Polk County Democratic Party Weekly Digest: July 10 -July 16, 2023
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WAYS TO CELEBRATE CAN BE FOUND AT THE FOLLOWING LINK: 8 WAYS TO CELEBRATE DISABILITY PRIDE MONTH 2023
It is also worth noting that our chapter of the Democratic Disability Caucus is currently defunct. 10 members are needed to start the process of becoming an active chapter again and what a wonderful way it would be to celebrate Disability Pride Month this year. If you are interested in becoming a member please reach out to John Hill at vicechair2@polkdemocrats.net or Barbara Harris at vicechair1@polkdemocrats.net
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LEADERSHIP BLUE- LOUD AND PROUD TO BE DEMOCRATS!!!
DEC Chair Cesar Ramirez, Vice Chair John Hill and Sergeant at Arms Mike Murray attended Leadership Blue 2023 in Miami Beach from July 7th-9th. Panels and discussion groups covered updated Voter Registration best practices, building a candidate bench in your county, DEC compliance reports, how to canvass/door knock in today's heightened and charged environments and many more. It was also a time to celebrate and say OUT LOUD AND PROUD- we are Democrats in Florida!
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ELECTIONS ARE HAPPENING EVERYWHERE IN POLK COUNTY- ARE YOU READY TO RUN?
To see who has filed to run in local/municipal races, click this link to be taken to the Polk County Supervision of Elections candidate page. This list is updated regularly.
To see who has filed to run in state elections, click this link to be taken to the Florida Division of Elections candidate page. This list is also updated regularly.
If you are interested in running for office and need more information please reach out to the DEC with any questions/requests. We must contest every seat to enact the positive change we desperately need in Polk County and beyond!
 The next Campaign and Candidate Recruitment Committee Meeting is Tuesday, July 11th at 1pm. Please let John Hill know if you would like to attend at vicechair2@polkdemocrats.net
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CANCER IN OUR ROADS? UPDATE! (Side note: Commissioner Rick Wilson will be up for re-election in 2026) The article link sits behind the Ledger's paywall, but the quote (in bold) from Commissioner Wilson is below.
https://www.theledger.com/story/news/local/2023/07/10/phosphogypsum-road-test-in-polk-county-awaits-epa-approval/70356126007/
As many of you know, this year, the Legislature passed a bill to approve the state Department of Transportation to construct a test road that contains a layer of phosphogypsum, a by-product from the production of phosphoric acid by treating phosphate ore (apatite) with sulfuric acid. This test could occur in Polk County, specifically at the Mosaic New Wales location in Mulberry (https://www.mosaicco.com/) if approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). If approved, Mosaic's application to conduct the test will be made public and a public comment period will commence. Mosaic, LLC has contributed to the campaigns of Commissioner Wilson, State Representative Sam Killebrew, R (HD48), State Representative Melony Bell, R (HD49), State Representative Jennifer Canady, R (HD50) and State Representative Josie Tomkow, R (HD51). Below are Commissioner Wilson's interview remarks regarding the proposed test.
Commissioner Rick Wilson said Wednesday by phone he supports the test by Mosaic — a frequent contributor to his political campaigns. He wrote a letter in April to Gov. Ron DeSantis in support of the road building practice. He said, there are benefits to using phosphogypsum and he worked alongside his father with the material as he grew up without any known effects to his health. He added that his father built a two-mile stretch of asphalt road with the material as roadbase on his Bartow ranch.
“None of us died,” Wilson said.
This type of road construction would save money, he said, especially at today’s prices for road building, which now relies on limestone being trucked from beyond Polk County. Its use in roadbeds would also reduce the need for “eyesore” gypstacks currently used to stack the material, as well as the environmental benefits of diverting the waste from them.
“I know there's all kind of controversy about it, but you can find controversy in most anything that's out there if you really want to dig deep enough,” Wilson said. “There's no proof that this is gonna have a problem. They talk about the radon and all this.
“Can they use this in other things?” he asked. “I'm not 100% sure on that, but I damn sure know they can use it on roadbase and different things like that.”
We will continue to provide updated information as it becomes available.
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VOTER REGISTRATION TRAINING EVERY MONTH!
Sign up to learn how we’re providing registration information now, what the new rules are, and best practices for finding our target voters. Held via Zoom each month on the 3rd Wednesday at 1 PM.
Sign up on Mobilize: https://www.mobilize.us/polkcountydec/event/452722/
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BALLOT 2024
Help us get these amendments onto the Ballot this year. Distribute them amongst your friends, family and communities. Knowledge is POWER!
PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS FOR THE NOVEMBER 2024 BALLOT
Amendment to Limit Government Interference with Abortion
Text: No law shall prohibit, penalize, delay, or restrict abortion before viability or when necessary to protect the patient’s health, as determined by the patient’s healthcare provider. This amendment does not change the Legislature’s constitutional authority to require notification to a parent or guardian before a minor has an abortion.
Sponsor:
Floridians Protecting Freedom, Inc.
Post Office Box 4068
Sarasota, FL 34230
(305) 647-2666
Petition available at: https://floridiansprotectingfreedom.com/
Right to Clean and Healthy Waters Amendment
Text: This amendment creates a fundamental right to clean and healthy waters. The amendment may be used to sue State executive agencies for harm or threatened harm to Florida’s waters, which include aquatic ecosystems. This amendment defines terms, identifies affected constitutional provisions in Article IV governing the executive branch, provides for civil action enforcement, allows attorney’s and expert witness fees to prevailing plaintiffs, and provides equitable remedies including restoration of waters.
Sponsor:
Florida Right To CleanWater
13300 South Cleveland Avenue
Suite 56
Fort Myers, FL 33907
(239) 898-2044
Petition: Available at:
FloridaRighttoCleanWater.org
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The Polk County Democrats next monthly general meeting is July 17, 2023
Club, Caucus and Committee Meetings
July 10- July 16, 2023
Campaign and Candidate Recruitment Committee
Tuesday, July 11, 1pm
Lake Wales Dems Club
Tuesday, July 11, 7pm
Polk Senior Caucus
Wednesday, July 12, 7pm
Solivita Dems Club
Wednesday, July 12, 7pm
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Civic Activities around the Area
July 10- July 16, 2023
Auburndale City Commission
Monday, July 10, 7pm
Hillcrest Heights Town Commission
Monday, July 10, 7am
Lake Alfred City Commission
Monday, July 10, 7pm
Winter Haven City Commission
Monday, July 10, 6pm
Dundee Town Commission
Tuesday, July 11, 6:30pm
Fort Meade City Commission
Tuesday, July 11, 6pm
Lake Hamilton Town Commission
Tuesday, July 11, 6pm
Polk County Commission
Tuesday, July 11, 9am
*Link to meeting agenda
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Democratic Party of Polk County, Club & Caucus Links
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If you would like to know more about a caucus or club which does not have a hyperlink, please email PolkCountyDemocrats@gmail.com
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Paid Political Advertisement for the Democratic Party of Polk County
6039 Cypress Gardens, PMB 328, Winter Haven, FL 33884
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