Polk County Democratic Party Weekly Digest: Feb 28 - March 6, 2022
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From the Polk County Democratic Party Chair
In case you missed it, Polk County Democratic Party Chair Catherine Price was a "lone critic" in a Lakeland Ledger article that focused on the origins and suspect aims of the alt-right local group County Citizens Defending Freedom (CCDF).
The article Promoting freedom, or 'anti-democratic' group? is behind a paywall, but worth a read for an in-depth look at the local connections and the group's agenda, so far.
In response to the article, Catherine issued the following statement:
"I was proud to be the only person quoted criticizing this new alt-right group, the CCDF (County Citizens Defending Freedom). The Ledger portrays me as Catherine Price, lone Democrat, and the only person in Polk County that has a problem with this group. I definitely am not alone.
"Many in Polk County are fully aware of what this group has been doing in the last few months. Using the cover of patriotism and religion, they are pressing for policies that are not democratic and not good for our community such as pushing our County Commission to back unproven COVID treatment.
"The CCDF members ridiculed and abused our local public health officials about masking recommendations when the pandemic was surging and we still did not have vaccines. On a weekly basis they crank people up about bogus issues related to sex education, sexual orientation and pornography and launch these people into the Polk County School Board meetings where they rave about Critical Race Theory (CRT) and the word “anus” on a sex education diagram. Most of of these people do not have children in the school system and they are often conspicuously ignorant about the topic they are complaining about.
"In the most recent school board meeting, one CCDF supporter started railing about pornography in school books and then went into a long soliloquy quoting Biblical scripture. The man was oblivious to the fact that most of the people in the room had already heard these passages in their own churches but came to a very different conclusion about banning books.
"The CCDF leadership sees these school board meetings as a platform where they can easily gain a public forum to tout whatever right wing conspiracy theory is circulating on right wing internet programs in a given week. By making the school board environment so toxic that regular citizens shy away, the CCDF is positioning its members to take control of our public school system.
"Understanding the underlying motives of this group is critically important to the proper functioning of our community. Should these people be able to speak their minds? Of course they should. However, this small group, of wealthy Polk County citizens, should not be allowed to use their money and power to create chaos and seed discontent in order to gain disproportionate power over Polk County politics."
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Municipal elections voter registration deadline nears
Are you registered to vote in your respective April 5, 2022, municipal election?
The voter registration deadline is March 7. Make sure your registration is up to date. Register on line via the Florida Online Voter Registration System. Voters can also request to vote by mail via the Polk County Supervisor of Elections website, where you can also make any changes to your name or address.
The municipalities holding elections are Bartow, Davenport, Dundee, Eagle Lake, Frostrpoof, Haines City, Lake Alfred, Lake Hamilton, Lake Wales, Mulberry and Polk City. If you live in one of these municipalities, get to know your Democratic candidate and volunteer to help their campaign!
County Elections
The Polk County Commission and Polk County School Boards will also have seats vacant, during the November 8 General Election. Please consider running for these important positions or supporting the campaigns of Democrats! The qualification period for candidates to both government bodies is June 14-17.
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U.S. Senate
Ken Russell will be at a Central Florida Meet & Greet on Friday, March 4, from 6-8 PM at 300 S. Lakeshore Blvd., Lake Wales. A Zoom option will also be available. Sign-up to attend by clicking here.
Polk County School Board
Incumbent Sarah Fortney is holding a re-election campaign kickoff on Saturday, March 5, from 2 PM, with a BBQ and music. Click here for details.
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Each month, Polk County Democrats now host two tents at Lakeland's First Friday event downtown and welcome volunteers to rotate through the roster. The Lakeland Democratic Club, with support from the Polk County Democratic Party, hosts a tent near the center of the event along Kentucky Ave. The Democratic Women's Club of Lakeland also hosts a booth near Main St.
The clubs are asking volunteers to provide a minimum 2.5 hours a year to attend one of the First Friday events, sharing the load among many rather than a few. Visitors to the booths are mainly appreciative to see Democrats being visible in the community and are provided with information about our many clubs and caucuses, as well as voter registration opportunities.
If you would like to volunteer with the Lakeland Club this month, click here. If you would like to volunteer during a different month or with the Women's Club, please contact Veysel Dokur at vcpolkdec@gmail.com
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'Snowflakes' drift back to Lake Ashton Democratic Club
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Lake Ashton Democratic Club has an active 'Snowflakes' group, which meets every Tuesday from 6-8 pm upon their return to Florida, in the basketball court room at the HFC Community Center. Pictured here are a few of the 'Snowflakes' who recently spent time post carding, to get out the vote for Sarasota County.
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Call to Action: Call your State Representative and Senator
Tell them to oppose House Bill 7061 (The Anti-Voter Freedom Act)
Voter suppression attempts like this piece of legislation are true threats to our democracy.
Election officials and the Florida Secretary of State agree: Florida’s elections are fair and secure. Yet, the Florida Legislature continues to spread lies about the last election to attack our freedom to vote HB 7061( and SB 524) only create unnecessary and expensive barriers to the ballot box.
If passed, House Bill 7061 would:
- Fund an expensive and unnecessary Office of Election Crimes and Security,
- Lead to more rejected ballots, and raise costs for election officials without providing more funding,
- Purge thousands of registered voters from registration rolls
- Make it a felony to assist voters in some circumstances, and
- Prohibits ranked choice voting for local, state, or federal elective office.
- Harm organizations like the League that help register voters with egregious fines.
Click here to find your state legislator.
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Call to Action: Voter Registration Volunteers
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Weekly Lakeland Curb Market
Can you spare 1-2 hours or more between the hours of 9 am - 2 pm on a Saturday, each week or once a month? If so, please sign up! We are not allowed to set up a table, so you will be standing on a corner with your clipboard.
Please note that bilingual (especially Spanish/English) volunteers are needed for all voter registration events!
SAVE THE DATE: Training in Spanish
The Polk County Democratic Party will be holding a Voter Registration Training Session in Spanish on Thursday, March 10, from 7-8 pm. For more information and to register, click here.
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Lake Wales Democrats host voter event with Darren Soto
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For details and to register for an invitation to attend, or to help volunteer, click here.
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Important Dates and Meetings
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Steering Committee & Regular DEC Meetings
The he next DEC Steering Committee meeting will be held on Monday, March 7.
The next Regular DEC Meeting will be held from 6.30 pm on Monday, March 14. Watch this space for a link to register for the Zoom meeting. |
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Upcoming Polk County DEC Mobilize Events
Keep us up to date: If you would like to feature what your club or caucus is doing or introduce a new president, other office holder or person of interest, please send information to polkdemwd@gmail.com
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Democratic Party of Polk County, Club & Caucus Links
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Mailing Address:
Due to the pandemic the Democratic Party of Polk County has closed the office in Lakeland.
The mailing address is the following:
The Democratic Party of Polk County, 6039 Cypress Gardens Boulevard, Suite 328, Winter Haven, FL 33884
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