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Here are links to local and state resources for accurate information: La guía Voting 101 escrita por el Supervisor de Elecciones (SOE) contiene detalles sobre diferentes aspectos de la votación. Consulte esa y otras partes del sitio web de SOE para obtener información completa. A continuación se enumeran los principales puntos a considerar: Para verificar el estado del registro de votantes: Los votantes anteriores deben verificar su estado de registro de votantes antes de las elecciones, solo para asegurarse de que todo esté bien. Ven aquí: https://registration.elections.myflorida.com/CheckVoterStatus Es una buena práctica hacer esto varias semanas antes de una elección para que tenga tiempo de hacer correcciones. Para actualizar la información de registro de votantes: Si necesita actualizar su información de registro de votante (cambio de nombre o dirección, cambio de firma, etc.), vaya aquí para hacerlo en línea: https://registertovoteflorida.gov/home Para registrarse para votar: Vaya en línea aquí para registrarse: https://registertovoteflorida.gov/home También puede ir al Centro de Elecciones, el Departamento de Vehículos Motorizados o las oficinas del Recaudador de Impuestos para registrarse en persona. Para registrarse, debe ser ciudadano de EE. UU., Residente de Florida, 18 años o más (puede preinscribirse a los 16), no ser un delincuente convicto o sus derechos civiles han sido restaurados, no declarados mentalmente incompetentes Puede solicitar registrarse para votar en cualquier momento, pero debe hacerlo al menos 29 días antes de una elección para poder votar en esa elección. Para solicitar una boleta por correo: Vaya en línea aquí para solicitar una boleta de votación por correo: https://www.martinvotes.com/ballot-by-mail-request/ Las boletas de votación por correo se envían por correo aproximadamente 30 días antes de cada elección. No se pueden reenviar. Para verificar su lugar de votación (precinto): Vaya en línea aquí para verificar la ubicación de su recinto: https://www.martinvotes.com/election-information/precinct-locations/#Search Consulte con el DEC para averiguar si hay un capitán de distrito para su distrito. Para convertirse en trabajador electoral (trabajador electoral) de la Oficina del Supervisor de Elecciones: Vaya en línea aquí para ser voluntario como trabajador electoral (secretario, secretario auxiliar, inspector, técnico y diputado electoral): https://www.martinvotes.com/election-information/become-an-election-worker/ ¡Siempre es prudente que los demócratas participen como trabajadores electorales! Para obtener una descripción general completa de las normas de votación, consulte la guía Voting 101 escrita por el Supervisor de Elecciones. Be sure you are registered

Write or contact Martin County Democrats for more information CONTÁCTENOS Sede demócrata del condado de Martin 948 SE Central Parkway Stuart, FL 34994 Horas sin cita previa: de lunes a viernes, de mediodía a 3:00 p. M. * * Nota: Llame con anticipación o envíe un mensaje antes de venir a la oficina. Debido al coronavirus, es posible que la oficina no esté abierta durante las horas indicadas anteriormente. ¡Éxito! Mensaje recibido. Enviar

Thank you for submitting your application form to the Martin County Democratic Club! We look forward to meeting you and having you as part of our Martin Dem family. Remember that our in-person meetings are on the first Tuesday of the month (except July). We are currently meeting at the Treasure Coast Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 21 SE Central Pkwy in Stuart. The meetings officially start at 6:30 but plan to come early for socializing between 6:00-6:30. Introduce yourself! Be sure to follow up by paying your dues - either by writing a check or paying online. Those details can be found here. Welcome to the Club! If you have any questions, please reach out to Democratic Club President Carol Quackenbos at cquackenbos@gmail.com .

