In the News

Polk DEC November 2009 Newsletter

THE CHAIR'S MESSAGE

The elections in the State of New York gave us all a lot to think about.  I am a not-so-regular reader of a liberal blog site called Daily Kos, http://dailykos.com/ and on Wednesday, it was full of thoughts about the election and what the Democrats did or didn’t do right.  Blogger Norbrook compared the efforts to organize voters in a traditionally Red district that was “rock-solid Republican” to his efforts to organize an event for people who like dogs. Months of planning and preparation went into his dog event.  The venue had to be selected, judges for the event had to be secured, tables, food, equipment, and prizes…you know the drill.  On the day of the event, one woman in particular shows up and finds nothing to her liking.  Too little parking, bad equipment, bad parking, bad judges, too expensive, nothing was right for her.  She was invited to help organize the event the next year, but she wasn’t interested in doing that.  That district, NY-23 has been essentially ignored by the National and State Democratic Party for years. A small group of local Democrats continued to work very hard, year after year to find good candidates, to increase the party rolls, trying to raise money for the party, money for the candidates,  trying to run campaigns (is this beginning to sound familiar?) , and yet they were not able to make much of a dent in the Republican armor.  As Norbrook says, “It’s hard to do; particularly if year after year you watch your candidates go down to defeat.  A little help now and then would be nice, but it never comes.” Then they do it.  They find a good candidate for the special election that comes along.  They have everyone’s attention. Everyone, except for those who still complain about the “Too little parking, the bad equipment, bad food, bad judges, too expensive…”   The candidate, “He’s not this.  He’s not that. Why aren’t you doing this?  Why aren’t you doing that?”  Norbrook wants to know, “Were you here to help build the party before the election?”  “Did you pitch in and help while the campaign was going on?” “Will you stick around and help after the election?” 

To be fair, Norbrook is taking issue with running Progressive Democrats in a District that does not have a strong base of Democrats.  He states it’s easy when you have Democrats that are winning regularly, and when you have a bench.  However, as we in Polk County know, when you’ve been written off by the State Party – or you have DINO’s or Blue Dog Democrats in your District, it’s even harder to build that bench, with Progressives or mainstream Democrats. That’s why it so important for Democrats – all Democrats, to pull together and support the Party.

When the opportunity comes to turn a Red seat Blue, we need to be ready to step in and step up. And we need to continue that all-out effort, even after the election, so that we continue to keep it Blue.  And candidates, you don’t get off so easy either.  Don’t think that we’re going to vote for you just because you have a (D) next to your name.  You had better take a bold, decisive stand on the issues that are important to us.  Give us a reason to vote for you.  We’re going to be doing our job to get Democrats out to vote, so you’d better be ready to stand up to the rightwing conservatives and remember the voters who you will represent.  As Norbrook said, “…it’s entertaining right now to watch the Republicans fight their civil war…” but we should be getting to work.  The election in 2010 is our “special time”.  It’s been decades since we’ve had this many State level positions open. If we don’t win in 2010, we have only ourselves to blame.

Peace,

Karen Welzel

A MESSAGE FROM YOUR STATE COMMITTEE MAN & WOMAN  

Hello fellow Democrats,

We attended the Pasco DEC’s Governors Graham and Chiles dinner.  We had the opportunity to visit with many of the candidates, and these viable candidates need our support.  We attended and helped with the Bean supper the DEC recently held at the Chain of Lakes Complex.  The food was very good, the fellowship was fabulous, and the movie was very enjoyable.  Stay tuned for more upcoming dinner/movie dates.

We were very impressed at the turn out of members to Adam Putnam’s town hall meeting.  With all of the signs and the democrats who took time to speak to Putnam, the Ledger had no choice but to recognize the representation of Democrats.  We also got press from Channel 10, so all in all a very productive night.

We would like everyone to please mark their calendar for the King-Obama dinner the DEC is planning for January 16, 2010.  It will be held at the Hilton Garden Inn at the Lakeland Linder airport.  This will be our big fund-raiser to Kick Off the 2010 election when we K-O the Republicans.  We will have more information soon, but we are giving everyone a heads up to save the date for this event.

The DEC is looking for viable candidates for the various seats.  We have interviewed and are asking for names of other candidates.  Take time to think through past elections, past office holders, and people who take an active part in local/state issues.  There are strong candidates out there, and we would like to interview and help get them on the right track. 

