Alan Clendenin

Good Saturday morning Democrats!  Are you ready for some tackling, interceptions, holding, clipping below the belt, unnecessary roughing and unsportsmanlike conduct?

No, I'm not talking about the Super Bowl blow out by Pittsburg.  How about those Mayoral and City Council candidates?  

The City of Tampa election is NOT in March it is right now!  The supervisor of elections office has been mailing out THOUSANDS of vote by mail ballots.  We have a lot of great Democratic Candidates working day and night to represent our values.  Please support OUR DEMOCRATIC candidates. 

In my 'Plan for the Democratic Party' I discussed the importance of electing candidates in local elections to build our bench for future success.  This is our time Democrats!  It is my hope you will evaluate the slate no just on the candidates current election, look if they have the ability to step up to a higher level.  

The candidate you vote for may be a Senator one day.

FDP Budget & Finance Committee

Chairman Rod Smith has called for the FDP Budget & Finance Committee to meet at 1:30 pm, on Tuesday, February 8 in Tallahassee, at the FDP Headquarters.

Legislative Appreciation Reception

The Florida Democratic Party’s annual Legislative Appreciation Reception will be the same day as the Budget and Finance Committee meeting, Tuesday, February 8, at 5:30 pm at the Mary Brogan Museum in Tallahassee. 

DNC Winter Meeting

The Democratic National Committee will hold the winter meeting February 23-26, 2011 in Washington DC.  

I am certain there will be a lot of discussion concerning the 2010 election fiasco.  The President will be setting an agenda for Democratic successes in 2012.  Protecting health care reform will undoubtedly be one of the cornerstones of our parties agenda. 

Last year most of us were stranded in Washington for 5 days after the blizzard of 2010 shut down Washington.  I am wondering why we can't have a winter DNC meeting in Tampa!

FDP Committee on Clubs, Organizations and Caucuses and Rules Committee will meet Saturday, February 12 at the Reunion Resort Conference Center in Orlando .

10:00 am - 11:00 am  Committee on Clubs, Organizations and Caucuses

11:00 am - 12:30 pm Rules Committee

Finance Chair

One of cornerstones I identified in m “Plan for the Florida Democratic Party” is the need for the Florida Democratic Party to establish a Finance Development Board to expand and diversify the organizational income stream. I identified a need for a Chair to lead the Finance Development Board to provide organizational leadership to organize and manage the party’s fundraising efforts. 

On January 24th Rod Smith named Mike Moskowitz as the Finance Chair for the Florida Democratic Party. Mike will work with Party Finance Director Beth Matuga to develop an aggressive fundraising program. 

Select Committee on Delegate Selection

I am honored to have been selected to serve on the Florida Democratic Party 2012 Select Committee on Delegate Selection.  I am equally pleased to report Hillsborough County is the only county to have two representatives on the Committee!  But that's not all!  Of the 10 members on the committee 4 are part of the Suncoast Caucus. 

Chair

Rick Boylan

Vice Chair

Amy Mercado

Members

Ray Alfred

Rhett Bullard

Alan Clendenin

Andrew Gillium

Chuck Mohlke

Alison Morano

Adora Obi Nweze

Sally Phillips

Ex-officio

Scott Arceneaux

Ron Mills

Staff

Nick Pellito

Milli Smith

2012 Democratic National Convention

Governor Tim Kaine announced last week he has selected Charlotte, North Carolina to host the 46th Democratic National Convention. Charlotte beat out Cleveland, St. Louis and Minneapolis. 

The convention will be held the week of September 3rd, 2012. 
 

Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King and President Barack Obama

Our good friends in Polk County will hold their 2nd Annual Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King and President Barack Obama Fund-Raiser Dinner on February 19th, 2011.  Rod Smith is will be the keynote speaker! There are many areas where Polk and Hillsborough Counties can work together to take back key seats! 

Our brothers and sisters have always been very supportive of Hillsborough County, I hope you will join me there.  

February 19th, 2011

7:00 pm

Hilton Garden Inn at the Lakeland Linder Regional Airport

3839 Don Emerson Drive

Lakeland, Florida, USA 33811

Cost is $60 per person

Please RSVP to Karen Welzel at Kwelz1028@verizon.net

Florida Democratic State Party Platform

I was recently asked by Rod Smith to establish and Chair a select committee to study if the Florida Democratic Party should adopt a state party platform. 

The process is just beginning and I will have more information about the structure and goals of the committee in the coming weeks.  Until then I would appreciate your advice and council on this issue.

The DRIVE Resolution

The following Resolution is being circulated for consideration at the Winter DNC meeting in Washington.  The California State Chair and Maryland State Chair have signed on and as of a week ago there were 70 co-signers. 

What do you think?

Language below: 

WHEREAS, President Barack Obama has encouraged our Nation that in order to move forward you put the country in DRIVE.

WHEREAS, Governor Tim Kaine in his first speech as Chair of the Democratic National Committee said, “The 50-state strategy is now and forever what Democrats do, the results speak for themselves. I'll oversimplify: everybody matters. Every state, every region, every community matters.”

WHEREAS, the Democratic National Committee showed that a strong element of the electoral success in 2006 and 2008 was due to a strong unified field program;

WHEREAS, in order to be Ready for 2012 there is a need to maintain a vibrant and effective field organization in all fifty states; and

WHEREAS, by Investing throughout the 2012 election cycle in a state party-based professionally trained staff and volunteer base the Democratic Party will enhance and improve its opportunity for a competitive advantage in the 2012 elections; and

WHEREAS, the Value of additional staff resources is immense and will enable state parties to develop outreach necessary to reach out to underrepresented communities and constituencies in a planned and comprehensive manner; and

WHEREAS, the DNC and our State Parties need to Engage and energize our base and constituencies as we prepare for a coordinated campaign everywhere and consistent and comprehensive organizing will improve electoral options up and down the ballot in 2012 and beyond; and

WHEREAS, the Democratic Party needs to DRIVE forward focusing on our field operations; and

WHEREAS, the enhanced Votebuilder has been an unprecedented success and needs to continuously be available as an organizing tool; and

WHEREAS, each State Party functions differently, but all benefit by a strong field and communication operation with specific minimum standards;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that a working committee is immediately created and comprised of State Chairs and Vice Chairs and State elected DNC Members from the four DNC regions to establish “DRIVE “an enhanced national field, data and organizing program.

THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the DRIVE Committee shall report to the DNC no later than April 1, 2011 a comprehensive plan to implement the program no later than June 1, 2011 with an annual budget of no less than $10 million to ensure a sponsored staffing level in each State Party of a minimum of three staffers; and

THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the program plan will insure that Health Insurance options will be made available to the state party -based employees as part of the agreements with each State Party to implement the national state-based program.

City Elections

Get our the Democratic vote for OUR DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES!