Record Turnout for Democrats at Annual Labor Day Picnic

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Senator Bill Nelson. Photo by Sharon Aron Baron for Talk Media.

By: Carly Levy

Democrats from 21 clubs from around Broward County, along with elected officials and candidates came together for barbecue, mingling and passionate speeches at this year’s Democrats Annual Labor Day Picnic.

Coordinated by Joanne Goodwin, President of the North Broward Democratic Club, this year’s event at the Pompano Beach Community Park was bigger than ever with a turnout of 250-300 people who she said aren’t happy with what they are seeing in our current government. “Dems are fed up and scared with what’s going on with Trump and the Republicans and want to hear from our elected leaders on how they will fight his agenda and what they can do,” she said.

In attendance, was Senator Bill Nelson who spoke about the victory to Democrats when Obamacare was unsuccessfully repealed. “With your help, we’re not going to have those potential razor-thin votes in the future,” said Nelson. “Because with your help…we now know that elections have consequences. This one coming up is really big time.”

Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz shared her anger and disappointment over the Trump administration’s treatment of transgender volunteers in the military as well as the ending of the D.A.C.A. program. “We have a president who has single-handedly..and unfortunately likely will be successful for stopping patriotic transgender troops from joining the United States military,” said Schultz. “Our dreamers who have been here for nearly their entire lives who have contributed through service in our military…What does President Trump want to do? He wants to kick them all out of the country.”

The three candidates for the gubernatorial race were also in attendance: Mayor Andrew Gillum, Gwen Graham and Chris King who shared their platforms on public education, minimum wage increase, and healthcare access.

U.S. Congressman Ted Deutch urged Democrats not to turn their backs against climate change. He also told the crowd to celebrate the transgender community for their desire to be active in the military as well as defended D.A.C.A. “We will stand together for unity, for bringing the country together, for defeating all of these Donald Trump efforts, and for making sure that the values we hold dear are the values that rule the day in Broward County and in America,” said Deutch.

Sheriff Scott Israel expressed his disdain towards Trump’s comments equating both white supremacists and protesters as complicit after the Charlottesville clashes last month.

“President Trump, I demand you show me and our communities, good people, that are white supremacists, that are Nazis, that are KKK,” said Israel. “ He was wrong.”

This year’s attendees also included: Florida Representative Patricia William; Broward State Attorney Mike Satz; Broward County Property Appraiser Marty Kiar; Broward School Board Robin Bartleman; Broward School Board Member Nora Rupert; Broward Democratic Party Chair Cynthia Busch; Broward Democratic Party Executive Director Travis Perron; Broward State Committeeman Ken Evans; Broward County Vice Mayor Beam Furr; Broward County Commissioner Michael Udine; Broward County Commissioner Nan Rich; Broward County Commissioner Mark Bogen; Pompano Beach Mayor Lamar Fisher; Pompano Beach City Commissioner Barry Moss; Lauderdale Lakes Mayor Hazelle Rogers; Tamarac City Commissioner Julie Fishman; Fort Lauderdale Vice Mayor Dean Trantalis; Joshua Simmons, candidate Coral Springs City Commission; Tim Canova candidate for U.S. Congress #23; Paulette Armstead candidate for Florida State Representative #92; Emma Collum candidate for Florida State Representative #93; Jonathan May candidate for Florida State Representative #93; Stephanie Myers candidate for Florida State Representative #93; David R. Walker candidate for Florida Agriculture Commission. Mike Olbel Candidate for Broward School Board #7; Jim Silvernale candidate for School Board #1. Renata Castro candidate for Margate commission #3.