Let the good times bowl !!!
If you have any questions, please reach out to John Hill at chair@polkdemocrats.us
or Sarah Fortney at sdfortney@msn.com

We’re not alone: Dems take action across Polk County

Club Board Elections: Leadership Updates

Looking ahead, we are preparing for our Officer and Director elections in March.
Here is the slate of open positions (2-year terms):

  • President & Vice President: We’re excited to announce that our current VP, Mary Martine-Scheiner, will be running for President! Current President, Brian Fillette, will be running for Vice President to help ensure continuity and to keep our Club moving ahead with strength and unity.
  • Directors: We’re also excited to share that our dedicated incumbents, Diane Jorio and Patty Whittle, will run for re-election. Their leadership and commitment bring both stability and enthusiasm to our Club.

Interested in running for a board position? Contact Dawn Scarborough (Nominating Committee Chair) at dmsc641@gmail.com  to self-nominate or ask questions. We encourage our members to participate in the management of our club!

At our January meeting, declared candidates will have the opportunity to share their background, interests, and vision for the Club’s continued success. Nominations will remain open through our February meeting, officially closing at the end of that meeting. Elections will be held at our March meeting, pending quorum (20% of eligible members present). If quorum is not achieved, elections will be conducted electronically soon after.

Membership Renewal & Voting Eligibility

Important: To run for office or vote in the March election, your 2026 dues must be paid by January 26.

If your last dues payment was before October 1, 2025, it’s time to renew for 2026 ($15):

  1. By Mail: Go to solivitademocrats.org/club-membership, print the form, and mail with your check payable to “Solivita Democratic Club”. (Address to mail to is on the form.)
  2. Online: Submit payment by clicking the Donate button on the membership webpage.
  3. In-Person: Visit us at the Solivita Market (Mondays, 9:30 AM – Noon) or at the Monthly Meeting.

✨ Special Event: Stop by our table at the Solivita Club Expo on Saturday, January 10 (9:30 AM – 12:30 PM in the Ballroom). Renew your membership and bring a friend!

Help Martha get the Lima Center across the finish line

Or, contribute to the Lima Center at Go Fund Me: https://gofund.me/551cab5f3

SDC Member Martha Cusimano died November 30th

Celebrating the life of Martha Hart Cusimano

B. January 27, 1943 – D. November 30, 2025
IN LIEU OF FLOWERS
Please make a donation to ST. ROSE OF LIMA
(Write on check: FOR LIMA CENTER BUILDING)
Mail to: St. Rose of Lima
Attn: Jack Weisheyer
3860 Pleasant Hill Road, Kissimmee, FL 34746

SOLIVITA DEMOCRATIC CLUB NOTE

We are saddened to learn of Martha’s passing. She exemplified the values of our club and the Democratic Party. Over the years she led voter registration training and door-to-door efforts for many local, state and national candidates. She orchestrated fundraisers for the St. Rose of Lima Food Pantry and Habitat for Humanity through a series of Big Band Concerts that raised more than $100,000 towards these worthy causes. For the past five years Martha devoted her efforts to improving the lives of the needy in and around Poinciana by working towards the Lima Center, which will greatly expand the capacity of the Food Pantry and provide much needed community meeting space. Her relentless work helped raise more than $4.1 million — within sight if the $4.4 million required to begin construction. All while bravely fighting her battle with terminal cancer. Martha was our SDC Member of the Year in 2020. Our club, our community and her family will miss her dearly. 

Contribute to the Lima Center at Go Fund Me: https://gofund.me/551cab5f3

FAMILY NOTE

The family wishes to thank everyone for their extraordinary impact on Martha’s life. In lieu of flowers, she expressly asked for donations to complete her final act for her community, the Lima Center Building Project. See instructions above on how to make donations. There will also be donation boxes at the funeral home during the viewing.

