The party has the momentum and grassroots support that it takes to win in 2018

Today, the members of the Florida Democratic Party used their grassroots power to elect Terrie Rizzo as the new chair of the Democratic Party. Chairwoman Rizzo is committed and ready to continue the string of victories seen by Democrats this year.

“Acting Chairwoman Judy Mount led the Florida Democratic Party in the lead-up to today’s election. Chairwoman Mount was the first African-American woman to lead the state’s Democrats and we are grateful for her dedication and leadership.” said FDP spokesperson Johanna Cervone. “Democrats around the country are resisting Donald Trump and the Republican party’s disastrous policies that only serve the wealthy few while leaving working families behind. Our state has seen a swell of momentum that has resulted in major election wins for Democrats in 2017. Florida Democrats are organized, energized and taking on Donald Trump, Rick Scott and the GOP. Under Chairwoman Rizzo’s new leadership, FDP is ready to flip Florida blue in 2018 and begin creating an economy that works for everyone, not just those at the top.”

Chairwoman Rizzo Bio:

Terrie Heinrich Rizzo is the three-term Chairwoman of the Palm Beach County Democratic Party, the “Chair of Chairs” of the Florida Democratic County Chairs Association (DCCA), and one of Florida’s ten elected members of the Democratic National Committee. She is proud to be part of the Florida Democratic Party team that will Flip Florida Blue in 2018 and retake the White House in 2020!

DEMOCRATIC ACTIVISM AND PARTY MANAGEMENT:
Always an “engaged citizen and passionate Democrat”, Terrie first become politically active with Democrats Abroad while living in Europe during the 2000 Presidential Election, and vowed to “get involved and make a difference.” After moving back to the United States, she started her path to activism as a volunteer with the 2004 John Kerry Campaign, then as DEC Committeewoman for her precinct in Boca Raton, and was elected to be Palm Beach County DEC Vice Chair in 2006.

Terrie assumed the position of the Palm Beach County Chairwoman in 2012 and was unanimously re-elected without opposition in December 2014 and 2016. Under her leadership, Palm Beach County Democrats have developed an organization which is widely regarded as one of the best county organizations in the state of Florida and nationally, focusing on year-round organizing, training and precinct development, and emphasis on voting by mail.

In January 2017 she was elected by state Democrats as one of Florida’s ten representatives to the Democratic National Committee, and in April 2017 she was elected by her fellow county chairs as “Chair of Chairs” of the Florida Democratic County Chairs Association. She also served as an elected Florida Delegate to both the 2012 and 2016 National Conventions.

FUNDRAISING:
When Terrie’s team took the helm of the Palm Beach County Democratic Party, the organization was not self-sufficient and in debt. UnderTerrie’s leadership the Palm Beach DEC went from a negative operating budget to raising over $600,000 in the 2016 cycle. Palm Beach DEC does not have paid staff or consultants, so 100% of those fundraising dollars went to support campaigns and grassroots organizing. Her team has developed the innovative Blue Victory Precinct Leader’s Manual and Victory Express Precinct Newsletter, now used by over 35 counties in Florida.

PERSONAL:
Terrie is especially committed to the importance of grassroots involvement inclusion and diversity, and participation by all, and she is inspired by her favorite political quote: “One person can make a difference and everyone should try.” – John F. Kennedy.

As a Navy brat, and later as an adult, Terrie has had the privilege of living in many areas of the United States and abroad. Terrie has over 40 years of experience in the fields of health & fitness education and communications. She is a specialist in adult exercise and ergonomics. Since moving to Florida, she continues to instruct multiple fitness classes weekly and provides coaching & personal training for private clients, specializing in “fitness over 50”. She says she has the best jobs in the world, helping people be fit and healthy and helping elect Democrats!

In addition to being a political junkie, Terrie enjoys traveling, dining, sports (especially football), and the theater, and she is a voracious reader. She and her husband, Mike, an Information Technology executive and consultant, have been married for over 45 years and have one son, Matthew, daughter-in law, Kate, and two grandchildren, Annika and Bo, who live in San Francisco — Democrats (and future Democrats) all!

The Florida democratic Party will be electing a new chairperson on Saturday, December 9, to fill the vacated seat left by the resignation of former chair, Steven Bittel.

This is your opportunity to hear from the next leader of Democrats in Florida.
Each of the four declared candidates for Florida Democratic Party Chair participated in a candidate forum:
Alma Gonzalez, Stacey Patel, Terrie Rizzo, and Monica Russo.

Video of the event is available on the Facebook page of the
Miami-Dade Democratic Party
and will be posted as a podcast (CLICK HERE).

WILL 2018 BE THE YEAR OF THE MILLENNIALS AND ANGRY FEMALE VOTERS?

This may seem like a stretch, but why should you attend the ongoing CDD meetings with regard to the amenities, and transfer of ownership of our community from the developer to our residents? Many people don’t seem to turnout, especially minorities who live here. By attending and participating in the hearings, we can be more informed about issues which affect us. It may seem like a small and trivial point, but taking an interest in happenings in our community has the potential of becoming habit, much like voting should be in political elections.

The consequences of not voting are immense with its potential effects on real wages, affordable higher education, accessible health care, Medicaid, Medicare, and housing affordability. However, there is one area we tend to overlook by not voting with regularity, which is not obvious at first. The party that wins elections has the potential to control not just the administrative and legislative branches, but also gains the power to restrict your rights through control of the judicial branch of our government with lifetime appointments; which could affect our children’s and grandchildren’s future for the next 40 years or more.

Donald Trump has nominated more unqualified judicial appointees than any other president so early in his first term, according to the American Bar Association. The ABA Standing Committee has been ranking prospective judicial candidates before they are officially nominated for a position since the Eisenhower administration. Presidents then nominate candidates deemed qualified by the group.

