“We saw what happened. It was a violent insurrection for the purpose of trying to prevent the peaceful transfer of power after a legitimately certified election, from one administration to the next. That’s what it was.” – Mitch McConnell
"There is almost no idea more un-American than the notion that any one person could choose the American president." – Mike Pence
Office Hours
Our regular office hours are Tuesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Our address is 2345 14th Ave., Suite 7, Downtown Vero Beach.
Newsletter Highlights
Precinct Captains are needed, or we won’t be able to reach the voters necessary to vote DeSantis out. Please consider joining our team. Read more in the Democrats of Indian River section.
Canned food items are needed for United Against Poverty. See the Local section for more details.
Ever wondered if the company you buy products or food from is Democratic-friendly. Check out Goods Unite Us in the Tidbit section.
GET INVOLVED
Education Group
If you watched or read the news lately, you know our public education system is under attack. All over the country, “Moms for Liberty” and “Parental Rights” groups are jamming up school board meetings demanding books be removed, masks be removed, CRT stop being taught (it isn’t), and school districts bow down to their every whim. In opposition, groups are starting to form to counter these attacks on our public education system.
Locally, a group of parents and concerned community members have been speaking at our school board meetings and writing letters to provide an alternate voice of reason. We are beginning to organize and need more help. If you are interested in joining a team working to preserve our public education system, please email [email protected] for more information.
Texters Needed
We have purchased a new texting program to reach out to voters in Indian River County. We are looking for volunteers who can send texts. It’s very easy and can be done from your couch or dining room table. All you need is a computer, no phones needed! If you are interested, email Stacey at [email protected] and she can send you more information about how the program works.
DEMOCRATS OF INDIAN RIVER
Democratic Executive Committee
Do you want to be part of the team that votes DeSantis out? Do you want to meet your like-minded neighbors? Are you tired of sitting by while Republicans get elected over and over?
Consider signing up to be a precinct captain for your local area. Precinct captains create relationships with their neighbors, help lead up Get Out the Vote efforts, and work with a fun team.
If you live in the following Precincts, we could use your help:
The next DWC Book Group meeting will be at 2 p.m. on Friday, February 25th via Zoom. DWELLINGS by Linda Hogan will be discussed. If you are not a Book Group member and would like to attend please contact Rita Milelli at [email protected]
Democratic Club of Indian River
The next meeting for the Club will be via Zoom, tonight, Thursday, February 10th at 6:00 p.m. For the Zoom link to the meeting, please email Wendy at [email protected]
The Democratic Club spent 2 weekends helping to paint the Gifford Historical Museum. The new facelift looks great!! Thank you to all who volunteered their time to help this historic museum.
The Democratic Club will hold its annual election at the March 10th meeting. Below is the slate of candidates:
President Wendy McDaniel
Vice president Betty Morrow
Secretary Caryl Zook
Treasurer Yolonda Anderson
Director Kelly Miller
Director Jadie Barringer
Director Clay Wild
Following are biographies of the candidates who will be new to the board:
Caryl Zook
Caryl is a lifelong Democrat from a Republican family. She earned a bachelor’s in journalism and environmental studies from Indiana University. She worked as a legislative reporter for the Indianapolis News and in 2013 authored the book, “After Occupy - A Future Fiction” (available on Kindle!)
Caryl has also worked as an Organic Grower, Independent Organic Certification Inspector, and as a chef and caterer. With her background in upscale catering and private chef experience, she has currently combined her skills to consult on Farm to Table menu development.
She moved to South Florida in 2003 and in 2014 purchased an authentic cracker cottage in Indian River Farms in Vero. Caryl has two sons and two grandsons who all live in Florida.
Yolonda Anderson
A native of Vero Beach, Yolonda currently resides in Sebastian. She remembers when there were dirt roads everywhere and people rode their horses on 58th. She graduated from Indian River State College with an associates in criminal science and is also certified as a medical assistant. She works at Florida Cancer Specialists as a Patient Service Specialist. She previously worked at Indian River Medical Center now known as Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital in a variety of roles.
Yolonda is proud of her beautiful family and beautiful wife of six years. She has two daughters and two sons. Her daughters are currently attending IRSC, studying surgical tech and nursing. Her oldest son is a senior at Sebastian River High School and her youngest, in the 6th grade, is homeschooled through the Digital Academy of Florida. Both sons have autism (high function) which she says taught her so much being a parent of children with disabilities. In her words, “I now know how to fight with the school system when it comes to their IEP’s and 504 plans. It is one of my passions to fight for those who can’t fight for themselves. I am passionate about the disabled, human rights and so much more.”
Kelly Miller
You might know Kelly Miller from Liberals in Vero, a Facebook group she started 5 years ago. Liberals has 1,200 members and continues to grow. She has lived in Vero Beach for 20 years. Prior to that she and her husband lived in Orlando and Los Angeles where she worked in television and film production at such studios as DreamWorks, Warner Bros., Viacom and Universal. She has a bachelor's degree in Communications: Radio/Television.
Kelly’s children attended Beachland, Gifford Middle and Vero Beach High. When her two children were younger, she worked as a substitute teacher. Her children now attend the University of Florida and Florida State. Kelly is now a realtor and she and her husband Matt own Indian River Pools, a family owned and operated business since 1995.
Clay Wild
Clay, a graduate of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, was commissioned in the Coast Guard in 1986. After completing his active-duty service, he joined the Navy Reserve in 1992. He sailed for Military Sealift Command during Operation Desert Storm, later served in Iraq and Kuwait during Operation Iraqi Freedom and again in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom. He graduated from the Naval War College and National Defense University while serving and ultimately retired in 2017 at the rank of Captain.
