Wakulla Democratic Executive Committee to Host Annual Gala
Crawfordville, Florida – The Wakulla Democratic Executive Committee announced that the Annual Gala, themed "Change our Stars to Blue", will be held this year at the Bistro at Wildwood Resort, located on Coastal Highway 98 in Crawfordville, FL on Saturday, October 24, 2009 at 7:30 pm.
Committee Chair Mary Mooney says, “2010 looks to be one of the most exciting election cycles ever! We have for the first time in our state’s history both the Governor & a US Senate seat open, not to mention some wonderful Democratic candidates ready to change those STAR seats to BLUE! We haven’t forgotten that it is also the first time since 1916 that ALL Florida Cabinet seats are open!”
Event organizer Leigh Annand offered this preview of what promises to be an exciting evening, “TWO of the candidates running for the Florida Attorney General STAR seat will be joining us! Senator Dave Aronberg & Senator Dan Gelber will be our Keynote speakers! They have committed to running an amicable primary campaign as they are great friends outside of the candidate ring. We really look forward to having them here - and you won’t want to miss it!”
Senator Dan Gelber has amassed a strong resume of service to Florida with service at the state and federal levels. He began is career in law enforcement. In the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Senator Gelber was one of the nation’s youngest, at age 25, federal prosecutors when he joined the South Florida U.S. Attorney’s Office in 1986. For nearly a decade, he handled some of Florida’s most significant public corruption, civil rights and narcotics prosecutions. He convicted hundreds of public officials, drug dealers, swindlers and environmental criminals.
In the U.S. Senate, he was appointed by former U.S. Senator Sam Nunn as the Chief Counsel and Staff Director for the U.S. Senate's Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations His work focused on counter terrorism and domestic security, and fraud and waste in government. Dan testified before the U.S. Senate and directed investigations and reports on various security issues.
In the Florida Legislature: Dan’s credentials were so strong that in the wake of 9-11, Republican Speaker Tom Feeney made him vice chair of the 9-11 committee where he authored or had a hand in nearly all of the state’s domestic security legislation. Dan also rewrote the state’s wiretap laws and Florida’s public corruption statute.
Senator Dave Aronberg was born and raised in South Florida and attended public schools before going off to Harvard for college, then Harvard Law School, where he graduated with honors in 1996. As an attorney, he worked closely with Insurance Commissioner (now U.S. Senator) Bill Nelson to investigate European insurance companies that refused to honor World War II-era policies sold to victims of the Holocaust. In 1999, Dave became a Florida Assistant Attorney General for economic crimes. Among other cases, he headed the State's lawsuit against "Miss Cleo," the "Jamaican Shango Shaman psychic" who had become an international celebrity among late-night television viewers.
In 2000, Dave was selected to be one of 15 White House Fellows from across the country. In this non-partisan position, Dave served in two Presidential Administrations as Special Assistant to the Secretary of the Treasury Department for international money laundering.
In his seven years in the State Senate, Dave Aronberg has passed major consumer protection legislation that safeguards our privacy against identity theft and financial schemes. As part of a Medicaid task force, Dave successfully fought for reforms to combat fraud and abuse that will save taxpayers millions of dollars.
As a rare Democratic committee chair in a Republican-led Senate, Senator Aronberg led the Senate's efforts to secure federal funding for Everglades restoration. In addition, he oversees a consumer protection project in his Senate office that has returned more than four million dollars to Floridians who have called with consumer complaints.
In 2008, Senator Aronberg was named Chair of the Military Affairs and Domestic Security committee, where he works with members of local, state and federal law enforcement to protect Florida's ports and to ensure proper treatment of our State's veterans and those serving on active duty.
In addition to the two Senators, we have a few other important candidates and dignitaries speaking. You will meet David Pleat, who is providing a challenge to Republican Marti Coley (finally!), FDP Vice Chair Rhett Bullard, FDP 2nd Vice Chair Judy Mount, Florida Senate Candidate Curtis Richardson, and a couple of big surprise candidates!”
The Wakulla Democratic Executive Committee promises a unique program on October 24th with entertainment and a chance to personally mingle with the candidates after the dinner and speeches. Entertainment will be provided by Wakulla native Trafton Harvey. The Inn at Wildwood Resort has generously offered a special rate of $79.00 for out of town guests who might wish to stay overnight. Please mention the gala when making reservations. You may visit them on the web @ www.innatwildwood.com.
The Annual Gala also serves as a forum for the WDEC to celebrate annual accomplishments and to support local candidates. While the state election arena is heating up, two very important races for 2010 are alslo happening right here in Wakulla County. There are 2 important seats up for grabs and the WDEC wants them to be true BLUE! The Wakulla Democratic Executive Committee is the local arm of the Florida Democratic Party. It is their role to find and help elect strong Democrat candidates, right here at home. The WDEC strives to promote democratic values, to educate the public in the democratic process and to be involved in the local community. This past year the WDEC has established the Wakulla High School Young Democrat Scholarship, held voter registration and petition drives, helped to “Get the VOTE out” to seniors, and have supported many community events such as the Sopchoppy 4th of July Festivities and the American Cancer Society Relay for Life. We need your help to continue our involvement with these activities and to help candidates in Wakulla and throughout the state.
This information originally published on October 21, 2009.
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