Formed in September 2025, the LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus of the Treasure Coast has at its core the mission of promoting good will between gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and allied members of the Democratic Party on the Treasure Coast and furthering the political advancement of the LGBTQ+ community. We follow political campaigns, endorse candidates, and support our DECs in getting out the vote through promoting voter registration and vote by mail. We are a chapter of the statewide LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus of Florida: https://lgbtqdems.org/ Go to our website, Facebook page, and Instagram page to see more about our chapter. Website: https://lgbtqdemcaucustc.org/

Martin County Democratic Club Membership Application Today's Date * required First Name Last Name Email Phone Martin County Street Address City State Zip code Check circle if you live in a gated community Is it OK to share your contact details with other Club members? * Obligatorio Yes No https://secure.actblue.com/donate/2025annualdues Method you will use to pay Club dues. If online, FIRST click on underlined link below, complete the ActBlue payment, and THEN SUBMIT this application. https://secure.actblue.com/donate/2025annualdues By submitting this application, you certify that you are a member of the Democratic Party of Florida. Submit Application After Paying Online or Mailing Check

This is the 5th in a series on Martin County Democrats who have made a difference. Be sure to click on each picture to view in expanded mode with commentary. Also, there are links in blue that provide explanation, so be sure to click on those links too. Tip: If you're using your phone, try to find a laptop or desktop. It's so much better to read this on a large screen! The Amazing Grace Linn In March 2023 a storm that had been brewing for a year thrust then 100-year-old Grace Linn into the local and national spotlight. The year before, Ron DeSantis had signed the "Parental Rights in Education" bill into law - known by opponents as "Don't Say Gay" - that brought about book banning in our public schools. At that time, the Martin County School Board heeded calls of DeSantis and the conservative group Moms for Liberty to object to books that merely mentioned systemic racism, gender bias, and the LGBTQ+ community. This outraged Grace. During the fall, Grace crafted her famous yellow quilt which depicted some of the books that had already been banned in Martin County schools. Word got out about this amazing centenarian and her quilt, and she appeared on Ali Velchi's program on MSNBC. By the time of the school board meeting in March 2023, there were close to 100 books that had been targeted and banned in this county, and Grace felt she had to speak out and address the school board in person. Her friends Michael and Claire Panella , who had helped her research and des ig n the quilt, also played a role in writing the speech that went viral. In her speech she spoke passionately of her first husband, Robert Nicoll, who had been killed in World War II by the Nazis. She made the poignant point that he had died defending the freedoms we enjoy, freedoms the Nazis took away from their own people, including the right to read books. As she said so eloquently to the school board, "Banned books and burning books are the same. Both are done for the same reason: fear of knowledge. Fear is not freedom. Fear is not liberty. Fear is control." After the video of her speech went viral on Tiktok with more than 1.5 million views, she began appearing more on MSNBC and other cable channels as well as local and independent news. Grace was dubbed "Warrior Queen" by many due to her insistence that "we must fight back and not let history repeat itself, we must not allow for censorship, and we must treat everyone equally." This has been her battly cry, and Grace has undoubtedly inspired many by her activism and outspoken support for everyone. If you haven't seen the video of Grace speaking before the school board, click here to view it or do a search on Youtube. Born in the USA Grace’s parents immigrated to America from Italy in the early 1900s. Her father Antonio DeNicola (b. 1890) and her mother Rosa Romano (b. 1896) were engaged in Italy, but Antonio wanted to get established in America first before they got married. He left Rosa and came to America in 1908 where he first joined his brother in Roseto, PA, a town that had been settled by immigrants from southern Italy in the 1880s. He went to school to learn English and eventually became a foreman who specialized in finishing cement. After he felt financially secure, he contacted Rosa to come to America and they were married. Grace was the baby sister to her three older brothers Jerry, Daniel, and Floyd. She was born on October 18, 1922 in Mingo Junction, Ohio, and much of her youth took place during the Depression. She says she learned much from her parents, who were good people who looked after others. She remembers her parents "had a fruit and vegetable garden in their backyard and gave away food to help the hungry. In fact, the sidewalk in front of our home was marked to let the hungry know that this was a place where you were welcomed and could get food." Another way her parents showed compassion for others was that Grace's mother was the local midwife in the area and she sheltered an abused mother and her children in their home for a while. By displaying good character themselves, Grace's parents instilled it in her. Her parents required that every day she had to tell them of at least one act of kindness that she had performed herself on that day. Reflecting on the influence of her parents on her own life, Grace has said, "I didn't become what I am on my own. It was inherited and it was lived with my parents." Grace was very precocious. She quickly learned to play the piano and French horn. Though she entered grade school predominately speaking Italian, she quickly learned the English language. She had read the Bible three times by the time she was 12. She also learned to drive a car when she was 12 (and she still drives today at age 102!). She made excellent grades in school and actually skipped two years ahead, graduating from high school at age 16 with a college scholarship. However, the culture was different then and she was not allowed to go off to college on her own at such a young age – even though her brothers and the other boys in town had been able to do that. That reinforced in her the belief that girls were treated differently from boys - that they didn't have the same rights and privileges. Later, when she started working at a hospital, this became even more evident by the salary she received versus the salaries of the men who worked along side of her. Another lesson she learned at a young age was that being an immigrant caused you to be treated differently. She remembers the insults that were slung her way just because her parents were from Italy and spoke Italian in the home. Having experienced the sting of discrimination first-hand, Grace grew up believing fervently "that all people have the same worth - that they should all be treated equally." It has been her rallying cry ever since those early days in Mingo Junction, and it influenced her decision to make the Banned and Targeted quilt and speak out in defense of targeted groups. Be sure to click on each picture for more details. Quilted front door entrance at Grace's house Grace and Banned Books Mingo Junction 3rd grade classmates Three brothers with Grace Early Married Life After finishing school at 16 but with no college in town to attend, Grace lived at home with her parents and helped them out at home. She also loved to dance, and so she would sometimes go to nearby clubs with her brothers - never by herself - where she could socialize and dance. It was during this time that she danced with Dino Paul Crocetti, who later became known as Dean Martin. Her heart was not taken by the future Dean Martin, however, but by another gentleman she had known since school named Robert Nicoll, who had recently been drafted by the Army. They were married on March 30, 1940 in Mingo Junction. She soon left Ohio for Fort Hood, Texas, where Robert had been transferred. World War II, however, interrupted their time together as Robert was sent to Falmouth, England as part of an ammunitions unit, which supplied armament for the French Resistance, and Grace returned home to her parents in Mingo Junction. But there was one difference from before: Grace was pregnant. Months passed and Grace remembers reading about the horrors of war and fearing for her husband. One day she saw a man dressed in military clothing walking up the street and her heart sank. She suspected that he had bad news to share with her, and she was right: Robert was missing in battle. A couple of months later she found herself in the hospital giving birth to their daughter Nicci. It was only three days later when Grace received a telegraph while still in the hospital confirming that Robert and 16 members of his group had indeed been killed by the Nazis three months earlier in a bombing. Grace 1st wedding Wedding Day Robert and Grace before deployment Grace holds picture Life in Weirton, WV A widow with a newborn and no financial support, Grace went back home from the hospital to live with her parents in Mingo Junction and raise her daughter. A few years later she went out one night to go roller skating - one of her favorite hobbies - and she met a gentleman with striking coppery hair who caught her fancy. Tom Householder was a veteran who, coincidentally, had been stationed in Italy and thus could speak Italian to some degree. They fell in love and eventually married and he was welcomed into the home with Grace's parents. Tom adopted Nicci and they had a daughter of their own named Gloria (Gigi). When Gigi turned 5, Grace decided it was time to get a job of her own. By then, they had moved across the Ohio River into Weirton, WV and she heard that nearby Weirton Medical Center needed an overnight switchboard operator and admissions clerk. One of the job requirements was that you be able to type; however, as a high school student taking college-prep type classes, she had not been allowed to take a typing class. To remedy the situation, she borrowed a typewriter and taught herself almost overnight how to type before she had to report to work. Grace has said, "My roles as wife, single mother, and then mother and wife were my proudest achievement during this portion of my life," but it was time to engage in the working world. She ultimately spent 33 years at Weirton Medical Center. During the early years there, she saw the great need for automatic billing in the hospital. Just as she had taught herself to type, she taught herself computer programming and eventually designed systems that her hospital could use. In fact, she more or less started the computer department at the hospital. She sat in on all the medical committees in the hospital and developed many systems to help these departments as well. In particular, she developed a pharmacy unit dosing and microbiology reporting system which other medical centers all over the world also began using. Grace and her computer system received special recognition by the CDC for this beneficial new technology. In a largely male-dominated profession, Grace also became the first woman president of the Computer Hospital Users Group for NCR and the first woman president of the Federation NCR Users Group. As Grace tells it, in spite of her accomplishments she still did not receive the salary of her less accomplished male workers, thus reinforcing in her the idea that sexism exists in the workforce. Her daughter Gigi has summarized what life was like in the Householder household during much of the time in Weirton: "I arrived home one night at 11:30 unannounced and the driveway was full of both familiar and unfamiliar vehicles. I was greeted at the door by my mother in roller skates, for she was breaking the skates in....I also saw my mother fixing a broken piece of equipment, conversing with a friend in Italian, teaching another how to sew, counseling someone on how to approach a problem, and designing a new outfit for me to wear the next day....That was a