Nowadays Clay is a vice president of international business development for Flex Force Enterprises, an Oregon-based defense contractor. He travels extensively, working with international partners. He is also president of Sentinel Infrared Imaging, a consulting firm that helps small businesses enter defense markets.
Clay is married to the former Joycelyn San Juan of Hong Kong and has three daughters; Megan who works for St. Lucie County, Jade who works for Stitch Fix and Piper who is studying at Savannah College of Art and Design.
Please contact Claudia Martino [email protected] if you have any questions.
FEDERAL
Scott and Rubio Lie to Floridians About Infrastructure Support
At a recent visit to a dam surrounding Lake Okeechobee, Senator Rick Scott touted the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act’s $1 billion in funding allocated for Everglades restoration, claiming that he and Marco Rubio secured one of the largest single investments on record for the Everglades. There’s just one problem: both Rubio and Scott voted against the infrastructure legislation. Wish these senators had Pinocchio noses so we could watch them grow!
STATE
Florida Democratic Party Leaders, Mayor Levine Cava, and Florida Alliance Announce Launch of $2.5M Voter Registration Effort
Tallahassee, Fla. – The Florida Democratic Party, Florida Senate Victory, Florida House Victory, Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, and the Florida Alliance this morning announced the launch of a $2.5 million investment to register voters in key markets leading up to the 2022 election. The voter registration effort began February 1 and will continue through the October registration deadline.
This united coalition of Party leaders, popular elected officials, and key donors shares an aggressive commitment to building a Democratic voter base, and has the following to say about the newly launched initiative:
Manny Diaz, Chair, Florida Democratic Party
“The right to vote is sacred, and the Florida Democratic Party and our allies are giving everything we have to ensure that no Floridian is denied that right in the midterms. This multi-million-dollar joint voter registration initiative is another critical step in our continuing efforts to connect with a diverse group of first-time voters who deserve to have their voices heard.”
Senator Lauren Book, Leader, Florida Senate Democrats
“Tough cycle losses and Republican third-party sham candidates have lowered our numbers, but Senate Victory is putting in the time and the work to rebuild. We are committed and we’ve been doing our part by raising record funds to run competitive campaigns and get out our message of freedom and fairness. We see a multi-cycle path to win back the Senate which includes a strong voter registration program like the one we’re launching today.”
Representative Ramon Alexander, Incoming House Democratic Leader
“Rebuilding a Democratic majority rests on a foundation of a robust voter registration program – as the House leader, I am proud that both caucuses and our key stakeholders are launching this effort as a major addition to the Party’s existing voter registration efforts. Registering voters in key parts of the state will ensure Floridians’ voices are represented in the halls of power. This is the beginning of how we break through the Republican blockade, build a strong army that will fight for critical issues that impact all Floridians like affordable healthcare, fully-funded public schools, good-paying jobs, and protecting our land and water.”
Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, Miami-Dade County
“We know the tools we need in place to win, and voter registration is critical to our success, working as partners at all levels of government. My 2020 campaign is living proof that Democrats can win and lead with great success when everyone puts in the work, which is why I am excited to partner with Leaders Book and Alexander, along with the Florida Alliance and Chairman Diaz, to launch an initiative that puts our democracy at the forefront in 2022. Registering voters to participate in the democratic electoral process is vital for a democracy to thrive and critical for the party to be successful.”
Raymond Paultre, Executive Director, The Florida Alliance
“The Florida Alliance has a proven commitment to electing strong progressive candidates and protecting Democratic principles which are currently under attack by an out-of-control, right-wing state government. Alliance donors are stepping up to ensure resources are being spent strategically to get voters who have the most to lose and gain this cycle registered and participating in the upcoming elections, up and down the ballot.”
LOCAL
Canned Food Items Needed!
United Against Poverty is running very low on canned food items for their grocery program. If you are able to donate items, you can bring them to the office during our office hours, or you can donate them directly to United Against Poverty.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
This week we highlight a letter written by Kathleen Jaskolski and submitted to the TC Palm. Thank you, Kathleen!
The Florida Congress is in session. Good, you might think. Our state has pressing needs that stand to benefit and protect us all. Our waters are being polluted by industry and aging septic systems. More than 2.6 million Floridians lack health insurance. The Surfside building collapse brought an alarming public safety issue to the forefront. Rising tides in the Gulf and Atlantic threaten our coastal cities and towns. Our criminal justice system needs to be brought into the 21st century. Just a few priorities, our plate is full.
And yet, in Tallahassee, there are more than 3,000 bills, many fast-tracked with little opportunity for public input or comment. Some bills pre-empt our local government on vacation property rentals, land use development, wages for employees, business having new rights to sue local government, and parents suing teachers or school boards. Gov. Ron DeSantis wants his army and an election police force. New laws are being proposed that dictate how our children can be educated, which books can be read, and topics discussed. Constitutional liberties for women of childbearing age are being curtailed. Voters are facing additional barriers to access the ballot. Bills open the door to private ownership and development of our publicly owned shores under the guise of promoting seagrass.
Don't be fooled by the slogan "Freedom State." You might be free from having to get vaccinated, wearing a mask, or having to take precautions. But I urge all citizens to take a good look under the hood. You will see a gaggle of autocratic, authoritarian bills becoming law. Freedom, yes, for those who agree with them. Pay attention to what is happening to our state and if you disagree, speak up, get involved and do something.
Have you ever wondered if you were supporting a company that is Democratic-friendly or GOP-friendly? Goods Unite Us is a great way to find out! You can go to their website or download their app to your phone. Then before you buy, check out who they are giving their money to! Here is the website: https://www.goodsuniteus.com/
