Tis the Season for Political Parties

In the State of Florida, there are some elected positions that should probably be nonpartisan. Supervisor of Elections, State Attorney and Public Defender are examples of jobs where we want the most qualified candidate, not necessarily someone with a particular ideology. That being said, I really want to express my appreciation to the Democratic Clubs of Sarasota and Manatee counties. I ran for Circuit Court Judge in 2002, which is strictly nonpartisan. There were times when Regina and I felt very alone during that campaign. We had to do everything ourselves, whether it was send out invitations, host meet and greets, or buy the food and drink for a party. Things are different this time around.
The Democratic Club of Sarasota hosted its monthly meeting on December 8. Journalist Jim McCartney spoke to over one hundred people about his career covering various presidents. On Tuesday, December 11, I was given the opportunity to address the Longboat Key Democratic Club, where I shared the podium with Congressional candidate Christine Jennings and the editor of the Sarasota Herald Tribune's opinion page, Tom Tryon. Thursday found Regina and I at Sunset Towers in the heart of Precinct One, for a lovely party hosted by Jan Holmes, Dwight Hoover, and Marcella and Art Levin. From there we headed over to O’Malley’s for party hosted by the Sarasota/Manatee Young Democrats.
On Friday evening I made my way through a deluge to get to the North Port Democratic Club holiday dinner held at the Family Table restaurant. Saturday I headed south again to join the Englewood Democratic Club's holiday luncheon. I bought raffle tickets, as is customary, and was then asked to draw the winning ticket. Did you ever get that feeling that you were going to win the prize right before your number is called? That happened to me and there might be better election strategies than choosing your own raffle ticket in a contested drawing. I ended the week at a lovely potluck dinner hosted by the Venice Area Democratic Club inside the community center of Venetian falls. Thanks again to all the hard working members of these clubs who put on such wonderful affairs.
I must also thank the Lakewood Ranch Business Association who welcomed me to their Main Street festival; Conexion Latina where I made many new friends (and won the door-prize, a great barbecue kit); the Manatee County Bar Association whose Holiday party featured great food, drink, and a lot of old friends, and the hospitality of Captain Wayne Genther where I finished Saturday with the great crew from WSLR. I would like to wish you and your family a safe and joyful end of the year.