From the President's Desk in This Issue REMINDER Thirsty Marlin
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Vol. 3, No 6 P a g e | 1 June, 2011 From the President’s Desk In This Issue By Rich Piper From the President’s Desk Since the publication of our last newsletter, we’ve seen further Calendar of Events developments that offer hope for the 2012 elections. PCDEC News In the special election on May 24 in New York’s 26th Congressional Election News District, the Democratic candidate Kathy Hochul won a spectacular victory Letters and Opinions over her Republican opponent and a tea-party independent candidate in a Florida Congressional Delegation & Why heavily Republican area of upstate New York. This was a district in which Join? the Republican candidate in 2010 had won 76% of the vote and which had voted overwhelmingly for John McCain and George W. Bush in REMINDER presidential elections. The key issue of this campaign was the Republicans’ embrace of the Ryan budget proposals, especially NEXT MEETING of privatization of Medicare and major cuts in its funding, that I wrote about the Largo-Mid-Pinellas in last month’s column. What I wrote last month proved prophetic in this Democratic Club. election. Voters clearly do NOT like the Republicans’ plans to wreck Bring your donation of Medicare and Medicaid in order to give more tax cuts to the wealthy. We canned goods for the need to make sure that our voters hold our Florida Republicans local food pantries. accountable for their unanimous votes in the House and Senate for the DATE: June 20, 2011 Ryan plan. TIME: 7:00 PM There are, of course, other important issues; and we need to stress them, too. Here in Florida, Governor Scott and the Republican legislature have PLACE: assaulted the environment, public education, public servants, voters’ Thirsty Marlin rights, women’s rights, affordable health care and transportation needs. 351 West Bay Dr # 1, Largo, They have also revived the leadership slush funds that have been widely (727) 586-3474 or email described as ―legalized bribery.‖ I have lived in Florida for 35 years, and Rich at this governor and legislature have compiled the most miserable record of [email protected] m any in my experience. Floridians are responding very negatively to this record. The Quinnipiac Poll that came out at the end of May showed the Governor getting a positive assessment from only 29% of the respondents, while 57% expressed disapproval. The legislature received similar ratings from the public. We need to continue to write letters, make phone calls, support rallies and recruit candidates for 2012 in order to build further momentum against the Republicans. We also need to press Democratic officials and candidates to offer positive alternatives that address real problems. Visit our website at: Another recent encouraging indicator of political trends was the www.largodemocrats.com unexpected election of Alvin Brown as Jacksonville’s first Democratic Mayor in 20 years and as its first African American mayor ever. The Florida Republican Party made an all-out effort to elect Brown’s opponent, and Brown’s victory (coming after Democrats swept the board in the Tampa mayoral and city council elections) suggests hope for the future of NEWSLETTER EDITOR Vol. 3, No.6 Page 2 | June 2011 Florida politics. Let’s work to make that hope a reality! Kathleen Jamison [email protected] Among the worst of the Republican legislators in Tallahassee has been Jeff Brandes in House District 52. Many of our club members and I LAYOUT EDITOR joined with about 200 others to demonstrate in front of his office on May Wanda Schwerer 10 to protest his abysmal voting record. A strong Democratic candidate, [email protected] Bill Nobles, has now emerged to challenge Brandes in the 2012 elections. Bill, a young, dynamic St. Petersburg business executive, PHOTO EDITOR married, with three children, has earned degrees from St. Petersburg College and USF, as well as an M.S. Degree from Boston College. He Heidi Sanchez spoke at the May meeting of the Pinellas County Democratic Executive Committee and at the St. Petersburg Democratic picnic and made a very positive impression at both events. He is asking our assistance in gathering petitions to get him on the ballot. Let’s do what we can to help him in this endeavor! I have petition copies and will bring them to our next meeting. Our June 20 meeting (Thirsty Marlin Grill, 351 West Bay Drive, Largo, 7 FLORIDA’S p.m.) will feature speakers on two issues of interest to our members. David Plyer, a Clearwater resident who has filed ethics complaints CONGRESSIONAL against Gov. Rick Scott and other Tallahassee officials for misconduct in DELEGATION office, will be talking to us about his complaints and what we need to do Sen. Bill Nelson - to take similar actions. In addition, two delegates from the 2008 813 225-7040 or Democratic National Convention, Club member Kathryn Larkin and ( 202) 224-5274 Nancy Hoppe, will be talking to us about how they became delegates Email: http://billnelson.sena and what the delegate position entailed. Hopefully, they will encourage te.gov/contact/index. some of our members to run as national convention delegates in 2012. cfm I’ll be bringing copies of the new rules on delegate selection that the Sen. Marco Rubio - Florida Democratic Party is expected to approve on June 11. 