ABA President Linda Klein said that the “ABA the standing committee’s work has done much to instill public confidence and trust in the judiciary”. The committee has reviewed over 600 candidates for federal judicial posts during its existence, and all of whom were deemed qualified for the bench until now, when the ABA ranked Trump nominees Charles Goodwin, Leonard Grasz, Holly Teeter, and Brett Talley as unqualified.

In addition, 91 percent of Trump’s nominees are white, and 81 percent are male, according to an Associated Press analysis. Three of every four are white men, with few African-Americans and Hispanics in the mix, and 19% are female of any race or ethnicity (Women equal 51% of the population). Unlike President Obama, this administration feels that it has no obligation to appoint a diverse judiciary, which reflects the make-up of the U.S. population. You can continue this fiasco by staying home every election cycle, or change it by exercising your right to vote and encouraging like-minded people, your millennial children, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews to vote for Democratic candidates at every level of government, and at every opportunity.

Are we at a time when women in this country finally stand up to sexual harassment, and child molestation by those who either seek or hold high and powerful offices such as: Alabama Judge Ray Moore, and Donald Trump? Would you agree that it’s time for the “Blame the Victim” mentality to end with the women of this country finally exercising their political rights and muscle? The profile of the typical republican voter is older, white and male.

Millennials tend lean democratic/ independent, and voted for democratic leaning independent Berny Saunders. Hopefully, those women and millennials who took to the streets after the election of 2016 to the theme of “Not My President”, show up in large numbers at the polls. Will 2018 be the year of the Millennials and angry female voters? I certainly hope so.

Stanley P. Dillard, Sr.
President, Solivita Democratic Club

Hi, Solivita! I look forward to finally making an appearance there at your December 13th meeting.

I am attending the annual convention of the Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL). The thing I appreciate about our lobbying organization is that they take a principled stand on a number of issues of importance with healthcare being one of many issues of peace and justice both nationally and internationally. I agree we are living in critical times for many reasons. We need leaders that have a broad understanding of what is happening across the US and the world and have a sound moral and ethical foundation with which to make decisions. Our entire political landscape has become so corrupt that it is hard to know what to do. However, in the midst of this we do need to stand up and be counted.

Healthcare is one of many critical issues facing us – we cannot continue to spend more and more for the care that we all need. Ultimately a single payer national healthcare plan is the only solution – whether we can get there is another question. It is also not just to balance our healthcare budget on the backs of the poor and the low income working people. This issue of taxation is also conspicuously important. Republicans deficit hawks use this issue to bludgeon Democrats and then when they get in they start cutting taxes which in effect creates even higher deficits. Historically the Republicans have raised out debt and Democrats bring it down. We are seeing that yet again. Except now the tax cuts for corporations are going to be partially (but certainly not completely) offset by cuts to services for the poor and even the working class. The Republicans are desperate to pay off their political handlers. They are driving for this. If we give in easily then we as a Democratic Party are complicit in this act. Also, we cannot have bipartisan support for raising military spending and then fight against the cuts to spending for people. Makes no sense. That is an internal debate that needs to happen.

See you in December,
Catherine Price

Distractions….
While we are all sidetracked by Trump/Pence vs. the NFL, Trump vs. Puerto Rico, Harvey Weinstein & the Sexual Predators in Hollywood, Russian Hacking of the US election, or the indictment of Trump campaign leaders, it’s worth noting that the following bills have been introduced in the House of Representatives:
1. HR 861 – Terminate the Environmental Protection Agency
2. HR 610 – Vouchers for Public Education
3. HR 899 – Terminate the Department of Education (may end “free” public education as we know it)
4. HR 69 – Repeal the Rule Protecting Wildlife (seriously? Ridiculous to say the least.)
5. HR 785 – National “Right to Work” (this is actually the ‘Right to fire you whenever your boss feels like it” law and would effectively end unions.)
6. HR 83 – Mobilizing Against Sanctuary Cities Bill
7. HR 147 – Criminalize Abortion (“Prenatal Nondiscrimination Act”)

Delegate elections will be held on Monday, September 11th during our regular DEC meeting in Bartow. 

FDP 2017 State Convention
The 2017 Florida Democratic Party State Convention will now be held on October 27 through October 29 at a new location:

Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
1000 West Buena Vista Drive
Orlando, FL 32830

State Convention Room Block
We have secured a special group rate of $199 per night plus taxes. To make your reservations, please use the link below, or call the Disney Group Reservations Phone Team number: (407) 939-4686.

Reservations Link: https://aws.passkey.com/go/FloridaDemocraticParty2017.

Qualification of Delegates
All delegates must be registered Democrats in the State of Florida.

The stories and images we are seeing out of Houston, Texas this week are deeply troubling. The National Weather Service is calling this storm “unprecedented” and it is clear that Texans are on a long road to rebuilding their homes and communities.

In Florida, we are all too familiar with the hardships that so many in Texas are facing. That is why we are encouraging everyone to help emergency relief agencies however possible.

Here is a list of organizations who could use your support as they help those affected by Hurricane Harvey.

• American Red Cross
• Houston Relief Fund
• AFL-CIO Texas Worker Relief Fund

It’s important for all of us to come together to help our neighbors and those in need. Please join us in doing our part to assist those in their time of need.

Sincerely,
Florida, Polk County & Solivita Democrats

This is important! Really easy action…

SENATE “HEALTHCARE” BILL ACTION ALERT!!!

The Senate Finance Committee Office (202 224 4515) is keeping count of Americans requesting public hearings on Senate ‘healthcare” bill.
Please call & request that Public Hearings be held.
We need more callers. The phone is answered 8:30am – 6:30pm (EST)
Copy / Paste / SHARE Widely — and Please Call!!