Board Member Virginia Russell Will Lead the Presentation SOLIVITA Democratic Club Contact your elected officials The 2016 Presidential personalities and politicsBeacon have and media at: provided a wealth of material for the late night talk Sen. Bill Nelson shows hosts. United States Senate While we can still laugh, a sampling ... 716 Senate Hart Office Building “Ted Cruz said that a ‘white knight’ Washington DC, 20510 is not going to parachute into the Sen. Marco Rubio Republican convention and walk away United States Senate with the nomination. To which the 317 Hart Senate Office Building GOP responded, ‘You had us at ‘white.’” Washington, DC 20510 -Conan O’Brien Cong. Alan Grayson “While campaigning in Wisconsin, Campaign Office Ted Cruz refused to wear the traditional 8419 Oak Park Road Wisconsin ‘Cheesehead.’ Ted Cruz said Washington DC, 20510 the Cheesehead would compromise the Gov. Rick Scott dignity that he one day hopes to have.” The Capitol -Conan O’Brien 400 S. Monroe St. Tallahassee, FL 32399-0001 Marco Rubio pulled out of the race after State Rep. John Wood losing the Florida primary to Trump by almost 20 points. But he still has a great story. I District Office: mean nothing symbolizes America more than the son of poor immigrants growing up to 702 East Main Street run for president and being crushed by a billionaire.” -Jimmy Fallon Haines City, FL 33844-4226 “If it comes down to Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, if the vote was today, Trump State Rep. Mike LaRossa would be in trouble. Clinton leads Trump in a hypothetical matchup 54 percent to 36 per- House District 41 Office cent. While 68 percent of likely general election voters view Donald Trump negatively and 1224 10th Street the other 32 percent don’t have Twitter or television.” -Jimmy Kimmel St. Cloud, FL 34769-3343 “House Speaker Paul Ryan today continued to shoot down rumors that he could be a State Sen. Kelli Stargel surprise candidate at the Republican convention and said that he’s not the fresh face his 902 S. Florida Avenue, Suite 101 party needs. I guess he hasn’t gotten a look at the other faces in contention.” -Seth Meyers Lakeland, FL 33803 “Sarah Palin just signed a deal to act as a judge on a new reality court TV show. Sarah said she just wants to get a little legal experience before Trump nominates her to the The Orlando Senitel Supreme Court.” -Jimmy Fallon Editorial Dept. 633 N. Orange Avenue “Donald Trump is polling so badly with women that at a rally last night, he had his wife, Orlando, FL 32801 Melania, introduce him. Because if there’s one thing that’s guaranteed to get American The Lakeland Ledger women on your side, it’s a foreign model who’s married to a billionaire and never has to Editorial Dept. work.” -Conan O’Brien P.O. Box 408 “Donald Trump won the Republican primaries in Florida, Illinois and North Carolina. Lakeland, FL 33802 Trump did especially well with white males, Caucasian men, and non-women of no color.” SDC Beacon -Seth Meyers c/o Ellis Moose 217 Sorrento Road “Chris Christie was the focus of a shaming campaign after a fan at a basketball game Poinciana, FL 34759-4065 photographed him seemingly pouring a bag of M&Ms into a box of M&Ms. I guarantee you Chris Christie did not know the score of that basketball game.” -James Corden “Donald Trump said in a recent interview that the press conference held to announce his candidacy for president looked like the Academy Awards. No black people.” -Seth Meyers

“Nearly 70 percent of Americans said a Trump presidency would make them ‘anxious.’ And 30 percent said a Trump presidency would make them ‘Canadian.’” -Conan O’Brien

Paid for by the Solivita Democratic Club April 2016 Page 2 Not approved by any candidate or candidate’s committee SOLIVITA Democratic Club Beacon

OLDER AMERICANS COMING MONTH EVENTS BLAZEBLAZE A TRAIL: MAY 2016 A MAY 11TH A Meal for Mom: Celebrate Mother’s Day with us! TRAILmay 2016 Chicken Parmesan and Discussion on OLDER AMERICANS ISSUES Wed., May 11th Starlite Ballroom

