Polk County Democratic Party Weekly Digest: Aug 15-21, 2022
|
|
Click here for the Polk County DEC Slate of Candidates for the Democratic Primary, and other elections, on August 23.
|
|
|
This week's action focus: Get Out The Vote!
|
|
Early voting is now open!
There are nine polling sites in Polk County to accommodate early voting through Saturday, Aug 20. Polls are open from 10am - 6pm. A list of the early voting polling locations can be found on the Polk County Supervisor of Elections website, which also includes links to sample ballots.
Volunteers needed to motivate voters!
Can you help us reach Polk County voters who have yet to vote? It is important that we have a good voter turnout, especially in the Polk County School Board elections. If you can help encourage voters to go to the polls, it will help ensure they cast a ballot for our preferred Polk County School Board candidates.
**** The Polk County Democratic Party is seeking volunteers for voter outreach and to provide rides for voters.
If you have not yet done so, fill out a volunteer form indicating the type of volunteering opportunities that interest you. Alternatively, leave a message with Kathy Sites, who is coordinating our volunteer efforts.
**** BlueShift, of the Florida Democratic Party, is also looking for volunteers for the following events:
Phonebanking:
A virtual event is held Wednesdays, but sign up to make calls any time this week: https://mobilize.us/s/gPJPBG
Canvassing/Door Knocking
North Lakeland - Saturday and Sunday: https://mobilize.us/s/bgAQjW
Lakes Wales - Saturday and Sunday: https://mobilize.us/s/H3eYnx
Polk County - Weeknights: https://mobilize.us/s/1r0bMr
|
|
There are also opportunities to help in the local FDP office on Friday afternoons, and to distribute campaign signs.
For further information, contact Michelle Bradley, FDP Field Organizer for NW Polk County, mbradley@floridadems.org
|
|
REMINDERS
**** ALL eligible voters can vote in the countywide Polk County School Board elections. Encourage your no-party affiliated contacts to get out the vote. The Polk County Democratic Executive Committee (DEC) has endorsed Sarah Fortney (District 3), Sara Jones (District 6) and Dell Quary (District 7). The DEC also considers Kay Fields (District 5), to be the better of the two candidates in her race. Please get involved in their campaigns!
***** ALL eligible voters can also select between Republicans running in two State House Seats in Polk County, in the Universal Primaries.
When candidates in a primary race have the same party affiliation and the winner will have no opposition in the General Election, all qualified electors may vote for that office. It is recommended Democrats cast a ballot to elect the candidates, below, who may come closest in representing our values.
State House Dist 50
Jennifer Canady and Phillip Walker
State House Dist 51
William 'Bill' Olson and Josie Tomkow
*******
Please note: Democratic candidates who face no party opposition will go straight to the November General Election ballot. For a full list of candidates, click here.
|
|
|
URGENT CALL TO ACTION:
Polk County needs Democratic poll watchers!
There are two more elections in 2022 (Aug 23 and Nov 8) and the Polk DEC and Florida Democratic Party (FDP) is recruiting poll watchers for polling sites across the county! Each volunteer will be assigned to a polling site and will be asked to commit to a shift.
***FDP Poll Watchers must be registered Democrats in Polk County.
Click here to register your interest of intent to be a poll watcher, with the Florida Democratic Party.
|
|
|
Our volunteer of the month: Mike Murray
|
|
It is fitting our inaugural Volunteer of the Month should be Mike Murray, of Lakeland's Cypress Lakes Community. He is an inspirational Democratic Party volunteer, who graciously - and with a smile - steps in where there is a need to help the party in Polk County.
Mike, 70, is a Minnesota native, who then lived in Georgia for 20 years before moving to Lakeland four years ago. Mike said he grew up in a politically active family. His father worked for the Minnesota attorney general and his mother was involved with the League of Women Voters.
Mike became active in the Democratic Party after retiring. He attended a meeting of interest with Polk DEC officials, which led to the formation of the Cypress Lakes Democratic Club within the 55+ community, in 2018. Unfortunately, the club was short-lived, due to meeting restrictions brought about two years later by the COVID pandemic.
Having been the Cypress Lakes club vice president and Precinct #109 captain, Mike also became involved with the Polk County DEC, where he continued his involvement with the party after his club folded. Today, he holds the positions of chair for the Credentials and Membership and Precinct Organizing committees. Additionally, he is vice president for the Lakeland Democratic Club and vice chair of the Polk County Environmental Caucus. Mike, who also retired from the US Army Reserves, plans to form a local Veterans Caucus.
While juggling multiple Democratic Party-affiliated office-holder positions, Mike has become a public face of the Polk County party. For the past three years, he and Veysel Dokur have 'religiously' attended Lakeland's First Friday event to work a table representing the Democratic Party through the Lakeland club and Polk County DEC. Prior to the pandemic, they also held a table for the party at the weekly Lakeland Farmer's Market.
More recently, Mike has provided a Democratic Party presence at nearly every candidate forum held this year by chambers of commerce within the county. (He is pictured here at Lakeland Chamber's Politics in the Park, held last week.) And he is currently an early voting poll watcher for the Democratic Party in Polk County.
Mike's volunteering spirit doesn't stop with the Democratic Party. He remains active within the Cypress Lakes Veterans Association. He coordinates twilight golfing and quarterly fundraising dinners, in which the proceeds of more than $5000 a year benefit area veterans and groups. Additionally, Mike visits Talbot House every other Saturday to serve dinner to the residents and guests.
When he's not volunteering, Mike, a member of the Cypress Lakes Bonsai Club, spends his free time caring for about 40 bonsai trees. He also 'chases small white balls around in an attempt of mastering the game that will never be won'.
Mike was nominated as a Volunteer of the Month by Polk County Environmental Caucus president Judy Haberek. If you have a volunteer within your club or caucus, or know of a precinct captain, who you think deserves a bit of recognition and can provide inspiration to others, please email their name, a photo and a brief description to polkdemwd@gmail.com
|
|
Future 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
|
|
|
Democratic Party of Polk County, Club & Caucus Links
|
|
|
If you would like to know more about a caucus or club which does not have a hyperlink, please email PolkCountyDemocrats@gmail.com
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
|
