At least 100 fired-up Democrats signed up for action, and got to hear from one of the first announced local Democratic candidates, at the March 9th general meeting of the Seminole County Democratic Party at the Eastmonte Civic Center in Altamonte Springs.
Devin Perez has announced a run in State House District 28, which covers the eastern half of Seminole County. Republican Jason Brodeur is the incumbent, and he only faced opposition from an Independent candidate in the last election. Next time might not be so easy, if the 26 people who signed up for the Campaign Activities Committee have anything to say about it. “We have three announced candidates already,” said committee Chair Marian Williams, “so we will have a lot of work to do, and a lot of willing people to do it.”
“I went from committee group to group and listened to people talking and sharing ideas,” said SemDem’s spokesman Brent Kimball. “I got to hear a proud father talk about the change he wants to bring to our education system, I got to meet some folks with a passion for the environment discuss maintaining the natural beauty we’re blessed with here in Seminole, I got to listen to men and women who not only want to truly become involved in the politics of our county, but who also want to use that newfound energy to get to know their neighbors better and come together in groups to support their hometowns. So going from session to session, you’d have to have no pulse not to pick up the energy in the room and get carried along with it.”
Almost all the committee chairs reported an optimistic outcome after the general meeting broke into groups to sign up interested people and begin to make plans. “We have several experienced people, and we have several projects in the works,” reported Events Chair Guerdy Remy.
“Nine people are committed to working on recruiting and retaining new members and Precinct Captains” said Membership Chair Cathy Lieblich, “We want people to be engaged, and are proposing a social event so people can network.”
“We are looking to network with community groups to get all our messages out,” said Community Outreach Chair Chelsea Leger, “and we are going to focus on voter registration.”
Nearly a dozen people, some experienced writers or editors and some with expertise in social media and digital technology, signed on to the Communications Committee to help get those messages out according to Chair Maddy Wilson.
Issue-related committees also drew a crowd. “We are focusing on local schools, PTA’s and the School Board,” said Education Committee chair Paul Truman, “and we are tracking several pending educations bills in the legislature.” The environment committee drew one of the largest crowds. “We want to get the word out on the local impact of proposed funding cuts for the EPA and NOAA,” said Chair Marilu Dempsy, “People have to realize what it will mean to them.”
The only cautionary note, a big one, came from Sheila Moran, Chair of the Fundraising Subcommittee, “Only three people expressed an interest,” she said, “we need to change attitudes about raising money, and we need people to help.” Ideas and energy are important, but any seasoned political campaigner will tell you, eventually it all comes down to the money.