipeline will be built, but there is much hope that they will move it to a better and safer location. These camps need the love and support of the world to eventuate this goal. Their actions and words are sneered at, laughed at and discounted by the white powers to be, the insensitivity and greed of the oil companies and the deaf ears of the state of North Dakota. Only an overwhelming protest by the larger world community will have an impact.

A Voice for a Thoughtful, Compassionate Government

In an interesting twist, long-time educator Jim Francis has decided to run as a write-in candidate for Idaho State Senate. Here are his thoughts on who he is, and why he decided to take the plunge as a write-in candidate:

I decided to enter the race for a seat in the Idaho State Senate in order to offer a voice for progressive politics.  I have come to see the wisdom of the domestic policies of Theodore Roosevelt’s Progressive Era programs and Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal.  Both leaders realized that government had to act as the agent of the people and that an unregulated economy created innocent victims and threatened the free market itself.  The Progressive Era and New Deal reforms such as the FDIC that remained in place in the twenty-first century helped to prevent the 2008 crash from generating a complete collapse of the United Statesian economy. We must not abandon those types of programs; we must expand them.

“Now I have decided to move from academics to politics as a means of taking my faith in the democratic ideals of equality, liberty, and justice into legislative action.”

It is true that at the state level we as a society cannot develop policies for the national economy, but we Idahoans can demonstrate through our voice that the government is our agent looking out for those least able to protect themselves.  I believe we are a compassionate people and that government policies must reflect this compassion if it is to be a government that truly represents the people.  The moral of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol applies to good government.  Scrooge realized that he owed his worker a living wage, that he had the resources to provide health care to his worker’s child, and that he could provide all of these basic needs to the poorest of society and still be a successful capitalist.  There is a message in this story that the government of Idaho has ignored for the past several years. I am running for a state Senate seat as an advocate for bringing our state government into line with the values of the reformed Scrooge. I believe these values reflect the core values of Idahoans.

I am sixty-seven years old (sixty-eight on October 12, 2016), and I come to politics after a forty-three year career as an educator at both the secondary and college level.  My parents moved to Idaho in the early 1950s when my father began his career as materials and fuels engineer and manager at the atomic energy site.  I attended schools in District 91 and graduated from high school in 1966 having been inspired by Mae Neuber’s teaching and the writings of Mark Twain and Barbara Tuchman.

After high school I attended the College of Wooster, a small liberal arts school in Ohio; I then went on to graduate from Arizona State University in 1970 with a B.A. in history.  After working as a dishwasher, a shipping clerk, and a postal clerk in the Washington, D.C., area for a year, I enrolled at Idaho State University to complete the requirements for my teaching certification. After teaching for three years in East Cleveland, Ohio, I moved back to the West in the mid-1970s. I completed my master’s degree at the University of British Columbia and took a teaching position in Idaho Falls in 1977. After teaching junior high school history for ten years, I accepted an offer to teach history at Idaho Falls High School beginning in 1988.  Teaching became a lifestyle; my designing of lessons, my travels, my reading, and my writing all became intertwined. I came to see that the primary purpose of an educator is to unlock the genius within students. In 1998-1999 I earned National Board Teacher Certification. National Board Certification requires teachers to demonstrate that they meet research-based standards of thoughtful understandings of their academic subject as well as of child development.

The research I did as a teacher in the process of developing lessons for the students, the original and creative thoughts of the students I taught, and the seminars I attended in order to try to improve my academic knowledge and my skills as a teacher gradually coalesced into my progressive political philosophy and my belief that leadership is a crucial piece in the maintenance of a democratic society.  Over the years I have been blessed with local, state, and national recognition of my teaching including being selected as Idaho Teacher of the Year in 1997.  To me three of the most significant of the awards I have received are the local Bar Association’s Liberty Bell Award for the promotion of democracy, the local Daughters of the American Revolution as an outstanding teacher of history, and the Idaho Humanities Council’s Humanities Teacher of the Year Award.  All of these awards were recognitions that the process of helping students to develop the skill of analytical thinking and writing is a key element of society’s protecting and advancing democratic ideals.

