Happy Holidays!

I hope all of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving and that the remainder of your holiday season is joyful. This has been quite a year for Democrats. President Biden has been moving forward on a number of important fronts:

• As of November 23rd, 195 million Americans - 59% of the total population - had been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. As one would expect, Democrats are leading the way: 92% are vaccinated, compared to 68% of Independents and 56% of Republicans.

• Democrats passed the American Rescue Plan, putting money directly into people’s bank accounts and expanding the Child Tax Credit, along with many other programs.

• Democrats, with the help of some Republicans, passed the Infrastructure Bill.

• The US House passed the Build Back Better Bill. Now it is up to Democrats in the Senate to get it done.

Locally:

• We elected Maureen Copelof Mayor of Brevard, re-elected Mac Morrow, and elected Aaron Baker to City Council. Kudos to our volunteers (over 40) who made 2,100 phone calls, mailed 2,500 postcards, and sent over 400 texts to get out the vote. It worked: turnout doubled from 2019 municipal elections!

• We continue to raise funds and prepare for the midterms.

• We have run ads continuously in the online edition of the Transylvania Times. We have also started advertising on Facebook and Google.

• Our new Third Vice Chair, has taken our social media presence to new heights.

In closing: we are a team — a family really. We care about our country, our community, and our future. It shows. I am PROUD TO BE A TRANSYLVANIA DEMOCRAT!

- Sam Edney, Chair, Transylvania County Democratic Party