~ Brown to take command of the FHP Training Academy ~

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida Highway Patrol Director, Col. David Brierton, promoted Mark Brown to major and assigned him to lead the FHP Training Academy, effective March 16. The academy is responsible for recruiting as well as training new troopers and current members of the Florida Highway Patrol.

“The command team selected Major Brown from an impressive group of candidates who applied for the critical position within our agency,” Brierton said. “He is a forward thinking leader who is dedicated to accomplishing the mission of the Patrol.”

Brown grew up in Charlotte County, Fla., and attended Charlotte High School in Punta Gorda. He began his FHP career in 1999 as a member of the 97th recruit class. He has served in Charlotte County as a trooper, in Sarasota County as a traffic homicide investigator, in Manatee County as a district sergeant, in Leon County as a district lieutenant and in Gadsden County as a district captain. He has spent the past six months at FHP headquarters in Leon County as the Patrol’s Chief of Public Affairs.

Brown holds a bachelor’s degree in both business administration and criminology from Florida Southern College in Lakeland, Fla. He is also an instructor and graduate of the Leadership in Police Organizations Program, which the U.S. Military Academy and the International Association of Chiefs of Police developed. Brown graduated from the Florida Criminal Justice Executive Institute’s Executive Future Studies Program in 2010.

“I am very excited for this opportunity to serve as the Training Academy Director,” Brown said. “I am looking forward to getting started in this new role.”

The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles provides highway safety and security through excellence in service, education and enforcement. The Department is leading the way to a safer Florida through the efficient and professional execution of its core mission: the issuance of driver licenses, vehicle tags and titles and operation of the Florida Highway Patrol. To learn more about DHSMV and the services offered, visit www.flhsmv.gov or follow us on Twitter @FDHSMV. You can find us on Facebook, too.

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CONTACT: COURTNEY HEIDELBERG
(850) 617-3102

Last night, President Obama announced that Congressional leaders have reached a compromise to raise America’s debt ceiling and begin to set our fiscal house in order.  That agreement will prevent the United States from defaulting on its debt for the first time in history, an event that would have had catastrophic consequences for our economy.  Following the announcement of that agreement, Florida Chairman Rod Smith issued the following statement:“This agreement is a victory for Floridians. President Obama and Democratic leaders in Congress know that a failure to raise America’s debt ceiling would be irresponsible and reckless, and that it would have a catastrophic impact on our nation’s economic recovery.  Meeting our nation’s obligations and avoiding default is imperative.  The compromise President Obama announced last night will accomplish just that.  The people of Florida and Americans across the country appreciate President Obama’s leadership in protecting Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security, while establishing a path towards balanced deficit reductions that includes revenue increases.

“But make no mistake, there is still more work to do.  We need to make sure this legislation becomes law.  I have no doubt that the people of Florida and America will stand with the President and Congressional leaders who are willing to make the tough choices to get our fiscal house in order without compromising the things we all care about, like education, health care, and investing in our country’s future.

“President Obama’s leadership throughout this process has been tremendous, and I know that the President will continue to work tirelessly on behalf of all Americans.  He said from the very beginning that he was not afraid to tackle the difficult issues confronting our nation, and his dedication to achieving an agreement on this challenge is a testament to his strong and resolute leadership.”

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Contact: Brannon Jordan, (850) 222-3411

Tallahassee, FL — Florida Democratic Party Chairman Rod Smith Monday has named Brannon Jordan, a fourth generation Floridian and former deputy communications director for the Democratic Governors Association, as the party’s communications director.

“Brannon will be a tremendous asset to our already strong team,” Chairman Smith said. “A Florida native, she is a seasoned and talented communicator who stands ready to hold Republicans accountable while promoting our party’s focus on restoring the economy and creating jobs.”
“It’s a privilege to serve Chairman Smith and Florida Democrats,” Jordan said. “Under the party’s leadership, Democrats in Florida are turning the tide on Republicans, recently winning mayoral races in both Tampa and Jacksonville. Floridians can see that Democrats are working hard to restore our state’s economy and create jobs while the Republicans are more concerned about how they’re going to win races under the backdrop of Rick Scott’s job-killing policies and rock-bottom approval rating.”

Jordan most recently served as deputy communications director at the Democratic Governors Association where she oversaw communications operations for 37 gubernatorial races. Prior to her work at the DGA, Jordan served in the press offices of former CFO Alex Sink and the Jim Davis for Governor campaign. Jordan also worked for Planned Parenthood Federation of America in Washington, DC.

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Contact: Press Office, (850) 222-3411

Committee Includes More Than 100 Community Leaders from Clay, Duval and St. Johns Counties

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (August 1, 2011) –State Representative Mike Weinstein today announced the membership roster of his Campaign Finance Committee.  The committee includes more than 100 community leaders from across Clay, Duval and St. Johns Counties.

Weinstein said, “I am blessed and overwhelmed at the level of widespread support that I continue to receive from throughout the district as I campaign to serve my third term in the Florida House of Representatives.  I am honored to know that these community leaders believe in me as we work together to fight for the ideals of limited government and more freedom for all of Florida.

Weinstein continued, “With the upcoming redistricting process and the fact that I have an announced opponent in my race for the Florida House, I am grateful for their support so I can continue to serve the interests of Northeast Florida in the Florida Legislature.”

Mike Weinstein was elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2008 serving District 19. He serves as an Assistant State Attorney and the Executive Director for the State Attorney’s Office for the 4th Judicial Circuit.

WEINSTEIN CAMPAIGN FINANCE COMMITTEE

Barry Allred
Ron Autrey
Mark Bachara
JimBailey
Kathy Barco
David Berkman
Sheriff Rick Beseler
Karen Bowling
Robert Bradley
Nancy Broner
Bennett Brown
Ed Burr
Richard Clark
J.D.Collins
Doug Conkey
Angela Corey
Hugh Cotney
John Coxwell
Nelson Cuba
Travis Cummings
Wendell Davis
Bobby Deal
John Delaney
Rick Doran
Leslie Dougher
Frank Farrell
Marty Fiorentino
Bill Gay
W.C. Gentry
Jim Gilmore
Marty Goetz
Mary Goldsmith
April Green
Hugh Greene
Virgina Hall
Robert Harris
Bill Harris
Curtis Hart
Preston Haskell
Shannon Hewitt
Mike Hogan
Adam Hollingsworth
Jim Horne
Buddy Jacobs
Ken Jacobs
Jimmie Jett
Quillie Jones
Stephen Joost
Dr. Steven Kailes
Janice Kerekes
Al Kinard
Howard Korman
Alfred Lai
Harlan Mason
Scot McCaleb
Dan McCarthy
Paul McCormick
Mac McGee
George Meros
Mark Miner
Sam Mousa
Ginny Myrick
Steve Nelson
Larry Osborne
Duane Ottenstroer
Willard Payne
Tom Petway
Representative Bill Proctor
Sonny Redmond
Becky Reichenberg
Jimmy Ricks
Bill Riddell
Dave Robertson
Bill Rubin
Rick Rumrell
Sheriff John Rutherford
Jud Sapp
Mike Saylor
Matt Schellenberg
Tom Scholl
Matt Shirk
Sheriff David Shoar
Mark Shorstein
Tony Sleiman
Ashleigh Sleiman
Beverly Slough
Charles Spencer
Frank Spencer
Tom Stakem, DDS, MD
Frank Stallwood
Jason Stallwood
Cheryl Strickland
Carol Studdard
John Tabor
Dr. Sarv Terkonda
Ron Townsend
Arnold Tritt
Fred  Tromberg
Ken Underwood
Charles Van Zant, Jr.
Chris Verlander
Steve Wallace
Wayne Weaver
Frost Weaver
Kirk Wendland
Wesley White
Susie Wiles
Senator Steve Wise
Coleen Wood
Randy Wyse
Geoff Youngblood

Political advertisement paid for and approved by Mike Weinstein, Republican, for Florida House of Representatives, District 19
Contact:  Kevin Doyle
904-806-1714
Kevin.Doyle@WexfordStrategies.com

Dear Friend:

I’m in. I’m running for Congress.

I’m running because I promised Charlaina and Rick that I would. Charlaina called me a few weeks ago, from the hospital. She told me that her husband, Rick, was suffering from multiple organ failure – lungs, kidneys and liver.

Rick was 56 years old. That’s three years older than me.

Rick was a veteran. But the Veterans Administration wasn’t covering his hospital bills.

Rick had had a bad liver since he was 30, when he contracted hepatitis. No insurance company would go near him.

Every day Rick survived, his family owed several thousand dollars more to hospitals and doctors. And they had no way to pay it.