typical evening at home where I grew up." She understood well that life at her home was quite different from those of her friends, but she understood how full and interesting life was with her mom. Tom Householder Householder family Grace with her team at retirement Another recognition for Grace Grace teaching computer programming Grace with co-worker before retiring Grace skating Jensen Beach and Married Again In 1987 Grace retired from the medical center - where she had moved from switchboard operator all the way up to Director of Managment Information and Communication - and she and Tom moved to a condo in Jensen Beach and planned to build a single family home in the area. She and Tom led a full life and Grace became involved in the community. Among various activities, Grace took a leadership role in Planned Parenthood and she taught computer skills to adults at one of the local schools. In 1990, one month before they were to move into their new home, Tom died of heart failure. A widow again, Grace moved alone into the home she and Tom had planned to have together, and she still lives there today. For the next ten years Grace worked on fundraising with Planned Parenthood, worked as office manager for Florida Sportsman Magazine Fishing Shows, and became heavily involved in an environmental advocacy group in the area. It was at one of the environmental group meetings that Grace met Fred Linn and, after a brief courtship, they decided to marry - much to the chagrin of the other single ladies in Grace's circle of contacts who fancied Fred. They remained married for 22 years until he passed away from a heart attack in November 2022. During the years before Fred passed, they took in one of Fred's grandchildren and raised him until he finished high school, advocating passionately for a good public education for him. Florida bound Fred and Grace Dancing Queen Country dancer Birthday fun The Kiss 100th Birthday Party Seamstress for life A little whimsy Award-winning photo Friends and laughter Claire, Michael, & Grace Passionate Advocacy It was just a short time after Fred died that Grace's video at the school board became viral. She was beseiged with interview requests from national and local media - MSNBC, CNN, WPTV, Stuart News - you name it. This caught the attention of movie producer Sheila Nevins of Ruby River Productions, and she began to consider making a documentary film on the increasing censorship taking place in schools across the country. She contacted Grace, and after a conversation with her, she knew this spirited centenarian should be featured in her documentary. The result was "The ABCs of Book Banning." The film was well received and nominated for an Oscar for short documentary. Grace was invited to fly to LA for the Oscar's luncheon, where she had the chance to meet movie stars, many of whom already knew of Grace's work. When actress Annette Benning saw Grace, she ran up to her and gave her a big hug, saying she respected so much the work that Grace had done on book banning. Grace later returned to walk the red carpet and attend the Oscar's ceremony. It was the memory of a lifetime. Grace was happy the film got nominated because the publicity allowed her to continue to have an audience for discussing the danger of censorship and book banning. PEN America is a nonprofit whose purpose is to advocate for the freedom to write and they have been especially critical of book bans. This group was behind "The ABCs of Book Banning," and they created a short video featuring Grace. See this moving video below. Likely because of the bullying she received as the daughter of immigrants, Grace has a special place in her heart for all marginalized people. She uses her celebrity status to advocate strongly for equality and acceptance for all. Last year, along with drag artist Shelita Taylor, Grace was the Grand Marshall for the Treasure Coast Pride Parade. She is quick to point out that "some of the finest people I have known in my lifetime have been from the LGBTQ+ community." This is why she was particularly taken back when books began to be removed from school shelves simply because they had a gay character, and it motivated her to speak out strongly on their behalf. At 102 years young, Grace continues to live in the home that she and Tom had built. Coming from an outliers family in Italy, where her maternal grandmother lived to be 115, she exhibits the same independence and health of her forebears. She still drives herself places (even at night), reads and learns, attends Democratic Club, Democratic Women's Club. and Stuart Women's Club meetings, goes to protest rallies, and watches MSNBC and other news outlets to keep abreast of the current political scene. She also continues to quilt, have her tea and Italian cookies at 2:00 pm each day with her friends, regularly attend musicales held by her good friend Dr. Marie Juriet-Beamish, attend the concerts put on by the Altantic Classical Orchestra, spend time with her devoted daughter Gigi, and enjoy the wide circle of friends she has accumulated over the years. There is no doubt that Grace has led an active, full, and curious life and, at 102 1/2 as of this writing, she continues to be a trailblazer and an inspiration to all. Oscar nominated for Best Short Documentary Grace with drag performer Shelita Taylor Grace at the Oscars! 2024 TC Pride Grand Marshall Grace and Susan Callahan Targeted and Banned quilt by Grace Thank you, Grace, for showing all of us that a life full of creativity and positivity, one that has such a far-reaching effect on so many, is a life well-lived. Thank you for standing up and speaking out so eloquently about book censorship taking place in our local schools and communities. Thank you for standing up for the marginalized in society, especially the LGBTQ+, with your words and interactions. Thank you for supporting your local Martin County Democratic Party and bringing attention to our efforts. Most of all, thank you for being you and spreading your light within our community and beyond. For all of this and more, we honor you , Grace DeNicola Nicoll Householder Linn , as a Martin County Democratic Party All Star!!

