Manatee/Sarasota

Democratic Black Caucus of Florida

The Manatee/Sarasota Democratic Black Caucus of Florida

formed in May 2003 to accommodate these needs:

To unite and increase the political power of Black Democrats within Manatee and Sarasota counties.

To take appropriate public stands on issues relevant to the Black community.

To encourage qualified citizens in becoming candidates for public office.

To ensure that issues of concern to the Black community are made known to the Democratic Party.

To encourage the Democratic Party to take positions on these issues and are communicated to the Black community...

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VOTE FROM HOME

MSDBCF Political Campaign Plan 2012

Several local community groups in Manatee County have joined with Congresswoman Frederica Wilson in engaging African American Communities in Florida to “VOTE FROM HOME” in the upcoming 2012 election. This will circumvent blatant and discriminatory efforts to suppress our voice and ensure that we re-elect President Barack Obama.

How Will Vote From Home Work?

1. Pastors or designee will get every voting members of the congregation to sign an Absentee Ballot Application

2. Pastors or designee will ensure Absentee ballot applications are delivered to the Supervisor of Elections

3. Members will receive their ballots in the mail from the Supervisor of elections.

4. 4.Pastors will ensure their members complete the ballots and delivered to the Supervisor of Elections.
   

In our attempts to talk to Black about the “VOTE FROM HOME” initiative, we heard every possible reason, but the bottom line is: many Blacks don’t go the polls to vote on election day or during early voting days.

In 2010, in Manatee County the African American votes were:

Why Vote From Home?

1. Members can vote in the ease and comfort of their homes

2. No waiting in long lines

3. No proof of identity

4. Never miss another election or forget to vote

5. No worry of not having ballots counted

6. Time to study the ballot before making decisions

Susie Copeland was recently installed as the president of the Manatee County NAACP and attended a rally in Sanford for Trayvon Martin, in addition to her other responsibilities:

• Vice Chair of the MSDBCF

• Committee Woman, Manatee County Democratic Party

• Organizer of ABC 4 Kids (American Basic Civics For Kids)

Corie Holmes

Holmes is a lifelong resident of north Manatee County, having served in the Manatee County Sheriff's Office, first as a volunteer for six years, then for six more as deputy. Holmes currently works with A.C.T., an active non-profit organization that teaches life skills to at-risk youth in the Manatee County and Sarasota County area.

Holmes plans to create a public outreach program to invest in the well being of the senior population of Manatee County. “A vast number of services are available to these citizens, though few know how to navigate the programs. My goal is to make them more accessible so that they might aid in improving their quality of life.”

Delia Smith-Orth recently received the Lawton Chiles Award for Outstanding Community Service awarded by the Manatee County Democratic Executive Committee.

Clarence Rogers, benefactor for ABC 4 Kids, gave an HP Mini Laptop Computer to Malessa Moore, the 13th Avenue Dream Center winner of the “Why it is important for my parents to vote?” essay contest held March 28, 2012.

Clarence Rogers awards a gift-wrapped HP Mini Laptop Computer to Danielle Gray, an eighth-grade student at Harllee Middle School and the Boys and Girls Club winner of the ABC 4 Kids essay contest, “Why it is important for my parents to vote?” held March 28, 2012.

Rev. James T. Golden

James T. Golden, Democratic candidate for Manatee County Commissioner, District 5

• Uniquely qualified to bring reasonable, practical, common-sense solutions to our local challenges. 

• Native Floridian who has lived in Manatee County, Florida, for the past 19 years.

• Pastor of Ward Temple African Methodist Episcopal Church, in Bradenton, Florida.

• U.S. Army Veteran

• Member of The Florida Bar.

• Served two 4-year terms as a member of the Bradenton City Council.

• Elected by fellow council members to serve one year as Vice-Mayor.

• Led in efforts to create Bradenton’s Central Community Redevelopment Area.

• Represented the city on the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council.

• Manatee County Democratic Committeeman for Precinct 105.

• Formerly served eight years as the State Committeeman for the Manatee County Democratic Executive Committee.

• Chairman’s appointee to the Executive Committee and the Central Committee of the Florida Democratic Party.

• On September 27, 2007, he was invited by Congresswoman Kathy Castor to deliver the Opening Invocation to the U.S. House of Representatives.

• In 2008, he was elected a member of the Florida Electoral College for President Barack Obama. 

• Democratic candidate in 2009 for the U.S. House of Representatives, District 13, and became the first African-American to win the Democratic primary election.

• Current member of the board of directors of Manatee Glens Hospital and a former board member of Meals on Wheels and Just For Girls.

• Grand Attorney of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge, Ancient Free & Accepted Masons, of Florida & Jurisdiction, Inc.

• Past Basileus (president) of the Pi Beta Beta Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. in Bradenton, and was selected Omega Man Of The Year in 1999, 2004, and 2010.

• 2003 recipient of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Outstanding Community Service Award from the Palmetto Youth Center.

Stop the Violence Rally

The Community gathered Saturday, April 7 at 17th Street West in Palmetto last Saturday to join their voices against violence. It was truly a Community event, in that, families, church officials, police officers, community activists and politicians all were on the same page.

The NAACP, Southern Christian Leadership Conference, City of Palmetto Police & Community Redevelopment Agency, MCCAT, CARVE, Big Brother/Sisters, UNIDOS Now, Manatee/Sarasota Democratic Black Caucus, Active Concerned Teens and others joined each other in the enjoyment of Gospel music, free food and an active discussion on speaking up to report incidents of violence. 

Manatee/Sarasota Democratic Black Caucus Vice Chair and Manatee County NAACP President Susie Copeland had this to say: "We must lend our combined voices to stopping the violence that plagues our neighborhoods and disrupts the enjoyment of our homes." 

Harold E. Byrd

A native of Bradenton/Sarasota, Harold was educated in the Manatee County School system and is a graduate of Southeast High School. Harold is the son of the Late Rev. Harold E. Byrd Sr. and Ruby Byrd, former Manatee County School Board Member.

Harold received his B.A. in Business Management from Eckerd College in St. Petersburg and his J.D. from Florida A&M Law School in Orlando, specializing in Real Estate Law.

Over the years he has received many community awards and served on many local volunteer boards. He has worked for the federal, state and local government during his career in public service. He was recently elected for a third time to the City of Bradenton City Council, where he has also served as vice mayor. He currently works as a business and tax consultant and also has time to work as a youth mentor.