813 977-6450 or For those who would like to get their feet wet as state convention (202) 224-3041 email: delegates here in Florida in 2011, please contact me for applications http://rubio.senate.go v/contact_form.cfm ([email protected] or 727-588-0891). The Florida State Democratic Convention will be at Disney World from Oct. 28-30, 2011. I know that a Rep. Bill Young - number of you have served as delegates to previous state conventions, as 727 893-3191 or (202)225-5961 I have, and have found the workshops and presentations very interesting and helpful. The convention should also be fun! Calendar of Events Date Time Event Location MONDAY, JUNE 20 7:00 PM – Largo/Mid-Pinellas Thirsty Marlin Grill, 351 W. Bay Drive, Largo 33770 TBD Democratic Club THURSDAY, JUNE 7:00 PM - PCDEC St. Pete Marriott Hotel, 12600 Roosevelt Blvd. N., 23 9:00 PM St. Pete SATURDAY, JUNE 10:00 AM - Celebrate St. Pete Pride Event Location: Central Avenue--St. Pete 25, 2011 4:00 PM Description: Join the Stonewall Democrats as they participate in the annual St. Pete Pride parade. There will also be a Stonewall Democrats booth. SATURDAY, JUNE 1:00 PM - OFA Event Location: DEC HDQ--2250 First Avenue N. 4:00 PM 25, 2011 Event: Get involved with President Obama's re-election campaign. The Pinellas OFA is up and running and looking for volunteers. Please join them. Vol. 3, No.6 Page 3 | June 2011 Date Time Event Location MONDAY, JUNE 11:30 AM - Democratic Women's Event Location: Golden Corral--10050 Ulmerton Rd, Largo 27, 2011 2:00 PM Club of Upper Pinellas Event Description: Guest Speaker is Mary Stanley. Mary is a self-made business woman, National Women's Political Caucus Activist, Republican turned Democrat and new Board member of VFA(Veterman Feminists of America)Senior Lunch is $7.79 and Non-Senior Lunch $8.29 Tuesday, June 28, 6:30 PM - Soapbox Cinema Event Location: Gulfport Senior Center--5501 27th Avenue 2011 9:00 PM presents "Home--A South Stunning Visual Event Description: Home is a beautiful movie of our home Portrayal of Earth planet. You will want to experience the wonderment of our world in a way that will thrill, enthrall and captivate you. Award winning aerial photographer Yann Arthus-Bertrand and narrator Glenn Close take you on a spectacular voyage around the world which spans 54 countries and 120 locations. THURSDAY, JUNE 1:30 PM - Anti-R-Senate Event Location: Vinoy Hotel And Resort 30 4:00 PM Candidates/Press Event Event Description: As part of the Florida Society Of News Editors annual convention, R Senate candidates will be appearing, as well as Bill Nelson. If you're tired of the media focusing on fluff pieces instead of real news -- like how the Senate has abdicated it's responsibility to the people in favor of corporate interests -- join us to let the press know it's time to do their jobs, like Howard Troxler always has! Thurs, June 30 1:30-4pm Vinoy Resort And Hotel 501 5th St. N.E. St. Petersburg, FL 33701 We need folks spreading the word, and help with making signs. Contact Mike Fox for more, or to RSVP. 727-320- 4502 or [email protected] Let's make some noise! Friday, July 01, 12:30 PM Anti-Scott/Anti-Fluff Event Location: Vinoy Hotel 2011 – 3:00 PM Press Event Event Description: As part of the Florida Society Of News Editors annual convention, Rick Scott will be appearing. If you're tired of the media focusing on fluff pieces instead of real news -- like how this man and his cohorts are ruining Florida -- join us to let the press know it's time to do their jobs, like Howard Troxler always has! Friday, July 1 12-3pm Vinoy Resort And Hotel 501 5th St. N.E. St. Petersburg, FL 33701 We need folks spreading the word, and help with making signs. Contact Mike Fox for more, or to RSVP. 727-320- Vol. 3, No.6 Page 4 | June 2011 Date Time Event Location 4502 or [email protected] Let's make some noise! Saturday, July 02, 1:00 PM - OFA Event Location: DEC HDQ--2250 First Avenue N. 4:00 PM 2011 Event Description: Please join us to get President Obama re-elected.