When I retired from public school teaching in 2011, I accepted a position as a part-time instructor for the Idaho State University’s History Department.  In my university courses I continued to develop lessons based on the complex questions associated with defining and promoting democracy.  Now I have decided to move from academics to politics as a means of taking my faith in the democratic ideals of equality, liberty, and justice into legislative action.  Voters can expect that my decisions will be guided by Charles Dickens’ messages, by the principles of equality and human rights in the Declaration of Independence, and by the definition of citizenship in the conclusion to the Declaration of Independence.  Our independence as a republic and the democratic principles that justify our nation can be maintained only by our willingness to commit our lives, our honor, and our fortunes to those principles.

 
 
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In an interview with USA Today, Bernie Sanders announced the next branch of the revolution – The Sanders Institute.

In what is currently being loosely defined as a conglomerate of educational and political organizations founded and organized by Sanders, the Sanders Institute is being posited as the next step of the Sanders revolution.

Now that Sanders is no longer actively running for president (though he has not yet conceded from the 2016 race), the Senator is attempting to funnel the millions of revolutionary supporters into further political and societal activism.

The Sanders Institute’s first order of business is strongly supporting at least 100 candidates nationwide in down-ballot races. These candidates are handpicked by Sanders for their progressive stances and can be in races for Congress all the way down to local school boards.

 
READ FULL ARTICLE

Here is a place to find candidates for office who support Bernie Sanders
progressive efforts.

Vote to carry on the revolution with power in the Senate and House. make it easier for Hillary Clinton to fight for the things we want by having power in Congress and in our states.

Berniecrats.net

One of the questions we need to answer for ourselves in Bonneville County is this:

What does it mean to be a Democrat in Idaho?

As we move into one of the most interesting election seasons in my memory, it’s a good time for us to consider who we are as Idaho Democrats. Even though the presidential election is exciting, it’s important to step back from national politics and focus on moving Idaho forward. The state GOP platform calls for a return to the gold standard and a repeal of the 17th Amendment (you know, the one where the people elect their Senators).

The beautiful thing about the Idaho Democratic Party platform is that it is aspirational, focusing on making the state prosperous for families and businesses alike. As a newly-appointed member of the platform committee, I am looking forward to helping create a platform that works for ordinary Idahoans.

What are Idaho Democrat Values?

But it’s not enough to have a platform. We need to get out there and share the platform with our friends and neighbors so they understand what it truly means to be a Democrat in Idaho. As the state GOP tears itself apart, and as moderate local Republicans shake their heads at some of what is happening, we need to highlight our values — and how they are more reflective of the people of Idaho. Let’s look for ways to join with other progressives, spread the word about what it means to be a Democrat in Idaho, and transfer some of our enthusiasm for the presidential election to our local candidates.

Here is what I think it means to be a Democrat in Idaho, based on some of the points of the Creating Opportunity Plan put forth by our Democratic legislators here in Idaho:

• Prioritizing education so that our children and grandchildren have brighter futures and are more competitive in an increasingly global economy.
• Holding our government accountable so that we stop the crony capitalism that has resulted in recent scandals.
• Working to create policies that open more opportunities for our adults, and bringing in businesses. Our antiquated public finance system is one of only two remaining in the country, and it is restrictive to economic growth.
• Preserving our public lands so that we can enjoy the quality of life we are used to here in Idaho. We don’t need to exploit our resources; in the new economy, we should be focusing on highlighting the natural beauties of the state to attract more tourism and more people interested in a high quality of life.

Idaho Democrats believe that families and businesses can prosper together and that there is no reason to help businesses at the expense of our citizens. That’s the message we need to highlight.

Let’s Get Local

While we do want to get out there and support our presidential candidates, let’s not forget about our focus on Idaho and voting blue down ballot. Whoever wins the presidential election will need to deal with Congress, and if we don’t help get out the word about our values, and push for change here in Idaho, and who we send to Washington as our representatives, our lives won’t be that different. The following, an impassioned plea by journalist Michael Mooney, offers great insight into our local focus:

I attended the Democratic caucus March 22 and the turnout was amazing. The energy in the building was phenomenal. And this energy needs to continue right up to the November 8 Election.

Bernie Sanders tugs at my heart strings and I support much of what he advocates. But for all those who attended the caucus, in support of Bernie Sanders or Hillary Clinton, we need your energy and commitment to help elect Democrats at the Congressional level, as well as state legislature level.

