North Broward Democratic Club Annual Picnic
Story and Photos by Carol Porter
On Labor Day, Monday, September 4, as is its tradition, the North Broward Democratic Club held its annual picnic in Pompano Beach Community Park from 1 p.m. to late in the day. With 2018 being an election year, this year the club’s picnic drew big time names like Senator Bill Nelson, Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, and Congressman Ted Deutch, who all face re-election in 2018. With the seat of Florida Governor being open, the picnic also drew the three candidates for governor on the Democratic side, Tallahassee mayor Andrew Gillum, former Congresswoman Gwen Graham and businessman Chris King. Local candidates and elected officials attended the picnic as they do every year.
Senator Bill Nelson thanked attendees for their support and asked them for their continued support. He also said that elections had consequences, and spoke of unity on the Democratic ticket in 2018 and in the local elections. Nelson also spoke about how government worked best when Democrats and Republicans worked together, and about Senator John McCain’s key decision that helped keep the Affordable Care Act from being repealed. Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman-Schultz also said that Democrats needed to support the candidates in the 2018 election cycle, and more importantly, they needed to unify to send Senator Bill Nelson back to office in 2018. Wasserman-Schultz also said that Democrats needed to unify to put a Democratic governor into the Governor’s mansion in 2018. Wasserman-Schultz criticized the current commander in chief for his jingoistic and right-wing policies and said that people needed to stop him from implementing his agenda.
“Someone needs to stop Donald Trump,” said Wasserman-Schultz.
Wasserman-Schultz also spoke about the hateful agenda that could impact DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals), which would force thousands of people to leave the United States, who only knew this country as its home, and about the policies that prevented brave transgendered men and women who wanted to serve in the armed forces. Both policies have been implemented during President Barack Obama’s administration, and Wasserman-Schultz thought it was mean, insensitive and unpatriotic that the current president wanted to repeal these policies. She also spoke of the widening gap between the haves and the have nots.
“We are on the side of working families,” said Wasserman-Schultz. “Onward to victory.”
Congressman Ted Deutch spoke about all the issues that needed to unite Democrats, and praised the candidates running for office in 2018. He spoke about the need to keep the Affordable Care Act and other programs that had been passed under the Obama administration in place. He spoke of the team that attorney Robert Mueller had assembled and that team would be working hard in the aftermath of the last election. Deutch said that good people in Congress would fight to keep DACA and other programs in place despite the efforts of the Trump administration to dismantle them.
“I don’t care what Donald Trump and his people do,” said Deutch. “We will defend DACA.”
Gubernatorial candidate and Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum spoke about several issues, including health care, minimum wage, education and other issues which needed to unite Democrats. Gillum spoke of the current job situation, in which people needed to work two or three jobs to keep their heads above water. Gillum said he thought that twenty years was long enough for a Republican to be in the Governor’s mansion in Florida, and he could be the candidate who could take the mansion in 2018. He also spoke of the need to reach every home and every community in Florida, no matter where it was, because the Democrats lost the Governor’s mansion in recent years by such a small percentage.
“We lost the last two races by fewer than one point,” said Gillum.
Former Congresswoman Gwen Graham spoke about labor issues, education, the minimum wage and other issues. Graham spoke about how high stakes testing was wrong, and things needed to change in Florida regarding education and many other issues. She also said that you have to work three jobs to get by, and that she would fight for every person in the State of Florida once elected governor. Graham also said she looked forward to being the first woman governor if elected in 2018.
“I look forward to being the first woman governor,” said Graham. “Let’s go out and win this.”
Businessman Chris King, who had his whole family with him, said that they had spent the last two days in Broward County and were thrilled at the reception that they had gotten from everyone they saw. He also spoke about education, affordable housing and jobs. King said that poverty was going up in the State of Florida, and that Florida was nearly last in GDP. He also spoke about the detrimental impact of having a Republican Governor in the mansion in the State of Florida, and how that needed to change in 2018. He, and the two other candidates, thanked the Labor movement for being on the side of working people as they always were.
“We thank you,” said King. “We will be working for you. I will be honored to serve you in 2018.”
Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel had harsh words for President Trump and his administration. Israel, in particular, pointed out the “both sides” comment that Trump had made after the events in Charlottesville.
“I demand you show me the good people that are white supremacists, Nazis and members of the KKK,” said Israel.
The Palm Beach County Treasure Coast AFL CIO held its picnic on Sunday, September 3, in West Palm Beach, and among the attendees at that event were Congressman Alcee Hastings and Congresswoman Lois Frankel. Other local candidates and elected officials also attended the event. Congressional candidate Pam Keith attended both picnics.
