Polk County Democratic Party Weekly Digest: October 23rd - October 29th, 2023
Track the Biden Administration's campaign promises
All Vote By Mail requests expired after the 2022 General Election! Click here to request a VBM Ballot now.
***The last day to request a Vote By Mail ballot to use in the 2023 municipal elections (Auburndale, Fort Meade, Lakeland and Winter Haven) is Thursday, October 26th, 2023.***
Please check your registration as another 100k voters were purged from the Vote By Mail list!!!
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Know your candidates!
Winter Haven City Commission candidates Kim Davis and Johnothan Bush recently addressed the meeting of the Winter Haven Commission. They spoke on the concerns they have that the city is in support of Diversity and Inclusion, racial equality and LGBTQIA rights and other topics. If you are a voter in Winter Haven, please watch these videos and spread the word that NEITHER of these individuals should hold elected office and are dangerous to citizens in Winter Haven and a threat to good, representative government.
https://rumble.com/v3mi85y-kim-davis-at-the-city-council-meeting.html?fbclid=IwAR2ex1DmWymfz1Oab7qs_njRVZXEzlT_ZoRjDf5t4LJSjOXlDCM1T-u3ICU
https://rumble.com/v3miara-johnathon-bush-at-the-city-council-meeting.html?fbclid=IwAR0tdTAK1idePJtL4Mn5QkUiG6pZNzwKsV5twZM4F1XcEKz6AXiVBPi-2Yc
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CAST A BALLOT AND MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD!!
Municipal elections are just around the corner in Auburndale, Fort Meade, Lakeland and Winter Haven. Who will be on the ballot? (Remember, these are non-partisan races, but we are including party affiliation for transparency). Social media/campaign links are included that are available. A few candidates have created campaign sites now that were not available last week. The DEC will be texting voters to remind them to vote in the municipal elections and to also sign up for Vote by Mail ballots. If you would like to help with texting campaigns, please let Barbara Harris (vicechair1@polkdemocrats.net) or Kathy Sites (secpolkdec@gmail.com) know as soon as possible.
YOUR VOTE CAN MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE! KNOW WHO IS SERVING YOUR COMMUNITY!
AUBURNDALE
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LAKELAND
NW B:
Bill Read (R) incumbent, no opposition (automatically re-elected)
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2023 Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Breast Cancer Awareness Month (BCAM), also referred to in the United States as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM), is an annual international health campaign organized by major breast cancer charities every October to increase awareness of the disease and raise funds for research into its cause, prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and cure.
NBCAM was founded in 1985 in partnership between the American Cancer Society and the pharmaceutical division of Imperial Chemical Industries (now part of AstraZeneca, producer of several anti-breast cancer drugs). The aim of the NBCAM from the start has been to promote mammography as the most effective weapon in the fight against breast cancer.
In 1993 Evelyn Lauder, Senior Corporate Vice President of the Estée Lauder Companies, founded the Breast Cancer Research Foundation and established the pink ribbon as its symbol, though this was not the first time the ribbon was used to symbolize breast cancer. A 68-year-old California woman named Charlotte Haley, whose sister, daughter, and granddaughter had breast cancer, had distributed peach-color ribbons to call attention to what she perceived as inadequate funding for research. In the fall of 1991, the Susan G. Komen Foundation handed out pink ribbons to participants in its New York City race for breast cancer survivors.
In 2010, Delta Air Lines painted N845MH, a Boeing 767-432ER in "Breast Cancer Research Foundation" special colors. In September 2015, a newer version of the livery was repainted on the same plane. (from Wikipedia)
Susan G. Komen Foundation
National Breast Cancer Foundation
Florida Breast Cancer Foundation
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CALLING ALL SUPPORTERS
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 24th, 2023, 5PM- POLK COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
Parenting with Pride, the newest arm of Equality Florida has sent the following message out via Mobilize to encourage attendance at school board meetings:
The politicians in Tallahassee have made laws and policies that make our schools a battle ground for their march towards power. However, our local school boards do still have some agency and have some significant voices that can speak up for our communities.
We have to GO TO OUR LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS!
As millions of students return to school this year, it is URGENT that we mobilize to every school board meeting to hold our district accountable and ensure they know our communities deserve to be seen and supported by our public schools. Together, we can fight back against the harms happening in our schools.
In the midst of these attacks from Tallahassee, it is still the duty of our local school districts to strive for safe, inclusive and supportive schools for all students. That is why we are calling on communities across Florida to demand that our local school boards protect every student and respect every family.
To sign up through Mobilize for the Polk County School Board Meeting on Tuesday, October 24th please click HERE
To join the efforts of Parenting with Pride and support their work through Equality Florida, please click HERE
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2023 Poll Workers Needed
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OUT AND ABOUT IN POLK COUNTY
COMING UP THIS WEEK:
ARE YOU READY TO DANCE FOR DEMOCRACY!?!?!?!?! (BUT IN MARCH 2024)
SCENES FROM EARLIER THIS MONTH:
Mi Familia Vota (click on link to learn about the organization)
Friday, October 20th
Rainbow Ridge October Meeting
Tuesday, October 17th
Guest Speaker: School Board Candidate Marcus Wright
Lake Wales Dems October Meeting
Tuesday, October 10th
Guest Speaker: Supervisor of Elections Lori Edwards
Politics in the Park- Lakeland
Tuesday, October 10th
Attended by the DEC, the Polk Young Dems and the Democratic Women's Club of Lakeland
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ELECTIONS ARE HAPPENING EVERYWHERE IN POLK COUNTY- ARE YOU TIRED OF BEING REPRESENTED BY NAZI SUPPORTERS AND 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 Wednesday, October 25th at 3
pm. Please let John Hill know if you would like to attend at vicechair2@polkdemocrats.net
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Statement from Governor DeSantis' office calling for Special Legislative Session to begin Monday, November 6th
On October 20, 2023, in News Releases, by Staff
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Today, Governor Ron DeSantis applauded and urged swift action in a Special Session of the Florida Legislature to address urgent issues facing the state. The Special Session will feature Governor DeSantis’ proposal to strengthen sanctions on Iran to ensure Florida does not do business with companies aligned with Iran that could in turn fund Hamas and other terrorist groups. The Special Session will also include additional resources for Hurricane Idalia relief, lowering the costs of homeowners’ insurance, increasing access to school choice for students with unique abilities, and additional protections for Florida’s Jewish communities. The Special Session will convene at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, November 6, and will extend no later than 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, November 9.
“Following the horrific atrocities committed by Iranian-backed terrorist group Hamas against Israel, I am calling on the Florida Legislature to act swiftly to ensure our state does not send a penny to the Iranian terror state,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “I am glad to see the Legislature’s willingness to convene and address this along with other important issues for the state.”
During this Special Session, Governor DeSantis is asking the Florida Legislature to increase sanctions against the Iranian regime by broadening the industries on Florida’s scrutinized companies list and strengthening Florida’s prohibitions against investing in companies which are doing business with states that sponsor terror. Florida must not be complicit in funding state-sponsored terrorism against America’s great ally, Israel.
SPEAKER VACANCY-
ACT III- ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST
   
(former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, criminally indicted Donald Trump, House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan, Florida Rep. Byron Donalds)
Following the ouster of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R) after the motion to vacate the chair by Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz (R), the House of Representatives has been unable to elect a speaker and conduct the nation's business. Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R) was put forward to the House Republican Conference but could not find enough support to be put forth for a full House vote. Last week, the House Republican Conference voted again and decided to attempt to nominate Rep. Jim Jordan (R). Noted Republican criminal and former President Donald Trump endorsed Jordan for the Speakership. Jordan is a strong supporter of Trump and played a large role in the insurrection of January 6th. Jordan lost 3 consecutive votes for the Speakership and the House Republican Conference voted to drop him as their nominee on Friday, the 20th. Some focus has now shifted to the announced candidacy of Florida Representative Byron Donalds, a Trump sycophant and member of the Freedom Caucus (and rumored candidate for Governor in 2026). Donalds was nominated in January of this year but was not able to put a majority of votes together.
NBC Profile of Byron Donalds
House Speaker race widens to 9 candidates
REPUGNANT NAZI DISPLAYS IN CENTRAL FLORIDA
Following disgusting, racist, Nazi acts in Orlando and surrounding areas (Nazis paraded through parts of Orlando), we Floridians are still waiting on Governor DeSantis to denounce the actions and Nazis. As we enter a 8th week, he has still FAILED to do so. |
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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 next year. Distribute petitions 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 November 13th, 2023
Club, Caucus and Committee Meetings
October 23rd- October 29th, 2023
Democratic Women's Club of Lakeland
Monday, October 23rd, 6:30pm
Guest Speaker: Katie Worthington Decker, Lakeland Economic Development Council
DEC Campaign and Candidate Recruitment Committee Meeting
Wednesday, October 25th, 3pm
Zoom
To sign up: email John Hill at jdhill678@gmail.com
Democratic Women's Club of East Polk Ridge
Friday, October 27th, 6:30pm
Balmoral Resort Bar and Grill
Guest Speaker: Markeishia Smith
Polk County Progressive Democratic Caucus
Friday, October 27th, 7pm
Zoom
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Civic Activities around the Area
October 23rd- October 29th, 2023
Winter Haven City Commission Meeting
Monday, October 23rd, 6pm
Lake Alfred City Commission Meeting
Monday, October 23rd, 7pm
Polk County Commission Meeting
Tuesday, October 24th, 10:30am
Polk County School Board Meeting
Tuesday, October 24th, 5pm
Dundee Town Commission Meeting
Tuesday, October 24th, 6:30pm
Ft. Meade Special City Commission Meeting
Thursday, October 26th, 5:30pm
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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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