Consuelo Zitkus – 5/13/1926 – 9/18/1998

[CO Liberal]

Today would have been my mother’s 78th birthday. She was a life-long Democrat, and the main reason I became and remain a Democrat.

When I was less than one year old, my family moved to Morris Township, NJ - a town that had so many Republicans, the local election board called my mother shortly after she registered to vote and BEGGED her to work at the polling place, because they were having trouble getting enough Democrats. She continued working the polls until she no longer could because of her health. Through her example, Mom taught me the importance of becoming involved.

While I was growing up, Mom was active with the local Democratic Committee, worked the party’s booth at the county fair, and even served on the committee that drafted Morris Township’s Master Plan. That plan is still in effect today, more than 30 years later. When Mom died, the Township Committee sent my family a letter of condolence and a copy of a proclamation they had approved marking Mom’s passing and recognizing her service to the community.

So Happy Birthday, Mom. I just wanted to tell everyone that I love you, I miss you, and I'm trying to follow in your Democratic footsteps. I'll be thinking of you as I serve as a delegate to Colorado's Democratic State Convention next weekend.

Wayne Zitkus
(CO Liberal)

[papau]

1. A Very Nice Mother's Day Thought - :-)

My own mother would be well into her 80's today - and she too was politically active - as a GOP partisan - and indeed in the 50's and 1960 as a GOP Election Judge in Illinois.

But the massive GOP voter fraud that was condoned by the higher ups in the party (they said Daley in Chicago was voting dead welfare folks, so it was ok for downstate - meaning outside of Cook County - to lose black/minority/union area ballot boxes - and to do the pencil mark disqualify move on "bad" (meaning a vote for JFK) ballots in other areas). So as ballot boxes showed up in the DesPlaines river during the spring floods, and as the Illinois Suppreme Court put to rest the GOP bad JFK vote game - rulling that the counter who had a pencil and made a stray mark on the ballot could not then set aside that ballot as a confused voter - intent not clear - do not count - ballot. I believe the Illinois Sup. Court Decision was in 1963. By then she had resign all GOP positions, including the election judge position she was to have for 1964, because of the racisism and corruption that was in the GOP party.

It was sad because she still believed in strong military, and in what she thought was the GOP mantra -small government in order to protect rights, along with no deficits passing a burden onto future generations - but she said it was VERY easy to vote Dem post Reagan!

Like your situation with your mom - - my mom's caring about politics because she cared about what her grandkids would face has always been an inspiration to me!

:toast:

:-)

[CO Liberal]

4. Those Of Us Who Are Parents....

...need to inspire our children. I've tried to get my kids interested in politics, so they can have some control over the world around them.

[xchrom]

2. excellent remembrance.

thanks.

[CO Liberal]

3. Mid-Day Kick For Mom

:kick: