Flagler County Democratic Party e-Newsletter

Register to Vote Election Day November Issue Volume 2 , 6, 2012 3

March, 2012 Newsletter Volume 2, Issue 3

File photo INSIDE THIS ISSUE Main Office 2

The more you know

3
4

Hi Fellow Democrats, Just as the President, the National Democratic Party and the State Democratic Party has faced challenges, the Flagler County Democratic Party has just faced a major challenge to it's visibility in the County. I am happy to report that your response was successful. We still have an office. I personally want to thank those of you that contacted me with your words of encouragement. I especially want to thank those of you that were able to provide a donation along with your words. Every little bit helped. This response reaffirms to me that there is a vast silent majority of democrats and liberal thinkers that will step forward when the chips are down. I see us going strongly forward into November, re-electing the President and other Democrats that will defend and safe guard our way of life. You, the Party deserve a pat on the back and an applause. It is okay to give yourself a hand. Once again ......THANK YOU!!!!! Yours gratefully, Dan Parham Chair Flagler County Democratic Party (DEC)

2012 Election

Debbie Wasserman Schultz

Sen. Audrey Gibson Can we still vote Education Healthcare for Floridians 9 5 6 7 8

Charter School Bill

10

Flagler County Schools Scholarships 11

Structure of Flagler County Democratic Party

12

Well Wishes

13

Volunteer Donate 14

POLICY

15

Page 2

Flagler County Democratic Party e-Newsletter

LOCATION
One Hargrove Grade Building A, Suite 1 D, Palm Coast, Florida, 32164 Mailing Address : P.O. Box 350928 Palm Coast, Florida, 32135

Dates and location of DEC and Club Meetings

Our Democratic Executive Committee meets the 2nd Monday of every month @ 7pm. Meeting are held at the Palm Coast Community Center, 305 Palm Coast Parkway NE ( on Clubhouse Drive between East and Westbound Palm Coast Parkway ) Next scheduled meeting will be Monday, March 12th , 2012. Invite a Friend

Put pic of center or a group meeting

Our Democratic Club meets the fourth Tuesday of every month @ 7 pm. The next scheduled meeting will be Tuesday, March 27th , 2012. Location : TBA. For more information : Call ( 386 ) 586-3601 Invite a Friend

Our Democratic Women Club meets the first Saturday of every month @ 11am. Next scheduled meeting will be Saturday , March 3rd, 2012. Meetings are held at Democratic Headquarters, One Hargrove Grade, Bldg A, Suite 1D. For more details contact : Courtney Chaplin at: ( 386) 793-1561 Invite a Friend

Volume 2 ,

Issue 3

Page 3

The more you know.

Stay in touch via Flagler Emergency Alert System.

Register Today for Flagler Alert Powered by Code Red

Flagler County Emergency Management is proud to announce its new Flagler Alert Email System, powered by Code Red. The new system will provide information to inform citizens of protective actions and recommendations during unusual incidents, large emergencies, and disasters in Flagler County. It is not a weather warning system. A NOAA Weather Alert Radio is the best method to receive timely warnings of hazardous weather. Flagler Alert is a public information system. It sends notifications by telephone, email, and/ or text messaging allowing for fast notification of evacuations and other emergency messages in Flagler County. Flagler Alert will become the only method in which email notices from our agency will be sent to the public. As a result the old Flagler Alert and Flagler Emergency Yahoo group will be suspended effective immediately. You can do this by clicking the link below. Flagler Alert - Code Red Sign Up About NOAA Weather Radio
NOTICE: Under Florida law, e-mail addresses are public records. If you do not want your e-mail address released in response to a public records request, do not send electronic mail to this entity. Instead, contact this office by phone or in writing. Contact us : Flagler County Emergency Services, 1769 E. Moody Blvd. Bldg #3, Bunnell, Florida , 32110

