- From the County Chair
- No Kings...and Beyond
- Seeing with Fresh Eyes:David Jolly
- Shutdown Continues
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- Vote for the Environment
- Florida Healthcare Access
- The Joys of Canvassing
- Volunteer of the Month
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From the County Chair
What Is To Be Done?
By Jim Rosinus
Events out in the world can be overwhelming. There is so much going so wrong so frequently it’s easy to sit back and say, “How can I have any effect on all this? What can I possibly do that could make a difference?” But that is exactly the response those who are creating this chaos want. They want us to feel helpless and discouraged. Because then we are less likely to stand up and challenge their claims to power and authority.
The fact is, they only have as much power as we give them. They have only the authority we allow them to have. And we can take it back, right here, right now.
How? What do we do? We organize! We organize within our own communities, with our friends and neighbors. We let each of us know we are not alone. We have a very simple tool. We call it a House Party. And we will help you put one together in your neighborhood.
A House Party is just that. A get-together of like-minded folks who can socialize and talk comfortably among themselves, who can then build support for candidates, enroll voters in Vote-by-Mail, and get out the vote, all in their own local community. We can give you the names of the other Democrats in your neighborhood. We will come to your House Party to greet your guests and thank them, answer their questions, and show them what we can build for the future.
If you think you are the only Democrat in your area, if you think you are alone—you’re not. There are more of us than we think there are. Our job is to find the rest of us, let them know they are not alone, and bring them in and show them what can be done when we all work together.
If you would like to learn how to host a House Party of your own, please write to me at leecountydems@gmail.com and put House Party in the subject line. We’ll help you get set up.
Normally, at this point I put in a pitch for contributions, and we will happily accept whatever you can donate because everything costs money, but I really hope you decide to host a House Party and start fixing this nation one neighborhood at a time.
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No Kings October…and Beyond
The energy was infectious at October’s No Kings Rally in County at the four corners of U.S. 41 and Daniels Parkway and beyond. Around 5,500 protesters filled the space, waving flags and carrying handmade signs denouncing Donald Trump’s authoritarian overreach and anti-democratic agenda. The Fort Myers rally was one of roughly 2,700 held across the country, part of a national day of protest that drew about 7 million participants demanding accountability, democracy, and an end to Trump’s dictator-like ambitions.
Nationally, organizers are calling on people to follow up with a “culture of defiance”
defending against authoritarian overreach. People are asked to share their stories,
creative campaigns, and local actions to keep the movement visible and strong.
And to that end. . .can’t wait for the next monthly demonstration? Join this one! Every
Friday from 8:30-9:30 a.m. an increasingly large group gathers on Summerlin/McGregor Blvd. at Shell Point Blvd.
As local organizer Debby Topliff told the News Press: “It’s not easy to protest. Apart
from time and energy, there is the risk of revealing yourself and your values to people
who might not agree with you. There is the challenge of returning kindness and civility
toward anger from passersby. There is uncertainty of whether your actions will make a
difference. Yet what is the alternative? Silence and apathy will not protect democracy.
Comfort and complacency will not protect ‘the least of these.’ Action alleviates anxiety.
Community builds courage. Courage defeats authoritarians. Join us.”
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David Jolly Event:
Seeing with Fresh Eyes
by Elisa Miller-Burda
It was my first time - and the room was packed. I was excited to attend my first-ever political candidate luncheon in downtown Fort Myers with a friend.
As a lifelong Democrat, attending Florida gubernatorial candidate David Jolly’s event was a reminder of why civic dialogue still matters, especially here in Lee County. I arrived unsure of what to expect. What I found was a ballroom of thoughtful, energizing conversations that invited all of us - regardless of party - to reflect on what leadership should look like in Florida’s future.
Before David Jolly spoke, several of our local candidates running for everything from school board to a Florida House seat shared inspiring remarks about why they chose to run now, and their top priorities for Lee County’s future. Their passion reminded all of us that democracy truly begins at the local level.
When former Congressman David Jolly took the stage, his message struck a balance between realism and optimism. Jolly’s platform of priorities resonated with me as he reminded the room that “Democratic values are what hold us together. The right answer is to amplify our values in the communities we have failed to reach before. ” For me, his words carried particular weight here in Lee County, where we are experiencing the effects of political (and cultural) polarization firsthand. Jolly is campaigning for a better Florida economy, one in which the Democratic value of “The economy should work for everybody” holds true.
Jolly spoke about the importance of our teachers needing a raise in pay, affordable housing and integrity at the governorship level. Here in Lee, many are working hard to make ends meet, so the Jolly messages felt timely. I appreciated that Jolly did not shy away from touching on gun violence and the need for a tighter registration system here in our state. He also made it personal when he told a “Why I am running” story about a conversation with his young daughter.