Read about the life and work of Dave Dew and his role in the local Democratic Party organization Dave Dew Dave dew It was an ordinary day in Stuart when 65 year-old Dave Dew had an epiphany that changed his life. He credits President George W. Bush, Vice-President Dick Cheney, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, and a guy named Larry for helping bring about this transformative moment. You see, for the first 65 years of his life Dave identified as a Republican. Like so many others, he had followed the political leanings of his parents and, when it was time to vote for the first time, he registered as a Republican. While his father Charles was apolitical and focused on his sales career, his mother Clarice was a sharp businesswoman who owned two hair salons and was an enthusiastic “Eisenhower Republican” – a centrist Republican who was individually liberal but economically conservative and a believer in a strong national defense. With his focus through the years on his own career and family, Dave had not seen any reason up until this point in 2003 to question his political leanings. The Dark Democratic Past If you’re around Dave for any time, you find that he likes to put things in historical context and he is quick to point out that the Democratic Party of today is not the same as the Democratic Party back in the 60s when he arrived in Florida from Wisconsin to attend the University of Tampa. Back then, white Dixiecrats (a play on the words Dixie and Democrat) controlled the Democratic Party in much of the South, including his area in Tampa, and they were known for their racist and segregationist views. These Dixiecrats were right-wing Democrats who were alarmed by the pro-civil rights positions taken by the national Democratic Party under Presidents Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Harry Truman, and by the mid-1940s these zealots resisted by forming a pro-segregationist sect within the Democratic Party itself, calling for “states’ rights” to circumvent federal legislation. (Sound familiar?) Dave recalls that by the 1950s in the South “the Democrats were the Dixiecrats, and they were the racists. They were the segregationists.” For someone like Dave who came to Florida in 1956 at age 18 without those racist views, joining the Democratic Party was not something he considered. Dave reflects sadly that racism was so prevalent back then in the Florida he knew that “I got beat up a couple of times because I wouldn’t join the Klan.” Passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 pushed the Dixiecrats over the edge and most joined the Republican Party, who gladly took them in. Some, however, remained Democrats. Idea House Advertising and Republican Wins After getting married and leaving the University of Tampa, Dave continued life as a registered Republican during his many years in sales, mostly working for the large healthcare company American Home Products. His career took him from Minnesota to Chicago to New York City where he worked as advertising manager. After three years in the Big Apple, Dave yearned for a simpler life and so he and his family moved to St. Petersburg where he continued in sales work. By late 1979 he was looking for a change. He had gotten divorced and wanted to start over somewhere new. It was then that he became reacquainted with Jimmy Adams, a fellow advertising executive he had known in New York who had relocated to West Palm Beach. Together Dave and Jimmy started an advertising agency in North Palm Beach called Idea House, and they ran it successfully from 1980-1990. Their specialty, it turned out, was advertising for local Republican candidates running for office. During their time there, Dave and Jimmy helped Republicans win many contests – all of them in heavily Democratic Palm Beach County. It was quite a feat. This experience provided Dave with a great education in Republican politics. By working with the candidates and their handlers, he learned a great deal about how Republicans ran their campaigns, the money they spent, the support they provided. He was impressed with the money and organization of the Republican Party. Another Move…and Intensive Care During his time with the ad agency, Dave started dating again and he eventually married for a second time in 1984. In 1990 he and his wife moved to the Fort Myers area so she could pursue a job promotion. Life might have kept them there on the west coast but fate had another idea: On September 10, 1996 while driving to meet his wife, Dave was involved in a serious head-on collision. Says Dave: “I call it a collision because it wasn’t an accident. It was a collision. It was on purpose.” Through court proceedings that followed, Dave learned a 16-year-old boy sitting in the passenger seat of an oncoming car had grabbed the wheel of the car exclaiming, "I wonder what it will be like to take this car and kill someone with it?" He then drove across the median. The car flew three feet into the air and straight into Dave's car. At the time, both cars were going about 60 mph and they were totaled upon impact. Dave recalls that “when we hit, the front tire came up through the floorboard, and kind of ran up me, and threw me forcefully into the back seat.” Dave was air-lifted to a hospital in critical condition with extensive internal injuries and injuries to his legs. Dave ended up in the hospital for 6 months and followed that up with 6 months of intense physical therapy. "Are You Your Brother’s Keeper?" It was after this rehabilitation period that Dave and his wife moved from Fort Myers to Stuart in 1998 looking for a fresh start. They opened up a couple of retail stores in the area and bought some radio advertising from a local station. Dave and the sales guy Larry became friends. (To this day, Dave cannot remember Larry’s last name!) Larry was a Democrat and had previously worked in journalism covering politics, and so he engaged Dave in a lot of political conversation – one of the first times in his life that Dave was forced to examine his political views. The conversations with Larry helped Dave realize that he actually aligned more closely with the principles of the Democratic Party (the non-Dixiecrat side, that is) than the Republicans. Dave recalls one conversation in particular with Larry in 2003 that was a turning point for him: Larry: “You’re a Republican but you think like a Democrat.” Dave: “I don’t know about that. I’m a conservative.’ Larry: ‘Yeah, but that’s just with money. How about with people?’ Dave: “What do you mean?” Larry: “Are you your brother’s keeper?” Dave: “Well, of course!’ Larry: “Then you’re not a Republican. You’re a Democrat. Ask any Republican that question and he’s gonna say I’ll consider any problems, but I’m not going to give any money to [fix] them. So you’re your brother’s keeper and you ought to switch to Democrat.’” That conversation resonated with Dave. Through his further talks with Larry and listening to the national news, Dave says he also learned about “the disastrous trio of Bush, Cheney, and Rumsfeld – the guys that conned everybody to go into Iraq in 2003….These were all oil people that were running the government and the idea was to corner the market.” Upon reflection, Dave agreed he should meet some other Democrats in the area. “I went to a [Democratic Club] meeting at the time. Louise Cunha was running the club meeting….I walked in and sat down and she said, ‘So you’re new. Would you introduce yourself?’ And I said, ‘I’m Dave Dew and I’m an embarrassed Republican.’ And she said, ‘We can change that!’ And I said, ‘Well, let’s do that.’ And so I became a Democrat and started to come to the DEC meetings because I said I want to be where the action is.” The Many Hats of Dave Dew Precinct Leader followed by DEC Chair Dave learned that to get active with the DEC the rules required precinct work, and so he became a precinct leader. Six months later he became Chair and in 2008 was re-elected for another four-year term. Dave ran the first time for DEC chair saying that the Democrats needed a fulltime office. In the years before, Democrats only leased office space for a six-month period for the elections every two years. Dave believed strongly that such an intermittent presence was wrong – that Democrats needed a permanent home so they had a constant presence in the community. Dave views this change as his greatest achievement as DEC chair. Since then it’s been proven time and again that having an office open year-round has been instrumental in raising funds, getting out the vote, and organizing and providing support to all Martin Democrats. State Committeeman When Dave finished out his second term as DEC Chair in 2012, he then became the DEC's State Committeeman and he continues to hold that position today (along with Mary Higgins, who is the State Committeewoman). The function of the committeeperson is to act as a liaison between the Florida Democratic Party and the county DEC and its various committees by voting on party issues, being on committees, and so forth. One of the issues that Dave has championed as Committeeman is changing the bylaws that dictate how the Democratic Party in Florida operates. “My cause for the last 8 years has been to eliminate all of the bylaws and start all over again.” One of Dave’s main concerns is the unequal representation caused by the weighted voting system that the Florida Democratic Party employs. In today’s system, each DEC is allowed one State Committeeman and one State Committeewoman to represent their DEC, with their votes weighted based on the number of Democrats within that DEC. Dave notes that this weighted vote is necessary to give the larger populated counties fairer representation. However, this system causes a big problem in that the committee people from the large counties represent too many people to be effective. Here is how Dave explains it using Dade and Martin Counties as an example: “ Dade County is more than 10 times larger than Martin County [in Democratic population] so it obviously should have a greater total vote. The problem is that Dade and Martin have only 2 State Committeepersons each. So each of Martin County’s State Committeepersons represents about 30,000 Democrats while each of Dade’s Committeepersons represents 300,000 . That’s more than two Congressional districts each. One Committeeperson cannot effectively reach out to 300,000 Democrats.” Another negative aspect to the weighted system is that it puts power into the hands of the larger counties because they can join forces to dictate the direction of the entire party, sometimes going against what the majority of the counties want to do. Rules Committee As Committeeman, Dave served on the Rules Committee from approximately 2010-2020. He proposed eliminating the weighted voting system and replacing it with more of a “one person, one vote” system like our US Constitution requires. This could be achieved by having each of the 140 House Districts in Florida – which have approximately the same population of voters -- elect two State Committeepeople each. Dave notes that this would lead to fair representation because “each committee person would have roughly the same population representation in their vote” and thus the weighted system would not be needed. This revised plan has been voted upon by the