While Fountain Hills Democratic Club held a number of informal gatherings over the summer, the new organization started meeting in earnest Sept. 14.

The inaugural meeting brought more than 120 people to the Community Center to begin what will be a full season of meetings, special events and projects.

Dave Long, a precinct committee member in Fountain Hills, chaired the meeting. He and Naomi Matusow have co-chaired the club; elections for permanent officers will be held in November.

The Democratic Club has a long history in Fountain Hills, but it has been quiet up until the past year. The original club was founded in 1997 and disbanded in 2007.

A small group of women began meeting in living rooms around the community some six or seven years ago. The Liberal Ladies began as a group of three women and has grown to more than 550 members who have been meeting at Eagle Mountain Golf Course.

The membership has outgrown Eagle Mountain and will start meeting at the Community Center in November. Their last meeting at Eagle Mountain is set for Wednesday, Oct. 11.

Long said as the Liberal Ladies group started growing, a group for men formed. The Progressive Men meet at various venues in Fountain Hills.

The Democratic Club will not replace the two other organizations but rather serve as another avenue to work together to improve politics in Fountain Hills and in the state, according to organizers.

“A lot of Democrats are talking back,” said Cindy Couture, a member of the Liberal Ladies and the Democratic Club. “We are not hiding in the Hills. We are not just a Republican town anymore.”

Through the months of organization, the Democratic Club has been active in a number of activities and events happening in the state.

Members of Liberal Ladies attended the Women’s March in Phoenix after the November 2016 presidential election and joined other local Democrats to protest President Donald Trump’s rally in Phoenix in August.

A mission statement was drawn up, stating “the mission of the Fountain Hills Democratic Club is to promote the Democratic community in Fountain Hills; to support Democratic values, goals and activities; and to encourage and support Democratic candidates."

Membership dues are $20 for a year. The group plans to participate in activities such as “Adopt-a-Street,” Make a Difference Day and other community events.

“We want to make this a worthy and exciting club,” said membership chair Naomi Lerman during the September meeting. “Becoming a member now will give you two extra months.”

There currently are 85 paid members and more than 200 people on the mailing list.

During the meeting, members discussed Town of Fountain Hills issues they want to see addressed including the proposed lagoon and complaints from citizens that go unanswered.

“There has been a lot of secretive, under-the-table activity in the town council,” Couture said. “We want issues acknowledged and addressed.”

The group also discussed the proposal for the town to provide the Chamber of Commerce with space to open a tourism office at Park Place.

The club also opposes Proposition 305 on school vouchers. Legislative District 23 gathered more signatures than any other district in the state to get the proposition on the ballot.

Bob Thomson, who sits on the Sanitary District, encouraged attendees to retain the two incumbents running for open seats on the district board.

“The two incumbents have 45 years of experience in waste water issues,” Thomson said. “The two opponents have none.”

Thomson pointed out that the two opponents, Tony Finocchio and Scott Sommer, belong to the same Rotary Club as Councilman Art Tolis. District incumbents are Gregg Dudash and Thomas Reski.

“Connect the dots,” Thomson said. “There is just too much coincidence. The two can make a difference to the lagoon proposal.”

The Democratic Club’s stand on the lagoon is in opposition to the proposal.

“The way the proposal came about was not done properly,” Long said. “A councilman told the mayor about his idea. The mayor encouraged him to run with it, which he did.”

Club member Jim Dickey also spoke to the audience in support of the Fountain Hills Unified School District’s upcoming M&O override election.

“The election isn’t until Nov. 7, but ballots go out Oct. 11,” Dickey said. “By supporting the override now, the early money helps us campaign to get it passed.”

LD 23 Chair Brion Neely and Maricopa County Democratic Party Chair Steven Slugocki addressed the membership and lauded Fountain Hills Democrats for organizing and becoming active so quickly.

“The state is changing,” said Neely. “Adrian Fontes and Paul Penzone were recently elected, ending one-party rule over their positions for years.”

Slugocki, the youngest county party chair in the country, said Maricopa County is the fourth largest county in the country, containing 64 percent of the voting population in the state.

“You have to win Maricopa County to win a state election,” he said.

The club’s next meeting is set for Thursday, Oct. 12, when FHUSD officials speak about the district override.

The club elections are set for Nov. 9, and gubernatorial candidate David Garcia will speak.

A holiday party with LD23 Democrats will be held Dec. 15.

Another Democratic candidate for governor, Steve Farley, will appear at a Democratic Club meeting after the first of the year.