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Polk County Progressive Democratic Caucus Condemns Trump’s Illegal Actions, Calls for Impeachment and Refusal to Fund His Administration

Winter Haven, FL — The Polk County Progressive Democratic Caucus today issued a strong condemnation of President Donald Trump’s reckless and unlawful actions, citing his authorization of a failed 2019 Navy SEAL mission in North Korea that killed civilians, a recent U.S. military strike that destroyed a civilian boat off the coast of Venezuela without evidence of wrongdoing, and his blatant violation of the Posse Comitatus Act by deploying federal troops into Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., while threatening to do the same in Chicago.

“These are not isolated incidents. They represent a pattern of lawlessness, executive overreach, and disregard for human life,” said the caucus leadership in a joint statement. “Drug smuggling is not a capital crime, and no president has the right to authorize the extrajudicial killing of civilians. To normalize this kind of violence is to erode both our democracy and our humanity.”

The caucus also warned that simply waiting for the next election is not an adequate strategy.

“The Trump administration is already working to rig the next election to guarantee its hold on power. If Democrats do not act now, it will be too late.”

While Democrats remain in the minority in both chambers of Congress, the caucus urged them to use the most powerful tool available: the power of the purse.

“Congress must refuse to fund this administration until the rule of law is restored. Anything less enables Trump’s abuses.”

The caucus emphasized that Trump’s corruption is directly harming American families by:

• Reducing access to health care

• Undermining the CDC and public health protections

• Weakening FEMA’s emergency response capacity

• Undermining National Parks and selling off public lands for profit

• Attacking clean energy development in wind and solar

• Targeting minority communities, including people of color, LGBTQ people, and women

“We call on Congress to commence immediate impeachment proceedings and to halt all funding for this administration,” the statement concluded. “Our democracy, our communities, and our future are at stake.”

Media Contact:

Polk County Progressive Democratic Caucus <info@progressivepolk.com>

Send your submission or questions to: BeaconSolivita@gmail.com

Join the FDP for a new monthly call focused on uplifting our efforts on the ground! Hear updates on programming and how YOU can get involved in our Statewide Field, Voter Registration, and Candidates & Campaigns Programs.

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Please send an email to acapintake@floridabar.org to demand the disbarment of Pam Bondi. You can use the yellow guidelines as justification for the demand. Send an email, pass it on!

Help rid our nation our faux Attorney General! Take five minutes to send your thoughts to the panel who has the authority to disbar her. Many thanks.

Everyday the news hits us hard and fast. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed without clear leadership. This is why I am asking for your help today. Our leaders at the DNC need to be rising up to meet the moment so we are simply asking them to meet up.

Please take a moment to demand our national leaders step up and sign/share this petition.

Thank you in advance,

Bear Williams
Polk DEC Secretary

https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/emergency-petition-to-the-democratic-national-committee?source=direct_link&

A quorum was achieved by way of email after the March 12th membership meeting and concluded on March 16th with unanimous YES votes received for our newly elected Officers & Directors:

Mary Martine-Scheiner – Officer, Vice President

Rochelle Quinn – Officer, Treasurer *re-elected*

Dawn Scarborough – Officer, Secretary

Brenda Davis – Director, Membership Chair

Doug Peterson – Director, Publicity Chair

Congratulations to All!

They join our Directors continuing in term:
Diane Jorio – Director, Hospitality Chair
Patty Whittle – Director, Outreach Chair

Many thanks to our outgoing Directors:
Dorothy Schwartz, Director, Publicity Chair
Val Williams, Director, Ways & Means Chair

The search for candidates for President and Ways & Means Chair continues, and subsequent elections will be scheduled when qualified individuals are identified.

Prospective candidates for these leadership positions are encouraged to reach out to me or any Board member to express your interest.

Brian Fillette
Out Going President, Solivita Democratic Club
president@solivitademocrats.org
Visit our Website https://solivitademocrats.org/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/solivitademocraticclub 
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SDC Member and past Director of the St. Rose of Lima Food Pantry

April 1, 1949 – February 13, 2025

Bob Doktor was a gifted carpenter.  A friend asked him to help renovate the St. Rose of Lima Food Pantry, and he said yes.  Asked to collect food from community drives in his big GM truck, Bob said yes.  He became a pantry volunteer because he saw the need and said yes, eventually becoming the second director of the St. Rose Pantry, leading an amazing team of highly organized volunteers.  During that time, he served on the Second Harvest of Central Florida agency advisory board and received their Hunger Hero Award for Osceola County, which recognized  the work of St. Rose of Lima pantry in Poinciana and Kissimmee.   He made room for many during his life, serving those in need whom he met along the way. 

He loved the ethnic diversity of Buffalo, NY, his home town, where his family spoke Polish at home and he inherited their deep faith and work ethic.   The Doktor and Duchnik families emigrated from Poland after his grandfather’s town was wiped out during World War II, but kept their culture and traditions alive and well.  Bob loved food: shopping for it at the Buffalo Polish Market, cooking it, and enjoying it.  His mother and Aunt Molly made pierogis, golabki, kielbasa, sweet and sour cabbage, and all sorts of amazing baked goods.  He and Barb became excellent cooks for their family and friends.

He fell in love with Barbara Petruolo, of Yonkers, New York, the child of Italian immigrants and grandchild of Irish immigrants, and they married 55 years ago at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Tonawanda, New York.   Almost immediately, the newlyweds moved to Frankfort, Germany, where Bob served as a communication specialist with the 5^th US Army Corp, as part of the American NATO presence.  After returning to the Buffalo area, he earned a BS in Accounting from Canisius College, made General Motors products for 33 years, enjoyed Buffalo wings, Beef-on-Weck, Sahlens hot dogs, and shoveled a lot of snow.  An avid Buffalo Bills fan, he and Barbara enjoyed, dancing, camping, playing cards, travel and their family.  They retired to Solivita 20 years ago, became members of St. Rose of Lima parish, the Western & Upstate New York Club, the Social Dance Club, Do Unto Others Club, Veterans Club of Solivita,  Solivita Democrats, and Oldies But Goodies,  among others.

Bob died of a heart attack while enjoying a cruise with Barb.  He is survived by his beloved wife Barbara Petruolo Doktor, Poinciana, FL; son Shawn Edward Doktor, Poinciana, FL; grandson Brendan Doktor, Buffalo, NYl; daughter Bridget Marie Doktor Lukomski, son-in-law Daniel Lukomski and grandson Noah Lukomski, Williamsville, NY; sister Deborah Bowen, Buffalo, NY; brothers Kenneth Doktor, Jamestown, NY and Donald Doktor, Rochester, NY.

A funeral mass will be held at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, Thursday, March 20, 11 am.  A mass of Christian burial and interment will be at St. Stanislaus Roman Catholic Church and Cemetery Buffalo, NY. 

Donations: Lima Center: www.saintroseoflimacc.org      
Choose online donations and then “building fund.”

This is from Cheilie Doyel, the widow of Judge Bob Doyel. Bob was a lifetime leader in the Polk County Democratic Party. He ran for numerous state and county offices after a long and successful career as a Family Court Judge.

 “I wanted to let you know that Bob’s celebration of life will be held at the American Legion in Winter Haven on Saturday, March 15, at 11:00 a.m.  The Legion building overlooks Lake Silver.