FLORIDA DIGEST - August 24, 2008

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~~FLORIDA GLBT NEWS~~

DNC Convention Party - Watch Obama Accept Nomination
Thursday, 8/28/2008 - 7:00 PM
Rosie's Bar and Grill 2449 Wilton Dr.
Wilton Manors, FL 33305
Join HRC South Florida at Rosie's on August 28, to watch as Barack Obama accepts the Democratic Party nomination for President. We will have food, drink specials and more! This event is open to the community, no RSVP required, no ticket purchase required. Questions? Email us at: HRCsfla@bellsouth.net
Also, don't forget to register and mark your calendar for election day, November 4, 2008. Click Here for more resources for Florida


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Property Appriaser Challenger Supports Amendment 2
Countywide candidate favors ban on same-sex marriage
Sara Truini, a Republican-turned-Democrat who's challenging Property Appraiser Lori Parrish in the Aug. 26 primary, is not a fan of same-sex marriage. The issue arises because the Parrish campaign found Truini's name on the on-line database of people who signed the petitions that got an anti-gay marriage amendment on the November election ballot. The amendment in question would add the state's current ban on same-sex marriage to the Florida Constitution. Truini said she didn't remember signing the petition, but "If you see my name there I probably signed it." She said it reflects her views. "I believe as a Catholic that the marriages should be between a man and a woman. I believe that. I believe that's the correct way of describing a marriage [as] between a man and a woman," she said.


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GOTTLIEB RECEIVES MAJOR ENDORSEMENTS FROM EQUALITY FLORIDA AND OTHER LOCAL COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS, Hollywood Florida
Equality Florida, the states largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender organization with over 70,000 members statewide and over 10,000 members in Broward County, announced their endorsement of Ken Gottlieb for Florida Senate District 31. "Ken Gottlieb has been an absolute champion in Tallahassee. He led the charge on anti-bullying legislation and fought for the inclusion of LGBT students at every turn. At a time when few had the courage to even discuss gay and transgender issues, he was an outspoken leader. We are thrilled to announce Equality Florida Action PAC's endorsement of Ken Gottlieb for the Florida Senate," said Equality Florida Action PAC's Stratton Pollitzer. [...] Ken Gottlieb and his wife, School Board Member Jennifer Gottlieb have also been active members of the Dolphin Democratic Club. For more information regarding the Gottlieb for Senate campaign, please view the website at www.KenGottlieb2008.com.


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Vote for Adriane Reesey
Broward County Supervisor of Elections
Check out her website!
http://www.votereesey2008.com/


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Mobilizing pro-GLBT voters
Mark LaFontaine keeps his cool as race heats up
Express Gay News
By JUAN CARLOS RODRIGUEZ
Thursday, August 14, 2008
With just a little more than two weeks before the Aug. 26 primary, Mark LaFontaine, the openly-gay candidate for the District 92 seat of State Legislature, methodically makes his rounds knocking on doors in the district on a Saturday morning wearing summer whites and matching Docksiders. "This is crunch time," La Fontaine says. Getting out in the neighborhoods and attending community meetings is crucial at this point, he said. The race is rife with whisper campaigns and a good amount of mud. Because all the candidates are Democrats, with no Republican opponents competing, the race will be determined at the primary. As if mirroring the rapidly-intensifying race against his opponents, Wilton Manors Mayor Scott Newton and former Deerfield Beach City Commissioner Gwyndolen Clarke-Reed, the temperature on Saturday is creeps beyond 90 degrees and keeps rising. Yet LaFontaine walks at a brisk pace along NW 12th Ave in Jenada Isles in Wilton Manors. Armed with a pile of glossy placards and a list of registered voters, LaFontaine barely breaks a sweat, his hair nearly perfect. [...] "Hello, I'm Mark LaFontaine and I'm running for state legislature," he says. His door-step stump speech varies little from house to house - he begins by informing voters that there are no accountants in office in the State House of Representatives. "We need people with financial background in Tallahassee," he says. Then he gives a brief bio: a lifelong Broward resident, the only veteran in the race, his extensive background as an activist for GLBT issues, AIDS and youth. Then he smoothly reveals the detail that could cast him into Florida's history. "I'm openly gay," he says. "I'm not running on that premise, but there is a need for the [GLBT] community to have a voice in Tallahassee." [...] And while La Fontaine does not consider his sexuality, or HIV status to be the primary part of his campaign, he does not deny that his voter base is the LGBT community. "When you are running a campaign you always look to your base," La Fontaine said. "Obviously getting GLBT voters is going to be important."


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Mark LaFontaine's New TV ad
We need your help through the election! If you'd like to volunteer please call campaign headquarters at
954-651-3147. http://marklafontaine.com/


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LAFONTAINE PICKS UP THREE MORE ENDORSEMENTS
Democratic Florida House candidate Mark LaFontaine picked up three more endorsements in his bid for the District 92 seat - the Florida Nurses Association PAC, the Florida Progressive Coalition, and the Florida Consumer Action Network. "I'm reaching out to all segments of our community, and I'm earning support because people know I've been fighting for them at the grassroots level for years," LaFontaine said. "On Election Day, the people of District 92 will elect someone to represent them, not lobbyists in Tallahassee ."
Florida House District 92 includes parts of Deerfield Beach , North Lauderdale , Oakland Park , Lazy Lake , Poinsettia Heights , Pompano Beach , Tamarac , Victoria Park and Wilton Manors.
www.MarkLaFontaine.com


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Mayor Scott Newton Receives Another Endorsement in St. Rep Dist. 92 RaceI am proud and honored to be endorsed by the Florida CarpentersRegional Center FLCRC. An organization with over five thousand strongactive members and another five thousand strong retires. We share eyeto eye the same beliefs that all people deserve an opportunity thatencourages a high quality of life. They currently sponsor four localapprentices' centers in the tri county area. These centers stand asbeacons to educate and teach skilled workers trades like carpentry,millwright and pile driving. I look forward to working together withthe FLCRC once I am elected as State Representative for District 92.I will stand for bringing more jobs to Florida, because with moreopportunity we as Florida's can ensure a greater future for those whowill come after us.
Mayor Scott Newton
VoteNewton.com



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Palm Beach County Human Rights Councilg
http://www.pbchrc.org/

PBCC TRUSTEE CAROLYN WILLIAMS AGAIN DELAYS VOTE ON DOMESTIC PARTNER HEALTH INSURANCE For the second year in a row, Palm Beach Community College Trustee Carolyn Williams has successfully delayed approval domestic partner health insurance benefits for college employees. On the agenda for today's meeting of the PBCC Board of Trustees was approval of a pilot program to allow employees with domestic partners to purchase family coverage. Since the item was on the consent agenda, it was expected to pass without opposition. At the last minute, much to the surprise of her colleagues, Trustee Carolyn Williams cited her concern that the recently enacted Open Government Act might prohibit the college from offering domestic partner benefits. Despite assurances from PBCC President Dennis Gallon that the legislation did not apply to community colleges, Williams, citing an attorney she had consulted but whose name she did not disclose, urged the Trustees not to move forward on this issue.
Contact Ray's List for the full article.



~~FLORIDA GENERAL NEWS~~

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Paul Eichner for Broward Circuit Court Judge
The Paul Eichner for Broward Circuit Court Judge Group 21 Campaign is excited to send this email to you announcing the Sun-Sentinel's recommendation that the community elect Paul Eichner for Circuit Court Group 21. Many of you know Paul through his community service and his broad-based practice of law in Broward County. Paul needs your vote at the polls as we approach Election Day on August 26, 2008. This is a county wide election and all registered voters in Broward County can vote on August 26, 2008 or at any of the early voting locations from now until August 24, 2008. Paul has received numerous endorsements from groups and individuals and he needs your support as well. Please forward this email to everyone on your email list and ask them to support Paul.


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Sun-Sentinel
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:

-South Florida's Democratic convention delegates seek to unify the party andmake history, too
Young and old, gay and straight, black, brown and white, the South Floridadelegates to the Democratic National Convention are intent on making historythis week and drawing you to the polls on Election Day in November. Somedelegates still are nervous about the prospects for victory, and a few havenot fully embraced the candidacy of Sen. Barack Obama. But many say theyhave never been so enthused about an election and are excited about formallynominating the first African-American presidential candidate for a majorparty.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-flodemintro0824sbaug24,0,2502253.story

-Broward adds dock fees to help pay for manatee protection
Broward adds dock fees to help prevent manatee deaths
Hundreds of waterfront properties in Broward County soon will have to payannual dock fees, as part of a plan almost 20 years in the making to helpprevent marine development from killing manatees.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-flbmanatees0824sbaug24,0,1114423.story

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