State Committee and passed but was reversed by the Judicial Council due to a technicality. Dave is still pushing for this change, however, because he knows this would be a more equitable system and ultimately would help the Florida Democratic Party as a whole move forward and compete against the GOP. Chair, Florida Small County Coalition While acting as Committeeman, Dave had the opportunity to also become involved with the Florida Democratic Party’s Small County Coalition. This is an organization of smaller Democratic counties (fewer than 40,000 Democratic voters) and it focuses on the challenges the smaller counties face—from lack of money, to lack of facilities, to fewer boots on the ground, to lack of influence within the FDP itself. Dave served as Chair for 10 years, and under his leadership, he is proud to note that the Small County Coalition drastically improved their political training given to volunteers, increased funding, held annual conventions so the small counties could network and learn from each other, and developed a stronger relationship with the state party. State Judicial Council From about 2012-2020 Dave also served on the State Judicial Council and was Chair for a short time. The Judicial Council gave Dave an opportunity to hear grievances of Democrats throughout the state over such matters as eligibility of candidates, voting issues, changes in voter registration, and many other matters. Says Dave: “Florida has a history of the counties fighting each other,” and so there were plenty of opportunities for the Judicial Council to act. In 2006 Dave receives "Most Improved Small County" award from from FDP Chair Karen Thurman. (click to enlarge) Stuart News ran an article on Dec 3, 2008 about Dave being re-elected to DEC. (click to enlarge) Dave and his partner Shelley learn they WON !! All-Star Dave Fun fact: When Dave moved to Stuart, not only did he later become a Democrat, but he also rediscovered the joy of singing. He had sung some as a youngster and, in fact, had been part of a band. Family and jobs changed that and he put his passion for singing on the backburner. After he got to Stuart, he began to sing at a church in Jensen Beach and soon became its music director. Then, in 2014, he entered the Singing with the Stars competition at the Lyric Theater and was paired with professional singer Shelley Keelor. Since Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga had just released a popular album of standards, they decided to play on that and chose “Lady is a Tramp” and…..THEY WON!! Today, Dave continues to sing at his church, and he often visits clubs and bars that offer karaoke – sometimes as much as three times a week. So if you’re at a club where they do karaoke, don’t be too surprised if our own Dave Dew gets up on stage to belt out a couple of songs! Dave Dew As you can see, Dave’s “atonement” during the past twenty years has led him to wear many Democratic hats – both locally and statewide. Throughout it all, he has sought to bring about change so that Democrats become smarter in the way they do business, from having a local office opened to Democrats throughout the year to modernizing the bylaws that dictate how the Democrats run their operation. We Democrats in Martin County owe a debt of gratitude to Dave for his years of work aimed at strengthening the Democratic Party within Martin County and throughout the state of Florida. Thank you, Dave, for switching to Democrat and becoming a Martin County Democrat All Star!

SKI THE VAIL VALLEY THIS WINTER Wake up to the Rockies and be on the slopes in minutes. This three-bedroom townhome comfortably sleeps seven and is yours for one week – just ten minutes from Vail, Beaver Creek, Arrowhead, and other first-class ski resorts. After a day on the mountains, come home to a crackling fire in a well-appointed retreat. Not a skier? Try horseback riding through the woods, visit the hot springs, catch a movie at the local theater, or stroll through the valley's European-style villages with their quaint cobblestone streets and celebrated restaurants and entertainment. Bid high – this is a mountain vacation you won’t want to miss! Available for one week in January, February, or March 2027.

Haga clic en los accesos directos a continuación o desplácese por esta página para ver estos temas: Organización del Partido Demócrata: DNC, FDP, DEC Papel del DEC Equipo de liderazgo de DEC Boletín MC Demócratas Actas de la reunión del DEC Estatutos de DEC Sitio web de FDP Sitio web de DNC Plataforma del Partido Demócrata Our Party El DNC, FDP y DEC: Estas organizaciones son la piedra angular del Partido Demócrata. DNC es el Comité Nacional Demócrata (DNC), que es la organización del partido nacional. Jaime Harrison es el presidente, elegido en enero de 2021. Consulte el sitio web del Partido Nacional Demócrata para obtener detalles de su organización. FDP es el Partido Demócrata de Florida, una de las organizaciones estatales del partido. Manny Díaz es presidente, elegido en enero de 2021. Consulte el sitio web de Florida Democrats para obtener detalles sobre su organización. DEC es el Comité Ejecutivo Demócrata, que es la organización del partido del condado. Cada condado de un estado puede tener su propio DEC. Mary Higgins es nuestra presidenta, elegida en enero de 2021. El DNC, FDP y DEC actúan juntos para apoyar y elegir candidatos demócratas. Alcanzamos ese objetivo juntos honrando los ideales del Partido Demócrata de justicia social, racial, económica, ambiental y política. Volver arriba Responsabilidades de DEC Como brazo oficial del Partido Demócrata de Florida, El DEC del Condado de Martin tiene el objetivo de construir