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In this Issue:
What is a Political Party?
Run for Office
India Palencia Runs for School Board
Update from The Purple Group
Volunteer(s) of the Month
Why I am a Democrat
Wishing You a Meaningful Independence Day
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Poli Sci 101
What Is a Political Party?
“A political party is an organization that sponsors candidates for political office under the organization’s name.”
Crack open an introductory American Government textbook and that’s the definition you’ll find. The chief business of the Democratic Party is to recruit candidates and help them win elections. This means encouraging good people to run for office and offering them support.
Here in Lee County, the Democratic Party has a team of experienced political advocates and army of volunteers who will aid candidates’ campaigns through promotion, exposure and hands-on assistance with outreach, voter engagement, and (crucially) getting out the vote.
To be successful, Party and candidates need to work well ahead of the next election. Where there are multiple Democratic candidates for an office, they’ll face off in a primary election in August, 2026. Read more
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Be a Good Citizen. Get Involved.
What’s a good citizen? Back when the ancient Greeks invented democracy, Aristotle told us a good citizen was someone “with the knowledge and the ability both to be ruled and to rule.” In short, citizenship in a democracy was not a spectator sport.
Good citizens were those who stepped up and took an active part in running their community. They held office and felt the give-and-take of democratic decision-making. They learned how to work with others and get things done. (See “Parthenon”!)
Serve on an Independent Special District
In Florida, there are lots of opportunities to be good citizens, to step up and get things done for the community. Florida has local government bodies called “Independent Special
Districts.” These are created for specific purposes (like water management, fire protection, or community development). They operate within a limited boundary, independent of other local governments. Read more
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Kara Rogers Steps Up to Run
for Cape Coral Mayor
Hello, Cape Coral! I’m Kara Rogers, and I’m honored to introduce myself as a candidate for your next Mayor. I am a local attorney and one of the owners of Powers & Rogers, PLLC, here in Cape Coral. I have spent my career advocating for individuals and businesses, navigating complex challenges, and fighting for the best possible outcomes. My professional life has been built on a foundation of rigorous analysis, strategic problem-solving, and an unwavering commitment to improving the lives of the people around me—qualities I believe are essential for leading our beloved community.
My journey to this point has been shaped by hard work and a firsthand understanding of the struggles many families face. Growing up in a middle-class household, I learned the value of perseverance early on. Read more
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India Palencia Steps Up to Run for Lee County School Board
Following the defeat of a proposed constitutional amendment last fall, elections to the Lee County School Board remain non-partisan. Recently, India Palencia filed to run for District 6, the at-large district. She shared her vision with The Informed Democrat:
Why I’m Running
By India Palencia
I’m not a politician. I’m a mom of three sweet kids in our public schools, a taxpayer, and someone who’s fed up with business as usual. I don’t have big, wealthy donors or fancy connections—just a relentless work ethic and a deep love for this community.
I’m running because our schools aren’t better than they were four years ago. Teachers are leaving, kids are slipping through the cracks, and money gets wasted while our kids go without.
Parents and teachers should work side by side for our kids. We all want the same thing—good schools and kids who do well. I believe public schools should be the best choice in school choice. Read on
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Update from The Purple Group
By Maddie Stewart
It may be hot and humid, but The Purple Group is still busy advocating for public education, students, parents and teachers in Lee County. Are you feeling energized, maybe even hopeful, after attending the recent rallies but looking for a consistent,
productive way to “get into good trouble?”
Read on to see what we’re up to and then contact us via our Facebook The Purple Group Lee County, Florida or at MVSTEWART16@aol.com for more information on how you can contribute your ideas and energy.
We are NOW active at both monthly Lee County School District's Board Meetings:
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Board Workshops: 3rd Tuesday of the month, 1pm. Public comment at the end of the meeting.
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Board Action Meetings: 3rd Tuesday of the month, 6pm. Public Comment at the beginning of the meeting.
These regularly scheduled public forums, open to all, offer an opportunity to listen and learn...
Read more
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Volunteers of the Month
Brenda and Lance Trottier
If you have attended any Lee Dem event, you probably met Brenda and Lance. You may see them at protests wearing their custom-designed t-shirts, assisting with voter registration at Stop the Violence Fair, Blue Shirts Gatherings, the LGBTQ caucus, Cape Coral Democratic Club, and most recently, presenting a lesson on how to start and post on TiktTok at our Leadership Training.
Brenda stepped up to coordinate the finance and events committee and also serves as a precinct leader, but everyone knows that Lance is her unofficial assistant in everything. They are rising to be the newest power couple in the Democratic Party of Lee County. Read more
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Club of the Month
Lehigh Acres
Democratic Club
By Jacqueline Brown
Lehigh Acres has a Democratic Club. We have been active since 2018. Started out small and would meet at one of our member’s homes. Presently, our membership has grown. We hold monthly meetings on the second Tuesday of each month. Our next meeting will be on Tuesday, July 8 at 6:00 PM in Perkins Restaurant at 2700 Lee Blvd in Lehigh Acres.
As part of the effort to reach out to nearby residents, the Lehigh Acres Democratic Club will participate in a Lehigh Acres Day of Action on Saturday, July 12. The Day of Action will be an Expo where people can meet up with other Democrats who share their values and interests. Attendees will be able to check out different organized groups like the Democratic Women’s Club, the Environmental, LGBTQ+, and Labor Caucuses as well as clubs like the Lehigh Acres Club. Participants will learn where the Party needs volunteers and how to sign up to help out. The Day of Action will start at 11:00am and run until 1:30pm at East County Regional Library 881 Gunnery Rd. N, Lehigh Acres, FL 33971, USA. Read more
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Why I am a Democrat
By Annie Granatino
Long before I was old enough to vote, I was a Democrat in spirit. Being from Massachusetts guaranteed one is a lifelong Red Sox fan and a Democrat. My dad was a member of the local Democratic party in the small town we lived in. He worked to get-out-the-vote for Ted Kennedy in Kennedy’s first political campaign. This entailed bringing my sister and I to the town dump every Sunday morning after church (everyone in town went to the dump after church). My sister and I (ages 8 and 9) served coffee and Dunkin’ Donuts to everyone while my dad talked up Ted Kennedy.
Thus began my life as a Democrat. It strengthened a few years later when the assassination of JFK shattered our nation. In high school, Bobby Kennedy was my candidate in our mock political campaign in history class. Being a Republican never entered my mind. Read more
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Wishing You a Meaningful Independence Day
By Pat Duncan
Millions of Americans peacefully protested our wannabe dictator on June 14. With that accomplishment behind us, we can–and must–now plan for more days of action intended to wake up millions more people to Trump’s disrespect for the Constitution and the rule of law. In preparation for the next big nationwide protest, consider regarding your Fourth of July gathering as an opportunity to remind your friends and families of the meaning of the Declaration signed on July 4, 1776 and its relevance to the abuse of power that is going on in our federal government today.
The Declaration of Independence was about the colonists’ commitment to separating themselves from a mad king. It listed these complaints: cutting off trade with all parts of the world; imposing taxes without the people’s consent; depriving many people of the benefits of trial by jury; and transporting some “beyond Seas” to be tried for alleged offenses. Sound familiar? In just his first four months in office, Trump has recklessly messed with global trade by imposing tariffs that effectively raise taxes on us, detained people without due process, and transported some of those people to faraway countries. Read more
| | After Hands Off, After No Kings, What's Next? | | |
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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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