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Our Voting Recommendations

If you have signed up for Vote by Mail and have received your ballot, it’s time to vote! We do have some recommendations we can share with you.

In the races that have Democrats running against Democrats, we aren't allowed to recommend, support, or endorse any candidate.

Here are our recommendations to help you to decide who to vote for in the following races:

School Board District 2 - Cindy Gibbs (We endorse Cindy)
School Board District 4 - Teri Barenborg

Circuit Judge, Group 1 - Christian Van Riper
Circuit Judge, Group 2 - Leatha Dawn Mullins


We Won’t Go Back Rally!

Thank you to Kelly Bess and Anna Carrmax for organizing the very well-attended and successful protest!

Consider a Monthly Donation

Are you frustrated and tired of the attacks on our democracy? How about the recent state legislative actions that are reversing progress on voting and women’s rights? We will not stand by idly as our state and democracy are dismantled. Defending the rights of Indian River County and Florida's citizens through voter outreach, voter education, and recruiting candidates is our mission. But we need you! For the price of coffee and a scone at Starbucks, your monthly donation can help keep our office open and staffed to accomplish our goals. Please consider signing up to be a monthly donor to allow us to continue the vital work necessary. You can donate here or on our website:

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School Board Candidate - Cindy Gibbs

Cindy received three HUGE endorsements this week! One from the Realtors Association of Indian River County, one from U.S. House Representative and Gubernatorial Candidate Charlie Crist, and the other from the Democratic Public Education Caucus of Florida. Congratulations Cindy!





We still have yard signs! Thanks for those of you who have put one in your yard, but we need more out there! Rosario and Corbin are definitely outnumbering Cindy. Please show your support for our candidates by putting a sign in your yard! They are free! Come by the office to get one today!

ASKS OF THE WEEK

The main thing we need help with this week for Cindy is writing postcards!

1. POSTCARDS! POSTCARDS! POSTCARDS!
Come to the office and pick up a packet of 50 postcards to mail to potential voters for Cindy. We are about halfway through the target list. A huge shoutout to those who have helped get this far. We provide the names and addresses and the postcards. We would appreciate the in-kind donation of standard postcard stamps.


2. KNOCK ON DOORS! We knock on our neighbors’ doors, say a few words about the upcoming election and Cindy’s qualifications for the position of School Board Member, and then leave a card or a door hanger with them.

Sign up here to canvass every Tuesday evening in Vero Beach with Cindy here: Canvass for Cindy - Vero Beach · Democrats of Indian River (mobilize.us) ([link removed])


Sign up here to canvass every Thursday evening in Sebastian with Cindy here: Canvass for Cindy - Sebastian · Democrats of Indian River (mobilize.us) ([link removed])

3. DOOR HANGERS! DOOR HANGERS! DOOR HANGERS! If you don’t feel comfortable knocking on doors, the alternative is to walk your neighborhood and hand a door hanger on the doors of your neighbors. It helps spread the word and gives Cindy some exposure. Come by the office and pick up some door hangers for Cindy!

Donate! Cindy’s campaign can accept donations of up to $1,000 for both the primary election (up to August 23^rd) and then again before the November 8^th general election. Use this ActBlue link:
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and share it with your friends, family and neighbors. Checks can be written to Cynthia Gibbs Campaign Account for up to $1,000.



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Karen Greb - Florida House District 34 Race


Karen is the Democratic candidate running for Florida House District 34 and you will vote for her in November. She will face off against the Republican candidate for the seat – either Robbie Brackett or Karen Hiltz – which will be decided in the primary.

Karen attended Leadership Blue last weekend provides us with a recap in the State section.
Her next event is attending a private Candidate Forum scheduled with the two other District 34 candidates - Robbie Brackett and Karen Hiltz - on August 4th at Indian River Estates, a retirement community in Vero Beach.

Please like Karen’s Facebook Page at: ** [link removed] ([link removed])



GET INVOLVED


The 2022 Voter Protection Team for the Democrats of Indian River is gearing up for August's early voting and primary. We are in the process of contacting all our current volunteers but we welcome more team members!

