Wakulla Democrats Turn Out in Force for DEC Annual Gala

sheridacrum&alanbrock-1.gif Keynote speaker Senator Rod Smith summed up the evening best when he said, in a nod to the student representatives from the recently formed Wakulla High School Young Democrat Club, “Never underestimate the Wakulla County Democrats!” The Wakulla Senior Center, resplendent with greenery supplied by Glen Campbell and Ed Blissard, was filled with local party members on Friday, September 14.

Gala attendees enjoyed a buffet feast catered by Judi Bunch and Old South Catering and beverages from Tri Eagle Sales. Over 100 guests gathered to honor retiring Supervisor of Elections Sherida Crum for her years of devoted service to Wakulla County. Crum was presented with a framed proclamation and an armful of red roses. With her fiancé Jay Leffert by her side, Crum was alternately honored and lightly roasted by longtime friends, Sheriff David Harvey and Tax Collector Cheryll Olah.

{sidebar id=1}Special guests included representatives from Mainstream Democrats, Capital City Women’s Democratic Club, and Congressman Alan Boyd’s office.
State Democratic Party Chair Karen Thurman assured the assemblage that, “All votes cast by Floridians on January 29, 2008 would be counted” and urged local voters to cast individual votes against the property tax referendum as well as for the presidential primary.

Representative Curtis Richardson praised the efforts of the Wakulla County DEC and presented a check to Wakulla County DEC chair Alan Brock.

Brock, recently elected to statewide office as chair of the Florida Young Democrats, welcomed candidates for State House Seat 10, Monticello Mayor Julie Conley and A.J. Smith. Brock, in his opening remarks, urged Democrats “to make sure that we elect Democrats to preserve Wakulla County and our ideals and that we work hard to find new Democrats to run in our open seats. It is also our job to make sure that we elect a Democrat as President of the United States in 2008 if we want to get our country back on track. It is also our responsibility to elect a Democrat to State House Seat 10. In his last term the Representative in that seat switched to the Republican Party, infuriating the people of his district, and it is our duty to bring it back to the Democrats.”

State committeewoman and Wakulla DEC treasurer Mary Mooney closed the evening with words from John F. Kennedy, “With imagination and courage we shall demonstrate that promises CAN mean performance; that responsible opposition CAN mean constructive legislation, and that the Democratic Party has not forgotten the PEOPLE. If we remain close to the people, the people will surely remain close to us and we can look forward to the future with confidence and hope.”

- Dr. Rachel Sutz Pienta

Click here for a Photo Gallery of the evening by Coral Schieve.

This article originally published on September 17, 2007.

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