Democrats celebrate GV opening

GREEN VALLEY--Happy Democrats may be something of an anomaly in conservative Green Valley, but happy they were at a special grand opening of their local headquarters Tuesday afternoon.

Under the energetic direction of Claire Coom, they belted out songs like "Anchors Aweigh," "When the Caissons Go Rolling Along" and that Democratic Party anthem "Happy Days Are Here Again."

But because the election is still eight weeks away, the singers changed the words to "Happy Days Will Be Here Again."

More than 120 party faithful lunched, sang, mingled with and listened to candidates and were encouraged to find other potential voters for the Nov. 2 national elections.

Party members had encouraging words about the Kerry-Edwards ticket and had some discouraging words about the Bush-Cheney ticket.

Talking about what the increasing deficit under President Bush may mean for the country, Victoria Sikora said she worries "when I'm thinking about our grandchildren."

Figures out this week showed the federal deficit was more than $436 billion dollars with a month left to go in the government's fiscal year.

Throughout the meeting room on the second floor of the Continental Shopping Plaza there were signs and placards.

At the registration desk there was a sign saying "Give Bush the Boot," next to a boot stuffed with dollar bills.

Another woman, Nancy Dorian, said the turnout "Shows there are some Democrats in Green Valley."

"We're not giving in," said Peggy Pierce who was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in Boston in July.

When the audience was asked "Who went to the [John] Edwards rally in Tucson yesterday," Pierce and about a fourth of those at the party raise their hands.

A national Democratic Party field representative Paul Vizcaino said the Tucson rally was the biggest nationwide so far for Edwards during the presidential campaign.

He said one Edwards' rally during the primaries was larger and that was in Edwards' home state, North Carolina.

Among the candidates speaking were Eva Bacal for the U.S. Congressional District No. 8 seat, and Nina Trasoff and Mark Manoil, Democrats for the state Corporation Commission.

jlamb@gvnews.com | 625-5511 x 27