Congratulations! Pam Coachman, City of Bradenton Ward 5 Councilwoman-elect
As a fourth-generation Bradenton resident, Pam recognizes the need to plan for progress and partner with community members and businesses to make Bradenton work for all. She earned Master’s degree in Speech and Language Pathology from the University of South Florida, has worked for more than 30 years in speech pathology and is the proud mother of two sons. From 2004-2010, she was deeply engaged with the Teen Court program for the Manatee County Clerk of Courts, learning first-hand the importance of having an advocate for people in our community who feel like their voices are not heard.
Congratulations! Sheldon Jones, Palmetto City At-Large Commissioner-elect
Sheldon was born and raised in Palmetto and is from a family with many genertions in Manatee County. He served in the U.S. Army from 1986 to 1993, and has worked for the U.S. Postal Service for more than 20 years. Through his job Sheldon has gotten to know the community and its residents well. He is focused on bringing diversity, accountability, new business in Palmetto. He hopes to add diversity to the Palmetto Police Department and improve response times. He would like to bring in new, quality businesses to Palmetto through new incentive plans. Another priority is roads, streetlights and other infrastructure, especially in central Palmetto.
January 18 - MLK Day and National Day of Service
Monday, January 18, was the National Day of Service -- a day to celebrate and honor the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. It's a chance for all Americans to unite and serve at a time when the global pandemic calls on all of us to support our communities.
You can still help
To commemorate this day, the Manatee County Democratic Party suggests donating to your favorite non-profit or charity. Local food banks and pantries are especially in need, including monetary donations. Some suggested links:
Meals on Wheels Plus and the Food Bank of Manatee
Manatee County Food Pantries with Drop-off Info
Thank you to All our advertisers in the 2020 Manatee Democratic Virtual Gala! Scroll to view.
Issues we care about
The Equality Act
The Manatee County Democratic Party supports the passage of the Equality Act. The Equality Act supports the rights of the LGBT community by prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in employment, housing, credit, education, public spaces, public funding and jury service.
The Democratic Party believes that every American should be treated with respect and dignity and should not be discriminated against because of who they are, or who they love. - Tracy Pratt, Chair, Manatee County Democratic Party
COVID-19 Relief Bill
Manatee County Democrats Chairwoman Tracy Pratt addresses the popular COVID-19 relief package Friday, 7 p.m., on ABC7. The bill will have a final vote in the U.S. House next week and is expected to go before President Biden in mid-March. The bill includes money for a national vaccination program, $1,400 relief checks for Americans, and expanded unemployment benefits
In the News - Local, State and National Issues
Vaccinations Benefitting Political Supporters
Democratic Florida Rep. Charlie Crist sent a letter to acting U.S. Attorney General Monty Wilkinson on Sunday, calling on the Department of Justice to open an investigation into Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis over allegations that the governor was selecting vaccine administration sites to benefit political supporters. https://thehill.com/.../539806-crist-calls-on-doj-to...
Vote By Mail Suppression
Democrats who register to vote by mail (VBM) are significantly more likely to participate in an election than those who decide to vote in person. So the GOP's response is the introduction of Senate Bill 90, which sets up roadblocks to make it more difficult to register to VBM. The Florida Senate Ethics and Elections Committee will held a hearing on SB90, where it passed the first round in committee.
Contact the committee members TODAY by phone/email and tell them to VOTE NO on SB90. https://www.flsenate.gov/Committees/Show/EE?pref=full...
Police Reform
Time is running out. The Florida Legislative Black Caucus
is calling on Republicans in the Florida Senate and House of Representatives to schedule hearings on numerous police-reform bills. These reforms would “reimagine” law enforcement — not by defunding or dismantling it, but by raising training standards, tracking incidents of police violence, and banning dangerous practices such as chokeholds. https://www.floridaphoenix.com/.../black-lawmakers.../...
Concealed Weapons in Churches
February 14 marked the third anniversary of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shootings in Parkland. Seventeen people were killed. A Florida House subcommittee has advanced a bill (HB259) allowing concealed weapons in religious institutions, even if there is a school on the property. Contact Reps. Tommy Gregory (850-717-5073, tommy.gregory@myfloridahouse.gov), Michele Rayner, (850-717-5070, michele.rayner@myfloridahouse.gov) and Will Robinson (850-717-5071, will.robinson@myfloridahouse.gov) and tell them we need sensible gun laws. https://floridapolitics.com/.../402739-guns-in-churches...
GOP Script to Fight Democrats on COVID Relief Bill
Be prepared for Rep. Vern Buchanan to lash out at Democrats “for their votes preventing schools from opening, killing oil and gas jobs, and whatever socialist agenda item they come up with next.” It's all part of a script from the National Republican Congressional Committee to fight back at the Democrats for posing a COVID relief plan that includes money for a national vaccination program, investments for schools to reopen, relief checks of $1,400, and expanded unemployment benefits. Buchanan VOTED AGAINST the relief plan as a member of the House Ways and Means Committee. So don't be surprised if his next step is to parrot this negative rhetoric. http://ow.ly/rw3b50DFYK9
Oppose Gov. DeSantis' Anti-Protest Bills HB1/SB484
Gov. DeSantis' anti-protest bill is in the Florida House Subcommittee on Justice Appropriations. This bill was proposed last September in response to Black Lives Matters protests. It's overly harsh and could result in selective enforcement against people of color. Read more at https://bit.ly/3oDvqeX Contact Subcommittee members Rep. Tommy Gregory (850) 717-5073 and Rep. Michele Rayner (850) 717-5070 to urge them to defeat HB 1.
DEC Business Page
Click on the image for Democratic Party business info. Members only, please. For more information, contact Randi Sathan at rmsmanateedems @gmail.com.
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Voter Outreach Team 2021 - June 13 - Meet Voters Door-to-Door
June 13 at 3 pm - Voter Outreach Day! The Manatee County Democrats are partnering with the Manatee Blue Wave Coalition to engage with existing voters and find new voters. Training and canvassing partners provided. Meet at 3 pm at the Manatee Dems office at 435 Cortez Road W, Bradenton in the Orange Blossom Shopping Center. Teams will canvass for about two hours, then return to Manatee Dem headquarters for refreshments and wrap-up.
What is the Blue Wave Coalition? Another Way to Reach Voters.
Blue Wave Manatee is a coalition of like-minded left leaning groups in Manatee County that focuses on voter education and outreach. For more info contact bluewavemanatee@gmail.com.
Blue Wave is currently holding canvass events in Manatee precincts with low voter turnout. The time to get new Democratic voter registrations and Vote By Mail sign-ups is now.
National Voter Registration Day - September 28
Manatee Dems are setting up tables all over the county for National Voter Registration Day. We need all hands on deck to reach Florida Democratic Party's goal of 150,000 new registered voters statewide by the 2022 Elections! To sign up, click on the location where you would like to volunteer and select your shift(s). If the location you want is filled, please consider helping at a different location .
- Downtown Bradenton Library
- Braden River Library
- Island Library
- Palmetto Library
- Rocky Bluff Library
- South Manatee Library
- Pride Park
- Lincoln Park