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February is Black History Month
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Polk County Democratic Party Weekly Digest: Feb 21-27, 2022
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Upcoming Polk County and Municipal Elections
Headlines these days may focus on the 2022 November mid-term elections, but let us not forget about the municipal elections that will help build the Blue in '22 momentum in Polk County. Starting this week, the Polk County Democratic Party will provide updates for all upcoming elections. A comprehensive list can be found here. Weekly highlights will include deadlines in municipal, county, school board and state elections, and feature candidates.
Get involved by:
- Running for Office
- Supporting a candidate
- Voting
Did you know?
April 5, 2022 is Election Day for a number of municipal seats throughout Polk County. The towns 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! Our comprehensive election data list has links to local municipal election information.
Voter registration is March 7. Make sure your registration is up to date. You can 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.
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! The qualification period for candidates to both government bodies is June 14-17.
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Book signing with Charles B. Warren, local author and fellow Democrat
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In recognition of Black History Month, consider attending a book signing for “From Slavery to Community Builder: The Story of Lawrence B. Brown” by award-winning local author Charles B. Warren. The event will be held on February 26 from 2 pm at the Polk County History Center, 100 East Main St, Bartow.
Charles, who is also a member of the Lakeland Democratic Club, will be joined by Clifton Lewis to present the compelling story of Lawrence B. Brown, a man born into slavery who became a successful entrepreneur during Bartow’s boom period. The signing will feature readings by both Charles and Clifton, as well as a brief question and answer period.
Books will be available for purchase and signing by the authors: $25 for softcover and $35 for hardcover. All profits benefit the continued operations of the L.B. Brown House Museum.
See also: 'He helped build Bartow': New book preserves record of L.B. Brown's extraordinary life
Other Local Black History Month Events
Lakeland Black History Discovery Trail
The City of Lakeland invites the community to visit city facilities to learn about Lakeland’s Black pioneers, through the Black History Discovery Trail. For those unable to visit the locations in person, there is an online option at www.lakelandgov.net/discoverytrail. The event ends February 25.
Click here to find the trail stop locations, where you can pick up an activity card and get a sticker for each visit. The first 100 completed cards, and presented at Simpson Park Community Center, will receive a Black History Month Commemorative Bag filled with goodies.
The Polk Museum of Art, 800 E Palmetto St, will display close to 70 works in an exhibition entitled “The Art of the Highwaymen: From the Woodsby Family Collection,” through May 22.
These self-taught African American artists formed during segregation in the 1950s, and created more than 200,000 works before the group disbanded in the 1980s. They traveled along Florida’s highways selling their paintings out of the trunks of their cars or going door-to-door.
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Meet new Polk County Young Democrats Club chairperson Edwin Melendez
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"Hello everyone! My name is Edwin, and I'm excited to become the chairperson of the Polk Young Democrats. I’m currently studying at Valencia College, where I’m majoring in Political Science. My goal for the Young Democrats is to mobilize a host of young people from around the county to tackle social and pocketbook issues that people face on a day to day basis. There’s a lot of work needed but I’m optimistic about the future, especially working with experienced and friendly people that I’ve met so far."
To find out more about the Polk County Young Democrats, email polkcountyyoungdems@gmail.com
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Call to Action:
Contact your State Senator to demand a NO vote on the 15-week abortion bill
The 15-week abortion ban (HB 5 Fetal and Infant Mortality Reduction) passed the House on Wednesday with 70-39 votes. It will now be heard in the Senate Appropriations Committee on Monday, Feb. 21, 1 pm, before heading to the Senate floor within the next week.
Please call or email your own Senators to OPPOSE this bill, or at a minimum urge them to support amendments that would include exceptions for the following:
- Pregnancy due to rape, incest, or human trafficking,
- A fetal diagnosis of a condition due to birth defect or genetic abnormalities with limited survivability after birth, and
- A woman who is getting sicker due to her pregnancy but who is not "irreversibly impaired."
It appears we cannot stop this unconstitutional bill right now, but maybe we could save some women and their families from devastating ramifications of this bill in its current form if we appeal to their sense of humanity .
Click here for a list of State Senators. |
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Breaking: Polk Pride's Pride in the Park is back! To be held June 18, at Munn Park, all clubs and caucuses interested in a vendor booth are encouraged to register via this link.
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Call to Action: Voter Registration
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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!
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Important Dates and Meetings
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Steering Committee & Regular DEC Meetings
The next Regular DEC Meeting will be held from 6.30 pm on Monday, February 21. Click here to register for the Zoom meeting.
The next DEC Steering Committee meeting will be held on Monday, March 7. |
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Polk County Progressive Caucus - Friday, February 25, at 7 pm
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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