Friend, here's your August LWVT Voter newsletter

August 3, 2026

Upcoming Events Highlights

Visit LeonVotes.gov for more info.

Big Bend Environmental Forum: Tuesday, Aug. 4, 5:15-8:00 p.m. at the LeRoy Collins Main Library. Candidates will answer questions about energy, the environment, and sustainable growth and development. Visit the BBEF website.

Voting Rights Act National Day of Action: Saturday, Aug. 8, 4:30-7:00 p.m. at Jack McLean Community Center.

Member Orientation: Sunday, Aug. 9, 2:00-4:00 p.m. at the LeRoy Collins Main Library.

September Hot Topic: Thursday, Sep. 3, 6:00-8:00 p.m. at the American Legion Hall. Topic: Leon County Schools - vouchers, cutbacks, taxes, and more featuring Sally Butzin and Rosanne Wood. Get tickets here.

Check out our full calendar here.

Co-President's Message

It’s August. And it’s August in an election year. Which means in addition to the scramble to get kids back to school, students back to college, and all the other activities that start back up this month, we have a primary election.

Historically, primary elections in Leon County have much lower turnout than in the general. In 2024, the turnout for the primary election was just 31%. Compare that to the 81% turnout in the general. Why is this? I suspect some reasons are the perception that our local primary is only for members of political parties. Or perhaps because college students aren’t back in town yet, or they just aren’t overly concerned with local politics (I know I wasn’t at that age.) Maybe people just don’t know about it.

I want this primary to be different and will need every Leaguer’s help to make that happen. In addition to all the work being done by our committees and volunteers, I would love for all members to tell five friends or acquaintances:

that our primary election on Aug. 18 has important nonpartisan races, including City Commission, Mayor, School Board, and District Judge. The School Board and District judges WILL be decided at the primary. There is no chance to vote for these in November. The other races could be decided at the primary, but will go to a runoff in November if no candidate gets more than 50% of the vote.

the local races mentioned above have an enormous impact on our day-to-day life, including road maintenance, utility rates, infrastructure, school funding, and more.

these races are often decided by a small number of votes, under 1,000 or even under 100. Every single vote makes a difference.

to go to VOTE411.org to learn all about the candidates that will appear on their ballot.

Even among your friends and family that are regular voters, give them reminders. Offer a ride to the polls. Life is busy, and even well-intentioned voters can forget or miss deadlines. Let’s all help each other during this primary election. I am very hopeful that we can do better than 31% this time.

In League,

Miriam Tellechea LWVT Co-President

September Hot Topic

Did you know that one of the speakers for the September Hot Topic has a long history with the League?

Dr. Sally Butzin is a retired educator and community activist. She is past-president of the League of Women Voters of Tallahassee, and serves on the Education Issues Task Force for the League of Women Voters of Florida. She is past-president of the International Alliance for Invitational Education. She currently serves as president of the Florida Lifecare Residents Association (FLiCRA) at Westminster Oaks in Tallahassee where she and husband Peter now reside.

Dr. Butzin is the founding President and Executive Director of the Institute for School Innovation in Tallahassee. Among many awards and recognitions, she was named “Distinguished Educator” by the Florida State University College of Education in 2008.

Dr. Butzin has published widely in education and technology journals. She is the author of Joyful Classrooms in an Age of Accountability: The Project CHILD recipe for success (Phi Delta Kappa, 2005) and Creating Joyful Classrooms: A positive response to testing and accountability in the elementary school (Rowman & Littlefield, 2018). She is a frequent guest columnist on education issues for the Tallahassee Democrat newspaper.

Joining Dr Butzin on the panel is Rosanne Wood, long-time member of Leon County Schools. Ms. Wood was principal of SAIL for 32 years until her retirement in 2010. She was elected to the District 2 seat on the school board in 2016 and has served there since that time.

We hope to see you at the September Hot Topic!

Thursday, Sep. 3, 6:00-8:00 p.m. at the American Legion Hall. Topic: Leon County Schools: vouchers, cutbacks, taxes, and more featuring Sally Butzin and Rosanne Wood. Get tickets here. General admission $25. LCS Teachers: $15.

Member Orientation

Seventy years ago five women stood on the steps of the Florida Capitol and announced the formation of the Tallahassee League of Women Voters–one would become our first president. We've been educators and activists in our community ever since! What do we do, how do we do it, and where do you fit? Come to orientation and find out.

Member Orientation

Sunday, Aug. 9

2:00–4:00 p.m.

LeRoy Collins Main Library

Meeting Room C, 2nd floor

This event is not just for new members! Anyone who would like to learn how to be more involved in the League is welcome and encouraged to attend. Register here for this free event.

Today we call this building the Old Capitol, and the red and white striped awnings add southern charm!

Trish Neely, LWVT Membership Chair

Forbidden Florida Reads

Isabella J. Miletic, LWVT Board Member

We Appreciate You

The LWV educates and advocates for our constitutional democracy primarily through membership dues and donations. In other words, we could not do this work without you!

A sincere thank you to the following renewing members for donations to the general fund.

A special thank you to Kim Kelling, retired WFSU Media Director, who has been a longtime League supporter.

Kimberly Kelling

Jessica Lowe-Minor

Cyneetha Strong

Susan Taylor

Dianne Wears

If you are interested in donating to either our education or general fund, please visit our website and select the large DONATE button in the banner for more information about the funds and how to donate.

And if you are not yet a member, visit the website to join us!

Trish Neely, Membership Chair

Membership

Welcome New Members! You make our work possible.

Susan David

Judith Lamb

Samuel Lamb

Kathleen H. Lee

Susan Munley

Valerie Prebys

Ann Seiler