una sólida base demócrata de votantes en la que todos los candidatos del Partido Demócrata puedan apoyarse. DEC está involucrado en el siguiente trabajo: Supervisa el funcionamiento diario del Partido Demócrata en el condado de Martin, organizando voluntarios para realizar gran parte de este trabajo. Promueve programas para aumentar el registro de votantes, el uso de boletas por correo y GOTV (Get Out the Vote) Proporciona capacitación e instalaciones para la banca telefónica y el escrutinio de candidatos. Recauda fondos para los esfuerzos del Partido Demócrata en el condado Recluta candidatos demócratas para cargos locales y brinda orientación y apoyo financiero. Participa en eventos comunitarios para mostrar nuestra fiesta a otros residentes de Martin. Apoya el trabajo de nuestros caucus y clubes Patrocina el sitio web de los demócratas del condado de Martin y varias páginas de Facebook; envía un boletín que destaca los acontecimientos de la fiesta Acoge la reunión mensual del DEC Trabaja con otros grupos DEC de Florida y el FDP para coordinar y elaborar estrategias para las victorias demócratas Membresía DEC El DEC está formado por Martin Demócratas como usted, personas que se preocupan profundamente por nuestro condado, estado y país; personas que creen que los valores democráticos deben utilizarse para guiar a nuestros responsables políticos y al gobierno; personas que quieran ser parte de la solución y estén dispuestas a ofrecer voluntariamente su tiempo y energía para esta búsqueda. Los miembros de DEC generalmente provienen de los siguientes tres grupos: Miembros del distrito electoral: cada distrito electoral del condado de Martin puede tener un miembro del comité y una mujer del comité elegidos como miembros del DEC. Si un precinto tiene más de 1000 demócratas registrados, tiene derecho a un miembro del comité de precinto y una mujer del comité adicionales. Cada uno cumple un mandato de 4 años. (Nota: Hay 28 precintos en el condado de Martin). Miembros automáticos: los funcionarios electos que son demócratas de Martin y los presidentes de clubes y comités demócratas se incluyen como miembros del DEC. Siguen siendo miembros durante la duración de su mandato. Miembros designados: el presidente del DEC puede nombrar a los demócratas Martin para el DEC, sujeto a la aprobación de los miembros del DEC. Estos son puestos anuales. Consulte los Estatutos para obtener más detalles sobre la membresía. Reuniones DEC El DEC se reúne el tercer lunes de cada mes a las 7:00 pm, actualmente a través de Zoom. Tenga en cuenta que las reuniones mensuales del DEC están abiertas a todos los miembros del Partido Demócrata. No es necesario ser miembro de DEC para asistir. Si usted es un demócrata registrado en el condado de Martin y le gustaría asistir a una reunión como invitado, comuníquese con la presidenta del DEC, Mary Higgins, con anticipación. Número de teléfono: 772-519-3820 Correo electrónico: mountunion1978@aol.com Volver arriba Volver arriba Equipo de liderazgo de DEC Silla DEC Vicepresidente de DEC Secretario de DEC Secretario de DEC Secretario de DEC Secretario de DEC Volver arriba Recursos Archivos del boletín informativo demócratas del condado de Martin: Haga clic aqui Actas de la reunión del DEC 2021 del condado de Martin: enero febrero marcha abril Mayo junio julio ago Estatutos DEC del Condado de Martin (adoptados el 19 de octubre de 2020): Haga clic aqui Sitio web del Partido Demócrata de Florida (FDP): Haga clic aqui Sitio web del Partido Nacional Demócrata (DNC): Haga clic aqui Plataforma del Partido Demócrata: Lo que creemos Para obtener información general y aspectos destacados de la plataforma, haga clic aquí Para ver la plataforma completa de 92 páginas, haga clic aquí Volver arriba DEC DEC Leadership Team Newsletter DEC Bylaws

We're doing something different this year at Docktails. We're having a LIVE AUCTION ! What you should do to prepare for the auction: Read up on the live auction items below. Click on each item to get more info, pictures, etc. See which ones interest you. Get prepared to place a bid. If one of the exciting water items interests you (a day with the Indian Riverkeeper out on the St Lucie, a kayaking tour, or a sunset cruise), talk to friends and family to see if you all can go in together, pool your money, and have someone at Docktails to place a bid. You could also do this for the Monarch Country Club group of 4 golfing package or the culinary tours. This can be a fun part of the Docktails program. Don't sit on the sidelines. Decide which items you want to bid on now, and then be prepared to bid individually or as a group on the items at Docktails. Check or credit card accepted. If you cannot make it to Docktails, find a friend who is going and tell them to make a bid for you. A big THANK YOU to all the businesses that contributed to this auction. Without your generosity, there would be no auction. And a big THANK YOU to Allen Bornstein from Legends Radio 100.3 WLML-FM for being our emcee and auctioneer. Be a part of the winning team: All proceeds from the live auction go to the Martin County Democratic Party to help us win in 2026! **PLEASE CLICK ON THE WORDED TITLE OF EACH AUCTION ITEM BELOW TO SEE MORE DESCRIPTION AND PICTURES** Sunset Cruise to Bird Island for up to 8 people Estate Planning Package Culinary Tour of Martin County #2 Lunch with Bob Crandall Culinary Tour of Martin County - #1 Pinder's Nursery Extravaganza An Afternoon wtih Doug Stewart, Handyman Round of Golf for 4 at Monarch Kayak or Paddleboard Tour on St Lucie Inlet for up to 4 people A Day with Jim Moir, the Indian Riverkeeper...Good for up to 5 people Wine & Cheese Gift Basket