( 386 ) 313-4200

info@flaglercounty.org

flagleremergency.com

Non Emergency 24 Hour, Sheriff s 911 Center, ( 386 ) 313-4911

THE MORE YOU KNOW >>>>> 2012 OFFICES UP FOR ELECTION

FEDERAL OFFICES
United States President Barack Obama ( D ) United States Vice President Joe Biden ( D ) United States Senator Bill Nelson ( D ) United States Representative, District 7 John Mica ( R )

COUNTY OFFICES
County Commissioner, District 1 Alan C. Peterson County Commissioner, District 3 Barbara S. Revels ( D ) County Commissioner, District 5 George Hanns ( D) School Board Member, District 3 Colleen Conklin School Board Member, District 5 Sue Dickinson NOTE To view the list of Candidate who have filed to run for offices up for election. Visit : Flaglerelections.com/2012

CONSTITUTIONAL
STATE OFFICES
State Senator, District 1 Audrey Gibson ( D ) State Representative, District 20 Bill Proctor ( R ) State Representative, District 26 Fred Costello ( R ) JUDICIAL OFFICES Justice of Supreme Court Only those whose terms expire January 2013 Judge, District Court of Appeal Only those whose terms expire January 2013 State Attorney R.J Larizza ( R ) Public Defender County Court Judge Sharon B. Atack 7th Judicial Circuit Judges Groups 2, 9, 12, 13, 15, 16, 19, 21, 27

OFFICERS
Sheriff Don Fleming ( R ) Clerk of Circuit Court Gail Wadsworth ( R ) Tax Collector Suzanne Johnston ( R ) Property Appraiser James Jay Gardner ( R ) Supervisor of Elections Kimberle B. Weeks ( D )

SPECIAL DISTRICTS
East Flagler Mosquito Control Seat 1, Seat 2, Seat 3 Soil and Water Conservation District Seat 1, Seat 2, Seat 3, Seat 4, Seat 5 Grand Haven CDD Seat 2, Seat 4 Dunes CDD Seat 2, Seat 3, Seat 4 Tomoka CDD Seat 1, Seat 2

THE MORE YOU KNOW

NATIONAL

Democrat Wasserman Schultz plays national role in Republican primaries

by : Anthony Man, Sun Sentinel.com

File photo

In Colorado, Missouri and Minnesota, Republicans will be voting in presidential nominating contests on Tuesday. And that means one South Florida Democrat will be turning up on cable news channels a lot to excoriate Mitt Romney and praise President Barack Obama.

Pres. Obama , Rep. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz,, Sen. Bill Nelson Exit Air Force One , Orlando , Fl. Attending a Fund raiser event at the home of Basketball Star Vince Carter

U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz will be reprising a role she debuted in January: focusing like a laser

on potential flaws in presidential candidate Mitt Romney, hoping to plant doubts about him in the minds of the independent swing voters who will ultimately decide who wins the presidential election in November. As Obama's handpicked chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee, the U.S. House member from Weston is the president's chief political surrogate. That put her on the road in each of the four states that held nominating contests last month. Wasserman Schultz uses the news media's need for contrasting viewpoints, plus the insatiable need of cable television shows and radio talk programs to fill airtime, to push the Democrats' message. "I'm making sure that in the early primary states that I'm there to be able to draw a contrast between the extremism that the Republican field has been displaying on the issues that matter to working families in America and President Obama's really incredible record," she said. Even though Romney hasn't locked up the Republican nomination, it's no secret Democrats view the former Massachusetts governor as the biggest threat to Obama's re-election. Even when other Republicans have briefly ascended, Wasserman Schultz has never let up on Romney, attempting to depict him as a flip flopper on issues, out of touch with ordinary Americans, and the beneficiary of a business career that hurt workers. Republicans have a different spin on Romney's record and the spin Wasserman Schultz is putting on it. "President Obama and his liberal allies continue to target Mitt Romney with false and dishonest attacks because they are intimidated by his candidacy," Romney spokesman Ryan Williams said via email. "The president knows that he will lose the general election if he is forced to compare his failed economic agenda with Gov. Romney's record as a successful businessman. That is why the Democrats are trying to tear down Mitt Romney before he has even won the Republican nomination." Some independent analysts say Wasserman Schultz is perfect for the role she is playing.

FILE PHOTO

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: BRANDY WRIGHT February 23, 2012 850-487-5024 SENATOR AUDREY GIBSON HELPS PRESERVE THE FLORIDA HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION
FHFC Critical Organization for Floridians seeking access to Affordable Housing TALLAHASSEE Legislative attempts to return the Florida Housing Finance Corporation (FHFC) a former state agency converted to a public corporation in 1997 - to state control were halted on Thursday through an amendment to Senate Bill 1996, sponsored in part by Senator Audrey Gibson (DJacksonville). The FHFC is a critical organization for Floridians seeking access to affordable housing, said Sen. Gibson. Reverting it back to a state agency threatened its flexibility and would have hamstrung its ability to quickly meet that primary mission of helping people get into affordable This amendment strikes a reasonable balance, said Sen. Gibson. It allows the FHFC to continue doing what it does best, and requires an independence homes. The Legislature shouldnt dismantle what isnt broken without first taking a closer look. Also sponsored by Senator Lizbeth Benaquisto (R-Ft. Myers), the bi-partisan amendment reversed language converting the FHFC from a public corporation back to a state agency under the Department of Economic Opportunity, preserving its current functions. To better understand what processes could be improved, the Gibson/Benaquisto amendment also requires the Auditor General and the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability to conduct a joint audit and review of the FHFC, with a report to be submitted to the Legislature by Dec. 1, 2012.

This amendment strikes a reasonable balance, said Sen. Gibson. It allows the FHFC to continue doing what it does best, and requires an independent review of the things it could do better. Michelle DeMarco
Press Secretary Florida Senate Democratic Office 850-487-5833

AARP on-line Bulletin Ask ! ! ! Can we still VOTE ?

The midwife at the 1949 home birth in rural South Carolina delivered a healthy baby girl but didn't file a birth certificate. Donna Jean Suggs grew up, got a Social Security card and found work as a home health aide. Try as she might, though, she couldn't get a birth certificate. That meant she couldn't get a driver's license or register to vote. See also: Voters' champion Brenda Williams. "I fought with them and fought with them," she said of the or photo identification card is commonplace for most Americans, but about 11 percent of adult citizens more than 21 million people lack a valid, governmentissued photo ID, according to a study by the Brennan Center for Justice at the New York University School of Law Increasingly, this puts their right to vote at risk. A year ago, only Georgia and Indiana required photo ID cards to vote. Since then, 34 states have introduced voter ID laws. Five enacted them, governors in five other states vetoed them, and other states are considering them.
"What's new is the no-photo-no-vote" laws,

Nearly one in five citizens over 65 about 8 million lacks a current, government-issued photo ID, a 2006 Brennan Center study found. Most people prove their eligibility to vote with a driver's license, but people over 65 often give up their license and don't replace it with the stateissued ID that some states offer non-driving residents. People over 65 also are more likely to lack birth certificates because they were born before recording births was standard procedure. Strict new photo ID laws could make voting this year more difficult for 3.2 million voters in Kansas, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin, if the new laws stand, according to the Brennan Center. Late last month, the Justice Department rejected South Carolina's law for discriminating against minority voters, who it said were nearly 20 percent less likely than white voters to have a government-issued photo ID. South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley (R) said she would seek to have the ruling overturned. The department was also reviewing the Texas law. Meanwhile, a lawsuit has been filed against the Wisconsin law, and other states' photo ID laws face possible legal challenges. In November, Mississippi voters approved an amendment requiring a photo ID, but it must be implemented by the legislature and would not take effect until 2014. In the states with strict photo ID voting laws, voters who show up without photo IDs generally are allowed to vote a provisional ballot that is counted only if the voter brings a photo ID to a government elections office within a few days, and may not be counted at all unless the election is close.

said Jennie Bowser, a senior fellow specializing in elections at the Denver-based National Conference of State Legislatures. "The 2010 elections' big shift toward Republican control of state legislatures was certainly a piece of that." Older voters most affected The trend alarms voting advocates like Lawrence Norden, acting director of the Brennan Center's Democracy Program, who said photo ID laws hit older people, the poor, African Americans and students the hardest. This is the first time in decades that we have seen a reversal in what has been a steady expansion of voting rights in the United States," Norden said. "There's no question that citizens over 65 will be particularly impacted. The older you get, the more likely you won't have an ID."

EDUCATION NEWS FROM TALLAHASSEE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE In case you missed it. February 21, 2012 Contact: Mark Hollis. (850) 488-9622

(HOUSE DEMOCRATS VOTE AGAINST MAJOR TUITION HIKES

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- In support of Florida's working families, Democratic legislators on the Florida House Education Committee today voted in opposition to a Republican leadership bill that would allow unlimited tuition hikes for at least some public universities in Florida. Under the no-cap tuition hike plan (PCB-EDC 12-02), the cost for students and working families to attend certain public universities would increase at levels potentially far higher than even the 15-percent tuition hikes being considered in state budget proposals. The tuition hikes surface in the same legislative session in which House Republican leaders are proposing to slash hundreds of millions of dollars from the budget for higher education. I will not support anything that comes on the backs of our students who are already struggling," said Rep. Martin Kiar (D-Parkland) during debate on the bill. Representative Kiar also noted that allowing major spikes in tuition could undermine Florida's popular Prepaid Tuition program. "I think (the tuition hikes) will make this great program obsolete, and that gives me grave concerns." Rep. Dwight Bullard (D-Miami), the Democratic ranking member on the committee, said the Legislature has too heavily relied on tuition hikes in recent years as a means of improving universities. "I've argued for a dedicated source of funding for education since I ran for office, and to date, we haven't responded," said Bullard. "We all acknowledge the need for a better educational environment. But I have a hard time putting that burden on the students and parents who are faced with stagnant incomes and unemployment rates at over 10 percent." Rep. Gwyndolen Clarke-Reed (D-Deerfield Beach) spoke against the bill. "I know our university system is in dire need to have the appropriate instructional personnel," she said. "But when we talk about raising tuition with no cap, I have a problem with that." Rep. Betty Reed (D-Tampa) said she sympathizes with university officials' desire to find adequate funding for their programs, which she indicated is a factor in why she has previously supported tuitiondifferential plans for the universities. "But at this time, it is one of the most difficult times that we could (consider increasing) the cost of education," said Rep. Reed. "I know the numbers of students who are really struggling, and the economy is still not as good as we need it. On this day, I have say no to this." Rep. Luis Garcia (D-Miami) said: "It's time to draw a line in the sand. Every year, we keep going back to our students for more. I am drawing a line in the sand and I'm not going to vote for it." Rep. Cynthia Stafford (D-Miami) voted against the bill and later explained that the proposal would amount to a "double shot" against Florida's universities, noting that the no-cap tuition hike may come

in addition to an additional tuition hike in the state budget that House Republicans have proposed.

Healthcare for Floridians

TAMPA BAY TIMES
A Times Editorial

Florida's missed opportunities to improve health care

In Print: Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Despite the hostility of Gov. Rick Scott and the Republican-controlled Legislature to the federal health care reform law, Florida organizations have received $119.6 million in funds from it over the last two years. A new study shows that money largely went to nongovernmental groups to fund essential health services while the state lost out on tens of millions because of the governor's opposition. So while private groups prepare, Tallahassee fiddles. One of those missed opportunities is the money that flowed to states that started developing their own state-based health insurance exchanges. Scott's decision not to prepare for 2014, when the state exchanges are fully operational, likely means the federal government will have to establish Affordable Insurance Exchanges for Floridians instead. Under the Affordable Care Act, private insurance coverage will be made available through state exchanges, a state-by-state, one-stop shopping center intended to give uninsured people the ability to choose from a variety of preapproved private health insurance plans. In 2014 the exchanges will provide a variety of services. They will select the health plans to be on the exchange, help consumers shop for the right one and coordinate assistance for federally subsidized premiums. Twenty-eight states have already taken steps to develop their exchanges. But for those states that opt out, the federal government will offer an exchange instead. This is where Florida is headed. The point of states developing their own exchange is to allow for flexibility and innovation, giving each state the opportunity to meet the needs of its own residents. But Scott is intent on having Florida watch from the sidelines, even as other states with Republican governors such as Alabama prepare. Alabama received more than $8.5 million in federal exchange establishment grants after an exchange study commission, created by the Republican governor who opposes the federal law, issued recommendations for implementation. More than two dozen additional states have received grants of up to $60 million to tackle the complexities of establishing their exchanges, including states such as Mississippi, Nevada, Michigan and others that have joined Florida's lawsuit challenging the constitutionality the Affordable Care Act. Meanwhile Florida is losing out on money that could benefit its citizens. Florida's legal challenge will be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court in March. For now health care reform is the law of the land, contrary to Scott's assertion. His refusal to carry out the law's terms is not just an abrogation of his responsibilities as governor. It is a decision that deprives Floridians of tens of millions of dollars in federal preparatory grants, and a signal to 4 million Floridians without health insurance that they are on their own.

EDUCATION

the CURRENT
SMARTLY COVERING FLORIDA POLITIC AND POLICY

Funding measure fails to get on charter school bill

Gray Rohrer, 02/14/2012 - 07:06 PM

An effort to funnel more money for maintenance and construction projects to charter schools was left off legislation that would increase the number of charter schools that can be built. The amendment failed Tuesday when members of the House PreK-12 Education Appropriations Subcommittee voted it down. The measure, offered as an amendment to HB 903, would have sent 80 percent of money collected by school districts from their 1.5 millage property tax levy to charter schools for capital improvements, minus money the charter schools received from Public Education Capital Outlay funds and other funding sources. Money used by the school districts to pay down bond debt obligations would not be factored into the formula. Important Republicans on the panel, including committee Chairwoman Marti Coley of Marianna, joined Democrats in voting against the measure, and the amendment died on a 7-7 tie vote. Coley said that although she wanted equal funding for charter and traditional public schools both, the amendment came down too harshly on public schools. If this amendment is added and [the bill] somehow stays the way it is, we have some concern for some of our districts. We have some districts that dont even have charter schools, Coley said.

Rep. Janet Adkins, R-Fernandina Beach, sponsor of both the bill and the amendment, said she was

simply trying to find more funding for charter schools, which receive a disproportionate share of funds on a per student basis than traditional public schools. We have waiting lists for students that want to attend charter schools, and the primary reason there is a waiting list is because we have a lack of money for facilities, Adkins said. Charter school students and their parents spoke in favor of both the amendment and the bill, and public school teachers at the committee meeting spoke against both measures. Wayne Blanton, executive director of the Florida School Boards Association, said charter schools shouldnt be pitted against public schools, but that lawmakers should find a more stable funding source for capital improvements than PECO, whose revenues have been dwindling in recent years. Last year, lawmakers sent $55 million in PECO funds to charter schools and none to public schools. The issue is not public schools versus charter schools, the issue is lack of PECO money, Blanton said. The remaining bill, which allows high-performing charter schools to create three new schools per year as opposed to the one new school currently allowed has one more committee stop in the House, as does its Senate companion, SB 1858.

FLAGLER COUNTY SCHOOLS

2011-2012 Local Scholarships

More applications are being added daily, please check back often!

