If politics is a ground war, Precinct Captains are the squad leaders on the front lines, where the real action is, and where battles can be decided. In Seminole County, usually considered a Republican stronghold, a post-election rearmament is underway that could consolidate recent gains, change the outcome of future battles, and eventually win the war.

In Seminole County, we have 80 precincts and during the 2016 Presidential election only 18 of them were covered. Since the election, 37 precincts are covered, many by newly inspired folks who want to get active.

Others, such as Denise Angeledes-Knipp of Winter Springs, are increasing their participation, “I was mildly involved in the 2016 election and will always regret not being more involved. I was so sure we would win. No way would we see a Trump victory. Well, here we are and here I am,” she reports.

She will be a lot more than mildly involved in her Precinct 59 in the Oak Forest neighborhood, “This entails reaching out to the people in my district so they register to vote, and have access to early voting. I will be distributing literature for the party that keeps them informed as to who is running and when, what the issues are and generally promoting the Democratic Party.”

Denise notes a lot of people are taking to social media to sound off, but that is not enough, “We must move beyond talking outrage to being involved and getting this party on track for 2018. Yes, we have suffered a monumental setback and we are seeing its results already but we must not fold.” She is hearing that all over, “I attended the Women’s March on Washington (January 21) and the speakers were adamantly encouraging the crowd, that easily dwarfed the Inauguration’s, to get involved. Let us start here and now. Turn that energy and indignation into power.”

You can start the process Feb. 9, 2017, at the next monthly meeting of the Democratic Party of Seminole County, 7 P.M. at the Lake Mary Community Center, 140 E. Wilbur Ave., Lake Mary.

Club officers will determine if the Captain positions (one male, one female) for your precinct are open. If the space is open you then submit a request, sign the loyalty oath, and members vote to add you to the position. If the spaces are filled, you can be added as an Associate Member.

Either way, you can turn that indignation into action.