Mendocino Coast Progressive Action Network

11/08/2024

I, like you, am immensely sad and frustrated.

But, regardless of who was elected, the work, to me, is the same: Hyper-local, sustained, multi-issue, platform-based, Saul Alinksy-inspired direct action organizing. Strategically-planned organizing for the long-haul that simultaneously and continuously engages the populace on issues that are important to them, holds elected officials accountable, and holistically cultivates a pipeline of candidates for the future.

I’ve long believed such organizing is critical to effectively building the power necessary to demand a fair and just future - one that will benefit everyone and everything - which is why I started the organizing project I ultimately called MCPAN.

Now I see it as urgently critical to fighting disinformation and rebuilding the foundation necessary to reclaim fair and just power at the higher levels.

And with this last election, hyper-local organizing may, ultimately, be the only way forward.

I am looking to continue that work in the Seattle region, where I now reside, so if anyone on the Mendo Coast wants to talk to me about taking over MCPAN, including my database, logos/graphic design, website, and this page, please message me. If no one is interested, I will unpublish this page. No need for more inactive page internet detritus.

Onward,
Scott Menzies

[Image is from the Midwest Academy’s manual, Organizing for Social Change, Fourth Edition]

10/18/2022

Results for Mendocino Coast Health Care District candidates' responses now published. Only Lee Finney and James Jade Tippett responded to the Progressive Values Candidate Questionnaire, which included questions on Reproductive Rights and Medicare for All. Tess Albin-Smith (write-in!) and Mary Rose Kaczorowski are the MCPAN slate for Fort Bragg City Council, as they were also the only two willing to share their positions on Reproductive Rights, Medicare for All, Ranked Choice Voting, Local Independent Business, and MAGA Extremism/White Supremacy. See all their responses and further information, here:

This is a collaboration with the California Progressive Alliance (californiaprogressivealliance.org) and state- and national-level single-issue organizations to come up with a questionnaire that will be provided to all candidates for local office.

10/15/2022

Bullet Vote Mary Rose and Tess for Fort Bragg City Council.

Why this slate?
https://www.mcpan.net/post/bullet-vote-mary-rose-and-tess
Why Bullet Vote?
https://www.mcpan.net/post/why-bullet-vote

Because of how our Fort Bragg voting system (at-large multi-seat plurality) works, it's possible for a candidate that nobody really cares about to collect more votes than the candidates that voters really do care about. ...meaning that it's possible for someone nobody really wanted to get into offic...

10/14/2022

With the City Council part of the Progressive Values Candidate Questionnaire mostly wrapped up, I decided there was time to expand the questionnaire to the Mendocino Coast Health Care District race, where three full-term seats are open.

10/10/2022

News releases sent to local media!

10/09/2022

Read the results. Vote in the RCV Straw Poll.

Read their answers and help decide a slate for MCPAN to promote! As soon as possible, vote in the Ranked-Choice Voting Straw Poll (https://forms.gle/CyEFVS5ZW5ufJ9R87). Note that Alberto Aldaco has allegedly dropped out, but will remain on the ballot, so his name remains in the straw poll.

10/06/2022

Let's grow a local progressive movement! (Using a stencil to repurpose old campaign signs for MCPAN.NET.) Progressive Values Questionnaires were sent to all the Fort Bragg City Council candidates. Depending on the results, look for MCPAN.NET to be promoting a slate of progressive candidates.

10/05/2022

Pushing for Progressive leadership in Fort Bragg City Council. Tess Albin-Smith (incumbent) and Mary Rose Kaczorowski are the only two of eleven candidates to answer the Progressive Values Candidate Questionnaire, all responses/non-responses to be published on October 9th, 2022:

Candidates Tess Albin-Smith (incumbent) and Mary Rose Kaczorowski responded in full to the Progressive Values Questionnaire the same day they received it (a week ago). None of the other candidates have responded at all. (See the full list of eleven candidates below.)