Democratic Women's Caucus installs 2014 officers, hears guest speakers

The Richland County Democratic Women’s Caucus (RCDWC) installed their 2014 officers Monday evening in Mansfield before listening to presentations from Liz Walters, Executive Director of the Ohio Democratic Party and Samantha Peko, an activist opposing House Bill 203.

The RCDWC officers installed for 2014 were Brenda Baker, President; Vickie Eichoff, First Vice President; Joann Mudra, Treasurer; and Carol Liles, Secretary.

Guest speaker Samantha Peko is currently working with Mansfield Attorney Eric Miller to raise awareness and gain opposition to House Bill 203.

The bill is commonly known as Ohio’s “Stand Your Ground Law.” House Bill 203 is a bill to amend sections 9.68, 109.69, 109.731, 109.85, 109.86, 311.41, 311.42, 2901.09, 2917.11, 2917.31, 2923.11, 2923.125, 2923.1213, 2923.13, and 2923.14 and to repeal sections 2923.1210 and 2923.22 of the Revised Code to modify concealed handgun law; to permit investigators employed by the Attorney General to investigate Medicaid fraud to go armed in the same manner as sheriffs and regularly appointed police officers; to expand the locations at which a person has no duty to retreat before using force in self-defense; and to provide that the exercise of a constitutional or statutory right is not, in itself, the offense of disorderly conduct or inducing panic and does not constitute reasonable, articulable suspicion of criminal activity.

“I am going to ask for your help in stopping this law from passing, because I believe it will encourage unnecessary violence,” said Peko, “I think that current Ohio law gives an ample, reasonable amount of protection to those who use deadly force in self-defense. However, if you are in a situation where you can safely remove yourself prior to using deadly force, you should do so.”

Peko stated that current Ohio law allows for the use of deadly force in self-defense with no duty to retreat from your home or vehicle, but that the proposed “Stand Your Ground” law, House Bill 203, will allow for the use of deadly force in self-defense in any place a person has a lawful right to be.

“I argue that ‘Stand Your Ground’ is not about self-defense, but goes beyond reasonable limitations and allows for deadly force to be used in situations where it could have been avoided,” added Peko. “The problem with ‘Stand Your Ground’ is that it is hard to say what feeling threatened really means.”

Following Peko’s address, a presentation was made by Liz Walters, Executive Director of the Ohio Democratic Party titled “Let’s Win in 2014.”

Walters discussed polls, demographics, and the Democratic Party candidates for upcoming elections.

“I think how we’re going to win is our proven effective field operation. The Ohio Democratic Party, more than any other national committee in the country, has a reputation for building a good field program, messaging effectively, neighbor to neighbor, grass roots on the ground, and that’s because of everyone in this room,” Walters said, praising the attendees.

Walters stressed the importance of voter contact in both large and small elections. “On a municipal election, we did over half a million voter contacts.”

More information about RCDWC may be found at their Facebook page, or at the Richland County Democratic Party website.