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Land O' Lakes Democratic Club

Political Agenda 02/19/2020

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Pasco Supervisor of Elections website change
The Pasco County Supervisor of Election’s Office has converted its website from a .com to a .gov Internet address, according to a news release.

The switch was made as a security measure, according to the release.

“Elections security continues to be at the forefront in all that we do, which is why we secured the PascoVotes.gov domain. Only official U.S. government websites will have addresses that end in .gov,” the release says. The switch and other security enhancements ensure that PascoVotes.gov is more secure against hijacking or website spoofing, the release adds.

Visitors to PascoVotes.gov can access voting and election information quickly and easily from any device they choose. They can access information on how to register to vote, make address or name changes, update their signatures, and more, according to the release.

Upcoming political club meetings:

Republican clubs joint meeting
The Feb. 24 joint meeting of the Republican Club of Central Pasco and the Pasco Federated Republican Women’s Club will feature the Republican candidates that have filed for the open District 4 Pasco County Commission seat. The candidates are: Gary Bradford, Jeff Miller, Gabe Papadopoulos and Dan Tipton. The meeting will be a “meet-and-greet” session to get to know the candidates and their stances on the issues.

The event is open to the public and the club encourages anyone that seeks to be involved in the political process to attend.  The club meets at Copperstone Executive Suites, 3632 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes. The social begins at 6:30 p.m., and the business meeting starts at 7 p.m. For more information, call (813) 996-3011.

Land O’ Lakes Democratic Club
The Land O’ Lakes Democratic Club plans to meet on March 4 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., at Brick City Eatery, 16540 Pointe Village Drive in Lutz. The club meets on the first Wednesday of the month in the private room at Brick City Eatery, according to the calendar on the Pasco Democrats’ website.

Young Democrats meeting
The Young Democrats plans to meet on March 10 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Brick City Eatery, 16540 Pointe Village Drive in Lutz, according to the calendar on the Pasco Democrats’ website.

Wesley Chapel Republican Club
The Wesley Chapel Republican Club plans to meet on March 12 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Wesley Chapel Toyota, 5300 Eagleston Blvd., in Wesley Chapel. The scheduled speaker is Alexandria Suarez, according to the club’s Facebook page.

East Pasco Republican Club
The East Pasco Republican Club plans to meet on March 17 at 6 p.m., at the Microtel Inns & Suites, 7839 Gall Blvd., in Zephyrhills. The scheduled guest speaker is Dr. Randall Stovall, according to the club’s Facebook page.

Candidates qualify, political groups have meetings

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Candidates have qualified for the upcoming election, giving voters plenty to consider. Here are candidates in key races during the 2018 election cycle.

Primary voters could decide the outcome for three Pasco County School Board seats. School board races are nonpartisan. Although candidates must live within specific districts, voters countywide select the winners. If a candidate does not receive more than 50 percent of the vote in the Aug. 28 primary, the top two vote-getters will face off on the Nov. 6 general election ballot.

Winners in two Pasco County Commission districts will be decided in the general election.

Key Pasco County races 

Pasco County Commission
District 2
Mike Moore (Rep), incumbent
Kelly Smith (Dem)

District 4
Brandi Geoit (Dem)
Mike Wells (Rep)

Pasco County School Board
District 1
Allen Altman (NPA), incumbent
Kenneth J. Mathis (NPA)
Brian Staver (NPA)

District 3
Cynthia Armstrong (NPA), incumbent
Meghan E. Hamer (NPA)
Heide R. Janshon (NPA)

District 5
Mike Aday (NPA)
Megan C. Harding (NPA)
Kathryn “Kassie” Hutchinson (NPA)
Tara M. O’Connor (NPA)

State and federal races
Florida State Senate
District 10
Michael Cottrell (Dem)
Wilton Simpson (Rep), incumbent

District 16
Ed Hooper, (Rep)
Leo Karruli (Rep)
Amanda Murphy (Dem)

District 20
Joy Gibson (Dem)
John Manners Houman (Rep)
Tom Lee (Rep), incumbent
Kathy Lewis (Dem)

Florida State House
District 36
Linda Jack (Dem)
Amber Mariano (Rep), incumbent

District 38
Danny Burgess (Rep), incumbent
David ‘TK’ Hayes, (NPA)

U.S. House of Representatives
District 12
Gus Michael Bilirakis (Rep), incumbent
Chris Hunter (Dem)
Stephen M. Perenich (Dem)
Angelika Purkis (Dem)
Robert Matthew Tager (Dem)

Mosquito Control, Seat 2 candidates
Andy Carney, Matthew Skeeter Abbott, Cory P. Sommers and Chris Tyler have qualified for this nonpartisan race.

Political meetings

Land O’ Lakes Democrats
The Land O Lakes Democratic Club will meet July 11 at 6:30 p.m. The featured guest will be Chris Hunter, former FBI agent, federal prosecutor, and now a candidate for U.S. Congress. The club also will be talking about boosting voter turnout. The club meets at Brick City Eatery, 16540 Pointe Village Drive, Suite 108, in Lutz.