There are many candidates seeking petitions to eliminate the cost to be placed on the ballot.  If you can please help them out, please print off the form from the Polk DEC website and collect signatures for the following candidates:  Jean Reed, Kendrick Meek, and Doug Tudor.  If you know of any other candidate’s seeking petition signatures, please let us know.  Just an added note:  Please make sure you are in the district of the person you are signing a petition for, that you fill out and sign your name as it appears on your voter’s card, and let others know that signing a petition does not mean they have to vote for that person.  By signing the petition, you are just allowing someone to qualify to be placed on the ballot. 

Thank you for being good Democrats and making a difference in Polk County, Florida.

In fellowship,.

 Dean & Charlene Hypes 

***************************

CLUB REPORTS

All submissions should be sent to: sweetiejess83@yahoo.com 

Club reports should be submitted by the first weekend of each month, and it is very is important to submit your report to assist in length of DEC meetings.  Even if your club is on vacation, please share anything that is going on in your communities

Auburndale Area Democratic Club (Serving Auburndale and surrounding area): Submitted by Richard Isinghood

The Auburndale Area Democratic Club had a busy October.  The regular meeting and the monthly luncheon were augmented by the annual fund raiser on October 24.  The Fund raiser was at the VFW in Auburndale.  We had a great turnout.  We had some young dancers from the Migrant Farmworkers of Auburndale come and provide entertainment.  Their dances added to the festive spirit that encompassed our United Nations food-o-rama.  Members of the Peace Movement shared their information.  Jean Reed came and shared some of her cookies and concerns for Polk County.  Karen Welzel, DEC chairwoman, gave a briefing on some of the issues facing the Democratic voters.  We are most thankful to all who volunteered their goods, time, work and money to make our fundraiser a huge success.  

The Richard Brumbaugh donation in his memory for the Friends of the Lake Alfred Library will be presented in November.  We are talking to Auburndale High School and Teneroc High School to get our scholarships in place for some graduates of the 2010 year.

Richard Isinghood
AADC President

Lakeland: Submitted by Regina Long

The Lakeland Democratic Club met on Thursday, November 5th, at the McArthur Center.  Speakers were Sarita Edwards, wife of future Congressional 12 candidate, Randy Edwards, and County Commissioner Jean Reed, who updated the audience on the county budget.  There will be no December meeting.  The next general meeting will be January 7, 2010 and is very important as the 4 directors who are elected bi-annually in even numbered years are up for election.  Please contact President Andy Crossfield if you are interested in

serving as a director or if you have a nomination at 640-6641.  Candidates for director must be a member of LDC 45 days prior to the election.  On behalf of the Lakeland Democratic Club we wish all of you a Happy Thanksgiving,

Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa, Merry Christmas, Season's Greetings, and a happy & healthy New Year!

Regina Long

.  .

Lake Wales:  Meetings are now the 3^rd Tuesday of each month.  Lake Wales Club will not have a meeting, but will have an entry in the Lake Wales Veterans Day Parade on Saturday November 14, line up is at 10am on Park Avenue and the parade begins 11am.

Winter Haven: Submitted by Paul Anderson

The Greater Winter Haven Democratic Club (GWHDC) met on October 27, 2009.  The speaker was Lori Edwards, Polk County Supervisor of Elections, who spoke on past, present, and future elections.  She distributed and discussed a report on the 2008 general election.  74.25%, of those registered, voted.  More Democrats then Republicans voted.  More Republicans than Democrats voted by mail, but far more (nearly double) Democrats than Republicans early voted.  The Elections Office is a very busy place, having held 15 municipal elections since election day, November 4, 2008.  Lori is also a candidate for U. S. Congressional District 12, and she discussed some of the issues.

After Lori's lecture, a vigorous discussion of health care reform ensued as part of the business meeting.  The Bartow Halloween Parade was discussed and many GWHDC members agreed to participate.

Mr. Chichetto reminded us to bring items for the Club's food bank for the homeless.  The next meeting will be on November 24, 2009.

LOCAL, STATE, AND NATIONAL ISSUES

Submitted by Jean Harden

Eight Is Not Enough for Sen. Mike Bennett

For the 2010 legislative session Sen. Mike Bennett (SD-21) has filed SJR 598, a proposal to   amend ARTICLE III, SECTION 15 and ARTICLE VI, SECTION 4 of the Florida Constitution.

The proposed amendment to ARTICLE III, SECTION 15 would increase legislative terms limits from eight years to twelve years. State senators could be elected to two, six-year terms, instead of the current two, four-year terms. State representatives could be elected to three, four-years terms.    

The proposed amendment to ARTICLE VI, SECTION 4 would impose a term limit on elected county and municipal officers of 12 years.  Most county and municipal officers are elected to staggered four year terms and that would not change.

