Tamales in Napa Valley?

Thanks to Matt Pope, President of the Democrats of Napa Valley, for this wrap-up of their recent event.

Yountville Community Center, Yountville CA: On Saturday March 24, 2007, the Napa County Democratic Central Committee and the Democrats of Napa Valley launched their Inaugural Tamale Dinner to rave reviews!

In a season typically known for crab feeds, Napa County Democrats looked to shake things up a bit by serving up authentic handmade tamales. The tamales were expertly prepared by the El Capricho Association whose mission is to benefit their namesake community in Mexico that has been hit by hard times in recent years.

The keynote speaker was none other than California Democratic Party Chair Senator Art Torres (Ret.), who rallied the crowd with an impassioned speech about the importance of Democratic values and California’s new February primary – a positive step towards allowing greater diversity in the selection of the next president of the United States.  Chairman Torres challenged the group of grassroots Democratic activists present by pledging a four dollar ‘bounty’ for each newly registered Democrat the group can sign up.

The Tamale Dinner was a tribute to the Democratic Party’s tradition of inclusion and was a celebration of the heritage and contributions of Latinos in the Napa Valley.

Included among the honored guests were Napa Valley’s Latino elected officials including Mayor of American Canyon Leon Garcia, Calistoga City Councilmember Placido Garcia, Napa Valley Unified School District board members Frances Ortiz-Chavez and Jose Hurtado, and St. Helena Unified School District Member Ines DeLuna-Macias. The Napa County Democrats were also honored by a large contingency from the Veteran’s Home in Yountville as well as students from Napa Valley College.

Gifts of wine baskets and a shirt autographed by Chairman Torres were raffled off to the crowd.

The Tamale Dinner proved to be a great success not only in terms of raising funds for grassroots Napa County Democrats, but also in providing a fun night full of great food, great speakers and a celebration of family, diversity and Democratic values in the Napa Valley.