This year marks the 26th Annual Senior Scholarship Ceremony for graduating seniors of Matanzas and Flagler Palm Coast High Schools. The Flagler County Education Foundation sponsors the Senior Scholarship Ceremony each spring and awards several scholarships to outstanding graduates. Scholarships being awarded by the entire community can total over $300,000 some years. Scholarships come from a variety of civic groups, businesses and individuals. Flagler County residents can be proud in coming together supporting hard-working seniors. All seniors are encouraged to complete scholarship applications, keeping in mind, deadlines are placed next to each scholarship! If you are a senior applying for a scholarship, please ask your school Guidance Office for a Flagler County Education Foundation Scholarship Application to be completed in order to be eligible for all scholarships listed below that require the FCEF Scholarship Application. You may also download the FCEF Scholarship. Click Here NOTE: You must complete the FCEF Application only ONCE to be eligible for all scholarships requiring the FCEF Application. Several other scholarships not shown below will also be awarded by completing the FCEF Scholarship Application Form. If the FCEF Application is not required, you must complete the application supplied by the specific organization awarding the scholarship. Seniors chosen for a scholarship will be notified to attend the Senior Scholarship Ceremony that takes place on May 2, 2012, but will not be told which scholarship (s) they are being awarded, creating a great night of suspense and excitement. Please Note: A few organizations will notify students direct. Good luck to our seniors and if you want to provide a scholarship, please contact Tara Tranter at trantert@flaglerschools.com or 386.437.7526 x3131 for more information. Timeline: Now - March 15 FCEF Scholarship Application submitted to guidance counselor. Note: Thursday, March 15 is the deadline for FCEF Application. Deadlines for scholarships listed with criteria and guidelines for each scholarship. November - March Scholarships posted on Flagler County Schools web site. March - Mid-April Students selected for scholarships, invitations to Senior Scholarship Night sent to students. May 2, 2012 Scholarships awarded at Senior Scholarship Night.

Flagler County Democratic Party

Democratic Executive Committee

Dan Parham, Chairman

One Hargrove Grade, Suite 1D Palm Coast, Florida, 32164

Konnie Rea, Vice Chair Connie Parham , Secretary

Phone : ( 386) 283-4904 flaglercntydem@gmail.com

Melba Mc Carty, Treasurer Melba Mc Carty, State Committeewoman Donald Hoskins, Parliamentarian

Working Together AS ONE

We are on the WEB

www.flaglerdemocraticparty.com

Office Hours
Monday Friday 11:00 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Register to Vote
Election Day Tuesday November 6,

CLUBS AND CAUCUS

Democratic Club
Merrill Sharpiro, President, Diana LeBrun, 1st. Vice President Ronale Bowman, 2nd. Vice President Roxanne Convery, Recording Secretary Konnie Rea, Correspondence Secretary Ivory Johnson, Treasurer

Democratic Womens Club

Courtney Chaplin, President Connie Parham, Secretary

Young Dems Veterans Caucus

NEWSLETTER STAFF
Mamie Godfrey, Editor Andrea Levy, Associate Editor Connie Parham, Associate Editor

HAPPY BIRTHDAY
All the gifts you get today wont compare to the gifts you generously give those around you every day

MANTRA MESSAGE

Open your arms to change, but dont let go of your values.

A good deed is never lost : he who sows courtesy reaps friendship; and he who plants kindness gathers love. Basil

Arguing with a fool proves there are two.

Doris M. Smith

DONATIONS NEEDED
The main office located at One Hargrove Grade, Palm Coast, is where democratic voters, and democratic candidate meet to develop a strategy to elect, and re-elect candidate who will support the Presidents agenda that will move the country forward in a successful manner for all Americans.

Your help is needed to maintain our local Democratic office and assist in electing Democratic candidates Did you know, donations made at the National or State level do not trickle down to us? We depend solely on You. Please donate by mail, or at our website. Any amount is welcome and as always we appreciate your generosity. Did you also know we are all volunteers? Please consider donating some of your time!

Mail Contributions :

Flagler County Democratic Party, ( DEC ) P.O. Box 350928 Palm Coast, Fl. 32135 ( 386 ) 283-4904
http://www.flaglerdemocraticparty.com

POLICY
The Flagler County Democratic Executive Committee ( FCDEC ) is Responsible for discharging Florida Democratic Party affairs within Flagler County.

We welcome your views/comments. All stories/ comments will be posted at the discretion of the Chairman and/ or Staff. This information is being sent to those parties who have requested newsletter, meeting dates and information from the Flagler County Democratic Party.

Paid for by and authorized by Flagler County Democratic Party.

Register to Vote
Election Day Tuesday November 6, 2012