If you are interested in helping ensure that every legitimate vote counts, please send your name, email address and phone number to Claudia Martino at [email protected]. We will reach out to you with more information and will answer any questions you have.

Early voting is scheduled for Aug. 13-20, 7 am to 4 pm. The primary will be held Aug. 23, 7 am to 7 pm. The Voter Protection Team will also be involved in the general election early voting days and election day in October and November.

DEMOCRATS OF INDIAN RIVER

Democratic Women’s Club

The DWC has been trying to establish a presence at the Taxpayer’s Association monthly luncheon and we encourage Democrats to attend. The venue for the monthly luncheon has been changed to the Vero Beach Yacht Club on the first Friday of the month. The food is now served buffet style.

The next meeting on Friday, August 5^th will feature a forum of candidates running for Indian River County School Board. The meetings are open to the public and theoretically non-partisan. Reservations may be made via their website up to 48 hours in advance of each meeting.

The DWC Book Group will continue to meet for the summer months at the Indian River County Main Library, 1600 21st Street in the first-floor meeting room.

The book selection for July will be discussed on July 22 at 2:00-4:00 pm: “The Great Dissenter: The Story of John Marshall Harlan, America’s Judicial Hero” by author Peter Canellos.
Any questions about the book group can be addressed to Maryann and Rita at
** [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])



Democratic Club of Indian River

The July meeting of the Democratic Club of Indian River is CANCELED.


Young Democrats of the Treasure Coast

We have a lot of news and several events coming up to announce:

The Florida LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus will be holding their state convention from Friday, July 22 – Sunday, July 24, at the Westin Fort Lauderdale, located at 400 Corporate Dr, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33334. For more information, people can visit
** [link removed] ([link removed])


Downtown Friday will take place on Friday evening, July 29, along 14th Ave in downtown Vero Beach. We are encouraging any Young Dems who are able to attend this event volunteer with the Democrats or any of our party’s candidates who may have booths set up there and talk to young people who may be interested in getting involved with the Young Democrats.

We have several great candidates in the three counties that we operate in who need as much help as possible texting, phone banking, getting out mailers and knocking on doors to get people out to vote in the August primary. Anyone who can volunteer for any of our candidates is strongly encouraged to get involved with a campaign or their local DECs and volunteer to help these candidates win.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR


Thanks to Dr. Peggy Jones, School Board member of Indian River County, who wrote a letter to the editor in the TCPalm this week. Remember, if we stay quiet and don’t speak out, we become complacent. PLEASE write a letter to the editor and speak up. If you would like to write a letter to the editor, you can submit your letter here:
** [link removed] ([link removed])


From the beginning, public schools taught children to think for themselves

I just finished Laurence Reisman’s column about critical thinking. It was really spot on.

As an educator all of my life, I knew in every position I had it was important to give our students those critical-thinking skills. They must be able to think for themselves, not just do what people tell them to do.

When you look back at public education, there were some public schools beginning in the 17th century, but those were for the aristocrats, whites, and very rich. The churches had schools but it was more focused on teaching religion.

Our founding fathers made it a point after the Revolutionary War to begin our public school system. The first attempt in Virginia actually failed. The main reason they wanted this public school system was to teach the public the ability to read and learn so they could make an educated vote at the polls. Of course, it took until 1870 for all races to get the right to vote and until 1920 for all women to vote, but it was a beginning.

Just think about that — they wanted people to go to the polls and make a decision on their own, not do what any political party or platform told them what was right. They actually wanted people to think for themselves. That is certainly what I wanted for my children and made it a point in raising them. Do your due diligence, study, look at all sides and research, and then make your decisions.

Peggy Jones, Vero Beach, is a member of the Indian River County School Board.


FEDERAL


Tidbits from Axios AM by Mike Allen

Shifts in the demographics of the two parties' supporters — taking place before our eyes — are arguably the biggest political story of our time, Axios' Josh Kraushaar reports.
* Republicans are becoming more working class and a little more multiracial.
* Democrats are becoming more elite and a little more white.