Please join us in celebrating all of Martha’s beautiful moments.
Finally, RSVP for the funeral reception so we can get a catering estimate.
RSVP to Patti Cusimano Gomas 808-987-4443

VIEWING
THURSDAY, JAN. 1, 2026, 4-5p (Family), 5-8p (Friends & Family)
FRIDAY, JAN. 2, 2026, 10-11:00am (Rosary Prayer Service)
–> Osceola Memory Gardens, 3175 Pleasant Hill Rd., Poinciana, FL 34746

CHRISTIAN BURIAL MASS
FRIDAY, JAN. 2, 2026, 12:30p
–> St. Rose of Lima, 3880 Pleasant Hill Rd, Kissimmee, FL 34746

RECEPTION
Immediately Following
–> The Palms | Solivita, 1055 San Clemente Ave, Kissimmee, FL 34759

BURIAL
SATURDAY, 3 JAN 2026
–> Oakland Cemetery North, 1250 Oakland Cemetery Road, Haines City, FL 33844

Weekend of Action – December 6 & 7

Solivita Democrats,

We hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving, and I want to extend my deep appreciation to each of you, the heart and soul of our party.

In just one week on December 9, we face critical elections in Miami, Miami Beach, and Orlando, along with special elections in House District 90 and Senate District 11. All eyes are on Florida. This is our moment to close out the year strong. A strong finish will demonstrate that our year-round organizing is working and it will give us the momentum we need heading into 2026.

Over the next several days, including our Weekend of Action, we have multiple opportunities to make an impact. My ask of all of you: lean in. Even if there isn’t an election in your community, step up and support your fellow Democrats. Together, we can win these races and show the country what Florida Democrats can do.

In solidarity,
Chair Nikki Fried

12/6–12/7 Dec 9 Elections Weekend of Action Phonebank | Register Here

  • City of Miami
  • Miami Beach
  • SD-11 (Hernando, Citrus, Sumter, Pasco)
  • HD-90 (Palm Beach)

Sign up here for our upcoming FDP organizing training series, tailored specifically for DECs:

Writing a Field Plan – Dec 4 @ 6pm
Hosting a Phonebank – Dec 11 @ 6pm
Launching a Canvass – Dec 16 @ 6pm

From the FDP Chair

We’re excited to continue building off of the momentum of our November Municipal Elections throughout the state. This week, we have two key Nights of Action where Florida Democrats will come together to drive turnout in critical special and runoff elections.

We have launched a new slate of Take Back Local candidates for the December 2025 runoff elections. Floridians are tired of the chaos and ready for leaders who show up, listen, and deliver. That’s exactly what our Take Back Local candidates will do. 

The Take Back Local slate for the December 2025 runoff elections includes:

  • Matthew Crowley, Winter Haven, District 4 – Runoff 12/2
  • Monica Matteo-Salinas, Miami Beach, Group I – Runoff 12/9
  • Eileen Higgins, City of Miami Mayor – Runoff 12/9
  • Chris Dzadovsky, Fort Pierce City Commission, District 2 – Runoff 1/13

On Wednesday, November 19, we’re kicking off with a Special Election Night of Action Phonebank focused on SD-11 in Central Florida and HD-90 in Palm Beach County:

  • HD-90 is a must-protect after the recent passing of our longtime Democratic representative
  • SD-11 gives us a rare chance to flip a Republican-held Senate seat after the incumbent was pulled into the DeSantis administration

Strong performance in these races will send a clear signal: Florida Democrats are ready to compete everywhere.

Nikki Fried
FDP Chair

DEMS WIN OFTEN IN FLORIDA!

Red to Blue WINS:

  • Eileen Higgins leads the Miami Mayor race headed to runoff in December. 
    She would be the first Democrat to take the office in 28 years!
  • Bryan Bain flips Clermont City Council Seat 2, securing Democratic majority.
  • Tom Keen flips Orlando Commission 1 with a majority of votes in a 4-way race,
    defeating a 12 year incumbent for complete control of city commission.
  • Chris Dzadovsky leads Fort Pierce City Commission race going to runoff to replace a Republican incumbent.

Re-elected:

  • Steve Oelfke, Holmes Beach
  • Vernon Burton, Lake Helen
  • Laura Dominguez, Miami Beach Seat 2
  • Alex Fernandez, Miami Beach Seat 3
  • Christine King, City of Miami Commission District 5
  • James Watts, Fort Meade Seat 3 
  • Clifton Dollison, Winter Haven Seat 5

🎉 We’re excited to share that four candidates from our Take Back Local program were elected in local races across the state.

Our work is not done—Eileen Higgins is advancing to a December 9th run-off for Miami Mayor, and based on last night’s results, another Democratic victory is within reach. All eyes are on the city of Miami as Dems battle to take back the mayor seat for the first time in 28 years. 

November is…

Monthly themes and observances

 

Key dates and promotions

November National 2025 Events