Redlands Tea Party Surges Toward Election Day

ALL>> More than 150 people packed the Mill Creek Cattle Co. in Mentone on Oct. 6 as the Redlands Tea Party Patriots made battle plans for Election Day. “This country will never be great again if we don’t get out the vote,” warned Woody Woodrum, the California volunteer coordinator for the Donald Trump campaign. “This is an election of a lifetime.” Woodrum said more than 100,000 Californians have volunteered for the Trump campaign, whether that’s knocking on doors in Nevada or phone banking from California. The Oct. 6 meeting was one of two October events the Redlands Tea Party Patriots are using as forums to mobilize voters and volunteers before Election Day. On Thursday, Oct. 13, Trevor Loudon will return to discuss his new movie, “Enemies Within,” based on his 2015 book of the same name. Loudon, a fiery speaker and favorite among conservative groups nationwide, will discuss the 2016 elections during his Inland Empire premier. “Enemies Within” asks whether Democrat nominee Hillary Clinton would qualify for a security clearance. It also documents connections between American progressives and international communist and Islamic organizations. That meeting begins at 7 p.m. and is free and open to the public. Advance tickets, however, are recommend through EventBrite. You can also buy a tickets to a VIP dinner with Loudon for $40 a person or $70 a couple. The Oct. 6 meeting, however, focused on how audience members could help conservatives up and down the ballot. Speakers included office holders and candidates– as well as tea party favorite Tim Donnelly. “The single most important thing you can do is pray,” said Donnelly, a former candidate for the U.S. Congress and California governor. “We need a spiritual revival and political revolution in 2016.” Paul Chabot is challenging Rep. Pete Aguilar for Congressional District 31, which includes much of the Inland Empire from Rancho Cucamonga to Redlands. “America is in a world of trouble,” said Chabot, a military intelligence officer in the US Naval Reserve. “We cannot let up.” Other candidates included Ken Hunter and Andy Hoder, both challenging incumbents Pat Gilbreath and John James on the Redlands City Council. Unlike the incumbents, the challengers oppose the Rail to Redlands project and the recent 55 percent increase in water and sewer rates. Cheryl Benton, the Inland Empire director for the Election Integrity Project, spoke about trying to keep our elections fair and honest by citizens observing the process. She asked for volunteers. Warning from Sacramento State assemblyman Jay Obernolte from Big Bear Lake, discussed the 2016 Legislature. “Every year, the Democrats attempt to attack Proposition 13,” Obernolte said about the 1978 initiative restricting property tax increases. “We were able to stop that in the Assembly.” Obernolte, vice chair on the powerful budget committee, said Republicans saved taxpayers billions of dollars this year. Obernolte warned that Democrats may get their taxes if they gain a two-thirds majority in the state Assembly and Senate. Democrats need one more member in the Senate, and in the Assembly, to reach a “supermajority,” which would allow Democrats to raise taxes at will. “We are under siege,” Obernolte said. “The Democrats want these seats.” Obernolte said Democrats want to replace state Rep. Marc Steinorth, whose Assembly District 40 includes much of the Inland Empire. Volunteer outreach Throughout the night, emcees Greg Brittain and Carolyn Hays brought up speakers who discussed several volunteer options: • Phone banking. Brittain discussed the “Calling for Victory” program, which meant volunteers making calls for State Sen. Mike Morrell as well as Chabot and Steinorth. The program includes making calls into swing states for Trump. The phone banking occurs every Tuesday and Saturday. • Canvassing. Ground game director John Berry said volunteers have already placed more than 12,000 voter guides at homes in Redlands, Loma Linda, Mentone, Rialto and Upland this year. • Volunteer booths. Cabinet member Jackie Siefferman said volunteers staff a booth every Saturday and Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Stater Bros. parking lot at Bryant Street and Oak Glen Road in Yucaipa. She said volunteers sell Trump t-shirts as well as registering voters, distributing voter guides and talking Trump. Impact “This is a very active, patriotic group,” Woodrum said afterward. “You’ve made a huge impact.” To volunteer for the Trump campaign, click Donald Trump California Volunteers. To volunteer with the Redlands Tea Party Patriots to help local candidates, email Cabinet@RedlandsTeaParty.net or go to www.ElectionIntegrityProject.com for helping the EIP project. The Redlands Tea Party Patriots customarily meets at the Mill Creek Cattle Co., 1874 Mentone Blvd., in Mentone on the first Thursday of each month. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the two-hour meetings begin at 7 p.m. The meetings are free and open to the public. More information is available at their website www.RedlandsTeaParty.net. Please visit their social media pages at FB: https://www.facebook.com/groups/RedlandsTeaPartyPatriots/ Twitter: @RedlandsTParty