Why it matters: Democrats' hopes for retaining power rest on nonwhite voters remaining a reliable part of the party's coalition. Their theory of the case collapses if Republicans make even incremental gains with those voters.
What the data show: Democrats are statistically tied with Republicans among Hispanics on the generic congressional ballot, according to a New York Times-Siena College ** poll ([link removed])
out this week. Dems held a ** 47-point edge ([link removed])
with Hispanics during the 2018 midterms.
* An ** NBC News poll ([link removed])
in April found Democrats held a 38-point lead among women with college degrees — up 10 points from 2010. Democrats lost ground in nearly every other demographic.
* Nearly every House pickup in the 2020 election came from a woman or nonwhite challenger.

What's happening: Democratic strategists say the party's biggest vulnerability is assuming that the priorities of progressive activists are the same as those of working-class voters.
* Progressive activists led the push to cut police budgets. Communities of color have borne the brunt of higher crime.
* Hispanics living on the U.S.-Mexico border are more likely to favor the tougher border security measures championed by Republicans.
* The recall of liberal school board members and a district attorney in San Francisco was fueled by disillusioned Asian-American Democrats.

Between the lines: Add the reality of growing inflation and worries of recession, and you see why Democrats are losing ground with a core part of their coalition.
* This week's Times/Siena ** poll ([link removed])
found affluent voters care about gun control and abortion rights. Working-class voters are squarely focused on the economy.

Reality check: Suburban districts still make up the majority of congressional battlegrounds, and the GOP's Trumpified brand remains a threat to limit their gains.
* Since the abortion ruling, Democrats have made ** small gains ([link removed])
in national polls.

The bottom line: The GOP is trading soccer moms for Walmart dads.




STATE

Leadership Blue – The Florida Democratic Party Annual Conference

Leadership Blue can be wrapped up nicely by Florida House District 34 Candidate Karen Greb:

The Leadership Blue Conference in Tampa was very well attended and had a lot of energy around top of the ticket candidate Val Demings! Cabinet level candidates were also featured - all three outstanding candidates for Attorney General spoke, three candidates for Ag Commissioner and the sole candidate for CFO - all very impressive. Afterwards, the Environmental Caucus met in front of a standing room crowd including two of the cabinet level candidates - J.R. Gaillot for Ag Commissioner and Daniel Uhlfelder for Attorney General. Congresswoman and Environmental Champion Kathy Castor from Tampa spoke as did Nikki Fried.

The National Conference of Mom's for Liberty was held across the street, and on Saturday, a large Pro-Choice crowd demonstrated outside of their meeting site. An eventful weekend to say the least! #VoteBluein2022! #LetsGetOutTheVote!





LOCAL


Back to School Supplies Needed!



Local Candidates Chamber Interviews

The Indian River County Chamber of Commerce has released interview videos of all local candidates. To become better informed, please take the time to watch the videos.

** [link removed] ([link removed])


CALENDAR

Monday, July 25, 2022

12:00 p.m. - Superintendent Workshop, School District of Indian River County
For agenda and meeting information go to
** [link removed] ([link removed])



5:01 p.m. – Millage Hearing, School District of Indian River County

6:00 p.m. - School Board Business Meeting, School District of Indian River County.
For agenda and meeting information go to
** [link removed] ([link removed])




Wednesday, July 27, 2022

6:00 p.m. - Sebastian City Council
For agenda and meeting information go to ** [link removed] ([link removed])




Thursday, July 28, 2022

9:00 a.m. - Indian River Shores City Council
For agenda and meeting information go to
** [link removed] ([link removed])




TIDBITS

Ever seen thousands and thousands of Monarch butterflies waking up from a cold sleep? If not, you’ll like this:

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Office Hours

Our regular office hours are Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Our address is 2345 14^th Ave., Suite 7, Downtown Vero Beach.


That's all Democrats!
Stay Safe out There!
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