Based on what is going on with the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid in Idaho, we cannot rely on the Republicans who represent us in Boise or Washington, D.C. to support legislation that is in the best interests of Idahoans, including increasing the minimumwage, health care coverage for those who need it most or affordable college tuition.

Republican members of Congress have voted at least 30 times to repeal Obamacare.   Do you really believe they will support universal health care? We need to elect a Congress that shares our beliefs and goals for the nation. That means electing as many Democrats as possible.

In Boise, we have a Republican Legislature that denies health-care coverage to 78,000 hard-working Idahoans. They won’t even discuss raising the minimum wage. We urge all those who attended the March 22 Caucus to work hard to elect state legislative candidates; candidates who share your commitment to bring about the change Idaho and the nation so desperately need.

We have three candidates who can benefit greatly from your help. In Legislative District 30 our candidate is Matt Dance. He can be reached at 208-360-7401. In Legislative District 33 we have two candidates. Jim De Angelis can be reached at 208-227-3132, and George Morrison can be reached at 208-520-3511.

If you want to stay up-to-date on happenings with the Bonneville County Democrats, including Pizza and Politics events, debate-watching parties, and committee planning meetings, visit our Facebook page and give us a like.

Miranda Marquit is a freelance financial journalist and money expert. She has a keen interest in politics and social justice and is excited to share news of interest to citizens in Bonneville County. Miranda enjoys reading, the outdoors and spending time with her son. She writes at Planting Money Seeds and Progressive Mormon Mom.

When Jim de Angelis says he will leave no one behind, he means it.

“It’s not about you, it’s about taking care of your people,” de Angelis said in a recent interview. “It’s about helping people; taking care of their basic needs. We’re leaving a lot of people behind – too many people – all for a rigid (right-wing) ideology.”

De Angelis, an Idaho Falls Democrat and U.S. Navy veteran, is seeking election to the Idaho House of Representatives. He hopes to defeat incumbent Republican Janet Trujillo in the race for Seat A in District 33.

The 25-year veteran began active duty as a Dental Officer in 1970. His duty stations included the Naval Hospital in Philadelphia; Naval Air Station, Brunswick, Maine; and NDC in Idaho Falls. He also served aboard the USS Simon Lake and USS Canopus.

De Angelis retired with the rank of Captain.

“Twenty-five years as a naval officer instilled in me leadership and management skills,” de Angelis said. “First lesson: Teamwork and caring for members of your command lead to mission accomplishment. Listening to other points of view, and communication both up and down the chain of command gave me a high respect for the lowest seaman to the chiefs, the real workhorses of the Navy.

“Second lesson: Never leave anyone behind. You don’t have to be a Navy Seal to realize that all the people under your command deserve to advance their careers, and that you fight on their behalf.”

Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., in 1944, de Angelis grew up in Queens Village, N.Y., and graduated from St. John’s University in 1966 with a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry. He went on to attend the University of Pennsylvania School of Dentistry, graduating in 1970 with a D.M.D. degree.

De Angelis and his wife, Lenorah, were married in 1977 and raised five children: Jeff, Michael, Chris, Jamie and Paul.

Can We Shake Things Up in Idaho?

This is the third time de Angelis is seeking office. He previously mounted two unsuccessful campaigns to win election to the Idaho House. Both times he was defeated by Linden Bateman, who decided not to seek re-election this year to Seat B in District 33.

But with fellow Democrat George Morrison running for Seat B, de Angelis decided to challenge Trujillo for Seat A.

De Angelis conceded he faces a daunting task in trying to oust Trujillo.

“She has an ‘R’ after her name and Idaho Falls is very conservative,” he said. “(But) this is a whacky (political) year.”

At the national level, pundits already have dubbed 2016 as the “Year of the Outsider.”

Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders and Republican businessman Donald Trump seemingly came out of nowhere to mount unlikely presidential campaigns that captured the hearts and minds of large portions of the electorate.

Change is in the political air and de Angelis hopes it will help propel him to an upset victory over incumbent Trujillo.

Closing the state’s so-called “Medicaid Gap” is at the heart of the de Angelis campaign.

