November 10, 2016 (San Diego's East County) -- Some dressed in white, paying silient homage to the woman's suffrage movement, as they cast their votes for the first woman president.  But Election Day soon became a nightmare for supporters of Hillary Clinton,  despite weeks of walking precincts and phone-banking voters across the country for their candidate, when news broke of Donald Trump's victory.

Photo, left, by Devorah Fox:  Clinton supporter Debbie Boyd speaks with a local newscaster. (Click "read more" to view more photos.)

By Juwan Armstrong and Miriam Raftery

July 18, 2015 (El Cajon) --Representatives from Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign spoke at the East County Democratic Club last Thursday at MJ’s Family Restaurant in El Cajon, seeking to fire up local support.

 A former Secretary of State, First Lady and Senator, Clinton is focusing her campaign vision on four goals: building an economy for tomorrow, strengthening America’s families, defending America and our core values, and revitalizing our democracy.

Patrick Alexander, JD, added that one of the most important issues in the campaign will be the appointment of up to four Supreme Court Justices that the next president could make – appointments that could shape the high court for the next half century and impact rulings significant for women's rights, voting rights, minority rights, labor, the environment, the enviroment and more. 

July 13, 2014 (La Mesa)—Farouk Al-Nasser, PhD, will speak on the current conflicts in the Middle East at a meeting of the East County Democratic Club on Thursday, July 17.  The event will be held at Coco’s Restaurant, 1025 Fletcher Parkway in El Cajon with dinner (available for purchase) and socializing at 6 p.m. and the program at 7 p.m.   The meeting is free.

February 18, 2014 (El Cajon)- - Francine Busby, Chair of the San Diego Democratic Party and Executive Director of Run Women Run, an organization that recruits progressive women to run for political office, will be speaking at the East County Democratic Club meeting on February 20 at 7 p.m.  

May 2, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) -- Susan Conniry, a director of the Lakeside Fire District, is the speaker at the May 16 meeting of the East County Democratic Club.  She will address issues related to her work on the board, including fire prevention. The club meets at 7 p.m. at Coco’s Restaurant, 1025 Fletcher Parkway, El Cajon.

Conniry and her husband, Tom Beasley, are Cedar Fire survivors because they were prepared for the worst. Well-versed in matters of fire prevention, the couple have trained hundreds of San Diego County residents through a disaster preparedness program entitled, “Ready or Not.” Training has beendone in partnership with local fire departments, fire safe councils, and CERT groups. In 2006,  the couple authored a handbook, Ready or Not – A Disaster Survival Handbook. 

Update: A memorial service is scheduled for January 5 in El Cajon. Details below.

December 27, 2012 (El Cajon) -- East County Democratic Club co-president John Martes passed after a year-long battle with lung cancer last night at his home in El Cajon. His wife of 40 years, Gloria Martes, and two daughters, Natalie and Leslie, were at his side.

 An accountant/controller at John A. Martes and Associates educated at the University of San Diego, Martes twice ran for the Cajon Valley School District Board and was also a candidate for the El Cajon City Council. 

August 31, 2012 (El Cajon)--California State Ballot Propositions 30 through 40 will be discussed at the East County Democratic Club Meeting on at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 20, 2012. 

The main speaker will be Eric Banks, immediate past-president of SEIU Local 221, who will be addressing issues embedded in Proposition 32, focusing on the questionable issue of "paycheck protection" and sharing information about his public employee union.  Diane Cates, a new member of the SEIU Executive Board will be in attendance and adding her insights.  ECDC President John Martes and his wife Gloria will be presenting information about the other propositions.  Also local Propositions C,D,G,and V, which are bond issues for public education, will  be addressed. 

April 9, 2012 (El Cajon) -- The East County Democratic Club will have two speakers focused on El Cajon at its meeting at 7 p.m. on April 19 at Coco’s Restaurant, 1025 Fletcher Parkway, El Cajon. 

Simon Mayeski, board member of Common Cause, a citizen's watchdog organization committed to holding government officials accountable, will discuss his perspective on El Cajon's city government and its lack of representation of the many resident ethnic groups and women.  Ray Lutz, National Director and founder of Citizens Oversight Project Committee (COPS), which acts as a governmental watchdog and helps empower local citizens to make changes in their community, will report his observations of significant events at recent City Council meetings.

June 15, 2011 (El Cajon) – Laura Cyphert, a Cedar Fire survivor who co-founded the East County Community Action Coalition along with her husband, Milt, will provide an update on the legal battle against Sunrise Powerlink on Thursday, June 16 from 7-8:45 p.m.