It’s election season, and this year’s cylce is among the most exciting in years, if not decades. Democrats in the SCV may be a minority, but they’ve taken advantage of the excitement. Let’s see what they’ve been up to lately.

Joyce Evans, a local activist, reports that a voter registration booth at the mall recently registered 86 new Democrats in one weekend, including several Republicans who switched sides.

The grandmother and businesswoman says, “We have never had a weekend like that anywhere,” and attributes the high numbers to a great location and excitement over record breaking Democratic turnout in Iowa and New Hampshire.

Since August, Evans says, Democratic volunteers in the mall have registered an additional 513 SCV Democrats, 11% of whom were registered as Republicans before.

The Democratic Alliance for Action manages the registration drives and will also host another presidential straw poll on January 24 at 7pm at their regular Vincenzo’s meeting.

The group is also encouraging interested residents to submit an application to become a poll worker in California’s February 5 primary. Evans says it’s long hours (roughly 6am to 9pm) but “a lot of fun” and can pay up to $105 though Evans says “we don’t do it for the money.” Apply at LAVote.Net.

Also in national-meets-local political news, SCV Young Democrat’s Minverva Williams would like to see local Barack Obama supporters help with two phone drives to encourage voters to support the Junior Senator from Illinois prior to Super Tuesday. Those events take place on January 14 and January 21 in the SFV after work hours. Contact Williams at the group’s website.

Finally, local Democrats have all but endorsed two candidates for City Council. The DAA and SCV Young Dems both support Planning Commissioner Diane Trautman and are encouraging members to attend a February 13 fundraiser at a house in Valencia Summit. And tomorrow in front of City Hall, Trautman will officially file her candidacy paperwork after receiving endorsements from Councilmember Marsha McLean and other locals. Details at Trautman’s campaign site.

Maria Gutzeit, the Newhall Water Board member, is also favored by the SCV Young Democrats.

The news for Democrats on the national scene as of late is encouraging: Over 200,000 Democratic voters in Iowa turned out for that state’s caucus, nearly double the number of 2004. And in New Hampshire, polling places ran out of Democratic ballots.

There’s still one big question left for 2008: Will any local or 25th District Democrats run against incumbent Republican Congressman Buck McKeon? Stay tuned to SCVTalk, you’ll know when I know.