On Sunday, February 10, Democrats from Alna, Dresden, Westport Island, and Wiscasset will gather at the Wiscasset Middle School in Wiscasset at 3:30 p.m. to vote for their presidential preferences, select delegates to the Maine Democratic Convention, elect Democratic town officers, and representatives to the Lincoln County Democratic Committee.

Democrats from Bremen, Bristol, Damariscotta, Edgecomb, Newcastle, Nobleboro, and South Bristol will gather at the Great Salt Bay School, in Damariscotta at l p.m.

Preparation for the caucuses, including local pre-caucus publicity and coordination of the caucus itself, is the work of local caucus convenors. These are Democrats in each town who volunteer their time and energy to ensure that participants have a well-organized, effectively-run caucus through which they can advocate for their chosen candidates.

Dresden's caucus convenor, Tim Nason, is well known to Lincoln County Democrats as the Chair of the Lincoln County Democratic Committee. Under Tim's leadership, LCDC has grown and become an active player in the Maine Democratic political scene. Visiting political leaders have given LCDC kudos as one of the most active and committed county Democratic organizations in the state. Tim became involved in Maine's Democratic politics during the 2004 election, serving as Corresponding Secretary under chairs Barbara Burt of Newcastle and Betsy Wooster of Waldoboro. In 2006, he was elected chair with the goal of encouraging volunteers in every town to join the committee's year-round effort.

Tim has lived in Maine since 1972, and has been a self-employed graphic designer for many years, designing publications for the Town of Dresden and the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association, among other organizations and businesses. Working on graphic design from his home on an old farm, where he and his wife Susan Leiter tend a large garden and a few farm animals, Tim devotes his spare time to volunteer work. "For me, volunteering and graphic design are all part of public service," Tim reports, "which is what really interests me. It's very gratifying to work with groups of people who share similar goals. My job, as a graphics person and a volunteer, is to help a group achieve its goals." Tim is a past chair of Friends of Merrymeeting Bay, has served as president of the Dresden Historical Society, and is currently chair of the Dresden Conservation Commission.

Nason encourages as much participation in the 2008 caucuses as possible. "Many people think of politics as a once-every-two-year vote," he says, "but it's really about individuals working together to influence policies. Political involvement is problem-solving on a community level. People can affect substantial change, especially on the local, county and state levels, if they get involved. The caucuses are a great place to start."

Damariscotta's convenor, Mike Herz moved to Maine in 1991. In 2004, he became Chair of the Alna Democratic Committee. Under his leadership, the Alna Town Committee became energized and committed. In 2006, Mike was elected to the Maine Democratic Committee.

Mike and his wife, Kate Josephs, recently moved to Damariscotta, where Mike has taken on the responsibility of serving as the Damariscotta Democratic Caucus Convenor. In January, Mike and Kate were covered by an article in the Bangor Daily News on their work as canvassers for John Edwards in New Hampshire. In the article, Mike is reported as saying, "It's been really very, very gratifying to be a part of this,"…"This is really the political process at its best."

Mike has been a research scientist and environmental activist for more than 40 years. He co-founded and was Executive Director of the San Francisco chapter of the Oceanic Society, and served as Executive Vice-President of the national organization during which time he established local chapters in Seattle, Los Angeles and San Diego. In California, he also founded the San Francisco Baykeepers. As San Francisco Baykeeper, he successfully sued numerous major polluters under the citizen suit provision of the Clean Water Act. He was a member of the Alaska Oil Spill Commission and has served with a number of government organizations including the National Research Council, the Department of Interior and the State of California Technical Advisory Committee. Mike is the U.S. Chair of Friends of The Earth.

Democrats from Jefferson, Somerville and Whitefield will hold their caucuses at the Whitefield School in Whitefield at 2 p.m. Democrats from Boothbay, Boothbay Harbor and Southport will caucus at American Legion Post #36 in Boothbay at 2:30 p.m. Waldoboro Democrats will caucus at the Miller School at 3 p.m.

To learn more about the Lincoln County Democratic caucuses and the work of the Lincoln County Democratic Committee, call: Tim Nason, Chair, 737-8278 or e-mail: timn a son@gwi.net . Contact information for all Democratic caucus conveners in Lincoln County is posted on the LCDC Web site at: www.lincoln countydemocrats.com .