Richard Shoemaker

Richard Shoemaker

Template:TOCnestleft Richard Shoemaker is a socialist and a former United Auto Workers official from Michigan.

Saluting Democratic Left

UAW leaders Stephen Yokich (President), Ruben Burks (Sec-Treasurer), and Vice Presidents Elizabeth Bunn, Ron Gettelfinger, Nate Gooden, Bob King and Richard Shoemaker, placed an advertisement in Democratic Socialists of America's Democratic Left, Winter 2001, "The men and women of International Union, UAW salute Democratic Left - A strong voice for social and economic justice".

Democratic Socialists of America connections

In 2003 UAW International Vice President Dick Shoemaker, was describedas a DSA member and awards presenter, at the Democratic Socialists of America national convention in Detroit.

In June 2006 Bonior addresseda Detroit DSA fund-raiser for Bernie Sanders.

On June 25th, DSA PAC held a fundraising reception at UAW Local 909 in Warren on behalf of Representative Bernie Sanders who is running for an open Senate seat in Vermont. Over 140 people attended. The event raised over $12,000 for the Sanders for Senate campaign. Hosts for the event included former U.S. Representative and former House Minority Whip David Bonior, U.S. Representative John Conyers, Jr., UAW Vice-President Richard Shoemaker, and Metropolitan Detroit AFL-CIO President Saundra Williams.

Democratic Socialists of America member

In 2006 Richard Shoemaker, Michigan, donated $250 to the Democratic Socialists of America Political Action Committee. According to DSA's Democratic Left Spring 2006,

"DSA has formed a Political Action Committee—Democratic Socialists of America PAC (DSA PAC), which will raise funds to enable activity that supports or opposes candidates for federal office. By law, DSA is not permitted to expend its resources in support of or against candidates in partisan elections; however, DSA is permitted to form a PAC for this purpose...

...Only DSA members in good standing may contribute to the PAC. Because the law is so specific, all contributions are carefully screened to make sure that they are from members."

2007 Frederick Douglass-Eugene V. Debs Dinner

Over 250 people attended the Greater Detroit Democratic Socialists of America 2007 Frederick Douglass-Eugene V. Debs Dinner held at UAW Local 600 in Dearborn on Saturday, November 17. The dinner honored State Representative Alma Wheeler Smith and American Federation of Teachers-Michigan President David Hecker. Michigan State AFL-CIO President Mark Gaffney delivered the keynote address—a PowerPoint presentation on the threat of Right-to-Work (for less) legislation in Michigan. The dinner co-chairs were Metropolitan Detroit AFL-CIO President Saundra Williams and retired UAW Vice-President Richard Shoemaker. The Bill Meyer Group provided entertainment.

David Hecker captured the mood of the evening in his acceptance speech:

Alice and I are proud lifetime members of DSA and have been so for about the past twenty years.We both go back to the days of the Democratic Socialist Organizing Committee (DSOC). I realize merger with the New American Movement (NAM) some twenty-five years ago demanded a name change, but I much prefer the name DSOC. Why? Because it says ‘Organizing Committee.’ Our ability tobe effective is based on our power. We build power through organizing. You all know that. You do it every day. In fact, if Ethel Schwartz, Selma Goode, and Helen Samberg haven’t talked with you tonight and persuaded twenty of you to attend yet another event, I would be disappointed..."

Democratic Party Super Delegates

In February 2008 Michigan Democratic Party Super Delegates were;[

Charles Brown Mon, 25 Feb 2008

• John D. Cherry, Lt. Governor
• Rep. John D. Dingell, U.S. Congressman, 15th District
• Joel Ferguson, at-large member of the DNC, businessman, member of MSU Board of Trustees
• Dale Kildee, U.S. Congressman, 5th District
• Sander Levin, U.S. Congressman, 12th District
• Mark Schauer, State Senator, 19th District
• Debbie Stabenow, U.S. Senator
• John Conyers, U.S. Congressman, 14th District
• Arthenia Abbott, Vice Chair, Michigan Democratic Party
• Lu Battaglieri, President of Michigan Education Association, union representing retired teachers and education employees
• Mark Brewer, Chair, Michigan Democratic Party, Vice Chair, Democratic National Committee
• Elizabeth Bunn, UAW Secretary-Treasurer
• Eric Coleman, County Commissioner of Oakland County, 23rd District
• Debbie Dingell, WSU Board of Governors, senior executive at General Motors
• Robert Ficano, Wayne County Executive
• Jennifer Granholm, Governor
• Kwame Kilpatrick, Mayor, City of Detroit
• Carolyn Kilpatrick, U.S. Congresswoman, 13th District
• Joyce Lalonde, Board of Directors, National Education Association
• Carl Levin, U.S. Senator
• Jeffrey Radjewski, business and finance manager of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW)
• Virgie Rollins, regional director, National Federation of Democratic Women, Chair, Democratic National Committee Black Caucus
• Richard Shoemaker, UAW Vice President
• Bart Stupak, U.S. Congressman, 1st District
• Michael Tardiff, DNC
• Richard N. Wiener, attorney and former Granholm staffer
• Lauren Wolfe, President of the College Democrats of America, she is attending law school in Detroit.

Michigan Medicare event

Michigan Alliance to Strengthen Social Security and Medicare presented “Health Care for All,” a forum on Rep. John Conyers, Jr.’s U.S. National Health Insurance Act (HR 676) featuring Marilyn Clement (National Coordinator for Health Care NOW), Olivia Boykins (Special Assistant to Representative John Conyers, Jr.), and Democratic Socialists of America member Richard Shoemaker (retired UAW Vice-President and former director of the UAW General Motors Department and UAW Community Action Program) and moderated by Metro AFL-CIO President Saundra Williams—Tuesday, May 1, 2007 at International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 58 (1358 Abbott Street, Detroit). Contact for the event was Democratic Socialists of America member Maurice Geary.

References

Template:Reflist