I told Charlaina how sorry I was. And I told her that I wasn’t in Congress anymore, so I wasn’t sure how I could help.

She said: “You can run again.”

“You are the only person who ever cared about people like us. Rick wants people in Congress who can’t be bought and sold. Rick wants you to run again.”

A dying man wants me to run for Congress. What exactly could I say?

I promised that I would run.

Rick died on June 30, 2011, at 5:55 p.m.

I’m keeping my promise. I’m in.

For the four million people in Florida who can’t see a doctor when they are sick, and the fifty million nationwide, I’m in.

For the 70% of all homeowners in Orlando who owe more than they own on their home, and the 25% nationwide who are “underwater,” and feel like they are drowning, I’m in.

For the six million Americans who haven’t worked in six months and are seeing their benefits running out, for the eight million more who are unemployed, and for the eight million on top of that who can find only part-time work, I’m in.

For the millions of parents who have absolutely no idea how to pay for a college education for their children, I’m in.

And for everyone who is appalled by the prospect that we may cut Social Security and Medicare benefits as we spend more than $150 billion a year on three unnecessary wars and almost $100 billion a year on the Bush tax cuts for the rich, I’m in.

I’m in. And I’m going to need your help. Are you in?

Courage,

Alan Grayson

The Florida Democratic Party today released the Florida Delegate Selection and Affirmative Action Plan laying out the proposed process for selecting Delegates to the 2012 Democratic National Convention.

Over the next 30 days, the Florida Democratic Party will welcome public comments regarding the plan at http://www.FlaDems.com/2012DelegatePlan, where the full plan can be viewed.“I would like to thank Florida Democratic Party Secretary Rick Boylan, the members of the Select Committee on Delegate Selection, and the Subcommittee on Affirmative Action Chaired by Ron Mills for their work in crafting the Florida Democratic Party’s proposed Delegate Selection and Affirmative Action Plan,” said Florida Democratic Party Chairman Rod Smith. “This plan ensures that the voice of Florida Democrats will be heard and our Delegation will be seated at the 2012 Convention in Charlotte. While we sincerely hope that the Republicans choose to follow the rules by setting the primary for March 6th, this plan provides us with the flexibility needed in our delegate selection process so Florida Democrats won’t be disenfranchised by the actions of Republican politicians in Tallahassee.”

The Delegate Selection Process will work as follows:

·  Should the Presidential Preference Primary be held on or after March 6th, in compliance with the Republican National Committee and Democratic National Committee rules, the results of this election will be used to apportion Delegates similar to the process used by Florida Democrats in past Presidential Primaries.

·  Between April 14th and May 5th of 2012, each County Democratic Party will host a caucus to elect Delegates to a State Convention.

·  Should the Presidential Primary be held in compliance with the rules, the pledged delegates elected at the county caucus will be reflective of the Presidential Primary results. Should the Presidential Primary be held before March 6th, the county caucuses will serve as the first step in allocating delegates to the State Convention.

·  In June, the 1538 delegates elected at the county caucuses will gather at a State Convention to elect Florida’s 258 District-Level Delegates to the Democratic National Convention. The District-Level Delegates will then elect the 31 Pledged Party Leader and Elected Official (PLEO) Delegates, the 51 At-Large Delegates, and the 20 At-Large Alternate Delegates to the Democratic National Convention.

Additionally, this Florida Delegate Selection and Affirmative Action Plan ensures that our delegation represents the great diversity of our state and the Florida Democratic Party.

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Eric Jotkoff

(850) 222-3411

On April 5, 2011, Citizens for Fairness in Florida held a rally in support of HB 1207.

Tallahassee, FL:  Democratic Party of Florida Chairman Rod Smith was in Sarasota on Sunday discussing how he plans to avoid another year of across the board victories for Republicans. He has appointed a “turnaround committee” to list all of the party’s problems and reevaluate their message delivery. However, the strategy seems to focus more on rhetoric than policy.

“It is interesting that the Democrats believe appointing a ‘turnaround committee’ to evaluate their message will help them win elections,” said Chairman Dave Bitner.  “What they really need to ‘turnaround’ are their policies. Rod Smith and Bill Nelson can’t turn around the fact that they support ObamaCare, failed stimulus programs and all the other job killing policies coming out of Washington that are taking our country in the wrong direction while also burdening our children with massive debt. Unfortunately the ideology of Rod Smith, Bill Nelson and the state’s Democrats can’t be changed by appointing a committee.”