So far, Idaho’s Republican leadership has refused to accept federal funding to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare.

According to the website, www.healthinsurance.org, the state’s refusal to expand the program has left tens of thousands of Idahoans – perhaps as many as 78,000 – in a health-care coverage gap.

“The tragedy of the Medicaid gap for 78,000 Idaho citizens goes completely against my principle of ‘never leave anyone behind,’” de Angelis said. “Rigid conservative politics, without concern for the health of so many people, is beyond comprehension.”

The Importance of Education in Idaho

But it’s not only the Medicaid gap that worries de Angelis. He contends Republican leaders in Idaho also are leaving behind many of the state’s children behind by continuing to underfund Idaho schools.

“We don’t have an educated workforce (to entice prospective employers),” he said. “We have one of the lowest college graduation rates in the country. Too many of our students are stuck in minimum-wage jobs. There’s got to be a better way.”

After retiring from the Navy, de Angelis attended Idaho State University, eventually graduating Summa Cum Laude in 1999 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology/Education.

For 10 years, de Angelis taught biology and zoology in Idaho falls School District 91, mainly at Idaho Falls High School. He retired from teaching in 2010.

“Ten years of teaching science in public high school re-emphasized the principle of ‘never leave Anyone Behind,’ he said. “I emphasized problem solving skills and critical thinking. My students were taught to stand on their own feet, and prepare themselves for real life.”

Education, de Angelis said, is the most important tool we can give Idaho children to help them achieve success in life.

“Preschool through college or technical school must be funded and staffed with the best personnel possible,” he said. “We cannot compete with surrounding states with the low starting (teacher) salary in place.”

In addition, de Angelis advocates containing and lowering college costs.

“An Idaho student loan program with low-interest rates could be established for our colleges. The burden of student debt today for our children is unbelievable,” he said.

Fighting for Equality

State GOP leaders also are leaving women behind, as well as members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender communities.

“Women,” de Angelis said, “must be treated as equals of men and be paid at equal pay levels. This glass ceiling must be broken for good.”

In addition, de Angelis said, “respect for all our citizens whether straight or LGBT should be an equal right. Separation of church and state is fundamental to our United States constitution. Freedom of religion does not give one the right to deny basic rights to all.”

Finally, de Angelis said he is excited about the increased level of political involvement in Democratic politics generated in Idaho and around the country this year thanks to the improbable presidential campaign of Bernie Sanders – especially among young people.

De Angelis hopes their enthusiasm and commitment to politics continues, even if Sanders does not win the nomination.

“What’s going to happen to these young voters? I’m hoping they stay politically involved,” de Angelis said. “They could be a huge factor in determining the winners of elections like mine. It will be interesting to see what happens – whether they will help us win – or if we lose, whether we will have narrowed the gap between Republicans and Democrats.”

The stakes, for Idaho and the nation, never have been higher, de Angelis said.

“We need a political revolution,” he said. “But can we put it into practice? Will they come out and vote?”

Candidate Contact Information

Here’s how to contact Jim de Angelis about his campaign for Seat A, Disctric 33:

Phone: (208)227-3232

Email: jim.deangelis9@gmail.com

Facebook: jim.deangelis9

Michael Mooney is a longtime journalist with 40 years of experience as a newspaper editor, reporter, and columnist. Mooney recently retired from the Idaho Falls-based Post Register, where he had served as the newspaper’s Assistant City Editor/Night Editor since September 2010. He previously worked for The Modesto Bee and Eureka Times-Standard, both California-based newspapers, as well as The Quad-City Times, based in Davenport, Iowa, and the Fort Dodge Messenger, another Iowa-based newspaper.

He attended Western Illinois University, and holds a Master’s degree in Mass Communications from Sangamon State University. The Springfield, Ill., campus today is part of the University of Illinois system.
Mooney was born in Chicago, Ill., and grew up on the city’s storied South Side. He cut his political teeth as a high school student volunteer for the insurgent 1968 presidential campaign of Sen. Eugene McCarthy.
At last month’s Bonneville County Democratic Caucus, he won election as a delegate pledged to Democrat presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders.

Mooney, his wife, Margaret Squires, and their three very pampered cats make their home in Idaho Falls.