As I left the luncheon, I felt a renewed sense of not only purpose, but understanding of our political system and how, as community voters, we can be the change. Democracy doesn’t exist and thrive in an echo chamber - it grows stronger when people listen and take part. That’s what happened in that room — people coming together, talking, learning, and believing that progress is possible. As a Lee County voter, I am proud to be part of that ongoing conversation.
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Shutdown Continues
Lee County and Southwest Florida are feeling the effects of the Republican-led government shutdown. What began on October 1, after Republicans in Congress refused to pass necessary funding legislation, has now resulted in furloughs, service disruptions, and growing financial strain across our region. While essential operations continue, the GOP’s political brinkmanship is inflicting real hardship on local families and communities. Read on for impacts on services and residents and take action now to protect your community and influence lawmakers.
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Vote for the Environment
By Bob Moore and Jean Chandler
If you’re concerned about climate change and the environment, you’re not alone. A recent poll by Florida Atlantic University that included Floridians of all backgrounds ⎯ Democrats, Republicans, and Independents⎯ found:
- 89% of Floridians value the conservation of Florida’s natural resources as our state grows to ensure future generations can enjoy our state’s natural beauty.
- 85% of Floridians agree it is important to find climate change solutions.
Similarly, a survey commissioned by Conservatives for Clean Energy Florida shows
that nearly 80% back clean energy sources, including 63% of Republicans. And an overwhelming number of Floridians report that their utility costs are rising and could benefit from clean energy sources to mitigate those rising prices. Read more
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Florida Healthcare Access:
Rights, Realities, and the People Behind the Policy
By Lance Trottier
Healthcare in Florida isn’t just about policy. It’s about people. Consider the single mother in Fort Myers who faces the difficult choice of skipping her medication to afford rent, or choosing between her own health and the health of her child(ren), or the retired couple in Immokalee who must drive hours to see a specialist. The service worker in Naples, unable to afford insurance, continues to show up for work despite being sick. These stories illustrate how policy decisions translate into everyday realities for people across the state.
In 2024, Florida enacted one of the largest healthcare packages in its history...Read more
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The Joys of Canvassing
by Pam Pegahi
I cannot tell a lie about canvassing and joy is not necessarily a word that we use; but I can tell you that my health and state of mind are so much better after returning home from canvassing. When Trump became President, I knew it would be bad, but I never could have imagined it would be this bad. Canvassing allows me to have direct contact with Democrats who may have fallen through the cracks, may have lost faith in our Party, or have just given up. When a fellow Democrat opens the door and is so happy to see another fellow Democrat, it is worth it.
As a retiree, it is easy for me to forget how busy I was when I was working, raising a family, and juggling many balls. But there are many reasons Democrats haven’t registered, become active, signed up for VBM, etc. Read more
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Volunteer of the Month:
Elisa Miller-Burda
This month, we salute Elisa Miller-Burda as our Volunteer of the Month. Elisa is an invaluable member and co-leader of the Lee Dems Communications Team. Her insight, writing, planning and strategic skills elevate every project, and she’s always ready to
contribute ideas that help all teams succeed. She joined the Communication Team with an infectious curiosity and an eagerness to hone her skills, making a positive impact as she helped the team expand its reach!
Lee Dems Vice-chair Karyn Edison praises Elisa’s ability to “blend her expertise from
another profession into the fast-paced world of politics. She fearlessly stepped into new
territory, bringing grace and a smile along the way. Her contributions have truly elevated
the efficiency of the communication team! Working with her is an absolute delight, and
her positive energy is a breath of fresh air!”
Elisa says, “I've been a volunteer for many causes over the years, but nonpolitical. This year was different. As a lifelong Democrat (and learner), I felt the call to dive in and help in any way I could. I don't recognize our country right now. That's why I am here.”
Communications Team co-leader, Jayne Berkaw, confirms that "Elisa is an invaluable
member of the Communications Team. As co-team leader, her keen communications
instincts and analytical sense, excellent writing, and strategic planning make her a
trusted voice on every project. She’s always ready to collaborate, lending ideas and
support that benefit the entire organization."
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Now is the time you've been waiting for!
Our November calendar is packed full of opportunities to reach out, engage, learn something new and make new friends. Find an activity and join us. See you soon!
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The Informed Democrat is published monthly and posted on the LeeCountyDems.org website.
Do you have something you’d like to share with your fellow Democrats in Lee County, or do you have comments, questions, or ideas about features you'd like to see?
Contact us at InformedDemocrat@gmail.com.
Editor: Melissa Butler
The Democratic Party of Lee County is an all-volunteer organization. We do not receive any funding
from the Florida Democratic Party nor the National Democratic Party.
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