Read more about Chairman Smith’s remarks in this weekends Herald-Tribune piece here.

WHAT:  March and Rally in opposition to proposed cuts on state budget

WHEN:  Tuesday, March 8th, 2011 from 4:30 to 6:30 PM

WHERE: March meeting point (4:30 PM): IBEW Hall 820 Virginia Drive Orlando, FL
(the march will lead to the Rally)
Rally (5:30 PM): Senator Beth Johnson Park, 59 South Ivanhoe Boulevard,
Orlando, FL (adjacent to Chamber of Commerce)        
WHO: Over 150 concerned residents and community organizations.

WHY: As the Legislative Session starts, concerned residents of Orlando will march and rally Tuesday, March 8th, as part of a statewide, grassroots chorus of protests against draconian budget cuts being proposed by Gov.Rick Scott and equally destructive proposals from legislative leaders. Similar ‘Awake the State’ rallies will take place in 32 cities throughout the state. The rallies have already drawn the ire of the Chamber of Commerce and other special interests who want even more tax breaks for corporations and CEOs at the expense of working and middle class Floridians.

“Ever since Gov. Scott and legislative leaders announced their plans to cut thousands of jobs, raise taxes on hardworking Floridians, cut essential services to the developmentally disabled, cut care to nursing home residents, condone grosslegislative waste including a record number of six-figure staff salaries, and make the deepest cuts to education in history, people from all across the state have been looking for a way to voice their opposition,” said former Republican Senator Nancy Argenziano. “Awake the State is giving them that chance.”

Orlando residents who have a stake in the Governor’s budget and who don’t want to lose public services in favor of corporations’ gains will take a stand on March 8th to “Awake the State”.

“The Governor and the Legislature’s budget will line the pockets of Wall Street with money taken from the pockets of people on Main Street,” says Stephanie Porta from Organize Now. “Florida gives away tax breaks to corporations and asks the middle class to pay the bill. People are fed up and fighting back.”

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MEDIA CONTACT
Stephanie Porta (407) 592-4784 stephanie@organizeflorida.org
Matt De Vlieger (954) 536-7461 / matt@flnewmajority.org

Tallahassee, FL- After years of standing beside President Obama’s policies and priorities in Washington that are piling up debt onto future generations of Floridians, Senator Bill Nelson will once again be standing by his man as they campaign together tonight.

“It’s no wonder President Obama is willing to fly down to Florida for tonight’s fundraiser considering that Bill Nelson has been a reliable ‘yes’ vote for the policies that are taking our country in the wrong direction, spending recklessly and piling up trillions in new debt,” said RPOF Communications Director Trey Stapleton “His votes for the $800 billion failed stimulus and  Obamacare are proof that Floridians can’t afford Bill Nelson in Washington anymore.”

Since the 2008 Presidential Election, Senator Bill Nelson has continuously voted in support of President Obama’s position. His devastating votes include raising the debt limit, the failed stimulus bill and the job killing healthcare bill.

Background

“[Nelson] Has Voted For Every Major Initiative Of Obama’s Tenure: The $787 Billion Stimulus, Wall Street Reform, A Repeal Of The Military’s ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ Policy And The Health Care Overhaul.” (Alex Leary, “Sen. Bill Nelson Fights Off GOP Efforts To Tag Him A Liberal,” St. Petersburg Times, 2/6/11)

In 2010, Nelson Voted For President Obama’s Position 98% Of The Time. (CQ,www.cq.com, Accessed 2/18/11)

In 2009, Nelson Voted For President Obama’s Position 97% Of The Time. (CQ,www.cq.com, Accessed 2/18/11)

Since 2009, Nelson Has Voted At Least Three Times To Increase The Debt Limit. (H. J. Res. 45, CQ Vote #14: Passed 60-39: R 0-39; D 58-0; I 2-0, 1/28/10, Nelson Voted Yea; H.R. 4314, CQ Vote #397: Passed 60-39: R 1-38; D 57-1; I 2-0, 12/24/09, Nelson Voted Yea; H.R. 1, CQ Vote #64: Adopted 60-38; R 3-38; D 55-0; I 2-0, 2/13/09, Nelson Voted Yea)
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Contact:

Trey Stapelton:  850-222-7920