There is currently no Florida House sponsor for this proposed amendment.  Passage of SJR 598 requires a 3/5 approval of each legislative chamber. It would then be placed on the 2010 General Election Ballot. 

Should voters approve this Proposed Constitutional Amendment, implementing legislation would be required.  Bennett proposes that senators elected in the 2010 general election “be elected to at least four years. The terms of senators having two years remaining to their terms on the date of the general election may be extended by two years.”  For the representatives, “those elected in odd-numbered districts in the 2010 general election shall be elected to terms of two years. Those representatives elected in even-numbered districts in the 2010 general election shall be elected to terms of four years.” (Sen. Bennett is termed-out in 2012 and would not be affected.) 

Sen. Bennett’s proposal will surely be a topic of lively (and entertaining!) debate. More than one county or municipal elected officer will no doubt be highly visible during the upcoming legislative sessions.               

COMMITTEE REPORTS

CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE:  Submitted by Walter O’Rourke

No report at printing

AFFIRMATIVE ACTION COMMITTEE: Submitted by Charlene Hypes

No report at printing

LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE: Submitted by Jean S. Harden

        State Sen. Charlie Justice (SD-16) has filed SB 528 - Voter Eligibility Challenge, an Anti-Caging Bill.

Caging is a vote repression technique in which the registration status of a voter is challenged in an attempt to keep them from voting in an election. In practice, a direct mail piece from a political party or candidate is sent to the voter’s registered address with "Do not forward" instruction on the envelope. A list of returned, undelivered mail is then compiled and the list is used to purge or challenge the voter’s right to voter claiming that the voter does not live at the registered address.  Voters may find their ballots discarded or they may be required to cast a provisional ballot. Voters who have moved or had their mailed forwarded to a summer address could be affected, as well as students away at college and military personnel serving overseas. Caging often occurs in targeted precincts, mainly minority, and precincts with a history of high turnout for the opposing party.  

Current law provides that any registered elector or poll watcher of a county may challenge the right of a person to vote in that county. The challenger must sign a notarized oath stating their belief that a voter is voting illegally and the reason for their belief. Challenges may also be filed not more than 30 days prior to the election. The precinct clerk must deliver the challenge to the voter who is then allowed to cast a provisional ballot. (101.111 F.S.)  A person casting a provisional ballot shall have the right to present written evidence supporting his or her eligibility to vote to the supervisor of elections by not later than 5 p.m. on the second day following the election. (101.048(1) F.S. ) In the 2008 Election, older Democratic voters in Duval, Hillsborough, Collier, Miami-Dade and Escambia counties reported receiving this type of mail, paid for by the Republican National Committee and authorized by Presidential Candidate John McCain. Allegations of Republican vote caging in predominantly black Jacksonville precincts in the 2004 presidential election surfaced last year in testimony before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee. (http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/state/article814237.ece) SB 528 - Voter Eligibility Challenge: “A person who is not a state or local election official may not submit a formal challenge to an individual's eligibility to register to vote or to vote in any election if the basis for such challenge is evidence consisting of an error or omission on any record or paper relating to any application, registration, or other act requisite to voting, and if such error or omission is not material to the individual's eligibility to vote as provided by law.”Amends 101.111, F.S. In the unlikely event that the Republican controlled Florida legislature passes SB528, the law would be effective July 1, 2010. Based upon past elections tactics, and the current political climate, Democrats must be vigilant, and our voters must be aware of the potential to have their vote challenged. Encourage EARLY VOTING while there may still be an opportunity to correct registration problems.

POLK COUNTY YOUNG DEMOCRATS: Submitted by Jessica Barrett

I am excited to finally be able to include information on the Young Democrats in the newsletter.  As many of you may have heard over the past month, we have been working extremely hard to launch a STRONG and COMMITTED young democrat’s chapter here in Polk County.  It has been the focus of both the state and the national party for quite some time to “build the bench” and it is time we took an active roll here in Polk County.  We need to cultivate the leader of our party now, and an active young democrat’s chapter is an excellent way to start.  In an effort to establish a chapter we will be having an event at Polk State College: Lakeland Campus on the 17^th from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm also we will be at the USF: Lakeland Campus on the 16^th – 19^th from 4 pm to 6 pm daily.  We need HELP with the tables.  Any one interested in working a table for a couple of hours please contact Jessica at (863)207-5330 or polkyoungdems@gmail.com  Also if you have any events in your community please pass that info along so that we can do outreach there as well.  Thank you all in advance for your support. 

Jessica L. Barrett

Check out our website for more information added weekly

www.polkdemocrats.org

Tags: news, polk, young dems, 2010