Wesley Chapel Republican Club
The Wesley Chapel Republican Club will meet July 12 at 6:30 p.m., at Lexus of Wesley Chapel, 5350 Eagleston Blvd., in Wesley Chapel. Pasco County Supervisor of Elections Brian Corley will speak about the many layers of security protecting the Pasco County voting system, as well as changes in voting laws since the last election. Admission is free, all are welcome, and coffee and homemade desserts will be served. For more information, contact Peter Cracchiolo at (813) 360-9813 or .

Published July 4, 2018

Democratic clubs set meetings

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Trinity Democratic Club
The Trinity Democratic Club will meet May 23 at 6:30 p.m., at Fox Hollow Golf Club, 10050 Robert Trent Jones Parkway in Trinity. Doors open at 5 p.m., for dinner and happy hour, self-pay, with food and beverages available for purchase throughout the meeting. 

The club will host Ryan Torrens, candidate for Attorney General, and Roy David Walker, candidate for Florida Commissioner of Agriculture.

For questions, call (415) 609-3633, or email .

Land O’ Lakes Democratic Club
The Land O’ Lakes Democratic Club will meet June 6 at 6:30 p.m., at Brick City Eatery, 16540 Pointe Village Drive, Suite 108, in Lutz.

The special guest will be Robert Tager, candidate for U.S. Congress in Florida-District 12.

There also will be a discussion on plans to increase voter turnout to positively impact upcoming elections in 2018.

For information, visit MakingPascoBlue.com.

Democratic Hispanic Caucus
The Democratic Hispanic Caucus of Pasco will meet June 14 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Los Vallarta Mexican Restaurant, 5335 Village Market in Wesley Chapel.

This is the group’s second meeting, and is looking for new members.

For information and questions, email .

Upcoming events on the political scene

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Club meetings

  • The Land O Lakes Democratic Club will meet May 2 at 6:30 p.m., at the Brick City Eatery, 16540 Pointe Village Drive, Suite 198, in Lutz. Noemi McGregor, president of the Democratic Hispanic Caucus of Florida, is the guest speaker.
  • The Democratic Environmental Caucus of Florida — Pasco Chapter will meet May 9 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., at the community center at Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park, Room No. 1, 5401 Land O Lakes Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes.

Summer kickoff picnic
Kelly Smith, a candidate for the District 2 seat on the Pasco County Commission, is hosting a Volunteer Thank You/ Summer Kick Off Picnic May 6 from noon to 2 p.m., at Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Park. For more information, email .

Endorsement
Former Pasco County Commission Pat Mulieri has endorsed Mike Moore in his re-election bid for the District 2 seat on the board, according to Moore’s campaign.

Political Agenda is a column that runs only during election years.

It gives candidates a place to announce they are seeking political office. It lets voters know of upcoming Meet the Candidate nights or political forums.

It is a place where political clubs can announce upcoming meetings, and it will include news that is pertinent to voters for upcoming elections. It will not include political fundraising events.

There is never a guarantee of publication, but we do consider each item we receive. Please submit items for consideration at least two weeks prior to the desired publication date. Send submissions to .

Club meetings planned, endorsements announced

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Upcoming club meetings

Land O’ Lakes Democrats
The Land O’ Lakes Democratic Club will host Stephen Perenich, who is running for U.S. Congress in Florida District 12, at the club’s April 4 meeting, which begins at 6:30 p.m. The club meets at Brick City Eatery, 16540 Pointe Village Drive in Lutz.

Wesley Chapel Republican Club
The Wesley Chapel Republican Club meets April 12 at 6:30 pm at Lexus of Wesley Chapel, 5350 Eagleston Blvd., in Wesley Chapel. The guest speaker will be State Sen. Wilton Simpson. There will be coffee and desserts. There is no admission charge. For more information, contact Peter Cracchiolo at (813) 360-9813 or .

Republican Club of Central Pasco
Pasco County Supervisor of Elections Brian Corley will speak at Republican Club of Pasco County’s meeting on April 23. The club encourages anyone that seeks to be involved in the political process to attend. It meets at Copperstone Executive Suites, 3632 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes. A social begins at 6:30 p.m., and the business meeting starts at 7 p.m. For more information, call (813) 996-3011.

Trinity Democratic Club
The Trinity Democratic Club welcomes Melissa Erickson, co-founder and executive director of the Alliance for Public Schools (All4Schools.org), as guest speaker at its April 25 meeting, which starts at 6:30 p.m. The group meets at Fox Hollow Golf Club, 10050 Robert Trent Jones Parkway in Trinity. Doors open at 5 p.m., for those wish to purchase dinner and/or drinks. For more information, call (415) 609-3633 or email .

Endorsements

  • #VOTEPROCHOICE has endorsed Kelly Smith, who is running in the District 2 race of the Pasco County Commission. Smith supports reproductive rights in Florida, according to an announcement from her campaign.
  • The Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 29 Labor Unit has endorsed Mike Moore, who is running for re-election in the District 2 race of the Pasco County Commission, according to an announcement from his campaign.

Published April 4, 2018