Polk County Democratic Party Weekly Digest: July 19-25, 2021
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Voter Registration Chair Named
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Polk County Democrats welcome Barbara Dutcher as our new Voter Registration Chair, as announced at the DEC meeting earlier this month.
Originally from the Midwest (Iowa), Barbara has lived in Florida since 1975 and Lake Wales for 11 years. She also lived twice in Jamaica, spending eight years there. A life-long Democrat, her hot-button issues are education (former teacher) and the environment (worked in this field in Jamaica).
As our new Voter Registration Chair, Barbara is searching for anyone interested in helping registering new voters and turning Florida Blue! She said those with people skills can man tables at events or walk events, meeting and greeting potential voters. Those folks who are less outgoing can help by making calls to arrange our events or other tasks.
She is especially looking for college students and people who would like to go on campuses to engage first-time voters.
All who want to help are welcome! Committee members are needed from all over the county. To express your interest, email Barbara at barbara_dutcher@yahoo.com
Be on the lookout for special voter registration events in upcoming editions of the Weekly Digest. |
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Here is a friendly reminder that we are looking for volunteers to fill these positions critical to successfully flipping Polk County Blue! Please contact the relevant person to find out more information.
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| Job Title |
Desirable Skillset |
Job Description |
Contact Person |
| Volunteer Coordinator |
Organized, moderate computer skill, good interpersonal communication, enjoys socializing and talking to people via text and phone |
Will take responsibility for communicating with new volunteers by text or phone, placing their data in a spreadsheet that will be used by the Office Committee. Will help new volunteers identify a job that they would like to do for the DEC and then connect them with the appropriate Club, Caucus or Committee Chair that is coordinating that job. |
Catherine Price
Chair, Polk County DEC
chairpolkdemfl@gmail.com |
| Campaign & Candidate Recruitment – Committee Chair |
A connector, person that enjoys talking to people and searching various networks for possible Democratic candidates. Resourceful and a strategic, political thinker. |
Will build a team of that will search for Democratic candidates for federal, state and local elections in Polk County. Connect candidates with training and funding resources. Help develop strategies in collaboration with candidates to win campaigns. |
Karen Welzel
State Committeewoman
Polk County DEC
Kwelzel628@gmail.com |
| Legislative Liaison |
Enjoys research; detail oriented; issue driven. Good written and verbal communication skills. Able to utilize Mailchimp and other communication software. |
Will research various issues of interest to Polk County Democrats, understand the legislative process and become knowledgeable of legislation being proposed at the federal, state and local level. Provide education about important upcoming legislation through written media, programs and emails to Polk County Democrats. Encourage lobbying by Polk County Democrats. Possibly put on townhall forums to education Democrats and the community about specific issues. |
Catherine Price
Chair, Polk County DEC
chairpolkdemfl@gmail.com |
| Finance Committee Members |
Knowledgeable of financial management and fundraising process. Good computer skills. Likes to party. |
We need people to help with our financial oversight processes and by writing fundraising letters, calling donors and helping put on fundraising events. If you like to party you might be a good fit for this committee. |
Catherine Price
Chair, Polk County DEC
chairpolkdemfl@gmail.com |
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The Florida Democratic Party's annual Leadership Blue Convention is back! This event will be held in Orlando from August 27-29, and include virtual sessions. As the list of activities and sessions are being finalized, visit leadershipblue.com for updates and more information.
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Training Opportunity:
If you are a new Precinct Chair, or need some refresher tips, join the National Democratic Training Committee on Monday, July 26th from 1pm-2:30pm for a free virtual live training on “What is A Democratic Precinct Chair?”
You will learn the following in the training:
- Recognize Democratic precinct chair responsibilities
- Discuss building relationships in your precinct
- Understand tactics to maintain and engage Democratic precinct members after Election Day
To join, click here.
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Call to Action:
Tell Florida members of Congress: Now is the time to support Medicaid expansion for Florida
Take 1 minute and send a letter of support to your Florida member of Congress with a handy letter tool, from The Action Network.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis turned down billions of dollars and left out millions of people from having health care when given a chance at Medicaid expansion. The Medicaid Saves Lives Act would provide health care insurance to Americans with low incomes in the twelve states that have refused to expand their state Medicaid programs under the Affordable Care Act. By closing the coverage gap in these states and providing free and affordable health insurance to millions of Americans, the Medicaid Saves Lives Act would also provide access to preventative health care services; improve health outcomes and prevent premature deaths; lower costs for uncompensated care, which would in turn reduce hospital and provider closures; and improve economic mobility for Americans with low-incomes by enabling them to work.
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Florida politicos and party leaders react to DACA ruling
A Texas federal judge ruled Friday that the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) is unconstitutional, barring future applicants to the Obama-era program that prevents the deportation of immigrants brought into the U.S. as children.
The ruling by U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen bars new applicants but leaves the program intact for existing recipients, and has sparked outrage among Democrats.
Here’s how Florida politicos are responding to the ruling
In reaction to the ruling, Florida Democratic Party Chairman Manny Diaz issued the following statement:
“This rash and ill-considered ruling will upend the lives of too many law abiding immigrants who came to this country at a young age and are here without legal status through no fault of their own. Americans know an injustice when they see one, they understand that excluding these ‘Dreamers’ is not the right thing to do, and there is overwhelming support for allowing them to legally remain among us.”
“I call on Congress to act swiftly to provide a permanent solution, a path to citizenship that will grant these ‘Dreamers’ the legal status they deserve and make official what so many of them know in their hearts: they belong here, this is their home too.”
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Cuban exiles in Polk County hope change finally comes for Cuba
Images of the mass protests in Cuba inspired demonstrations of support throughout the United States, and that included Lakeland. Evelyn Peña, who left Cuba at age 26, organized a gathering last week at Munn Park in downtown Lakeland for exiles and allies to express solidarity with the Cuban people.
Also, Florida Democratic Party Chair Manny Diaz called "on all Americans to stand with the Cuban people in this dark hour while their government chooses to repress them instead of tending to their needs. I am calling the Biden Administration to coordinate the proper response. People in the streets of Havana and Palma Soriano are justly calling for ‘homeland and life’ while waving Cuban and American flags. This is not a partisan issue, but one that should unite our entire community. The people of Cuba need us now."
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Lakeland tentatively puts police body cameras in fiscal year 2022 budget
Lakeland city officials tentatively put aside funds to purchase body-worn cameras for the Lakeland Police Department in the city's upcoming budget. If the money survives the budget process, Lakeland will become the third city in Polk County to equip its officers with body cameras. For full story, click here.
Meanwhile, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd stands firm against body cameras, but calls for more staff. More details here.
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Groups ramp up effort to block anti-protest law
Plaintiffs challenging a new Florida law aimed at cracking down on disruptive protests are asking a federal judge to block portions of the statute from being enforced, arguing that the statute includes a “guilt-by-association” provision allowing police to “round up” peaceful demonstrators who haven’t done anything wrong.
A coalition of groups, including the Dream Defenders and the Florida State Conference of the NAACP, in May filed a lawsuit challenging the new statute, which was one of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ top priorities for the 2021 Legislative Session that ended April 30.
The groups on Wednesday asked Chief U.S. District Judge Mark Walker for a preliminary injunction to block a central provision of the measure (HB 1), which includes a wide range of steps to penalize or enhance existing sanctions on violence and property damage related to protests.
For the rest of the story, click here.
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Florida disabled advocate part of Kamala Harris voting rights roundtable
Vice President Kamala Harris convened a group of disabled advocates at the White House this week. Florida lobbyist Faith Olivia Babis, a senior public policy analyst for Disability Rights Florida, was among the voices at the table.
Babis said she felt excited just that the conversation happened at all.
“For the Vice President to reserve an hour to meet with the disabled community is a big deal,” she said. “We are not normally included in discussions about us.”
Full story here.
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3 million Florida families to receive Child Tax Credit payments
Starting last Thursday, an estimated three million Florida families will began receiving payments as part of the American Rescue Plan’s Child Tax Credit program, which provides families $250 to $300 per child each month through the end of the year.
The stimulus will inject $150 billion into the economy nationwide and pull an estimated 270,000 Florida children out of poverty.
For details about how the payments work and help families, click here.
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Important Dates and Meetings
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Steering Committee & Regular DEC Meetings
The next DEC Steering Committee meeting will be held on Monday, August 2.
The next Regular DEC Meeting will be held on Monday, August 9 Click here to register.
(Regular DEC meetings are on 2nd Monday of the month) |
Events Calendar of Clubs and Caucuses
Democratic Hispanic Caucus of Polk County - July 22 at 6:30 pm
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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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