Don’t miss the Solivita DEMOCRATS VOTER RALLY Coming August 10th in Freedom Park! Each of our Polk County Democrats that will be on the ballot in precincts 411 & 420 (Solivita) will be invited to attend this special outdoor www.acl.gov/olderamericansmonth meeting and picnic. Invited candidates include: Older Americans Month May 2016: “Blaze a Trail” US Congress Dist. 9 Older adults are a growing and increasingly vital part of our country. The contributions Valleri Crabtree they make to our communities are varied, deeply rooted, and include influential roles in Dr. Dina Grayson the nation’s economy, politics, and the arts. From 69-year-old NASA Administrator Charles Susannah Randolph Bolden, Jr. to 84-year-old actress Rita Moreno to 83-year-old Ruth Bader Ginsberg, who State Senator Darren Soto took her seat as a Supreme Court Justice at age 60, older adults are blazing trails in all Ricardo Rangel aspects of American life. FL House Dist. 41 In 1963, we began to acknowledge the contributions of older people by using the Judge Robert Doyle month of May to celebrate Older Americans Month (OAM). Led by the Administration for Nicholas Garcia Community Living, the annual observance offers the opportunity to learn about, support, and celebrate our nation’s older citizens. This year’s theme, “Blaze a Trail,” emphasizes FL House Dist. 42 the ways older adults are reinventing themselves through new work and new passions, Dr. Benny Valentin engaging their communities, and blazing a trail of positive impact on the lives of people of ...and others? all ages. Continued on page 4 Paid for by the Solivita Democratic Club April 2016 Page 3 Not approved by any candidate or candidate’s committee Trump SOLIVITA Democratic Club Beacon Polk County Democrats Announce Man & Woman of the Year at Annual Gala March 19 The Democratic Executive Committee of Polk County hosted their annual fundraising gala last Saturday evening at the Chain of Lakes Complex in Winter Haven. Juanita and Lemuel Geathers, Sr. were honored as “Our Guiding Stars” for their lifetime of service to the citizens of Polk County. Mr. Geathers was chairman of the D.E.C. Our 2016 Board Members: in 1977. He served as the first African-American mayor of Ellis Moose, President Winter Haven. His wife, Juanita, served as Secretary for Newsletter Editor the Florida Democratic Party State Executive Committee Chair, Polk County DEC (1996-2000) and also was the highest ranking African- [email protected] 863-852-7294 American woman during her tenure as Secretary. The Stan Dillard, Vice President Geathers reside in Winter Haven, Florida. [email protected] Shawn Kinsey of Winter Haven was recognized with 863-427-4480 the Lawton Chiles-Polk County Democratic Man of Rochelle Quinn, Treasurer the Year Award. Kinsey is president of the East Central [email protected] 412-334-7042 Polk Democratic Club, president of the Polk County Deborah Wellman, Secretary Democratic Black Caucus, Recording secretary of the [email protected] Democratic Black Caucus of Florida, and secretary 248-231-3812 of the Polk County DEC. He also serves as precinct Ilene Malpero, committeeman. Ways and Means Chair [email protected] Ruth Ann Eaddy of Lake Hamilton was presented with 863-496-2116 the Marlene Duffy Young-Polk County Democratic Pat O’Beirne, Woman of the Year Award. Eaddy became a Democrat Hospitality Chair the day Lawton Chiles announced he was running for governor. She serves as Polk County [email protected] State Committeewoman. She manages the first year-round Democratic office in Haines City 863-547-4374 and directs the staff of volunteers. Additionally, Eaddy is chair of the Polk County Campaign Elected for 2016-2017 terms: Committee and has worked diligently to Leonard Guminiski, recruit and promote the Democratic slate of [email protected] well-qualified candidates for local, county 586- 321-4711 and national races. Ron Hill, [email protected] The annual gala attracted more than 216-470-2813 140 supporters to the affair. Funds raised Virginia Russell, will go toward office expenses and voter [email protected] participation efforts. There are no paid staff 516-835-7176 members in Polk County. All work is done Earl Rawlins, on a voluntary basis, including the efforts of [email protected] Solivita Democratic Club members. 863-427-9276 Celeste Williams [email protected] Give Your Club It’s Dues! 407-924-1766 By Rochelle Quinn, Treasurer It’s that time of the year again – time to renew your Solivita Democratic Club membership. The Board of Directors meets each first Tuesday of the month at Your dues provide the majority of the financial resources that our club needs for voter 1:00pm. education, voter registration and for direct contributions to help elect the Democratic Contact any board member if you candidates in our districts. In addition, club membership benefits include our Monthly have an issue you would like to Newsletter and discounts to events and dinners. Your dues make possible our next events have the club consider. Your ideas and support of Democratic candidates and public issues. You can renew at any meeting or are encouraged and welcome! online at SolivitaDemocrats.org.

Paid for by the Solivita Democratic Club April 2016 Page 5 Not approved by any candidate or candidate’s committee SOLIVITA Democratic Club Are you in the picture? Beacon Events at Solivita and around Polk County have been keeping Polk Democrats enthused about putting more Democrats in office on November 8th.

Solivita Democratic Club members were joined by former president Marti Kara at the Democratic Gala in Winter Haven on March 19. Alison Foley-Rothrock, Esq. spoke at our March 9th Solivita Democratic Club meeting on the many facets of immigration in America. The issue is not as simplistic as many would make it out to be. With America already great, it is a magnet for oppressed people from around the world who as seeking a better life for themselves and their families.

Put yourself in the picture! Photos by José Garcia and Ellis Moose Get active with us. Our Solivita Democratic Club Ellis Moose enjoyed the prime pick of desserts at the Gala. will have a big impact on events and elections in Tables pooled their donations to win first choice of goodies. Poinciana, Polk County and Florida in 2016!

Former SDC president Marti Kara and State Senator Members of the Solivita Democratic Club who attended Darren Soto enjoyed a minute together discussing the our March meeting became better informed on immigration upcoming Congressional District 9 race, in which Sen. Soto in the U.S. . . and better fed with a delicious meal of Shepard’s faces four others for the Democratic nomination. Pie and all the trimmings. Our meeting in May will feature a meal of Chicken Parmesan and honor the Mothers among us.

Paid for by the Solivita Democratic Club April 2016 Page 6 Not approved by any candidate or candidate’s committee